SB Nation New York - Fab Melo And Syracuse Down St. John's, 79-73 https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-03-10T23:31:31-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18060972011-03-10T23:31:31-05:002011-03-10T23:31:31-05:00D.J. Kennedy Injury: St. John's Basketball Senior Guard Out For Season With ACL Tear
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Just a handful of minutes into the St. John's basketball program's quarterfinal game in the 2011 Big East Tournament against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange">Syracuse Orange</a>, senior <b>D.J. Kennedy</b> fell to the floor in pain. The Johnnies best rebounder, third-best scorer and second-best passer knew right away that it wasn't good.</p>
<blockquote>
<font face="georgia"></font>
<p><font face="georgia"><i>"[D.J.] just said, 'It's bad,'" St. John's head coach Steve Lavin <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/ncb/columns/story?columnist=darcy_kieran&id=6204365">said after the game</a>. "I said, 'How bad?' He said, 'It's bad.'"</i></font><i></i></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lavin, who was unsure about the status of the 6-foot-5 hybrid guard-forward after the game, found out later that Kennedy had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. According to ESPNNY.com's writer Kieran Darcy, "his season, and his college career, are over."</p>
<p>The loss of Kennedy will be felt, however, things like this happen to teams -- just ask Syracuse which earned a 79-73 victory Thursday, but lost senior center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26302/arinze-onuaku">Arinze Onuaku</a> late last season.</p>
<p>Luckily for St. John's fans, Kennedy isn't as important to the Johnnies success as Onuaku was to SU's. I guess, you could say Red Storm supporters are fortunate that it wasn't senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100042/dwight-hardy">Dwight Hardy</a> or senior forward Justin Brownlee. (The last statement doesn't take away how sad the Kennedy situation is.) But St. John's Sweet 16 or Final Four hopes are not completely smashed with this news, just cracked.</p>
<blockquote>
<font face="georgia"></font>
<p><font face="georgia"><i>"It’s going to affect us a little bit," <a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2011/03/kennedys_injury_plus_brandon_s.html">said SJU guard Dwight Hardy</a>, "because he’s versatile. But now we have to pick up the slack, somebody else is going to have to score a little bit more, everybody on this team is going to have to add more value than what they’ve been adding and I think we have the potential to do that."</i></font><i></i></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Kennedy can be replaced, as senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26274/sean-evans">Sean Evans</a> proved with a solid 11-points, 12-rebound performance on Thursday. Lavin will just need to adjust his lineup and try to get some more magic out of those Coaches vs. Cancer sneakers.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix">
<table class="zebra">
<thead class="super-head">
<tr>
<th class="td-first"></th> <th colspan="2"></th> <th colspan="3">FG</th> <th colspan="3">3PT</th> <th colspan="3">FT</th> <th colspan="3">Rebounds</th> <th colspan="6">Misc</th>
</tr>
</thead> <thead>
<tr>
<th class="td-first"></th> <th>G</th> <th>M</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>M</th> <th>A</th> <th>Pct</th> <th>Off</th> <th>Def</th> <th>Tot</th> <th>Ast</th> <th>TO</th> <th>Stl</th> <th>Blk</th> <th>PF</th> <th>PPG</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2010 - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26271/d-j-kennedy">D.J. Kennedy</a>
</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>28.7</td>
<td>3.3</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td>45.6</td>
<td>0.6</td>
<td>1.7</td>
<td>36.4</td>
<td>3.3</td>
<td>4.2</td>
<td>77.8</td>
<td>1.4</td>
<td>4.3</td>
<td>5.6</td>
<td>2.0</td>
<td>1.7</td>
<td>1.8</td>
<td>0.5</td>
<td>2.1</td>
<td class="td-last">10.4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p><br id="1299817378511"></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/syracuse-orange/2011/3/10/2043522/d-j-kennedy-injury-st-johns-basketball-big-east-tournament-2011Jared Smith2011-03-10T17:33:29-05:002011-03-10T17:33:29-05:00Big East Tournament 2011 Scores And Results: Fab Melo And Syracuse Down St. John's, 79-73
