MSG - commonly known to be used in Chinese food and cause adverse effects or reactions is not what I am referring to here in the headline. The MSG in this heading is referring to Madison Square Garden, the home away from campus home for the St. John's Red Storm. However, it is having the same effect as the additive for top 10 teams. St. John's has beaten 4 top 10 teams this year in the Garden. How is that for performing on one of the biggest sports stages in the biggest city in America.
They have taken down Georgetown 61-58, Notre Dame 72-54, Duke 93-78 and most recently Connecticut 89-72. Senior Guard Dwight Hardy led the way with 33 points. This Red Storm team is surging now and leaving teams behind in their wake. No one expected anything from this team at the start of the year, in fact, in some publications, they were picked to finish either second to last or dead last in the Big East. Steve Lavin has done unbelievable things with this team this year and with his upcoming recruiting class (#3 in the country) but I for one am quite suspicious. Regardless, you can not argue with the success. They are now 15-9 on the year and ahead of Syracuse in the big east standings with a 7-5 conference record, while Syracuse sits at 7-6 in the Biggest and Baddest Conference in College Basketball. They are performing now and if they continue to perform I think this team has a good shot at making it into the field of 64, sorry my bad, field of 65. Want to guess where the Big East tournament is held......Madison Square Garden........Bolds well for the Johnies.
Speaking of the Big East - here is my current rankings for the Big East.
1. Pittsburgh (23-2 - Strong, deep team, tough to beat at Home. Wannamaker wanting to make it all the way this year. Just knocked off Nova in Villanova where they had not lost at home in over 4 years.
2. Georgetown (19-5) - Hottest team right now with 8 wins in a row. Freeman playing outstanding. Getting excellent play from perimeter. Big game with UCONN on 2/16
3. Notre Dame (21-4) - Hansbrough getting as much ink lately as older brother Tyler used to get. Match up type team that could get knocked off early in NCAA tournament
4. Villanova (19-6) - Good all around ball club, can defend, can play uptempo or slow it down.
5. Connecticut (18-5) - Losing some steam as the season winds down. Walker is a stud but will get double teamed and draw best defenders come tournament time. Unless this team finds different players to step up Walker can only carry this UCONN team as far as the elite 8
6. Louisville (19-6) - The athletes are beginning to play nice on the playground. This team is gelling at the right time and it may be poised to take a deep run in the Big East Playoffs.
7. Syracuse (20-6) - My Cuse boys are almost as frustrating to watch as the Spartans. They dropped two in a row to Georgetown and Louisville this past week as once again below average defense, foul trouble and inconsistent guard play is hurting the Orange.
8. St. John's (15-9) - Watch out for this team
9. West Virginia (16-8) - If they get the right matchups they can be a challenge for teams that are not expecting a lot from this Huggins team
10. Cincinnati (19-5) - This team gets no recognition but at 7-5 in the Big East they are now starting to get looks.
Ohio State goes down to Wisconsin on Saturday - was this a surprise. To me, it would not have been if you called this before the game started. Heck, Ohio State had lost I believe their last 6 or 8 times in Wisconsin. They rarely lose at the Kohl's Center where they are something like 150-19 or something ridiciolous like that. They were favored by boys in Vegas too. But once the game was being played and Ohio State jumped out to a 16 point lead, there was no way I thought this team would relinquish the lead, even in the Kohl's Center. Despite the loss, this is still one, if not the best team, in the nation. They have everything you want in a team from athleticism, balance scoring, perimeter shooters, defenders, transition players, rebounding strength, etc. They will be a Final Four team.
Ohio State was not the only team blowing a big lead in a big game this past week. The improving North Carolna Tarheels looked like they were going to upset Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium in one of the biggest rivalry games in all of college sports but they could not hand on and the crowd of Cameron Crazies carried the Dukies to a come from behind 6 point win.
Steve Fisher just keeps on winning at San Diego State - this team is legit. Watch out for them.
My College Hoops Top 10 Rankings:
1. Pittsburgh
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Kansas
5. Duke
6. San Diego St - 25-1 - Have to give this team some recognition
7. Georgetown
8. BYU
9. Notre Dame
10 Wisconsin
College Player of the year candidates:
Jared Sullinger - Ohio State - this man is amazing. For a big man he has great hands, quick feet, strong body with control, gets great position on the low post and finishes or draws the foul and is one big man that can knock down a free throw consistently. He is My pick for National player of the year
Jimmer Fredette - BYU - He can shoot and he can score. He may not be tall (6'1") but he can create and he has long, long range. He may not be a lottery pick but will be a late first round pick in the draft
Kemba Walker - Connecticut - extremely talented - can hurt you a number of ways. Can flat out score.
Your Basketball SNOB
No comments:
Post a Comment