Creighton's Arthur Kaluma goes up for a shot whereas beneath stress from Aaron Wheeler and O'Mar Stanley (No. 4) throughout St. John's 87-64 loss to Creighton.
AP
OMAHA, Neb. — The beginning of every half was horrible. And the remainder of the sport wasn’t significantly better.
This was 40 Minutes of Hell — for St. John’s and its followers.
With an opportunity to construct off its current momentum, the Johnnies have been a no-show and slid backward considerably, reverting to their poor play throughout the non-conference season.
Protection was nonexistent. Urgency was missing. So was any sort of aggression. If St. John’s was ready to face Creighton, it didn’t present it in an embarrassing and noncompetitive, 87-64 loss at CHI Well being Middle.
“It appeared like we have been only a half-step gradual in a variety of totally different areas,” coach Mike Anderson stated. “Our protection was not superb tonight, to not our requirements.”
They made the Bluejays, an NCAA Match bubble group that misplaced its total beginning lineup from a 12 months in the past, appear to be a Ultimate 4 favourite. With the ugly defeat, St. John’s (10-6, 2-3 Large East) fell to 0-5 in Quad 1 video games.
Anderson’s group was annihilated from past the 3-point arc (Creighton made 14 of 27 makes an attempt) by the worst 3-point taking pictures group within the Large East and overwhelmed up on the glass, 50-31. It wasn’t prepared to start out both half, outscored 20-7 to start out the sport and 17-5 popping out of the break. Creighton had St. John’s on skates on the defensive finish, unable to defend them one-on-one, resulting in wide-open appears from the perimeter.
“Popping out on the street, we simply received to be 10 occasions higher,” ahead Aaron Wheeler stated.
Anderson felt his group was able to play, however pictures didn’t fall and Creighton received sizzling. When requested why, as he famous, the Johnnies have been a “half-step gradual,” the coach stated he must watch the movie. Wheeler stated they have been undisciplined, significantly with their transition and assist protection. Anderson pointed to the second offensive possession for Creighton, when St. John’s allowed Ryan Hawkins to get a transparent take a look at a 3-pointer he knocked down, as only one occasion.
“We have been late to our rotations, understanding who the shooters are,” he stated.
Duke switch Alex O’Connell scored a career-high 28 factors for Creighton (11-5, 3-2 Large East) and hit six 3-pointers in outplaying St. John’s star Julian Champagnie, who missed 14 of 21 pictures and was held to 17 factors. Two Creighton freshmen, Arthur Kaluma (20) and Trey Alexander (11), posted career-highs in factors. Wheeler was the very best Johnnie — notching 16 factors, six rebounds and three assists. It wasn’t near sufficient of their most lopsided defeat of the season.
For a group that entered the season with NCAA Match expectations, it’s getting late. The Johnnies don’t simply must construct a résumé, they should begin one. Requested if this group’s hopes of reaching the event are beginning to dim, Anderson identified what number of video games stay.
St. John’s (10-6, 2-3) does have ample alternatives arising within the loaded Large East to climb out of this gap, beginning with a home-and-home Saturday and Monday towards native rival Seton Corridor. That’s the constructive. The damaging is the Johnnies have but to indicate they'll beat this caliber of opponent. This loss was the most recent instance.
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