Another Big East opponent, another unique style.
Three days after getting dropped 75-59 by Connecticut, a team with outstanding size, St. John’s today in the Garden plays host to Villanova (noon, ESPN, WBBR 1130 AM), a team with outstanding guard play.
The Red Storm (12-6, 2-4 Big East) did a solid job of battling the Huskies on the boards. UConn had a statistical edge (35-33), but St. John’s had more second-chance points (8-2) and points in the paint (32-30).
The problem was defending UConn’s perimeter players. And that problem could be magnified by Villanova, which some now refer to as Guard U.
Continuing in the recent tradition of Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Kyle Lowry, this Villanova squad (17-1, 6-0) is fueled by the dynamic play of guards Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher of The Bronx and Maalik Wayns.
“When you think of Villanova, of course you think of guards,” said St. John’s reserve point guard Malik Stith of Long Island. “They’ve always been guard heavy. That’s what they’re known for.”
Recently the Wildcats also have been known for winning. Fresh off last season’s Final Four appearance, Villanova barely has missed a beat despite losing Dante Cunningham, Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson.
Reynolds is the poster child for enhancing NBA draft stock by staying in school. He should be a candidate for league and national player of the year honors.
Whereas Connecticut does it with rebounding and blocked shots, Villanova attacks from the perimeter. They are first in the Big East in 3’s made per game (8.2) and fourth in steals. Don’t be surprised if St. John’s coach Norm Roberts goes with a smaller starting lineup.
But regardless of who starts or finishes, the Red Storm have to get better play out of the point guard position.
Malik Boothe of Queens is a great leader and a solid defender, but his limited shooting means St. John’s often is playing four-on-five on offense. Stith, who is still learning the position at the college level, sometimes goes one-on-five.
That has forced Roberts to use combo guard Dwight Hardy at the point at times. Hardy, arguably the team’s best outside shooter, is most effective at shooting guard.
“We’re competitors so we both want to be on the court,” Stith said of himself and Boothe. “When we’re not in the game I think we’re asking ourselves what we’re not doing well enough that coach feels he has to go in a different direction. It’s nothing against coach. It’s on us.”