Weekly Rumble, 1-14-13: a tough week for a young team

Well, it wasn't a bad week all around. The St. John's women dispatched both local rivals (Rutgers and Seton Hall), holding both below 50 points, and even shot 52% from the field against the Hall on Saturday as part of a doubleheader with the men's Red Storm squad.

Anyone who came for the first game, the men's contest that pitted St. John's against Georgetown, probably was too stunned by the first result to appreciate the second if they had stayed.

The 67-51 loss to the Hoyas was the cap to a week that saw the promise of the young Johnnies dashed against the rocks of an 0-2 second week of the Big East season.

The good.

D`Angelo Harrison received another mention on the Big East Honor Roll.

St. John's soccer alum Connor Lade is training with the US Men's National Soccer team as they prep for a friendly against our maple-leaf neighbors, Canada.

We analyzed the zone adjustments St. John's made and the length that frustrated Cincinnati the weekend before, winning on the road 53-52.

The St. John's vs Syracuse series seems like it's already in the works to continue.

The bad.

We thought the Madison Square Garden homestand would tell us something about the Red Storm. And whet we are learning isn't good thus far.

St. John's lost a nail-biter to Rutgers 58-56, a game either team could have lost. Missed free throws were a factor, as was the late-game execution. We predicted it would go down to the wire.

And then there was Georgetown.

We mentioned in the pregame that St. John's needed transition chances and to disrupt the passing of the Hoya big men.

Neither happened, as St. John's was bogged down in isolation attempts against a Hoya team well-prepared to defend that kind of play. D`Angelo Harrison was isolated, covered, double-teamed; the Hoya zone made sure thatany penetrating player was met by a long-limbed rotating Hoya; and the Red Storm's ball movement consisted of attempts at pick and rolls at the top of the key with three players (mostly non-skilled shooters) standing in wait at the edges.

It was a wake-up call, despite solid late-game scoring from Jamal Branch and a solid all-around game from Sir`Dominic Pointer.

The game thread was filled with lament.

Phil Greene IV has been nursing a hip injury for much of the season, as well.

Coming up.

St. John's men's squad faces Notre Dame tomorrow. Look for our preview by tomorrow morning, of course.

After the Notre Dame game, St. John's travels to the windy city to face DePaul on Saturday at noon. We will be covering that game.

The St. John's women have one game, a home tilt against Pittsburgh at 7:00 PM on Wednesday.

[Did we forget something? Let us know in the comments.]

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