Bubble Boys, But Maybe Not For Long

Leave it to New York native Jerry Seinfeld to introduce the world-famous "bubble boy." However, unlike the episode of the hit 1990s sitcom, there is more than one bubble boy taking center stage in 2011. In fact, there are approximately 15 to be exact; and like Seinfeld, they hail from the Empire State. I'm talking about the St. John's Red Storm, who added yet another convincing argument to their case for returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 with their 89-72 domination of ninth-ranked Connecticut last night; the Johnnies' fourth victory over a Top 25 team this season and third against one ranked within the Top 10.

For all the naysayers that still consider Steve Lavin to be a recruiter with no talent or ability on the court, last night was Exhibit A of Lavin's coaching acumen, which he considers enhanced by his "sabbatical" as a color commentator on ESPN for the last seven years prior to arriving on the corner of Union and Utopia on March 31st when he was officially introduced as the new Red Storm head man. With a record of 14-9 and a roster of players recruited by previous coach Norm Roberts, Lavin's sole connection to this squad going into the season was his job title. Almost a year later, Lavin has instilled his positive outlook, extroverted disposition and placid demeanor into a team that most had left for dead after only posting two winning seasons during Roberts' six-year tenure on the bench.

Under Roberts, St. John's had posted upsets over Top 25 teams; but those landmark wins came infrequently over six years, and had not been seen since the aforementioned (in past posts) 71-65 win over then-No. 7 Notre Dame at Madison Square Garden on January 3, 2009. Lavin posted his first Top 25 win two years to that day, (61-58 over then-No. 13 Georgetown) followed by three more: A 72-54 thrashing of then-No. 9 Notre Dame on January 16th, the epic 93-78 dismantling of third-ranked Duke on January 30th, and last night against UConn. All four of these quality wins have come at the Garden, where St. John's is 6-1 this season, with the lone loss coming January 12th against Syracuse. Three years ago, St. John's was 1-6 inside the "World's Most Famous Arena," with the sole victory coming in the Holiday Festival semifinals, a three-point decision against Marist.

Joining the quartet of home wins against teams that are part of the polls is the Johnnies' 81-71 road win against West Virginia in their Big East opener on December 31st, and fans, critics and experts alike argue that this is enough for St. John's to have locked up a tournament spot. However, 14-9 only scratches the surface, it doesn't shatter it. The positives for the Johnnies, you might ask? For starters, their RPI has moved up to 19, (courtesy of realtimerpi.com) while their strength of schedule remains No. 1 in the country. In fact, the Red Storm ledger garnered attention on the local airwaves here in New York this afternoon. In an interview with my friend and colleague Evan Roberts on WFAN's midday show, Lavin spoke about his decision to go against the grain early in the season. "A lot of teams load up on cupcakes and cream puffs," Lavin told Roberts when asked about his scheduling of a cross-country road trip to St. Mary's as opposed to playing low-major teams at home inside Carnesecca Arena as the team had done for the last six years under Roberts. "We didn't do that."

For every positive, (in this case, RPI and strength of schedule) there is a negative. (bad losses against St. Bonaventure and Fordham, as well as a 14-9 record) With seven games remaining, St. John's needs at least four wins to secure a spot in the Big Dance. The selection committee approaches teams like basic strategy in blackjack. For those unfamiliar with the analogy, I'll explain. In blackjack, the house hits on 16 and all hands under; and stays on 17 and all hands higher. Not counting conference tournaments, the committee usually hits by looking at a team's resume more closely when they have 17 (or less) regular-season wins; whereas they tend to give the thumbs-up to programs with 18 (or more) victories heading into a conference tournament. Of the seven left for the Red Storm, four wins would put them at 18-12 and 10-8 in the Big East. Here's a look at what's ahead, with a brief analysis of each one:

1) Sunday at Cincinnati - St. John's looks for revenge against a Bearcats team that stole a win away from them on January 22nd at Carnesecca Arena. Cincinnati, however, is 13-1 on their home court at Fifth Third Arena; but the loss was an 11-point defeat at the hands of a West Virginia team St. John's owns a road win against.

2) Tuesday at Marquette - Arguably the hardest game to figure out down the stretch. St. John's hasn't beaten Marquette since February 26, 1966; when Steve Lavin was just 17 months old and Golden Eagles coach Buzz Williams wasn't even conceived yet. Either way, the Red Storm have shown us to expect the unexpected, even if Marquette does not have a bad loss this season; and took both Wisconsin and UConn to the limit in both of their losses at the Bradley Center.

3) Saturday, February 19th vs. Pittsburgh - The last of eight games at Madison Square Garden this season comes against a buzzsaw Pitt team that could be without Ashton Gibbs depending on how soon he comes back from an injured MCL. Pitt has only lost twice this season, once to Tennessee on a neutral court; with the other defeat coming at the Petersen Center against Notre Dame, who split with the Johnnies this season.

4) Wednesday, February 23rd vs. DePaul - Just as Marquette is the hardest to figure out, DePaul is the easiest to decipher. Nothing against the Blue Demons, who have lost 46 of their last 47 Big East games since the 2008-09 season; (not counting their Big East tournament win against Cincinnati in March 2009) but St. John's is just more talented.

5) Saturday, February 26th at Villanova - This one just became a little more complex after Jonathan Mitchell's four-point play at the RAC Wednesday night defeated the Wildcats, but Jay Wright always seems to have the right formula for defeating St. John's. Throw in one of the best student sections in the country in 'Nova Nation, and you have an atmosphere that spells trouble for visitors if nothing else.

6) Thursday, March 3rd at Seton Hall - The trap game of the remaining seven in my opinion. St. John's has only been to the Prudential Center one time, and it wasn't pretty. I had the honor of doing play-by-play for WSJU Radio at the Rock on February 5, 2009 when Seton Hall got off to a 31-9 start before ultimately prevailing by the final of 91-81. Jeremy Hazell, who went off for 31 against the Storm that night, is once again healthy; and is capable of killing the Johnnies as he has in the past. That is, if he is able to overcome the matchup zone that rendered Kemba Walker into a non-factor last night for UConn.

7) Saturday, March 5th vs. South Florida - Senior night at Carnesecca Arena should be a win, although USF has shown flashes of being competitive this season. (Look at their near-upset of UConn) However, this Bulls team has clearly shown it is not half as good without Dominique Jones, who skipped his junior season to turn pro; and is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

So there you have it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on where St. John's will go down the stretch and what will ultimately become of them, either by adding comments here or on Twitter at twitter.com/DalyDoseOfHoops.

They may be living in a bubble, but if St. John's has their way, it won't be for much longer.

The Amazing Jonathan

Jonathan Mitchell continues to defy convention and improve with each passing day, as his four-point play with :00.8 seconds left lifts Rutgers to 77-76 upset over Villanova. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)

Eight days ago, Rutgers took my alma mater of St. John's to the limit at Carnesecca Arena before ultimately falling short on a Justin Brownlee game-winner. After the final buzzer, I immediately concluded that the Scarlet Knights were the Rocky Balboa of the Big East. For those unfamiliar with the analogy, just watch the end of the first "Rocky" movie, where although Apollo Creed wins the fight, Rocky wins the war by gaining more credibility; and ultimately the heavyweight championship in "Rocky II."

The Scarlet Knights had won me over before that thanks to coach Mike Rice; but the more I watched the team, one player stood out in particular. This player had been through an emotional roller coaster of sorts, from winning a national championship as a true freshman at Florida to having to transfer due to lack of playing time with the Gators. A product of upstate New York, growing up in the shadows of the Bronx in Mount Vernon, he is the embodiment of a warrior. A man who refuses to let criticism or anything else get the best of him, one who just goes out and takes care of business every night. The first time I saw him, he scored 20 against North Carolina at Madison Square Garden; and although a senior, I sensed he could really be something special. That was the first time I got to see Jonathan Mitchell.

