The St. John’s basketball program has advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999 with impressive victories over Northern Iowa and Kansas in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament and a lot of the usual suspects had a major impact on the game.
Zuby Ejiofor was dominant in the wins, Bryce Hopkins continued his sizzling performances, and Dylan Darling found a way to make the biggest play of the weened with his buzzer beating layup over the Jayhawks.
However, the Johnnies got important contributions from a lot of players on its roster that led to its historic accomplishment who did not earn as much praise as its stars – starting with its bench.
Ian Jackson Shows Potential and Value
The playing time and storylines surrounding Ian Jackson have been a major talking point all season, but when St. John’s needed him the most he delivered.
Jackson went for 10 points in the Storm’s win over Kansas, delivering five massive points in the second half including a driving layup in which he ripped the ball over the head of Jayhawks point guard Melvin Council Jr. with a crafty finish to complete the play.
It was a much-needed scoring boost for the Johnnies after Dylan Darling continued with his shooting struggles until his game winner. Jackson displayed the versatility and athleticism to be able to compete with the Kansas backcourt and he will be relied upon again against Duke in the Sweet 16.
Ian Jackson’s big-time performance came one game after Zuby Ejiofor pulled him aside as the team was walking off the court following its win over Northern Iowa and told him the Johnnies were going to need him to come up big at some point in this tournament and he was ready for the moment.
Ruben Prey Proving Why He Has Bright Future
Ruben Prey is never going to grab the attention on St. John’s, playing behind Zuby Ejiofor, but he’s continuing to develop into a key piece for not only this season but also the next two years.
He went for five points, four rebounds, and an assist against Kansas, hitting both of his shots from the floor – a big 3-pointer at the end of the first half to help the Red Storm create separation and a conventional 3-point play in the second half as the Johnnies looked to pull away.
Since St. John’s win over Villanova on February 28, Prey is averaging 11.6 minutes, 5.1 points, and 2.7 rebounds per game on 13-for-25 shooting (52-percent). His production will be limited but he has shown that he can make positive contributions for the Johnnies and his presence against bigger teams, such as the Blue Devils, will be critical for St. John’s chances of advancing to the Elite 8.
Rebounding Must Improve
A concern for St. John’s throughout the season was its ability to rebound the basketball, especially late in games. Earlier in the year it was a direct correlation to some of its losses but improved as the season progressed.
The Red Storm dominated the backboards against Northern Iowa, using its size and athleticism to overwhelm the Panthers but things were not as easy against Kansas.
In the end, the Jayhawks won the battle on the backboards by eight, 44-36, but flexed its muscles during its comeback bid. Kansas secured the final six rebounds of the game, as well as the final 12 of 15 rebounds.
After St. John’s won the rebounding battle by two, 25-23, in the first half, Kansas outrebounded the Red Storm by ten, 21-11, after halftime. It’s five second half offensive rebounds led to six second chance points, which call came in the final three minutes.
Duke has the size and length to cause problems for the Johnnies on the backboards, and it will be vital for St. John’s to win – or be competitive – on the glass to give itself the best chance at advancing.