NEW YORK—St. John’s seniors have experienced a lot of firsts this season. From regularly beating top ranked teams to becoming a top 25 team themselves, the Johnnies were in previously uncharted territory over the past decade.
Still, those seniors had a hole in the resume. Beating Syracuse—the only team in the Big East Conference against whom they hadn’t notched up a victory.
The Red Storm had a chance to get that win over the Orange in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals but were unable to do so in a 79–73 loss at Madison Square Garden on Thursday afternoon.
After losing senior forward D.J. Kennedy with a right knee injury with 14:25 left in the first half, No. 18 St. John’s would quickly trail No. 11 Syracuse 14–5. Despite not having one of their best players, the Johnnies were able to take a 37–32 halftime lead.
The lead was soon be squandered as the Orange opened up the second half on a 13–4 run and took the lead at 45–41 with 16:00 left in the game.
While the game yo-yoed back and forth the rest of the way, a Dwight Hardy (22 points) travel with 1:06 to play with the Red Storm down 74–70 sealed their fate.
While St. John’s achieved the season’s main goal of qualifying for the NCAA tournament, how deep of a run they make could very well depend on the health of Kennedy’s right knee.
And the early prognosis isn’t a good one.
“I haven’t spoken to our team doctor’s to have any definitive information on D.J. [Kennedy], but I know it’s a serious knee injury,” head coach Steve Lavin said.
Fortunately for St. John’s, they have a lot of depth in a roster that includes 10 seniors—nine of which see regular playing time.
“With this team, somebody’s just going to have to fill his shoes,” Hardy said. “We’re so deep, any given moment somebody can step up, but to lose a player like him [Kennedy] that does everything for us—rebounds, scores steals the ball—it’s crucial, and we’re just going to find a way to excel with out him.”
Easier said then done.
Trying to adjust without one of the most important players this late in the season is a tough task. But if the Johnnies are able to successfully tweak their rotation, Kennedy being stuck on the sideline could be motivation to propel the Johnnies to make a run in the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t think it’s going feel the same because we lost one of our brothers if he doesn’t get to play,” Evans (11 points, 12 rebounds) said of Kennedy, who he is close friends with off the court.
“It’s going to be hurtful but I think it’s just going to be fuel to the fire so we’re going to have to step up and I’m going to play hard for D.J. and the rest of my teammates.”
Clearly St John’s is a team that can play through adversity. After three seasons of mediocrity at best, the nine seniors brought St. John’s back to prominence in Lavin’s first year.
“I’m really proud of our players not only for the entire season, but this game in particular,” Lavin said. “Having to step up and find a way to counterpunch without one of our key contributors speaks volumes about our players character, resiliency, and will to win.
“And that will serve us well next week in the NCAA tournament.”
Follow Matt on Twitter @MattSugam and tune in every Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST on WRSU-FM as he cohost’s Scarlet Fever discussing Rutgers, Big East basketball, football, and other New York sports.