Just over a month later, "J-Mitch" has continued to elevate his already vast talent, doing so to the tune of 24 points against St. John's and 25 last night against Villanova, the last four of those coming on a four-point play with :00.8 seconds remaining in regulation after Mitchell drained a three while drawing a foul on the Wildcats' Corey Fisher. Less than 24 hours after the shot, (which was called brilliantly by my friend and colleague Chris Carlin, who handled radio play-by-play for the Scarlet Knights on WOR) coaches across the Big East could not stop raving about Mitchell, even those who had unsuccessfully tried to recruit him.

"We recruited him out of high school," said Villanova head man Jay Wright, who was burned firsthand by Mitchell's heroics last night. "I'm not surprised that he gets better and better every year." South Florida's Stan Heath, who was also on the losing end of a battle against Rutgers, also praised Mitchell on this morning's Big East coaches' conference call. "You could tell he's playing like a senior," said the affable Heath. "He's playing inspirational basketball." Notre Dame coach Mike Brey commented about how he had two chances to land Mitchell in South Bend, losing out both after Mitchell graduated high school and left Florida; however the coach insisted that he has "always loved him." Cincinnati's Mick Cronin added perhaps the greatest praise for Mitchell, calling his shot-making ability "tremendous;" and even going so far as to call him "one of the better players in our league and one of the most underrated players in our conference."

Mitchell's own coach lauded his senior swingman as someone who was "trying to carry us and become a leader" after the loss at St. John's. This morning, Mike Rice said it was "unbelievable" as to how much he has grown and come outside himself. "Every single day, he refuses to listen to anybody. He's one of the guys I'll always owe the beginning of our success to, and one of the guys I'll always remember."

From someone who has covered his share of underrated players, (coincidentally, most of them have played against St. John's) it's nice to see someone like Mitchell succeed; and as a fan turned media member, I can agree with Mike Rice on many things, none more so than this:

Jonathan Mitchell is one of the guys that I, too, will always remember.

Postgame Shootaround: St. John's vs. UCLA

Steve Lavin, shown here in his earlier years at UCLA, returned to Westwood today for first time since 2003, but didn't get to leave a winner as St. John's fell to Bruins 66-59. (Photo courtesy of uclabruins.com)

The day before the Super Bowl was hyped as a Super Bowl of sorts for St. John's for months before the season even started. When your big-name coach gets a chance to return to the place he called home for seven years as a first-time visitor, not much else can be expected. While St. John's players went into Los Angeles with the intent of winning one for coach Steve Lavin, their opponents had other ideas.

Despite a career-high 32 points from Dwight Hardy, St. John's (13-9) was unable to overcome all the obstacles at Pauley Pavilion, falling to UCLA (16-7) by the final of 66-59. UCLA was led by center Joshua Smith, who paced the Bruins with 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Reeves Nelson provided 12 points for the home team, perhaps none bigger than his three-pointer in the final minute that put UCLA ahead 65-59 after the Johnnies had cut a ten-point deficit to three as the second half wore on. Malcolm Lee also chipped in with 15 points for the Bruins, whose NCAA Tournament chances were enhanced about as much as St. John's dreams were potentially dashed.

The game was ultimately decided at the free throw line, where the Red Storm's 23 fouls sent UCLA to the line 41 times during the game as opposed to just seven foul shots for St. John's. Five of the nine players used by Lavin in his homecoming accumulated three or more fouls; and UCLA received the double bonus halfway through the second half, racking up two shots for every infraction over the final ten minutes. St. John's was also outrebounded 37-27 despite a plus-8 turnover margin. (St. John's forced 18 turnovers while only committing 10)

St. John's returns to Big East play Thursday night with a crucial game against perennial adversary UConn at Madison Square Garden before starting an equally pivotal road trip to Cincinnati and Marquette. Before the Huskies come into town, here's a recap of what happened in the City of Angels this afternoon (morning on the West Coast since it was a 10am tipoff there) with some lasting impressions.

• Justin Brownlee, the hero of Wednesday night's game against Rutgers, was a non-factor today with his 1-for-9 performance from the field. Brownlee had two chances to potentially pull St. John's within one in the final two minutes; but was unable to convert on both of his layup attempts, setting the stage for Reeves Nelson's dagger from long-range that gave the Bruins the win.
• The balanced attack Steve Lavin praised in the Rutgers win was nowhere to be found today, as Dwight Hardy outscored the rest of the team 32-27. Hardy's new career high was set on 13-of-24 shooting, but no other Johnny scored more than six.
• Whenever a team gets at least 20 foul shots, they stand a great chance to win the game. UCLA doubled that number and added one more for good measure with their 41 free throw attempts, compared to just seven for St. John's.
• Some experts may argue that St. John's is still an NCAA Tournament team today, but this loss could start a downward spiral if the Johnnies are not careful. With UConn, Cincinnati, Marquette and Pitt up next before DePaul comes into Carnesecca Arena on February 23rd, St. John's has to salvage a split of the next four games in order to maintain their positive outlook with the selection committee. UConn could be easy if Kemba Walker continues to struggle, but playing in Madison Square Garden could be the spark he needs. Two years ago, the Bronx native returned to the Garden for the first time since playing in the CHSAA playoffs at Rice High School under current St. John's director of basketball operations Maurice Hicks, then the coach of the Raiders. Walker led all scorers with 21 points off the bench that night en route to a Huskies victory.

Open Mike Excites Jersey Knights

As expected, Mike Rice is making a difference at Rutgers, but much quicker than expected. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)

At the start of the season, everyone who knew Rutgers and new coach Mike Rice expected a positive marriage. However, not everyone expected so much so soon.

Even after last night's road loss to St. John's, the Scarlet Knights are performing much better than anyone could have envisioned; with a 12-10 record that includes a 9-3 mark in nonconference games. In fact, if Rutgers can pick up at least three more wins down the stretch; which given their schedule is not impossible, coupled with a win in the Big East tournament next month, it's not inconceivable to think that the Scarlet Knights can pick up an invite to the NIT. Considering what Rice inherited following the resignation of Fred Hill and departures of Mike Rosario, Greg Echenique and Pat Jackson, it would be a monumental improvement on the banks of the old Raritan.

Say what you want about his on-court demeanor, but the fact remains that the 41-year-old Rice can coach just as well, if not better than, his counterparts in the Big East. Just four years into a head coaching career that began at two-time defending Northeast Conference champion Robert Morris, Rice has remained positive during his maiden voyage in Piscataway, not an easy feat considering the hard times that have befallen Rutgers in recent years. However, Rice has been assisted in keeping an enthusiastic disposition with the play of his roster, namely senior forward Jonathan Mitchell, who carried the Knights last night with 21 in their losing effort against Steve Lavin and the Red Storm.

Rice only plays a nine-man rotation due to lack of depth on his bench, through no fault of his own. That will change next year when the highly regarded Rutgers recruiting class makes its way into Piscataway, where they will learn Rice's style, described to me by the coach at Big East media day as an "intense and aggressive" brand of basketball that "emphasizes teamwork over talent." While Rice's students made significant headway at the start of the season by winning nine of their first twelve, they have struggled in Big East play, losing seven of ten. Yet somehow, Rice is doing the same thing he was able to do at Robert Morris in guiding the Colonials to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and a near-upset of Villanova; and that is continuing to get so much out of so little.

When I watched Rutgers for the first time in person this season against North Carolina, there honestly wasn't much to be impressed about with the Scarlet Knights other than Rice's intensity on the bench. Just over a month later, the Scarlet Knights have done a complete 180 and are playing much harder as a team; and I couldn't help but compare Rutgers' play last night to the end of the first "Rocky" movie. Apollo Creed (St. John's last night) may have won the battle, but Rocky Balboa (Rutgers) gained more credibility and eventually won the war. Whether the Scarlet Knights do indeed come out on top remains to be seen; but they have already come much further than anyone would have imagined possible at this point, thanks to a great coach and even better person.

