If Monday was the first real test for St. John’s, Mike Anderson will have a lot to unpack in the next two days.
While dominant at times, last season’s shortcomings of being able to finish games once again reared their head as the Red Storm narrowly held off Boston College, 97-93, in Bubbleville at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
A choppy start to the contest saw the Johnnies down 10 early, but a 10-0 spurt fueled a 23-8 run to end the half with the Red Storm leading, 52-40. That momentum carried early into the second half, as the St. John’s lead ballooned to 20, but a 14-0 Boston College run in just two-and-a-half minutes cut the lead back to single digits.
Late in the game, it looked as if St. John’s was again in control, but a 14-point late-game lead dwindled down to just one point with under a minute to go.
Here are my five takeaways from the win:
Alexander is the real deal
Outside of a disastrous windmill dunk attempt on Monday, true freshman point guard Posh Alexander has been the perfect fit for Mike Anderson’s system.
A bulldog on both ends of the floor, Alexander set a career high with 18 points, while adding four rebounds and four assists. While it’s still just three games into the season, the tenacity and poise of the four-star recruit out of the Bronx has shown why Anderson and his staff were so excited about his potential.
Newcomers continue to impress
Even outside of Alexander, St. John’s has to be thrilled with the contributions it is receiving from its first-year players.
Junior college transfers Isaih Moore and Vince Cole stole the show in the Red Storm’s first two games, but were limited in their efforts Monday, largely due to foul trouble. Instead, it was freshman Dylan Addae-Wusu – a true freshman and high school teammate of Alexander’s – who made his presence felt.
Largely an afterthought before the year, Addae-Wusu has impressed in the early going. On Monday the 6-foot-4, 235-pound freshman contributed nine points and six assists, and also drew two crucial charges to slow Boston College runs.
Champagnie as advertised
After losing its two leading scorers from a year ago in LJ Figueroa and Mustapha Heron, many figured it would be up to sophomore forward Julian Champagnie to pick up the scoring slack. After missing the first two games of the year with an ankle injury, Champganie did just that.
The 6-foot-8 sophomore showed an improved shooting touch, coming off the bench and scoring from all three levels for a career-high 29 points. Despite his offensive heroics, Champagnie’s biggest play came on the defensive end on the floor. Nursing a three-point lead in the waning seconds, Champagnie blocked a Boston College 3-point attempt in the corner, sealing the win for the Johnnies.
Johnnies depth is a weapon
Gone are the days of the six-man rotation for the Red Storm. For Anderson’s pressure defense to work, St. John’s must be able to keep players fresh and out of foul trouble.
Without part-time starter Rasheem Dunn – who missed his second-straight game in the concussion protocol – Anderson rotated through all 11 of his remaining scholarship players. That kind of depth and contribution off the bench fuels Anderson’s high-octane system, and helped account for a 42-32 edge in rebounds, including 14 offensive boards, while also forcing 19 BC turnovers.
Williams heating up
After a poor start to the season against Saint Peter’s, junior guard Greg Williams has picked up where he left off last season.
Williams poured in 17 points, highlighted by an explosive dunk between two defenders, to go with six assists and three rebounds. If he continues to progress, he and Alexander will form one of the more dynamic back courts in the Big East.
Next up
St. John’s was slated to travel to No. 17 Texas Tech on Thursday, but opted out amid concerns over COVID-19. The Red Storm will instead remain in Bubbleville and take on an undefeated BYU squad Wednesday at 5 p.m.
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