The air is out of the balloon on this depressing season, but the juice in the AMP this Saturday will be unlike any other home game this season due to the return of Mr. Bryce Hopkins. As everybody is aware, Bryce sat out last year under a guise of an injury to get another year of eligibility and one more collegiate payday. Hopkins sitting out was painful enough as the Friars limped to a 12-20 season, but he turned the knife by transferring in conference to Rick Pitino and St. John’s. For this year alone, Bryce has surpassed Cooley as enemy number one, and he will certainly be made aware of that fact Saturday in Providence by the Friar faithful.
In the road win against the Johnnies, it was a home game of sorts for the Providence faithful, and they let Bryce hear it at the Garden. I can only imagine how hostile the atmosphere is going to be tomorrow. While I hope no lines are crossed with Hopkins and the fanbase, he deserves all of the criticism that will be lobbed his way and needs to understand that heading into the game.
We preview the keys to the game below.
Keep Frontcourt of St. John’s from Dominating on Glass, Especially Ejifor
Pitino’s teams always seem to improve as the season progresses, and his insertion of Dillon Mitchell in the starting line-up has been a catalyst for this Johnnies team. Ejiofor gets all the accolades, and rightly so, but Mitchell may be the X factor in this one. He’s a junkyard dog, freakish athlete, and great two way player.
As for the man of the hour, Bryce Hopkins?
Mike and I were concerned about him in the first match-up and he was a non-factor. I don’t expect that to be the case in this one.
Play off Hopkins, Ejiofor and Mitchell. Sag and clog the paint, daring the trio to shoot
Providence has defensive issues as we all know. A way to limit the offensive explosion for the Johnnies is to dare Ejifor, Hopkins, and Mitchel to beat them from the perimeter.
The trio have attempted 97 three’s on the season. They’ve made only 28, averaging 28.8% from deep.
In the loss to Providence earlier in the year, Providence held the Johnnies to 71 points, and the three frontcourt guys went 4-11 from deep. Ejifor was an uncharacteristic 50% from deep, and I don’t think he can replicate that.
Dare them to beat you from three.
Limit Turnovers, for the love of God
Providence is so terrible with the basketball, and it’s infuriating to watch them continue to turn the basketball over without any concern. I’m sure Pitino will recognize this and pick up full court ball pressure. Providence needs to be ready for this.
Health of Jamier Jones
This is a game they absolutely need Jamier Jones back. He had some bold proclamations after the St. John’s win, and it’d be ideal to see a healthy Jones match-up against the Johnnies.
He was out against The Hall Wednesday with the flu apparently, and I’m hopeful he is fully healed for Saturday.
Beyond the intrigue of him against Hopkins, they need him against this tenacious frontcourt of St. John’s.
Fans Need to Influence the Game
Providence is a hostile road environment, and it’s going to be on steroids with St. John’s and Hopkins coming to town.
The season hasn’t gone as expected, but the fans are going to show up and be raucous. They absolutely CAN influence the game. Be loud, be supportive of the team, and make it 40 minutes of a nightmare for St. John’s.
Back in 2008 we had a similar situation when Eric Gordon, who flipped his commitment from Illinois to IU, went to Assembly Hall to take on the Illini. When the Hoosiers went to Champaign Gordon was booed relentlessly every time he touched the ball. This is the atmosphere we need, be nasty but don’t cross the line. In that game in 2008 Gordon was 3/13 from the floor and had 7 turnovers, however he did finish with 19 points and the Hoosiers won in double OT, hopefully a similar outcome doesn’t happen Saturday.
While Bryce is going to catch the majority of the flak, let’s also remember Pitino tampered and is culpable as well. He should hear it too.
Go Friars