Thurs 2/13 BE, 2 Games (CU-BU, SJU-SHU).

[RedStormNation]

Shocked that Obekpa made a FT…let alone with the game and possibly a bid on the line. Good for him. He is one guy we constantly said needs to develop some semblance of an offensive game. Somehow, some way, he is now a factor in the paint not just defending but scoring. That has absolutely been key. Thank god Jordan came back and appears to be decent enough to play. Branch didn't play today but will be fine for Sunday. We need all hands on deck for G'Town. Man, if we win that game it will really make me think I'm dreaming. Every time in my life I've seen SJU play G'Town they not only beat us, but turn it into a laugher. Seton Hall has always given us lots of trouble but we usually come out with the tight wins. G'Town gives us headaches and almost always blow us out.

It helps knowing we will be at MSG where we play our best ball, but I'm not feeling optimistic at all. If we can somehow go 3-3 in our final 6 games with Nova being one of those wins, I think we can be in without winning a tourney game. I know that would give us 19-12 (9-9) and the magic number is usually 20 or 21 but beating the #12 and #5 teams in addition to rock solid Marquette and PC, our RPI, and SOS would do it. If we lose to Nova i think 4-2 gets us in even without a BET win. That would put us at 20-11 (10-8) with a signature win vs. #12 Creighton, a great SOS and a good RPI.

This suddenly seems like it is actually within the realm of possibility. G'Town and Nova will give us opportunities to win now and not rely on the BET.

[stever20]

Very important win for St John's.

And we are on to the weekend with maybe the best schedule of the entire season...
DePaul/Providence- if PC is going to have any shot, they must win this one
Xavier/Marquette- Huge one for Marquette. Xavier could lose and still be ok. Marquette- not so much.
Villanova/Creighton- enough said- #1 seed decided there most likely.
Georgetown/St John's. Huge game. For St John's, with Butler, Xavier, and DePaul all at home coming up, a win here could equal 20 wins. For Georgetown, a win, and 16 wins with needing really only 2 more with Seton Hall, Xavier, @ Marquette, Creighton, and @ Villanova coming up. I think it's in a lot of ways a bubble elimination game quite frankly- probably moreso with Georgetown in a lot of ways....

[NJRedman]

Good game Seton Hall, I don't know what kind of spell you guys have on us but it seems to work every time. Good luck the rest season and good luck withe the new kids coming in.

[RedStormNation]

I guess Jordan's ankle is ok

[SJUREDMEN85]

Edwin was almost McDermott, getting 35pnt but this time we got the win.
SHU is a pesky bunch.

How bout that Jordan pass? ONIONSLOL
Great pass to Obekpa, and good move putting OBekpa on the inbounds passer.

Good game SHU.

BTW these refs are freaking HORRIBLE. tHE LAST 10MINUTES TOOK FOREVER.
Makes it hard to enjoy a game.

[BluejaysForThree]

Two big road wins for CU and the Johnnies last night. Both games could have easily gone the other way, but the visitors took their lumps and both grabbed important road wins. 68 definitely was a "magic" number last night for both the Jays and Johnnies. Doug McDermott has been so clutch this year, amazing to think that before this season the guy had never taken a potential game winning shot (that all changed at St Joes).

This weekend is going to be huge in the Big East, culminating with Villanova paying a visit to what will be a jam packed and hopefully raucous crowd at C-Link Center Sunday evening in Omaha. Have my tickets in hand to what might be the biggest ticket of the year here! Should be a great game and maybe an instant classic!

[HoosierPal]

Got back from Hinkle and watched the tape. It was refreshing to have announcers criticize the refs and both coaches where prudent, and even criticize themselves. Doug Gottlieb made a mistake on the back tip but came back to correct his mistake.

Another game where Rosie Jones would have been the difference maker. With Rosie, we have three or four more W's.

No personal criticism intended, but McDermott was the worst defender on the floor. Is that intentional so that he doesn't foul? He had an easy contest on Barlow's breakaway layup in the first half and simply let him go. I didn't see one attempt at a block underneath or get any tough rebounds in traffic. And he was always on Butler's worst shooter, be it Woods, Marshall or Berry.

Just curious, was this an aberration or typical?

[Randy]

It is a combo. He will never be the best defensive player on the floor, and we have a 0% chance of winning if he fouls out.

