St. John’s defense clamps down for emphatic win over Fordham
Was it the pizza?
Shortly after St. Johns ugly loss last Sunday to Boston College at Barclays Center, multiple players arrived at Rick Pitinos home, intercepting his food delivery.
They knew he was upset after the shaky performance.
Rather than the coach thinking the players were down and thinking we have to build them up, they went the other way, Pitino recalled.
The Hall-of-Fame coach was in a much better mood six days later.
In what was its best defensive performance of the season, St. Johns led Fordham wire-to-wire in a get-right, 77-55 victory at the Garden on Saturday afternoon.
One of the players who made the 45-minute drive to see Pitino that night, Joel Soriano, was at his best against his former school.
Soriano, who spent the fist two years of college at Fordham, was dominant at both ends, notching 20 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
5Joel Soriano of the St. John’s Red Storm blocks Will Richardson. Robert Sabo for NY PostChris Ledlum added 11 points, Jordan Dingle had eight points, four rebounds and three assists while Daniss Jenkins notched eight assists and five rebounds.
All 12 available scholarships players received rotation minutes in the buy-game romp and 11 of them scored.
I told the guys, if youre going to rely on your offense. youre going to finish dead last in the Big East, Pitino said. Weve got to do something about our defense. Youre all capable of doing it and we worked really, really hard on it. We changed some things.
5Joel Soriano reacts on the sideline during the second half when the St. John’s Red Storm defeated Fordham. Robert Sabo for NY PostWe took baby steps tonight and thats what I wanted to see.
The story Saturday indeed was St. Johns defense, which entered the contest 127th in the country in efficiency.
It held Fordham to 25.4 percent shooting, had nine steals, seven blocked shots and forced 21 turnovers, spearheading the one-sided win ahead of the Big East opener Wednesday at Carnesecca Arena against Xavier.
After the Boston College loss, in which St. Johns allowed 86 points and blew a 10-point, second-half lead, a visibly frustrated Pitino called the effort on that end abominable.
The Johnnies (7-3) were more connected on defense against Fordham.
5Japhet Medor of the Fordham Rams goes up for a shot between Zuby Ejiofor of the St. John’s Red Storm and Daniss Jenkins of the St. John’s Red Storm and is blocked by Zuby Ejiofor of the St. John’s Red Storm. Robert Sabo for NY PostThey dove for loose balls, the needed extra effort that has at times been missing.
The help defense was there Fordham made just 9 of 27 attempted layups.
We needed to take a big step on defense as a team, Soriano said. That was our big emphasis coming into the game. We wanted to work on the little things today, especially since we have a big game coming up against Xavier.
Pitino shook up his starting lineup, replacing Dingle with seldom-used reserve Sean Conway, a move that paid off.
5Head coach Rick Pitino of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts during the first half when the St. John’s Red Storm played the Fordham Rams. Robert Sabo for NY PostSt. Johns certainly was better defensively, and took command right away.
It led 8-0 and by 18 just over midway through the first half.
The Johnnies had 11 assists on their first 13 made field goals and their defense was active, harassing,and really the best it has been all year.
St. Johns blocked five shots in the first half, the highlight a Soriano LeBron James-esque chase-down block of a Will Richardson dunk attempt.
Still, the lead was only 11 at the break, as St. Johns went scoreless over the final 2:27 of the period.
As much as the defense was strong, it still fouled too much.
5 Glenn Taylor Jr. of the St. John’s Red Storm reacts after hitting a shot. Robert Sabo for NY PostOf Fordhams 28 points in the opening 20 minutes, 13 came at the charity stripe.
The Rams only shot 28 percent from the field and made one of seven 3-point attempts.
Fordham was only down eight early in the second half and Soriano was on the bench with three fouls.
The Johnnies, however, responded by scoring 12 of the games next 14 points to end any thoughts of an upset. Josh Rivera led Fordham (5-6) with 15 points.
This performance today would definitely win a Big East game, Soriano said.
Sophomores RJ Luis (shin splints) and Cruz Davis (left hand) remained out for St. Johns.
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