A Long Time Coming

Less than 24 hours later, it's still surreal to see St. John's fans storming the court at Madison Square Garden after Johnnies' unlikely 93-78 upset win over No. 3 Duke. (Photo courtesy of the author's personal collection)

You can always argue a statement win for any team in any sport. Very rarely, if ever, is there a consensus; but in the case of a once-proud college basketball program that has shown flashes of wanting to return to prominence, those associated with its glorious past need not look any further than the end result yesterday afternoon on a court just as rich in history; and an opponent with four national championships under a man soon to be recognized as the winningest coach of all time, and quite possibly among the greatest ever.

There are many special connotations to St. John's taking down third-ranked and reigning champion Duke yesterday at Madison Square Garden in the 93-78 Red Storm victory that definitely ranks among the biggest upsets in college basketball this season, and chief among them is that all the hype and optimism that engulfed the corner of Union and Utopia back at the end of March when athletic director Chris Monasch made the bold choice of luring former UCLA head man Steve Lavin out of the ESPN broadcast booth and back onto the bench as the successor to Norm Roberts has finally come to fruition.

When Lavin took the job, you didn't have to be a college basketball expert to tell that the charismatic coach hit all the right notes in his first impression. Right away, you could sense that Lavin had a vision to see this program succeed once more; and more importantly, St. John's had a coach that wanted to be there to make it happen after weeks of name upon name deciding against going to Queens to resurrect New York City's college hoops team. Almost a full year later, the aura that some programs would look upon as a potential distraction; one that was embraced by the St. John's community, has only grown exponentially to the point where the Red Storm are on the verge of doing something that has not been done in nine years: Make the NCAA Tournament.

Yesterday, the Johnnies picked up their first victory over Duke since the great Marcus Hatten game back in 2003, one where the former Red Storm star drained a free throw after time expired to give then-coach Mike Jarvis the win in a season that saw St. John's win the NIT, only to have that crown vacated after the infamous Pittsburgh incident that cost Jarvis his job and led to the six-year tenure of Norm Roberts that restored the program's dignity after experiencing its lowest point since playing basketball competitively for the first time back in 1908.

However, this win is for more than just the fans. It's for the players, a group led by ten seniors who feel as though they have something to prove; a group that has grown tired of being the doormat of the Big East and New York metro area. It's for a coaching staff that came together this summer with the daunting and unenviable task of getting a roster of players they would only have under their tutelage for five months to buy into a new system only to have to start from scratch. It's for the nine recruits who will take the court next year with the opportunity to make a name for themselves over the next four years of their lives if they stay in Queens that long. It's for the beat writers and play-by-play announcers that covered this team and its players up close and personal since the day most of them arrived on campus as 18-year-old boys in the fall of 2007 and wrote about their struggles or called their games and watched them grow up through resilient efforts like their back-to-back wins against Georgetown over seven days in March 2009, and demoralizing losses such as DePaul in 2008 and Fordham last month. It's for the young boys and girls that harbor dreams of playing at the highest level. It's for anyone with the ability to be inspired through something so simple and unassuming as a sporting event. It's for a city desperate to embrace a winner on the hardwood after years of frustration with the futility of both their collegiate and professional residents until this season. This is for anyone who believes that anything is possible. This is for those who don't just expect the unexpected, but hope for and greet it with open arms. This is for anyone simply looking for a reason to believe, in anyone or anything.

As a fan, alumnus and media member of St. John's University, words cannot describe how much people like me have waited for a feel-good moment like the one that transpired yesterday in midtown Manhattan. However, I offer this piece of advice for anyone remotely affiliated with the Red Storm in any capacity:

Enjoy the emotional high and savor the memories, because regardless of how this season turns out, one thing remains certain:

It's only just begun. A bright future awaits in the Big Apple, one that we'll all have the pleasure of experiencing together as it unfolds right before our eyes.

Love them or hate them, St. John's is back, and you'll find that most people wouldn't have it any other way.

Postgame Shootaround: Notre Dame vs. Pitt

Ben Hansbrough continues his meteoric rise in Notre Dame history with his 19 point, seven-assist performance in 56-51 Fighting Irish win at Pittsburgh. (Photo courtesy of New York Post)

New York Yankees radio play-by-play announcer John Sterling informs his audience on numerous occasions that "you can't predict baseball." That may be true, but it's not the only sport with an unpredictable nature. While baseball may have the element of unexpected outcomes, (like every sport) no game is as up in the air as college basketball; and no conference is as less of a guaranteed lock as the strongest and best league in the country, the Big East. If wins by Villanova and Providence against Syracuse and Louisville respectively weren't enough to reinforce that belief, Notre Dame did the skeptics another favor with a road win in Pittsburgh that was equal parts improbable and impressive. The Daly Dose takes you one step closer with some insights and lasting impressions from last night's encounter between the Fighting Irish and the second-ranked Panthers.

• A double shot of Big Ben.

Pittsburgh fans are used to seeing a man named Ben succeed in their town thanks to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's two Super Bowl wins since being drafted in 2004. However, less than 24 hours after Roethlisberger brought yet another AFC championship to the Steel City, another Ben worked similar magic. The only difference is that this Ben wore a road jersey. Ben Hansbrough (yes, Tyler's little brother) paced Notre Dame with 19 points, 13 of which came in the final nine-plus minutes as the Fighting Irish upset Pitt 56-51. In fact, Hansbrough outscored the Panthers down the stretch 13-12.

• Irish eyes are smiling.

They're also wide open after Mike Brey's team finally picked up its first Big East road win of the year after coming away from Marquette, Syracuse and St. John's on the opposite end of the boxscore. With their home wins against Georgetown, UConn, St. John's, Marquette and Cincinnati, the Irish are now 6-3 in conference play with four more games at the Joyce Center awaiting them. Should Notre Dame run the table at home, (a rather easy feat considering their homecourt dominance in recent years) a first-round bye in the Big East tournament will come in a gold and blue envelope as the Irish invade Madison Square Garden in March.

• A shocking loss, but a quality loss.

If there is such a thing. Pittsburgh loses at the Petersen Center about as often as Hulk Hogan lost wrestling matches back in the 1980s, so the Notre Dame celebration Monday night really did come off somewhat surreal. In fact, it's just the 12th time a visiting team has come onto the Pitt campus and walked away victorious. Even though the loss came mere hours after Pitt was moved up to second in the polls following Kansas' equally shocking home loss against Texas, the Panthers were solidified as one of the best teams in the country; (let alone the Big East) and will once again be expected to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Whether or not Jamie Dixon and company can finally close the deal is another story for a later time.

• The theory of evolution.

Darwin proposed natural selection. Mike Brey proposes depth. Back in January 2009 when Notre Dame came to Madison Square Garden to face St. John's in a game I called on WSJU Radio, Tim Abromaitis, Carleton Scott and Tyrone Nash were trapped behind Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland and some guy named Luke Harangody; not to mention backup center Luke Zeller. Two years later, the new frontcourt triumvirate is making differences in South Bend that are far greater and unique than the aforementioned troika that led the Irish along with guards Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney. Nash and Abromaitis had off nights, but Scott made the difference when Hansbrough did not; connecting for 16 points (all five of his field goals came from beyond the arc, making Irish fans forget the long-range proficiency of former swingman Ayers) and nine rebounds in a performance that rivaled Hansbrough's 19 and seven assists for most well-rounded contribution of the night.

Full Court Press: Texas-Kansas Preview

Kansas looks to continue their home dominance tomorrow afternoon when Jayhawks host Kansas looking for 70th consecutive win in Lawrence. (Photo courtesy of CBS Sports)

Before we begin, I'd like to mention to whatever fans and readers that I may have that I had a choice between previewing two high-profile games that will tip off tomorrow. Since the other one that I'm electing not to cover (Villanova-Syracuse) is the front end of a home-and-home, (The Wildcats and Orange will square off again at the Wells Fargo Center on February 21st) and because there's more to this site than the Big East, we'll head to Allen Fieldhouse for the game of the year in the Big 12 featuring No. 2 and 2008 national champion Kansas and the team they welcome into the heartland, No. 10 Texas. For what it's worth, the Longhorns are the first team to make a return appearance in this segment of the blog, with their first coming against North Carolina last month.

