The outcome was predictable.
The sport St. John’s performed Tuesday night time wasn’t about that, nevertheless, contemplating its opponent, LIU, is ranked 350th within the nation by KenPom.com and is on the basement degree of a serious rebuilding course of underneath first-year coach Rod Strickland.
No, this simple win was vital as a result of Posh Alexander was again on the ground, wholesome and taking part in with confidence after he suffered a head harm final week in the course of the Pink Storm’s win over Syracuse within the Empire Traditional championship recreation.
Alexander appeared like his common self, notching 12 factors and eight assists within the Pink Storm’s 95-68 shellacking of their Northeast Convention opponent. Maybe most significantly, the junior guard sank two 3-pointers — his first two of the season. Alexander must make these photographs from distance this season after he struggled a lot with them as a sophomore.
“It’s nice to see a few of them go down right this moment. That’s what I’ve been ready for,” Alexander stated. “I needed to see one go down simply to construct again up my confidence. It was actually my teammates giving me the ball, telling me to shoot it.”
St. John’s wants Alexander at his greatest to have a giant season, and coach Mike Anderson’s crew actually is thrilled to have him able to go for a go to Sunday to No. 23 Iowa State. The Cyclones are by far one of the best opponent the Pink Storm could have confronted up to now after a formidable 8-0 begin, and a win might result in a nationwide rating for the primary time within the Anderson period.
“I believe we’re taking part in fairly good basketball,” Anderson stated. “We’ll discover out a bit bit extra about our crew [Sunday], that’s the most important key.”
The Pink Storm are 4 wins shy of matching the beginning of the 2018-19 squad, the final St. John’s NCAA Event crew. Like that crew, this group has performed a mushy non-conference schedule. Iowa State can be its first top-50 opponent, and its total non-conference slate is ranked 344th nationally.
Nonetheless, there was quite a bit to love up to now. Massive man Joel Soriano appears to be like like probably the most improved gamers within the nation, and has seven double-doubles in eight video games after ending with 16 factors and 10 rebounds in opposition to LIU.
Jacob Johnson led LIU (1-4) with 17 factors, and Quion Burns had 10 factors and eight rebounds.
The 2 big-name transfers for St. John’s, Andre Curbelo (who had 18 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists) and David Jones (who had 14 factors), have each lived as much as the offseason hype. There may be depth, which was missing in previous seasons, and extra athleticism, which inserts Anderson’s uptempo fashion higher.
A part of that was on show in sophomore guard Rafael Pinzon, who scored a season-high 14 factors off the bench after being out with an ankle harm, and senior ahead Esahia Nyiwie, who contributed six factors and 4 rebounds in 9 minutes. The 6-foot-10 Nyiwe, a high quality shot-blocker with the flexibility to step out past the arc, was anticipated to be a key a part of this crew. However he has appeared in simply 4 video games because of the tragic demise of his youthful brother, Naayian. Being again round basketball helps him.
“Basketball is my love and keenness,” Nyiwe stated. “Clearly it actually damage. I went residence for a few week or two to spend time with my household. However my brothers, Posh and everybody else within the locker room, they helped me quite a bit.
“They’ve been reaching out to me each single day, sending me a variety of love. It’s nice to be again. I really like my household right here and I’m simply able to work.”
Postgrad senior Montez Mathis missed the sport resulting from an undisclosed sickness.
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