St. John’s basketball Key to Victory No. 2 – Limit Paul Scruggs
Zach Freemantle might be the leading scorer for Xavier, but there is no question that Paul Scruggs is the Musketeer’s leader and best player.
The senior point guard facilitates the Xavier offense, averaging 14.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 48.2-percent from the floor.
In order to try and pull off an upset on Wednesday night, the Johnnies must find a way to slow down the 6-foot-4, 196-pound guard.
It will be interesting to see who Mike Anderson puts on Scruggs; 6-foot-2 senior Rasheem Dunn, 6-foot freshman Posh Alexander, 6-foot-4 freshman Dylan Addae-Wusu, or 6-foot-3 junior Greg Williams Jr.
Dunn and Alexander were both tasked with slowing down Creighton guard Marcus Zegarowski as the Preseason Big East Player of the Year went for a team-high 20 points against the Red Storm.
It will be a telling sign as to who gets the task of slowing down Paul Scruggs as Mike Anderson will almost certainly put his best on-ball defender on the Xavier star.