St. John’s had a chance for a season-defining win, perhaps a season-changing win.
Heading into the highly-anticipated game against No. 2 Syracuse at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, junior and leading-scorer D’Angelo Harrison described it as the “biggest game of our careers.” The Red Storm rose to the challenge, taking a two-point lead late in the second half, but they ultimately fell, 68-63, after scoring only three points in the final 5:48.
For St. John’s (6-3), a team which could be on the NCAA Tournament bubble come March, it was the second lost opportunity to bolster their résumé, following a season-opening loss to Wisconsin. But after the game, the opportunity no longer mattered. The experience did.
“You can take anything from any game, win or lose,” said sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson, who is shooting 73.9 percent from the field over the past three games. “We were clicking, we were playing together, we were moving the ball. Everyone was getting the ball. We were doing really good things in the second half. We have the rest of the season, but I feel like we did some good things. We are going to learn, get better and move on.”
Coach Steve Lavin said he knew his team could compete with the top teams in the nation, but it’s still unclear whether his talented, but unproven squad can bring the same focus and intensity into every game. Outside of its 46-point blowout of Fordham, St. John’s has struggled for long stretches during each of its other games this season, often falling victim to slow starts.
Now, with three straight games against mid-major teams before Big East play begins, the Red Storm (6-3) can’t afford to let the season-long trend continue. Against San Francisco (6-4) on Wednesday night at Carnesecca Arena — where St. John’s is 4-0 this season — that shouldn’t be a problem.
Last season, the Dons defeated St. John’s, 81-65, snapping the team’s four-game winning streak. This season, they are the 22nd-highest scoring team in the nation, with seven players averaging at least 9.5 points.
Lavin, whose late father Cap starred for the Dons, believes this St. John’s squad is the deepest team he has ever had. And their best still hasn’t been seen.
“The signs of progress are there,” Lavin said after Sunday’s game. “I’ve coached long enough to see where this team stacks up with other teams I’ve had, and the upside.”