Johnnies dominate LIU for 8th straight win, gain momentum heading to Iowa State

Joel Soriano puts finishing touches on one-handed slam as St. John’s routed LIU Tuesday. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

NEW YORK — I tell myself, hey, only fools rush in

Only time will tell if we stand the test of time

All I know, you’ve got to run to win

And I’ll be damned if I’ll get hung up on the line

— Van Halen, “Why Can’t This Be Love”

So much and so little has been made — at the same time, no less — of the conundrum that is St. John’s undefeated start to a pivotal regular season where the natives on the corner of Union and Utopia have reached a crescendo in their cries for a postseason run earlier than most other campaigns where the momentum begins to build when the calendar reaches the start of Big East Conference play.

Make no mistake, the Red Storm came into Tuesday’s showdown with Long Island University (no longer LIU Brooklyn due to the school’s acquisition of, and subsequent merger with, LIU Post) as one of 20 remaining unbeaten teams in the nation despite vocal criticism of a non-conference schedule that was panned when it was released and had become even more maligned in light of the struggles of Syracuse and Florida State to begin the season.

And on Tuesday, the Red Storm did what it needed to do in its final tuneup before a trip to the heartland to take on an Iowa State team less than a week removed from knocking off top-ranked North Carolina, throttling the Sharks — formerly the Blackbirds — from tip to buzzer and pillar to post in a 95-68 obliteration that served as target practice in some ways and a much-needed get-right game for several Johnnies, including Posh Alexander, who made his return to the lineup after spending Saturday’s win over Niagara in concussion protocol following the Empire Classic triumph over Syracuse in which he sustained the possible malady.

“Good team win,” a succinct Mike Anderson surmised. “Guys came off the bench and gave us some good minutes. We did what we were supposed to do.”

One reserve who had a positive contribution was Rafael Pinzon, who poured in 14 points to be one of five St. John’s players who tallied a dozen or more on the scoreboard. For the sophomore, who battled a nagging finger injury as a freshman while also going through a bout of COVID during his rookie year, the breakout was a harbinger of things to come once he finds a consistent groove.

“I think he’s going to be pivotal,” Anderson said of his backup point guard, who was more adept at shooting on this night, draining three of his five 3-point attempts. “You can see, when he’s in rhythm, what he brings to the table. He’s definitely one of our better shooters, and he’s definitely got a confidence about himself. He’s got that grit. He’s been sick, he’s been hurt, he’s been a lot of things, and once we get him in rhythm, he’s going to be very, very good.”

One of his teammates who is already at that level, however, is Joel Soriano. The Fordham transfer, who would arguably be the Haggerty Award favorite if the season ended today, demonstrated his growth and development yet again Tuesday on the way to 16 points and 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double in eight games and a further explanation of just what — and who — has helped make the Stepinac product the nation’s leading rebounder and such an effective post presence.

“I think he’s playing with what he brings to the table,” said Anderson. “He’s got size, he’s got length, he’s got athletic ability, he’s in shape and he’s playing with a lot of confidence. One thing about big guys — and any kind of player — if you get them the ball offensively, they’ll do some things defensively and rebound the basketball. So I’ve gotta credit our guards. They’re putting him in position to energize us, and that’s what we’re seeing. He’s playing to his size, his length, and he’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

Now 8-0, St. John’s faces its first true test Sunday night in Ames against the 23rd-ranked Cyclones, who possess a lethal shooter in Caleb Grill, veteran experience in St. Bonaventure transfers Jaren Holmes and Osun Osunniyi, and an underrated young coach in T.J. Otzelberger, whose in-game acumen has grown in lockstep with his already prominent recruiting prowess. Add to that a near-invincible aura beneath the backdrop of Hilton Coliseum, and you have a stiff assignment, but one the Red Storm is more confident in than it is trepidatious. 

“I feel like we’re good,” a stoic Alexander projected. “We’re going to take it day by day, go at it in practice, and just get prepared. That’s really it.”

“Where are we? I think we’re playing pretty good basketball,” Anderson added. “Obviously, we’re going on the road and we’re going to play a team that’s a good defensive team, and like all good teams, they play well at home. So we’ll have to defend and make shots. That’s the bottom line. When adversity takes place, we’ll see how we respond. We’ll find out a little bit more about our team. That’s our biggest key.”

The 8-0 start has what it takes, and St. John’s fans want it straight from the heart. 

Why can’t this be love?

Sunday night will reveal that, for better or worse.