#10 Texas Longhorns (15-3, 3-0 Big 12)

Head Coach: Rick Barnes

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Dogus Balbay (6-1 Sr., 4.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.0 SPG, 55% FG, 54% FT)
SG: Cory Joseph (6-3 Fr., 11.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44% FG, 67% FT, 42% 3pt)

SF: Jordan Hamilton (6-7 So., 19.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 47% FG, 73% FT, 42% 3pt)

PF: Gary Johnson (6-6 Sr., 12.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 48% FG, 71% FT)
C: Tristan Thompson (6-8 Fr., 13.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.2 SPG, 54% FG, 49% FT)

Key Reserve:

G J'Covan Brown (6-1 So., 9.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 40% FG, 87% FT, 34% 3pt)

Keys To Victory:

Road Warriors - Although their win against North Carolina was on a neutral court in Greensboro, it really was a de facto road game. Not counting their 83-52 drubbing of Texas Tech, the Longhorns have only played one true road game; and that was their convincing victory at the Breslin Center against Michigan State. Texas is the clear-cut No. 2 in the Big 12 behind their opponent tomorrow, and this game could go a long way in determining whether or not that No. 2 will become a No. 1 in the near future.

Wing Man - Since Kansas starts three guards, Jordan Hamilton will be the biggest key for the Longhorns, as he will draw either Tyrel Reed or freshman sensation Josh Selby, creating a mismatch of at least four (maybe five) inches favoring the 6-7 Hamilton. Look for defensive rebounds to be the telltale stat line resulting from this matchup, as Hamilton's reach could very well be enough to hold the quickness of the Kansas backcourt at bay.

An Up-Hill Battle - Given that Kansas is taller than most teams Texas has played this year, don't be surprised if Rick Barnes plays big in Lawrence by sliding Hamilton down to shooting guard to accommodate 6-10 center Matt Hill. Hill has already started two games, and can provide an even matchup along with Tristan Thompson inside against the Morris twins.

#2 Kansas Jayhawks (18-0, 3-0 Big 12)

Head Coach: Bill Self

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Tyshawn Taylor (6-3 Jr., 8.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 49% FG, 73% FT)
SG: Josh Selby (6-2 Fr., 12.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 40% FG, 83% FT, 42% 3pt)

SF: Tyrel Reed (6-3 Sr., 9.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 41% FG, 88% FT, 37% 3pt)

PF: Marcus Morris (6-9 Jr., 17.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 61% FG, 67% FT, 40% 3pt)
C: Markieff Morris (6-10 Jr., 13.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 57% FG, 67% FT)

Key Reserves:

F Thomas Robinson (6-9 So., 8.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 62% FG, 47% FT)
G Travis Releford (6-5 So., 5.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 56% FG, 63% FT, 46% 3pt)

G Brady Morningstar (6-4 Sr., 4.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 44% FG, 83% FT)

Keys To Victory:

70 - The Chicago Bulls hold the record for most wins in a single NBA season with 72. With a win tomorrow, Kansas will extend their record home winning streak to 70 if they can walk off the court in Lawrence victorious.

Loud Noises! - Allen Fieldhouse has been described as the loudest arena in the country in addition to being among the toughest to play in. Kansas needs to use that to their advantage to throw a deceptively strong and quick Texas team off its game, and force the Longhorns to make uncharacteristic mistakes that can put them in a deep hole from which it will be difficult to recover.

Double Your Pleasure - It's no secret that the Morris twins are the forces behind Kansas' undefeated start. Before the addition of Josh Selby, Marcus and Markieff have made the motor run for the Jayhawks going back to their days as role players on the 2008-09 team that defended the national championship that was brought to Lawrence the season before. While Markieff may be the taller brother and leading rebounder of the two, it is Marcus who is more dangerous; scoring more while also shooting 61 percent from the field and an unbelievable (for a big man) 40 percent from beyond the arc.

So, Who Wins?

This truly is a matchup that can go either way, as Texas has shown its ability to compete with teams that appear to overmatch them, while Kansas is simply one of the best teams in the nation and a probable Final Four representative this April. While I've mentioned several times that Texas winning wouldn't surprise me, Kansas will simply be too much for the Longhorns this time around. The good thing for Rick Barnes is that his team will be better in the years to come, which should make the chances of bringing a win over the Jayhawks into Austin much higher.

Your Final: Kansas 81, Texas 73

Postgame Shootaround: Big East On Big Monday

What's better on a Monday night after football season (well, during the NFL playoffs, where all games take place over the weekend) than a pair of marquee matchups from the best conference in basketball where every team on the court is ranked in the top ten of both major polls? If you're anything like me, nothing compares to that. That's what we got yesterday, with Villanova and UConn locking horns in a twilight start at Gampel Pavilion while Syracuse and Pitt turned up the lights and intensity in the nightcap at the Petersen Center. Kemba Walker won the game for the Huskies (raise your hand if you've heard that one before) in the final seconds and Pitt continued their homecourt dominance with an eight-point win over the Orange. What to take from all this, you might ask? Hopefully we can help you with that.

• ONIONS!!!!

If Bill Raftery had the call of the UConn-Villanova game, that would have certainly been included in the broadcast vernacular after Kemba Walker's latest game-winning shot with 2.5 seconds left provided the final margin in the Huskies' 61-59 win over the Wildcats. While Villanova should be unaffected by this heading into the Carrier Dome for their matchup Saturday night against Syracuse, you never know in the Big East.

• No Joseph, no problem.

When it was announced that Syracuse's Kris Joseph would miss the Orange's showdown with Pitt Monday night due to a concussion, I assumed it would turn into a double-digit Panther win. Despite this feeling, I was still surprised to see Pitt open the game on a 19-0 run, and even more surprised to see the 'Cuse come back with a 17-0 stretch of their own to close within two. Pitt ultimately prevailed 74-66, but the Orange come out a moral winner (if there is such a thing) in the sense that they competed much better and harder than initially expected in the absence of their leading scorer. It is still unclear as to whether or not Joseph will be back for the Orange against Villanova this Saturday in the latest renewal of their high-octane, shoot-'em-up rivalry.

• Nothing comes closer to home.

If you're a sucker for pointless minutiae like me, you'll recognize that line as the jingle for a line of commercials for Stouffer's frozen entrees in the early to mid-1990s. However, when describing Pittsburgh and their dominance at the Petersen Center, there really isn't a better way to put it. Pitt's latest home victory against Syracuse improved the Panthers to 145-11 all-time at their on-campus venue since its 2002 opening, good enough for a staggering .929 winning percentage. Kansas may have the all-time record for consecutive home wins; and the "tough places to play" can be debated until we're all blue in the face, but when the aforementioned record is thrown into the conversation, there is no doubt (to me at least) where the concept of homecourt advantage rings truer and stronger than any other arena in the country, and it's in the Steel City.

Sully Pilots Miracle In Columbus

Freshman sensation Jared Sullinger has a new title at Ohio State: Leader of No. 1 team in the country. (Photo courtesy of Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Two years ago today, Captain Chesley Sullenberger became a national hero with his calm demeanor during what came to be known as the "Miracle on the Hudson." Two years later, a new "Sully" has emerged; and he has displayed the same unflappable resolve in the Midwest while leading an already-perennial Big Ten contender into the national elite. Call it the "Miracle in Columbus" if you will; and the pilot of the Ohio State Buckeyes' plane is none other than freshman superstar Jared Sullinger.

Barring a meltdown against Penn State later today, the Buckeyes should be the No. 1 team in the country in the new polls on Monday following top-ranked Duke's road loss to Florida State Wednesday night; and much of their success is a credit to Sullinger, who averages 17 points and 10 rebounds a night for one of the four remaining undefeated teams in the nation. Thad Matta has had many great teams since coming to Columbus from Xavier, including the 2007 squad led by Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. that reached the national championship game; but one would be hard pressed to find a former Ohio State player as talented as Sullinger, among the clear favorites for national player of the year honors. The only downside to the freshman's record is that he will almost certainly be playing in the NBA next season; but his coach has gone down that road many times with players ranging from Oden and Conley to reigning player of the year Evan Turner, drafted second overall this past year by the Philadelphia 76ers. "I've almost learned over the time, when the season ends, you kind of sift through the NBA process," said Matta. "Take a look at what's going to happen. Sort of sit down in the summer and say, 'Here's what we got, let's make it work."

