It's been a solid week. And not just because I escaped the cold for 7 days. To wit:

- St. John's took a chin punch from the Syracuse Orange, losing in the Garden 76-59 in a game that featured extended garbage time. That's a top-10 team the Johnnies lost to, and that loss doesn't realistically hurt the team's chances to make the NCAA Tournament or have a successful Big East season. It was a chance for a marquee win, unrealized. So it goes.

And this blog noticed a lack of impact from D.J. Kennedy in Big East play...

- Making up for that loss, the coaching staff opened up the rotation to help with fatigue. The staff, fans, and team was rewarded with a punishing, relentless 72-54 win over the same Notre Dame Fighting Irish that slugged the Red Storm a week and a day prior. It was revenge. And it was a coming-out party for Malik Boothe, who scored 14 off the bench.

And it was a solid win... we hope.The victory over Notre Dame looks "for real", the term of choice that surrounds the Red Storm in post-game analysis. But those Irish have some real problems with injuries, playing road games, and offensive consistency, especially in Big East play. Here's hoping - for the Red Storm's sake - that they go on a late-season run and make the Johnnies' win look good. After all, West Virginia has been kind enough to bludgeon their last 4 opponents.

- St. John's landed a verbal commitment from another recruit, Phil Greene (or Philip Greene, depending on where you see his name), a combo guard from Chicago who is currently playing at IMG Academy in Florida; he was formerly at Julian High School on the South Side of Chicago, and played AAU ball for Meanstreets. Video of Phil Greene, after the jump.