As Norm Roberts continues to build the men’s basketball program at St. John’s, there is one aspect he already has mastered.
If it were a bright sunny day but Roberts wanted to convey the message that a Nor’easter was bearing down on the metropolitan area, every one of his players would be telling the media to stock up on water, batteries and canned goods.
Consider the players’ responses after last night’s 92-67 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson at Carnesecca Arena.
Roberts, who demands his team play tenacious defense the way a cabby attacks yellow lights, was not the least bit thrilled that the Red Storm gave up 45 points on 59.3 shooting in the first half.
Yet when asked the tone of Roberts’ halftime talk, senior Eugene Lawrence (20 points, nine assists), sophomore Larry Wright (18 on 6-of-8 3’s) and freshman Justin Burrell (15 points; 14 rebounds) all said he was, “Cheery.”
Cheery?
“I was a little frustrated with our defense in that we were over committing,” Roberts said. “It wasn’t from a lack of trying. They were trying, but we weren’t playing smart.”
The Red Storm, who improved to 3-0 with their third win over an NEC team, trailed 45-42 at the half because, with all due respect to some nice shooting from the Knights, the St. John’s defense was a combination of not smart and not intense.
“I kind of felt like we got into their game plan,” said Wright. “They’re kind of an up and down team that just loves to score and we got hooked on doing that also. We weren’t playing defense.”
The Red Storm weren’t playing defense, something that FDU has mastered this season. The young Knights (1-4) came into the game allowing almost 88 points.
St. John’s scored 42 in the first half and 50 in the second. The Red Storm shot 54.8 percent for the game and 52.4 on 3’s (11-of-21).
“I think we’re capable of scoring 70 points a game,” said FDU coach Tom Green, one of the veteran coaches in the area. “But we can’t stop anybody.”
The Red Storm held up a giant stop sign in the second half. Roberts went to a four-guard lineup, which allowed his players to increase the intensity and court coverage.
The Knights were held to 22 points on 28.6 percent following the “Cheery” halftime talk from Roberts.
“We kind of got into a game with them in the beginning. It was a park game; we were getting up and down,” said Roberts. “They’re scoring, we’re scoring and nobody was playing defense.”
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Burrell suffered a bruised right hand, but played the entire game and is not expected to have any additional examinations. . . . Anthony Mason Jr. missed the game with a high ankle sprain.
St. John’s 92 FDU 67