What Matta has with Sullinger is something that almost no one envisioned would come to fruition so soon. Although the freshman forward received his fair share of hype before even suiting up in Columbus, he has already exploded onto the scene with a 40-point outburst earlier in the season against IUPUI while also recording eight double-doubles in the Buckeyes' 17-0 start. The best part about this young stud, you might ask? He doesn't let success go to his head, and knows where there is room for improvement. "I key in on rebounding," said Sullinger following Ohio State's victory over South Carolina, one in which he dominated the Gamecocks for 30 points and 19 boards. "If I'm not rebounding, then I'm not playing hard. Nineteen rebounds. I was really into the game."

Any time you can get a player like that, the results will speak for themselves, and Ohio State has nothing but great things headed their way as long as their freshman leader is on the floor. He may wear jersey No. 0, but Jared Sullinger has already taken this team to No. 1, and the goal for the Buckeyes may not necessarily be remaining in that position; but getting there on April 4th in Houston when the final buzzer sounds on the NCAA campaign.

Return of the Starting Five

Fresh off a 47-point performance against Utah, BYU's Jimmer Fredette takes center stage in the college hoops landscape. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Paging the superstitious: Last night, in addition to being January 11th, (significant for being 1/11/11) several defining moments became part of the final highlight reel for Division I college basketball. From a stat line that defines legend to a comeback from a team that some were on the verge of leaving for dead, last night changed the landscape, so much so that one of our recurring segments in 2010 will make an earlier return than initially anticipated. Without any further ado, the 2011 debut of the starting five covers the following quintet of college hoops nuggets and happenings:

• Jimmer.

Just the mention of his first name is enough for everyone to know that Brigham Young guard Jimmer Fredette leads our recap, and that would have been our open even before his 47-point outburst on the road last night against Utah. Jimmer put 32 on the board for the Cougars in the first half alone, including a halfcourt buzzer-beater at the intermission, and ended the night just two points shy of his career-high 49 against UNLV. On a night where Kemba Walker was held to 18 (how many times can you say "held to 18?") against Rutgers, the Jimmer Show became the headliner on the NCAA scoring list, as Fredette passed Walker to become the country's all-time leading scorer. National Player of the Year? It's easier to see after last night.

• This is madness!

The reference to "300" can only mean that we'll follow it up with "this is Sparta!," which of course gives away the fact that we're alluding to Michigan State. Whoever decided to write Sparty off before last night is having a major change of heart after Tom Izzo's boys scored the last nine points of regulation to tie the game at 53 and ultimately prevail over Wisconsin 64-61 in overtime. Kalin Lucas had 17 for the Spartans, but the highlight of this matchup was Draymond Green showing that he truly is a leader. Green's career-high 26 should be the first of many performances where the junior shows just how much of an asset he really is down the stretch.

• Speaking of madness...

The Missouri Valley should (and hopefully will) get more than one team into the 68-team field this March. If you've read any of my pieces, you know my affinity for the Valley. However, what I didn't expect was that Missouri State would start out undefeated in conference play. Led by Adam Leonard's long-range proficiency, the Bears are still perfect in the Valley, and are on the inside track to the Big Dance provided they can get through "Arch Madness" in St. Louis. If you're Wichita State, you're still in the running despite the loss; and don't count Creighton out either with former Rutgers forward Greg Echenique and Kaleb Korver (Kyle's little brother) leading the Blue Jays.

• Beasts of the East.

Eight teams are currently ranked in the Big East, led by No. 4 Syracuse, who heads into the Garden tonight to take on St. John's in what could be a de facto home game for the Orange. In addition, fifth-ranked Pittsburgh invades the Verizon Center for a matchup with No. 19 Georgetown where a Panther win could hurt the Hoyas' NCAA Tournament hopes as they would drop to 1-4 in conference; and No. 17 Louisville takes on seventh-ranked Villanova in an outstanding coaching duel between Rick Pitino and Jay Wright. Maybe Pitino breaks out the white suit tonight.

• Last, but not least...

I'll again use the last space in the starting five to shout out the Northeast Conference, but the honor won't go to St. Francis. (at least not directly) Wagner is 4-0 in NEC play despite their 8-7 overall mark, and looks to extend against the Terriers tomorrow night at the Pope Center in Brooklyn. All it took was three short months for Danny Hurley to change the culture in Staten Island, and the Verrazano Warriors have reciprocated with a four-game run after dropping four in December, including a near-upset of St. John's. It only gets better for Hurley, as all five starters come back next year and some new recruits make their way into Richmond County.

Postgame Shootaround: Upset Saturday

All in all, a grand total of eight ranked teams lost last night, and two more bit the dust today. (albeit to opponents that were also ranked) The list of upsets cut the number of unbeaten teams to five from seven; and proved that while some teams are overrated, some others may just be all they're perceived to be. Without any further ado, here's a look at the prospects going forward for each of the eight upset victims from 24 hours ago. On a side note, top-ranked Duke is being tested by Maryland as I write this, but the Blue Devils have taken a 32-31 lead into the locker room at the half in Cameron.

#8 Missouri (defeated by Colorado 89-76)
There are still a lot of positives to be taken from the Tigers simply due to their sideline presence. Mike Anderson's "40 Minutes of Hell" system has done very well in Columbia, and Mizzou is still one of the top three teams in the Big 12. Going on the road wherever you are usually puts you at a disadvantage, but the Tigers should bounce back well at home against Nebraska Wednesday night.

#11 Kentucky (defeated by Georgia 77-70)
Many have been talking about the Bulldogs and their status as an SEC up-and-comer; and given the abundance of freshmen in John Calipari's rotation, it really isn't much of a shock to see the Wildcats suffer an in-conference defeat this early in the year. If nothing else, most of the country finally got a look at Trey Thompkins and his massive potential. Kentucky should return to their winning ways Tuesday night when they welcome Auburn into Rupp Arena.

#12 Texas (defeated by #9 UConn 82-81 in overtime)
Kemba Walker was the difference in this game. The Huskies have him, the Longhorns don't. It's just that simple. The fact that Texas was able to stay with the Player of the Year frontrunner for so long speaks volumes about just how far Rick Barnes' squad has come. I still believe Texas is the clear No. 2 in the Big 12, (behind Kansas) and they get three games (on the road at Texas Tech before Oklahoma and Texas A&M invade the Erwin Center) to show that before their January 22nd collision with the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse. You'll hear it in this space first: The Longhorns are the biggest threat to Kansas' NCAA-record home winning streak in recent years, and it's not hard to see them walking into Lawrence and taking it to Bill Self's team.

#13 Georgetown (defeated by West Virginia 65-59)
The Hoyas have uncharacteristically dropped three of their first four to open Big East play whil relying heavily on the three guards that make their motor run. While Austin Freeman, Chris Wright and Jason Clark are all solid players, the fact remains that Georgetown lacks a dominant big man following Greg Monroe's departure to the NBA. Julian Vaughn and Hollis Thompson (not to mention Henry Sims) are still not ready to fill the massive hole Monroe was able to plug for two years. In addition, the Hoyas have been very erratic from long range while at the same time yielding threes in large numbers against the opposition. It doesn't get any easier for Georgetown with Pitt coming into town on Wednesday. In fact, a Hoya loss (which is likely considering just how good Pitt is) could seriously damage their NCAA Tournament chances unless they could go on a run late in the season.

#17 Kansas State (defeated by Oklahoma State 76-62)
The Wildcats may just be one of those overrated teams. After their run to the Elite Eight last year, people penciled K-State in as a Final Four contender despite the loss of guard Denis Clemente, who really was the heart and soul of Frank Martin's team in Manhattan, Kansas. Fast forward just a few months and K-State is proving that you don't know what you have until it's gone. With Clemente, this is a completely different team; one that would likely be firmly entrenched in the Top 5. To make matters worse, Jacob Pullen and Rodney McGruder haven't been themselves all season. Colorado comes into the Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday fresh off their upset of Missouri and looking to catch lightning in a bottle twice.

