Big East Coast Bias - Providence vs. St. John'sWhere our expanding tentacles stretch from coast to coasthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51653/becb-fav.png2014-01-16T19:01:06-05:00http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/rss/stream/50806212014-01-16T19:01:06-05:002014-01-16T19:01:06-05:00Game Thread: St. John's vs. Providence
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<figcaption>Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sport</figcaption>
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<p>Okay!</p> <p><strong>What you need to know</strong></p>
<p>When: 7:00 EST</p>
<p>Where: Carnesecca Arena</p>
<p>TV: Fox Sports 1</p>
<p>Who: St. John's ( 9-7, 0-5) vs. Providence (11-5, 1-2)</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
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https://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2014/1/16/5316594/game-thread-st-johns-vs-providence-1-16-2014Chase Thomas2014-01-16T16:46:43-05:002014-01-16T16:46:43-05:00Must-win territory for the Red Storm
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<figcaption>Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Red Storm face a must-win situation against the Friars.</p> <p>Three games into conference play and the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm" class="sbn-auto-link">St. John's Red Storm</a> (9-7, 0-4) are already playing a 'must-win' game. After four straight losses to Xavier, Georgetown, Villanova, and DePaul, the Johnnies are off to their worst conference start since the 2003-04 season when they finished 1-15 in the Big East. A season that began with visions of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a> will likely be destined for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nit-tournament" class="sbn-auto-link">the NIT</a> or worse if Head Coach Steve Lavin's group don't start winning games in a hurry. Tonight, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/providence-friars" class="sbn-auto-link">Providence Friars</a> (11-5, 1-2) come to Carnesecca Arena in Queens, New York to play what should be another tightly contested Big East contest. The game tips at 7 P.M. EST and can be viewed on Fox Sports 1.</p>
<p>Here are a few things to keep an eye on for tonight's game:</p>
<p><b style="font-size: 12px;">St. John's Interior vs. Providence Interior</b></p>
<p>St. John's leads the nation with 8.9 blocks per game but as good as they are protecting the rim on defense, they are down right awful on the offensive side of the ball. Sophomore forward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175095/chris-obekpa" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Obekpa</a> is arguably the most feared shot blocker in the nation but is not a threat when he touches the ball inside. There isn't a single player on the St. John's roster who has the ability to catch the ball in the post, make a move and finish at the rim. Junior forward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175097/jakarr-sampson" class="sbn-auto-link">JaKarr Sampson</a> and senior forward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175101/orlando-sanchez" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Sanchez</a> are both 6-8 but much of their offense is generated off the dribble and from mid-range.</p>
<p>The Red Storm average 37 rebounds per game which puts them at 114th in the country. Uncoincidentally, St. John's has lost the rebounding battle in each of its last four losses. Providence has a talented duo in 6-9 sophomore <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175017/tyler-harris">Tyler Harris </a>(13.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG) and 6-9 senior forward <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100029/kadeem-batts">Kadeem Batts</a> (12.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG) that will challenge St. John's inside. The Friars are number one in the country in free throw shooting percentage (79.7%) and the Johnnies have been putting teams on the line at an alarming rate. Look for Providence to work the ball inside early.</p>
<p><b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/229361/rysheed-jordan" class="sbn-auto-link">Rysheed Jordan</a> vs. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124176/bryce-cotton" class="sbn-auto-link">Bryce Cotton</a></b></p>
<p>St. John's freshman Rysheed Jordan has been getting better and better on each side of the floor with every game. Tonight, he will draw his toughest matchup to date against Providence's uber-talented senior point guard Bryce Cotton. Cotton is the second leading scorer in the Big East, averaging 20.2 points per game, while also averaging a team-high 5.7 assists. At 6-5, Jordan holds a big size advantage over the 6-1 Cotton and must attack Providence's guard on the bounce and try and get him in foul trouble. Cotton currently leads the Big East in three-pointers made, assists per game, minutes per game, effective field goal percentage and if it wasn't for Creighton's Doug McDermott, he would lead the Big East in points per game as well. Jordan must neutralize Cotton if the Red Storm look to win.</p>
<p><b>Lavin's Lineups:</b></p>
<p>Lavin has one of the deepest rosters in the nation at his disposal and has been rotating his lineups like a hockey coach changes lines. Lavin has had the luxury of tinkering with lineups to figure out what works and what doesn't-perhaps to the point where the team can't find its identity. Seven players on the roster average at least 19 minutes per game and all 13 scholarship players have started at one point or another. With so many lineup changes and players constantly coming in and out, it has been tough for the team to gel to play with sustained consistency. The constant substitutions have done more harm than good and at times have been downright puzzling, as seen against DePaul when <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/144041/max-hooper" class="sbn-auto-link">Max Hooper</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/146164/sir-dominic-pointer">Sir'Dominic Pointer</a> were in during crunch time while JaKarr Sampson sat on the bench.</p>
