St. John’s non-conference finale was consultant of the whole slate.
Good, not nice.
There have been no unhealthy losses, however no massive wins.
The Johnnies held serve.
They didn’t undergo setbacks to Boston Faculty or Michigan, losses that got here again to chew them final March.
However losses to projected match groups Baylor and Georgia have been irritating nonetheless, leaving the Johnnies with out a signature victory.
St. John’s nonetheless will enter the New 12 months in good place, anticipated to make the principle draw of the match for the primary time since 2015.
They closed out the smooth portion of their schedule with a 97-76 victory over Delaware of the CAA at Carnesecca Area on Saturday behind 20 factors, 13 rebounds and eight assists from Deivon Smith.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
The Crimson Storm, winners of six straight, led by 23 factors late within the first half and have been on cruise management from there.
Their protection coasted after halftime, permitting the Blue Hens to shoot 58.1 from the sector after the break, and couldn’t comprise sharpshooter John Camden, who scored 35 factors and made 9 3-pointers.
Zuby Ejiofor owned the paint, with 16 factors and 7 rebounds, and RJ Luis added 16 off the bench.
Simeon Wilcher had 12 and Kadary Richmond adopted with 10 factors and 7 assists.
After going simply 6-for-28 on 3-point makes an attempt of their first two Large East video games, St. John’s was 8-for-12 from deep on Saturday.
Smith hit half of them, making 4 of eight.
The Johnnies have been additionally plus-11 on the glass and plus-16 in factors within the paint.
The schedule will get a lot harder from right here, a New 12 months’s Eve date in Omaha, Neb., with perennial contender Creighton.
That’s adopted by Butler coming to Queens and a go to to Xavier.
St. John’s (11-2) began this assure sport much better than current ones.
As an alternative of toying with an overmatched opponent, the Johnnies flexed their muscle tissue.
They have been sharp on the defensive finish and rapidly constructed a double-digit lead.
The three-pointers have been dropping early — St. John’s made its first 4 makes an attempt — and led by as many as 23 in a one-sided opening half.
Smith was the most effective participant on the ground, producing 13 factors, eight rebounds and three assists. Ejiofor adopted with 10 factors and 5 rebounds and Wilcher had seven.
Smith spearheaded an 11-0 run, capping it with a 3-pointer on a Richmond dish that produced a 13-point bulge. The ball moved nicely.
St. John’s had 11 assists on its first 13 made baskets and shot a sturdy 55 % from the sector.
St. John’s protection popping out of the break left one thing to be desired.
Delaware made eight of its first 13 photographs to hold round and trailed by 17 on the under-12 timeout.
The Blue Hens have been stepping into the paint, creating open seems to be from past the arc.
Nonetheless, the end result was by no means doubtful. Delaware didn’t get any nearer.