#18 Central Florida (defeated by Houston 76-71)
Let's be honest, we all knew UCF probably wouldn't be able to run the table this season. However, doing it as long as they did is a credit to the Golden Knights, who are still the C-USA frontrunner given the Jekyll and Hyde nature of Memphis since Calipari left for Kentucky. (nothing against Josh Pastner) Marcus Jordan has proven to be more than just the son of the greatest player of all-time, and he will lead UCF into battle against Southern Miss in what should be a return to the success his team has enjoyed throughout the season.

#19 Michigan State (defeated by Penn State 66-62)
Some losses are just inexplicable. Penn State hasn't exactly sent chills down the spines of Big Ten opponents, and the Spartans are among the best in the nation when they're on their game. Yet Sparty yielded a 6-1 run over the final two minutes at the Jordan Center to give the Lions a surprising (in every sense of the word) home win. Unfortunately for Spartan fans, the time to use Kalin Lucas' recovery as an excuse is running out. Michigan State could very well be a team judged mainly upon their Final Four run last March, and it doesn't get easier with Wisconsin making the trip to the Breslin Center Tuesday night.

#24 Vanderbilt (defeated by South Carolina 83-75 in overtime)
Honestly, the fact that the Commodores were ranked is more surprising to me than Carolina defeating them, as the Gamecocks still have several members of the team that upset Kentucky a year ago. While Vandy is still a tournament contender in the SEC, their Top 25 status came primarily as a result of an easy nonconference slate. In fact, don't be surprised if Kevin Stallings' squad loses their next one against Georgia.

Full Court Press: St. John's-Notre Dame Preview

Arguably the most improved player in the country, Justin Brownlee leads St. John's into South Bend looking for second straight road win against Fighting Irish. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)

They're the talk of the Big East after opening conference play with three consecutive wins, and the buzz that has enveloped New York City since Steve Lavin replaced Norm Roberts at St. John's is reaching crescendos not seen since the glory days of Lou Carnesecca in the 1980s. After their stunning 61-58 disposal of No. 13 Georgetown, the Johnnies set their sights on another ranked opponent this Saturday when they take on 14th-ranked Notre Dame at the Joyce Center in South Bend. Although Notre Dame leads the all-time series, the Red Storm have taken two of the last three against the Irish; including a 69-68 win in the last meeting between the two schools back on February 14th of last year in the Hoosier State. On top of that, the last time Notre Dame was ranked when they played St. John's, the Storm pulled off a 71-65 upset at Madison Square Garden on January 3rd, 2009 in what still ranks as the biggest win of coach Norm Roberts' six-year tenure. Some of the personnel may have changed, but the method we use to get you prepared for the joust at the Joyce Center will not. Without any further ado...

St. John's Red Storm (10-3, 3-0 Big East)
Head Coach: Steve Lavin

Probable Starting Lineup:

PG: Malik Boothe (5-9 Sr., 4.3 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 3.3 APG, 39% FG, 59% FT)
SG: Dwight Hardy (6-1 Sr., 16.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.4 SPG, 44% FG, 92% FT)
SF: D.J. Kennedy (6-5 Sr., 11.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, 51% FG, 74% FT, 38% 3pt)
PF: Justin Brownlee (6-7 Sr., 14.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.2 BPG, 55% FG, 72% FT, 38% 3pt)
C: Dele Coker (6-10 Sr., 1.1 PPG, 1.3 RPG, 33% FG)

Key Reserves:

F Justin Burrell (6-8 Sr., 7.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 59% FG, 52% FT)

F Dwayne Polee (6-7 Fr., 5.6 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 44% FG, 70% FT)
G Paris Horne (6-3 Sr., 6.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 51% FG, 50% FT, 43% 3pt)

Keys To Victory:

Bronx Bomber - Through the Johnnies' five-game winning streak since the shocking Fordham loss, Dwight Hardy has been the sparkplug for Steve Lavin, scoring at least 20 in each of his last four contests and six of his last seven. Lavin said following the Georgetown win that his staff has tried to encourage him similar to Burgess Meredith's affable Mickey character in the "Rocky" movies, and it looks like he's paying off. Maybe it's just a coincidence being that he's from the Bronx, but Hardy is one of many Johnnies playing the role of the 2009 New York Yankees on this Red Storm team. For those not sure where I'm going with this analogy, the Yankees' turning point that season came on June 24th against the Braves when manager Joe Girardi was ejected and general manager Brian Cashman was in Atlanta while the incident took place. The Red Storm view December 11th of last year as their turning point. What happened that night, you might ask? That was the night of the 21-point comeback staged by Fordham to upset St. John's on the Rams' home court at Rose Hill Gym in, you guessed it, the Bronx. Anyway, I digress. Hardy has also demonstrated an ability not to rely on his outside shot this year, and it's contributing to the Johnnies shooting 48 percent from the field as a team, a better number than the 45 percent carried by the Irish into Saturday night's matchup.

What Can Brown Do For You? - It's the slogan for UPS, and Justin Brownlee has been more reliable than those delivery guys in the truck this season. Brownlee has come from seemingly out of nowhere (he was the fourth or fifth option at best off Norm Roberts' bench a year ago) to be Steve Lavin's most versatile player, and also the most gifted in crunch time. Brownlee may have the hardware awarded to him as most valuable player of the Great Alaska Shootout and Holiday Festival, and he earned those trophies with gritty double-figure scoring and well-rounded overall efforts. For those not sold on his clutch performances, watch the end of this past Monday's Georgetown game, where the former junior college star drove in to rebound a missed Dwight Hardy layup for what proved to be the game-winning bucket that lifted the Johnnies over the Hoyas for the third time in their last four meetings. Brownlee has done a little bit of everything this season, and could exploit both Carleton Scott and Tyrone Nash, depending on who he draws as a matchup.

Hit Me - If you're familiar with my work or anyone else affiliated with my former outlet of WSJU, you know that D.J. Kennedy has earned the moniker of "The Hitman," a nickname that has stuck since his sophomore campaign of 2008-09. (Credit Keith Arias for starting that legend while doing color commentary alongside me against Howard on November 22nd, 2008. In fact, Keith also shared the call with me for the aforementioned January 3rd, 2009 encounter between the Johnnies and Irish at Madison Square Garden) Nonetheless, Kennedy is a much better player when he recognizes the need to take the game over. A positive credit to St. John's evolution as a team this season is that other players have stepped up and alleviated some of the pressure Kennedy has faced earlier in his career, but the fact remains that the man who wears jersey No. 1 is still option No. 1, and priority No. 1 for opposing coaches. Expect his assignment of Tim Abromaitis to be the highlight matchup of the night, as both are mirror images of one another.

#14 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-2, 2-1 Big East)
Head Coach: Mike Brey

Probable Starting Lineup:
PG: Ben Hansbrough (6-3 Sr., 15.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.1 SPG, 44% FG, 80% FT, 45% 3pt)

SG: Scott Martin (6-8 Sr., 10.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 45% FG, 63% FT)
SF: Tim Abromaitis (6-8 Sr., 16.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44% FG, 80% FT, 40% 3pt)
PF: Carleton Scott (6-8 Sr., 11.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.8 BPG, 51% FG, 88% FT, 35% 3pt)

C: Tyrone Nash (6-8 Sr., 10.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 44% FG, 74% FT)

Key Reserves:
G Eric Atkins (6-2 Fr., 6.4 PPG, 2.9 APG, 3.4 APG, 39% FG, 63% FT, 35% 3pt)
F Jack Cooley (6-9 So., 4.5 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 67% FG, 65% FT)

Keys To Victory:
Boys To Men - This has nothing to do with the Philadelphia-based R&B group, hence the different spelling. As someone who covers the Big East regularly, I look at Notre Dame this year and I see names that look like they've been on the roster forever. While Mike Brey's frontcourt of Tim Abromaitis, Carleton Scott and Tyrone Nash have only spent four years in South Bend, it just feels that way because they've waited for the opportunity to shine. Having played alongside players the likes of Rob Kurz, Kyle McAlarney, Zach Hillesland, Ryan Ayers, Luke Zeller, Luke Harangody, Tory Jackson and Jonathan Peoples (all listed in order of graduation) will give you that feeling, and at the same time make these players better and more mature than they would be at other programs. Mike Brey told me at Big East media day that one of the things that impressed him last year has how his team "learned how to win" without Harangody, who was injured last year and missed almost half of his senior campaign, most notably the bulk of the Big East schedule. So far, the chemistry developed in the absence of Harangody, now a backup for the Boston Celtics, has been a boon to the Irish, and will continue to be. On top of that, what makes this matchup even more intriguing is the matchup of Notre Dame's all-senior starting lineup against St. John's quintet of fourth-year starters. The only difference is St. John's has five more on their bench to just one on the Irish bench.