[XUFan09]

Shocked that Obekpa made a FT…let alone with the game and possibly a bid on the line. Good for him. He is one guy we constantly said needs to develop some semblance of an offensive game. Somehow, some way, he is now a factor in the paint not just defending but scoring. That has absolutely been key. Thank god Jordan came back and appears to be decent enough to play. Branch didn't play today but will be fine for Sunday. We need all hands on deck for G'Town. Man, if we win that game it will really make me think I'm dreaming. Every time in my life I've seen SJU play G'Town they not only beat us, but turn it into a laugher. Seton Hall has always given us lots of trouble but we usually come out with the tight wins. G'Town gives us headaches and almost always blow us out.

It helps knowing we will be at MSG where we play our best ball, but I'm not feeling optimistic at all. If we can somehow go 3-3 in our final 6 games with Nova being one of those wins, I think we can be in without winning a tourney game. I know that would give us 19-12 (9-9) and the magic number is usually 20 or 21 but beating the #12 and #5 teams in addition to rock solid Marquette and PC, our RPI, and SOS would do it. If we lose to Nova i think 4-2 gets us in even without a BET win. That would put us at 20-11 (10-8) with a signature win vs. #12 Creighton, a great SOS and a good RPI.

This suddenly seems like it is actually within the realm of possibility. G'Town and Nova will give us opportunities to win now and not rely on the BET.

http://www.rpiforecast.com/teams/St.%20John's.html

Your expected non-conference SOS is 142nd. When the Selection Committee is picking teams off the bubble, non-conference SOS and conference record (yours being only .500 in this scenario) are really important, and your combo in that regard would not look too good. If they Johnnies go 3-3 the rest of the way, they have to do well in the conference tournament.

[RedStormNation]

Shocked that Obekpa made a FT…let alone with the game and possibly a bid on the line. Good for him. He is one guy we constantly said needs to develop some semblance of an offensive game. Somehow, some way, he is now a factor in the paint not just defending but scoring. That has absolutely been key. Thank god Jordan came back and appears to be decent enough to play. Branch didn't play today but will be fine for Sunday. We need all hands on deck for G'Town. Man, if we win that game it will really make me think I'm dreaming. Every time in my life I've seen SJU play G'Town they not only beat us, but turn it into a laugher. Seton Hall has always given us lots of trouble but we usually come out with the tight wins. G'Town gives us headaches and almost always blow us out.

It helps knowing we will be at MSG where we play our best ball, but I'm not feeling optimistic at all. If we can somehow go 3-3 in our final 6 games with Nova being one of those wins, I think we can be in without winning a tourney game. I know that would give us 19-12 (9-9) and the magic number is usually 20 or 21 but beating the #12 and #5 teams in addition to rock solid Marquette and PC, our RPI, and SOS would do it. If we lose to Nova i think 4-2 gets us in even without a BET win. That would put us at 20-11 (10-8) with a signature win vs. #12 Creighton, a great SOS and a good RPI.

This suddenly seems like it is actually within the realm of possibility. G'Town and Nova will give us opportunities to win now and not rely on the BET.

http://www.rpiforecast.com/teams/St.%20John's.html

Your expected non-conference SOS is 142nd. When the Selection Committee is picking teams off the bubble, non-conference SOS and conference record (yours being only .500 in this scenario) are really important, and your combo in that regard would not look too good. If they Johnnies go 3-3 the rest of the way, they have to do well in the conference tournament.

You can take any stat and make a team look bad. Bottom line is that 20+ wins and .500+ in the conference with a signature win vs. #12 Creighton and a ridiculous schedule playing Cuse, Wisconsin, Nova twice, G'Town twice, Creighton twice, etc. will do it. We get used to a certain level of competitiveness in the Big East but the bottom line is that very very few teams have that SOS. Our RPI is going to be in the 50's if not lower unless we blow games vs. Butler or DePaul, our BPI is 48. We have a much better shot than you think. 20 wins and .500 or better in the Big East is no small feat. I also think our big comeback and being a team that the committee would really benefit from having in the tourney would help. When an NYC team is good in any major sport it's great for the sport. Assuming we go .500 and get the 20 wins I think there's a shot we get in. Win 1 game in the BET and lock it up.