St. John’s Blows Out DePaul

 

By Andrew Rosario

 

St. John’s and DePaul faced each other twice during the regular season each team winning in their own building. Both games were close with the margin of victory only 5-points in both contests. So, it was no surprise when they faced each other in the second game of the Big East tournament last night that things would be any different. The Red Storm were hoping the “home town crowd” would give them an advantage. They quickly realized they would need more than that if they wanted to advance to the second round.

 

The Blue Demons came out of the gate like their namesake suggest blazing to 12-2 lead when St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson called a timeout with 16:42 left in the first half. Whatever he said, must have clicked as the Red Storm outscored DePaul 47-17 the rest of the way taking a 20-point 49-29 halftime lead. Red Storm’s guard Julian Champagnie went crazy in the first half. He finished with 22 points on 8-12 shooting, connecting on 3 of 6 3 pointers and 3 of 4 free throws. The defense made the necessary adjustments after they were down by 10 as DePaul guard Javon Freeman-Liberty finished with 9 points. No other DePaul player had more than 6.

 

St. John’s did not let up in the second half as the lead never got below 20. They ran the floor when they had to and ran their halfcourt with precision. The defensive intensity that sparked the first half run continued in the second half. They did not want to give DePaul a reason they could make a comeback. 

 

The Red Storm did not closing out the game 92-73 and will take on the #11 Villanova Wildcats and head coach Jay Wright tonight at 7pm.

 

Said Anderson of the way the team responded after the slow start, “first we’re very proud of the effort of our guys coming out. Some of things they did tonight, even coming out to a slow start. In the first game, you never know how your guys are going to come out of tournament and play. I thought the nerves were going. I thought we settled early on.”