Sizing Them Up - Notre Dame possesses four starters that measure 6-8, but aside from reserve 6-9 Luke Harangody lookalike Jack Cooley, that's as big as you'll get in South Bend. While some look at the size difference in the backcourt and at the small forward position and assume that it is a mismatch in favor of the Irish, but in reality it's about even for both sides. The one advantage Notre Dame may have is their outside shooting. (The Irish come into Saturday night's contest shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc as a team) If Hansbrough and Abromaitis (and possibly Scott Martin as well) can get into a rhythm early, they can effectively beat the zone defense that St. John's is sure to unveil at some point. However, the Johnnies have a history of coming to play against Notre Dame. Just look back to the aforementioned January 2009 matchup, when Kyle McAlarney was consistently shooting with a hand in his face, a credit to the relentless defense of Paris Horne. The Staten Islander McAlarney, who came into that game shooting 46 percent from long range, only made one trifecta on the day and was held to just 10 points as the Red Storm turned Notre Dame into a one-dimensional team that Luke Harangody had to keep in contention singlehandedly.

Walk The Line - Any team that plays St. John's will always look at free throws as a deciding factor given the Johnnies' struggles from the charity stripe in years past. As Notre Dame comes in shooting 73 percent from the line collectively, (compared to just 68 for St. John's) look for the Irish to be excessively physical as they attempt to draw fouls. On the defensive side of the ball, Notre Dame has to be careful not to foul Dwight Hardy, who has missed just six foul shots on the year, good enough for a Mark Price-like 92 percent clip at the line.

So, Who Wins?

This truly is a matchup that could go either way. While Notre Dame has surprised many with their early success, (including home wins over Georgetown and UConn) they are just as easily vulnerable, as evidenced by their inefficiency to keep up with Kentucky and Syracuse in the second half. Throw in their historic dominance at the Joyce Center and you have a recipe for gold and blue success. St. John's has managed to obscure that aura just a bit after stealing a victory in South Bend last year, and will look for their third win in the last four meetings against the Irish. (Sound familiar? It should, because the Georgetown game had the same scenario) The Johnnies are in the midst of their second of eight straight games against Top 25 teams, and I do not exaggerate when I say that each game is a bigger gut check than the one that preceded it. Time now for the final 2009 comparison of the night, and this one is the most relevant: When St. John's welcomed Notre Dame to the Garden two years ago, it was their chance to prove that they could contend with the top of the conference. This time around, the Notre Dame game is an opportunity for St. John's to prove that it could not only contend for forty minutes, but contend throughout the season while continuing to make the statement that they belong among the Big East's elite.

Your Final: St. John's 77, Notre Dame 72 (in overtime)

Thrice As Nice

Dwight Hardy takes flight for his fourth straight 20-point game as St. John's improves to 3-0 in Big East with 61-58 win over Georgetown. (Photo courtesy of redstormsports.com)

The last time St. John's defeated a Top 25 team, this happened. The Red Storm forced Luke Harangody to carry Notre Dame on his back as the Fighting Irish, ranked seventh in the country on January 3rd, 2009, succumbed to St. John's by the final of 71-65.

If that's not enough for you, just remember what happened the last time the Johnnies locked horns with Georgetown, last night's opponent, at Madison Square Garden. In a knock-down, drag-out battle, the Hoyas' attempt to tie in the final seconds bounced off the backboard and St. John's held on for a 64-59 win in the first round of the 2009 Big East tournament.

Two years to the day of their Notre Dame win, St. John's welcomed the Hoyas back into New York City as Georgetown invaded the Garden for the first time since March 10th, 2009; and the result was the same despite a personnel change on the home bench. Behind 20 points from senior guard Dwight Hardy, St. John's (10-3, 3-0 in the Big East) overcame a late Hoya rally to defeat Georgetown (12-3, 1-2) 61-58 for their third straight win to start Big East play and fifth overall following a demoralizing road loss to Fordham that saw the Johnnies blow a 21-point second-half lead. The 20 from Hardy marked his fourth straight game reaching that number, and sixth in his last seven. "This is why we both came here, and this is what we live for," said Hardy, who took part in last night's postgame press conference along with teammate Justin Brownlee, who added 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Brownlee was responsible for the game-winning shot once again, a driving layup after rebounding a missed jumper from Hardy inside of ten seconds remaining in regulation. Hardy drained two free throws to provide the final margin of victory for what became the first home conference win for Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin, who is now not only 3-0 in the Big East, but also 3-0 at the "World's Most Famous Arena."

"It's one of the biggest reasons I came back to coaching," said a jubilant Lavin after last night's win when asked about how he was impacted by the atmosphere at the Garden, something St. John's had not seen in six years under Norm Roberts. In fact, last night's game harkened back to the 1980s, when the Johnnies and Hoyas were constantly at one another's throats while Lou Carnesecca and John Thompson Jr. were pacing the respective sidelines. Georgetown did get 16 points from Hollis Thompson in the losing effort, but were done in by the lack of productivity from their backcourt. The trio of Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and Jason Clark, which collectively averages 46 points per game, only managed 20 (Wright and Clark had seven each while Freeman only managed six) against a stingy St. John's defense that forced thirteen Hoya turnovers compared to just four of their own. The Red Storm scored 17 points off the Georgetown miscues and shot 76 percent (16-for-21) from the free throw line, making their first eleven foul shots to win another key stat line, a victory that looms even greater once you consider that the Storm was outrebounded by a 35-24 margin.

Next up for the boys from Queens is, ironically enough, Notre Dame. Ranked 15th in the country, the Irish will welcome St. John's into the Joyce Center, where D.J. Kennedy's pair of free throws in the final seconds enabled the Storm to steal a 69-68 road win. Should St. John's pick up another W away from the Big Apple, they will improve to 4-0 in conference, and the case for them to be ranked for the first time since Mike Jarvis was roaming the sidelines on the corner of Union and Utopia will become even stronger. To top all that off, St. John's will welcome perennial rival Syracuse into the Garden a week from tomorrow in a matchup that will squeeze some juice (no pun intended) into New York City.

11 To Look Forward To In '11

One of the few sure things next year will be the day Mike Krzyzewski surpasses Bobby Knight to become winningest coach in NCAA history. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)

Since it's the last day of the year, what better way to recap it than by previewing the year ahead? In honor of 2011, the following are eleven items of interest to even the slightest of college hoops fans going into the new year.

1) Mike Krzyzewski - Coach K enters the second year of the 2010s with 880 career wins, (second all-time) and there's a good chance that Krzyzewski will pass Bobby Knight's mark of 902 before the nets are cut down in Houston on April 4th. If Duke runs the table and goes undefeated, he'll end up with 908, which means the Blue Devils can afford five losses over the next three months. With games against Florida State and Maryland upcoming, not to mention archrival North Carolina, the chance of Coach K having to wait until next season to reach the summit is likely, but the possibility of him doing it this year is much higher.

