One week in the past, St. John’s struggled with mid-major opponent Towson.
The Johnnies discovered a option to win that recreation.
Saturday night time, they misplaced, however there have been causes to be inspired by the 96-94 time beyond regulation setback to Michigan on the Backyard.
There was progress — within the Johnnies’ battle, their potential to rally a number of occasions from deficits and the general play of their frontcourt.
“I noticed loads of actually good issues,” coach Rick Pitino mentioned afterward. “However I feel the weak point is simply eight new guys [getting used to] enjoying collectively. Nice recreation — nice recreation.”
It was an entertaining exhibition between a pair of preseason High 10 groups that characteristic two of the perfect forwards within the nation, Zuby Ejiofor for St. John’s and Yaxel Lendeborg for Michigan.
They every performed nicely, combining for 49 factors. St. John’s forwards Bryce Hopkins and Dillon Mitchell additionally had loads of robust moments, every scoring 13 factors, and level guard Dylan Darling (seven factors, two assists) rebounded from his shaky outing towards Towson.
Finally, Michigan was higher on the glass, outrebounding St. John’s by 12, and shot 52.2 p.c from the sphere, in comparison with 39.7 for St. John’s.
Pitino harped on needing his guards to rebound and defend higher, whereas praising the play of his energetic frontcourt.
It didn’t assist that the 2 beginning Johnnies guards, Oziyah Sellers and Joson Sanon (14 factors), fouled out and noticed restricted minutes in consequence. Michigan coach Dusty Could felt that was the distinction within the recreation.
The Pink Storm trailed by eight early within the further session, till Lefteris Liotopoulos caught hearth, scoring eight consecutive factors. The sophomore had an opportunity to provide them the lead with 8.4 seconds left, however missed two of three free throws.
Pitino and Ejiofor had been extra involved with the truth that the Johnnies have been outrebounded in each exhibition video games, and with so many new gamers, aren’t as related as they want.
The protection did power 22 turnovers, however allowed 54 factors within the paint to the mammoth Wolverines, who’ve two 7-footers in Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara.
“We’re making an attempt to get again to that defensive mindset we had final 12 months,” mentioned Ejiofor, who completed with 24 factors, six rebounds, six assists and three steals. “It’s going to take time, however we’re going to determine it out.
“There’s no excuses. Profitable is the usual that we’re making an attempt to construct right here at St. John’s. Everyone got here right here to win, all of the transfers got here right here to win. Simply be higher and study from it.”
A number of occasions, Pitino raved concerning the expertise of dealing with an elite opponent on the Backyard, due to what he and his gamers realized from the defeat. He put collectively a troublesome nonconference schedule and this contest will higher put together St. John’s for that.
“We’ll be prepared for Quinnipiac. I don’t know if we’re prepared for Alabama or Kentucky, Ole Miss and the Las Vegas journey,” the Corridor of Fame coach mentioned. “However we’ll get it accomplished. Lots of people are in the identical boat we’re in with new gamers. I set the schedule powerful as a result of I must know [where we have to get better].
“If we performed a [lesser] workforce, and we received the sport simply, we don’t know what our weaknesses are. So I needed to seek out out, and I came upon tonight what our weaknesses are. It’s an amazing educating device.”
