Two games into the season, the St. John’s basketball starting five has been as good as advertised.
Quinn Ellis is one of the best point guards in the nation while Ian Jackson has taken the jump in his second season with Rick Pitino that many had hoped. Keyshawn Hall is a difference maker on the offensive side of the basketball, Tounde Yessoufou has All-American potential, and Ruben Prey – despite not having prolific stat lines – has been very serviceable at center.
Granted, the Red Storm have not played fierce competition in its first two games against Monmouth and Iona, but its bench made a positive impact against Gaels unlike in the season opener.
Aside from Yessoufou coming off the bench against the Hawks due to missing time with a minor calf injury, the St. John’s bench combined for only 15 points – including no points from Zsombor Markona, who started the game.
Against Iona, Maronka – coming off the bench – and Lefteris Liotopoulos got going with a combined 24 points on 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. The bench, without Babacare Sane who missed the game with a minor ankle injury, scored 39 points in the 104-point outburst.
Wednesday night (7:00 p.m. ET, Peacock) against Colgate (0-2) is another chance for the No. 13 Red Storm (2-0) reserves to put together a big showing and give head coach Rick Pitino the confidence playing them meaningful minutes.
“I think they are just great guys to coach,” Pitino said after his team throttled the Gaels on Sunday. “They want to get better. They want to learn. They want to grow. They are just a great group to coach. They work really hard in practice.”
After St. John’s hosts Colgate, the schedule will begin getting more difficult. Syracuse (2-1) will come into Madison Square Garden on Sunday evening followed by a final tuneup before at least three games in the Players Era Festival with Siena on November 18 as meetings with No. 12 Arizona and No. 18 Alabama also loom in December.
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