<p><span></span><b style="font-size: 12px;">Prediction</b><span>:</span><b></b></p>
<p>Playing with a sense of urgency, St. John's eeks out a win on its home court and keeps hope alive.</p>
<p><b>Red Storm 72, Friars 68</b></p>
https://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2014/1/16/5316498/preview-st-johns-vs-providencePeter Walsh2014-01-16T15:28:46-05:002014-01-16T15:28:46-05:00Preview: Providence vs. St. John's
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<img alt="Bryce Cotton will need another big performance going up against D'Angelo Harrison and St. John's" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wwxhbseypB0y_SIxxI-WEHW6qNA=/0x163:4000x2830/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26956149/20130206_kkt_aa6_132.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Bryce Cotton will need another big performance going up against D'Angelo Harrison and St. John's | Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Friars look to even their Big East conference record in Carnesecca against the Johnnies who are looking for their first win in conference play. </p> <p>Providence has won 13 of the last 17 meetings against St. John's dating back to 2001. The two have tipped off against one another every season since the 1969-70 season with the Johnnies holding a convincing 31-15 record when the two have met in the big apple. The last time the Friars traveled to Queens back on December 27, 2011, they fell to a strong St. John's squad 91-67. Providence has yet to win at St. John's in four years.</p>
<p><b>Who to Watch</b>: With eight days off in between games, the Friars should have no minute concerns, if there was ever any with this undermanned squad. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100029/kadeem-batts" class="sbn-auto-link">Kadeem Batts</a> returned to his old form against Georgetown, pouring in 21 points and by showing he could hit that elbow jumper that has worked for him in the past, it opened up passing lanes for a Friar team that can get hot from deep. Without the Hoyas Josh Smith, Batts owned the paint but will have a tougher time calling it home against a St. John's team that isn't short on big bodies. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175095/chris-obekpa" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Obekpa</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175101/orlando-sanchez" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Sanchez</a>, who both had the Friars in their final list of schools before declaring to go to St. John's, are two guys not afraid to mix it up down low and even stretch the floor from time to time.</p>
<p><b>What to Watch</b>: The point guard, or scoring guard really, battle between <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124176/bryce-cotton" class="sbn-auto-link">Bryce Cotton</a> and D'Angelo Harrison has the chance to be very special. These two can pour in buckets, while still making sure to get everyone else involved. Two of the better guards will be on display tonight and it will be interesting to see which will be able to stay with the other better on the defensive end of the floor. Both Steve Lavin and Ed Cooley could prefer to throw another bigger guard on the other team's primary scorer and ball handler. Be sure not to look away when either of these two have the ball in their hands.</p>
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<p><b>When to Watch</b>: Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m ET at Carnesecca Arena around the St. John's campus in Queens, NY.</p>
<p><b>Where to Watch (and listen)</b>: Fox Sports 1 will be televising this old school Big East affair as Justin Kutcher and Ron Thompson will have the call. For those in New England, you can listen to 103.7 WEEI FM and the voices of the Friars, John Rooke and Joe Hassett. Friars.com will also have a live audio broadcast for those not fortunate enough to be around a television.</p>
<p><b>Now</b>: It is hard to imagine St. John's falling to 0-5 in Big East play but that is what is at stake tonight. Coming off a tough two point loss the other night to DePaul, the Johnnies are one of the more disappointing stories thus far in the Big East considering they could have the most raw talent. With eight days in between games, Providence should have their legs under them and should avoid that last first and second half swoon that they often experience. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/175097/jakarr-sampson" class="sbn-auto-link">JaKarr Sampson</a>, another player who had Ed Cooley and Providence in his final list a few years ago, is someone who could give Providence fits. His size and athleticism is something the Friars could struggle with. St. John's will most likely look to get up and down the floor with all the bodies they have as Ed Cooley hopes his guys can make this a half court style game where they can run their sets and control the clock.</p>
<p><b>Prediction</b>: Like I said earlier, I can't see St. John's falling to 0-5 in conference play in this new Big East with all the talent they have on their roster. Being at home and playing in a more confined environment in Carnesecca should give this team the confidence they need to upend the Friars.</p>
<p><b>Providence</b> 60 <b>St. John's</b> 68</p>
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https://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2014/1/16/5316246/game-preview-providence-vs-st-johnsDaniel McNamara