So Georgetown's Austin Freeman was the Big East Conferences Preseason Player Of The Year?
St. John's Red Storm senior guard Dwight Hardy had something to say about that on Monday night.
Hardy netted a game-best 20 points, including a late acrobatic layup and two game-clinching free throws that propelled the Red Storm past the No. 13 Georgetown Hoyas, 61-58, at Madison Square Garden.
"He's been so outstanding," said St. John's head coach Steve Lavin about Hardy after the game. "He's got what it takes. The brass knuckles."
Red Storm senior forward Justin Brownlee scored the game-winning basket, which was netted after Hardy beat his defender off the dribble, drove to the basket but missed a layup. In midair, Brownlee grabbed the ball and laid it in the goal to give St. John's a 59-58 lead with seven second remaining.
Georgetown's Freeman missed a go-ahead 2-point basket with six second remaining.
Hardy, who has scored 20 points or more in six of his last seven games, nailed two free throws to cap the scoring.
On Monday, Hardy was named Big East Player Of The Week after netting 20 points at West Virginia and 21 points at Providence last week.
St. John's led at halftime 32-26.