2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #14

#14- St. John's Red Storm

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY/Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY.

Last season: 16-15 (7-9). No postseason.
Head coach: Norm Roberts, 4th season. 37-48 at SJU.
Assistant coaches: Glenn Brica, Fred Quartlebaum, Chris Casey.

New additions: Malik Boothe (3 star PG), Justin Burrell (4 star PF), Mike Cavataio (1 star SF), Dele Coker (4 star C), Sean Evans (2 star PF), Paris Horne (3 star SG), D.J. Kennedy (3 star SF), Rob Thomas (4 star PF).

Losses: Lamont Hamilton (13.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.4 apg), Avery Patterson (10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg), Daryll Hill (6.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.2 apg), Qa'rraan Calhoun (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Aaron Spears (4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Ricky Torres (2.3 ppg), Devin Mayo (0.6 ppg), Corey Brown, Adam Laitsas.

Roster: (#, Name, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year's stats)

33 Otoja Abit 6-6/187 F Sr. Woodside, NY (0.3 ppg, 0.1 rpg)
30 Liam Biesty 6-0/175 G Sr. Brooklyn, NY (0.3 rpg)
3 Malik Boothe 5-9/185 G Fr. Rosedale, NY
24 Justin Burrell 6-8/220 F Fr. Bronx, NY
32 Mike Cavataio 6-4/180 G/F Fr. Forest Hills, NY
15 Dele Coker 6-10/270 F/C Fr. Newburgh, NY
22 Sean Evans 6-8/230 F Fr. Philadelphia, PA
23 Paris Horne 6-3/180 G/F Fr. Middletown, DE
11 Tomas Jasiulionis 6-11/249 C Jr. Utena, Lithuania (2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.3 apg)
10 D.J. Kennedy 6-6/190 G/F Fr. Pittsburgh, PA
4 Eugene Lawrence 6-1/225 G Sr. Brooklyn, NY (7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.6 apg)
2 Anthony Mason Jr. 6-7/207 F Jr. Memphis, TN (11.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
55 Rob Thomas 6-6/235 F RS-Fr. New York, NY
5 Larry Wright 6-2/159 G So. Saginaw, MI (4.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Backcourt:

The Red Storm return Eugene Lawrence and Larry Wright, two key components of their very thin backcourt. Lawrence is an assist machine, dishing out over five assists per game for last season's team. He needs to improve his outside shot this season in order for St. John's to be successful. An influx of freshmen will force Lawrence to handle the leadership and scoring in the backcourt. Wright only averaged four points per game last season so he needs to step it up in order for the Johnnies to win more games than expected. Freshmen Malik Boothe and Paris Horne should be first off the bench to give Lawrence and Wright a rest. They will need to contribute because the backcourt doesn't have much depth at all. Liam Biesty and Mike Cavataio do not figure to see much playing time, if any.

Frontcout:

Up front, St. John's is led by junior Anthony Mason Jr., the son of former New York Knick Anthony Mason. Mason led the team in scoring last year, averaging just about 12 points per contest. This 6-7 forward will be counted on to lead the extremely young Red Storm frontcourt this season. The good news for St. John's is that although their frontcourt is young, it is extremely talented. Freshmen Justin Burrell, Dele Coker, and Rob Thomas figure to make big impacts right away because of the depth issues on St. John's. All three of these freshmen will inject talent and muscle into the frontcourt for the Red Storm. All three of them are native New Yorkers, so they should have no problem adjusting to the bright lights of the big city and the big stage, Madison Square Garden. Junior big man Tomas Jasiulionis should see about 10 minutes a game off the bench for the Johnnies. If Norm Roberts can get his freshmen to build good chemistry early on in the season, this team could exceed expectations. If not, expect the Storm to miss the Big East Tournament.

Schedule:

11/14- vs. St. Francis (NY)
11/20- vs. Sacred Heart
11/25- vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
11/28- vs. Long Island University
12/2- at Miami
12/15- vs. Niagara
12/19- vs. Ohio (Honolulu, HI)
12/21- vs. Louisiana-Lafayette or Hawaii (Honolulu, HI, TBD)
12/22- vs. Tulane, St. Mary's, Georgia, or East Tennessee State (Honolulu, HI, TBD)
12/28- vs. Marist
12/29- vs. Hofstra or Virginia Tech
1/2- at Syracuse
1/5- vs. Cincinnati
1/8- at Connecticut
1/12- vs. DePaul
1/17- at West Virginia
1/23- vs. Pittsburgh
1/26- at Louisville
1/30- vs. Georgetown
2/2- at South Florida
2/6- at Rutgers
2/9- vs. Providence
2/13- at Cincinnati
2/16- vs. Villanova
2/20- vs. Marquette
2/23- at Duke
2/27- at Georgetown
3/1- vs. Seton Hall
3/5- at Notre Dame
3/8- vs. West Virginia

Projected record: 12-18 (4-14).
Postseason: None.