2) Jared Sullinger - The man I thought was the most overrated freshman at the start of the year still has my vote for first-team All-American. Even after an off night (by his standards) tonight against Indiana, (19 points, 9 rebounds) Sullinger will only take his talents to another level as the Big Ten season progresses. One matchup where the 6-9 rookie will be particularly showcased is at home against Michigan State on February 15th.

3) Notre Dame - The Irish opened their Big East season with a 69-55 upset of Georgetown Wednesday night, and they ring in 2011 at the Carrier Dome against Syracuse. While the Orange may look like a major hurdle for Mike Brey and company, Notre Dame gets their next two after that at the Joyce Center against UConn (who narrowly escaped USF at home earlier tonight) and St. John's. Brey told me that the homecourt advantage his team has enjoyed in recent years still helps them, and if the Irish can get two of their next three, they will be in the driver's seat for an NCAA Tournament return appearance in March.

4) St. John's - My alma mater seems to be the New York Jets of college basketball. Some games you think the Johnnies will dominate don't go the way you hope, and some games where the Red Storm appear to be overmatched end up being wins for Steve Lavin's bunch. Examples include the loss to Fordham three weeks ago and the win over West Virginia Wednesday night in Morgantown. Heading into Providence tomorrow night, St. John's has ridden momentum from a hot-shooting Dwight Hardy to an 8-3 record while not having to rely solely upon team leader D.J. (The Hitman) Kennedy. Justin Brownlee is still my pick for the most improved player in the country, and he gives the boys from Union and Utopia a clutch performance every night.

5) Cincinnati - While we're in the middle of the Big East, let's take a moment to recognize the undefeated Bearcats. At 13-0, Cincinnati currently leads Seton Hall as I write this, and it's nice to see Mick Cronin finally enjoy some well-deserved success with this team after being rumored to be on the hot seat for all the wrong reasons. Cincinnati should (barring a meltdown) be a tournament team for the first time since the Bob Huggins administration, and Cronin's big test will come against Xavier on Thursday in their annual crosstown shootout. In fact, that game will be a test for casual fans who watch, as those new to the game will find it difficult to tell Cronin and Xavier coach Chris Mack apart.

Separated at birth? Maybe Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin (left, photo courtesy of GoBearcats.com) and Xavier head man Chris Mack (right, photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated) were.

6) Kalin Lucas - The Big Ten player of the year in preseason voting and one of the most explosive (definitely the most complete) players in the country when he's healthy. Lucas still isn't 100 percent, and he'll be the first to admit that as one of the reasons why the Spartans started 9-4 this season, the most recent of those nine wins being a 71-62 Big Ten opener against Minnesota this afternoon at the Breslin Center. The good thing about this is that Lucas can take his time to recover with Durrell Summers and Draymond Green leading the charge for the rest of Tom Izzo's group. One thing is for certain, and that is when Lucas is completely healthy, Sparty is one of the best units in the country.

7) The Missouri Valley - The best conference to watch as a fan of pure, old-school college hoops. Yes, the Big East is the strongest league from top to bottom; but if you're like me and you enjoy watching teams play knock-down, drag-out battles for forty minutes while leaving everything out on the court, the Valley is for you. Right now, Wichita State looks to be the class of the conference, a credit to Gregg Marshall and his standing as one of the most underrated coaches in the land. If you're still not sold, look back at what he did with Winthrop. Long story short, it will be fun to watch teams like Northern Iowa make their usual run in what should be a two-bid league come March as opposed to the traditional one.

8) North Carolina - Almost everyone assumed this would be the year Roy Williams and the Tar Heels broke down the door and re-entered the NCAA's elite. Maybe not just yet after their showing against Rutgers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Even though Carolina won by 23, they looked like a team that still hasn't hit their best stride yet, something that will prove costly when the heart of the ACC schedule comes around to Chapel Hill. Harrison Barnes has also yet to come into his own. While UNC will indeed make the tournament, (they're way too talented not to in my opinion) don't expect anything higher than a 7 seed in the Big Dance.

9) Tennessee - The Vols have been this year's Texas Longhorns, with their share of big wins (Villanova and Pitt on neutral courts) and upset losses. (Jacksonville, UNC-Charlotte, USC, College of Charleston) Bruce Pearl also starts his suspension for the first eight games of the SEC schedule, but returns to the bench for the Vols' last remaining big non-conference tilt against Kemba Walker and UConn. While the Vols should still be good enough to be a tournament team, an appearance in one of the 8/9 games would be their likely destination.

10) Mike Rosario - Currently sitting out after transferring from Rutgers, the Jersey City guard returns to the court for his junior season in November as a member of the Florida Gators. Rosario will be the second Big East expatriate to play for Billy Donovan, following former Georgetown forward Vernon Macklin. In a coincidental twist of fate, one of Rosario's first games comes at the RAC next year when Florida travels to Rutgers to face off against the highly touted recruiting class Mike Rice brings into Piscataway in the fall.

11) St. Francis College - I'll pay homage to one of my employers with the last mention by referencing the Terriers and their surprising start to the season. While Glenn Braica doesn't have the most glamorous record at 7-5, St. Francis is a perfect 6-0 on their home court at the Pope Center; and has veteran leadership in the backcourt with senior guards Akeem Bennett and Ricky Cadell. To make it even better on the corner of Remsen and Court, super sub Akeem Johnson continues to impress off the bench. Think of him as a poor man's version of former Marquette forward Lazar Hayward, only without the outside shot and a more imposing paint presence. The Terriers are also undefeated in NEC play, and could be in the mix for a home game in their conference tournament if the chips fall in the right places.

Postgame Shootaround: UNC vs. Rutgers

As a North Carolina fan in New York, I haven't had the chance to go see the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill. So, when Carolina came to Madison Square Garden to play Rutgers, I jumped at the chance to finally see Roy Williams' bunch. It took 24 years, but seeing UNC was a highlight for me as a fan before their 78-55 victory against the Scarlet Knights. Enough about me, though. Here are the lasting impressions from this one.

• Rutgers is still a work in progress.

While it still amazes me to see just how much Mike Rice has turned this team around in just two months, the Scarlet Knights are not reflecting their 9-3 record at the moment. Granted, Rutgers has had some solid games against Miami and St. Peter's among others, but this effort last night was a season low so far. Jonathan Mitchell had 20 in the losing effort, but the only highlight for Rutgers in the first half was Rice tossing his jacket with 14:30 left in the opening stanza. All in all, it will be a long Big East season for Rutgers even with immediate improvement.

• Same name, different personality.

While Seton Hall's Robert Mitchell was forced to exit stage left, Jonathan Mitchell (no relation) is a completely different type of player. His 20-point game not only led all scorers, but it was done in one of the quietest fashions possible. A former Florida transfer, Mitchell has thrived under Rice and has become a potent mid-range shooter for the Knights. I'm not sure if anyone has made this comparison yet, but Mitchell really does remind me of former Villanova and current Portland Trail Blazers forward Dante Cunningham, except Mitchell has a better stroke from outside.

• Something for everyone.

Last night at the Garden provided just that as both Rice and Roy Williams decided to play their walk-ons in the final minutes. Even with the outcome of the game in hand, it was nice to see both teams empty the benches inside the Mecca of college basketball, a venue neither frequents often. On the contrary, I'm not sure if I've seen anything more surreal than the block "R" that serves as the Rutgers University logo occupying halfcourt at the World's Most Famous Arena.

• Carolina is no different from Rutgers.

There were times last night that the Tar Heels looked like a team capable of making a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. However, just as frequent were the stretches where North Carolina couldn't finish in transition and put the game away. This type of play will be a detriment come ACC season if Roy's boys can't put it all together. The Tar Heels won by 23, which is still good to see; but last night could have been a 40-point win with better execution.

• This isn't your typical UNC squad.

Usually, there is one guy that makes the motor run for the Tar Heels. (Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, even as far back as Michael Jordan) This year, Roy Williams is led by a number of role players since Harrison Barnes and John Henson are still developing and have not come into their own. Leslie McDonald led the team with 14 off the bench while Justin Watts added 11, a positive for games against Duke and Maryland where the Heels will need all hands on deck.