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Sophomore guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100046/brandon-triche">Brandon Triche</a> posted a game-best 22 points Thursday and freshman center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124408/fab-melo">Fab Melo</a> tallied a collegiate-best 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting to help the No. 4-seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange">Syracuse Orange</a> beat No. 5 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm">St. John's Red Storm</a>, 79-73, in a 2011 Big East Tournament quarterfinal game at Madison Square Garden. The Orange (No. 11 in both college basketball polls) pushed their current winning streak to six games and advanced to the semifinals where they will play the No. 9 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/connecticut-huskies">Connecticut Huskies</a>, who upset No. 1 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/pittsburgh-panthers">Pittsburgh Panthers</a>, 76-74, earlier on Thursday.</p>
<p>Syracuse (26-6), which trailed 37-32 at halftime, used a 13-4 run, capped by a Melo layup, to collect a 45-41 with 16:26 to play in the game. From there, St. John's (21-11) and SU battled back-and-forth until about two and half minutes to go. With the score tied at 68, Syracuse went on a 9-2 run, which included four points from Melo and Triche going 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, to take a 79-70 with 12 second remaining. Senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100042/dwight-hardy">Dwight Hardy</a>, who netted a team-best 22 points, made a last-second 3-pointer, but SU dribbled out the remaining time <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/syracuse-orange/2011/3/10/2042056/syracuse-basketball-st-johns-basketball-big-east-tournament-settles-battle-over-madison?show_comments=true">to hold on to their squatter's rights</a> of MSG.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><i>"He was the difference tonight without any question," said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim of Melo after the game. "..We did just enough. It's tough when you have the double-bye, I've said that for years. It's tough to get going. But this is a good win for us to get this today."</i></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26295/rick-jackson">Rick Jackson</a> had a tremendous second half to finish with a stat-stuffing performance of 10 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three steals and three assists. Junior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52510/kris-joseph">Kris Joseph</a> added 14 points and three blocks, while red-shirt senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26307/scoop-jardine">Scoop Jardine</a> chipped in with 10 points. Freshman forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124405/c-j-fair">C.J. Fair</a> collected seven rebound off the bench, all on the offensive end.</p>
<p>St. John's (No. 17 in the AP poll/No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll) suffered from the loss of senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26271/d-j-kennedy">D.J. Kennedy</a>, who suffered a knee injury early in the first half and never returned. In his absence, senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26274/sean-evans">Sean Evans</a> compiled 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100044/justin-brownlee">Justin Brownlee</a> posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while freshman forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26275/paris-horne">Paris Horne</a> had 11 points.</p>
<p>The Johnnies advanced to the quarterfinals after beating Rutgers, 65-63, on Wednesday.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget events clearfix">
<table class="box-score">
<thead>
<tr>
<th class="td-left"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/75607">Final - 3.10.2011 </a> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>Total</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm">St. John's Red Storm</a> </span></td>
<td>37</td>
<td>36</td>
<td class="highlight">73</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange">Syracuse Orange</a> </span></td>
<td>32</td>
<td>47</td>
<td class="highlight">79</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/75607">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
https://newyork.sbnation.com/syracuse-orange/2011/3/10/2042859/big-east-tournament-2011-scores-and-results-fab-melo-syracuse-st-johnsJared Smith2011-03-10T15:39:10-05:002011-03-10T15:39:10-05:00St. John's 37, Syracuse 32 Halftime Score: Orange's 12 Turnovers Lead To Deficit
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100044/justin-brownlee">Justin Brownlee</a> has scored a team-best seven points for the No. 4-seeded <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm">St. John's Red Storm</a>, who lead the No. 5 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange">Syracuse Orange</a>, 37-32, at halftime of a 2011 Big East Tournament quarterfinals game at Madison Square Garden. The winner advances to play No. 9 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/connecticut-huskies">Connecticut Huskies</a> in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.</p>
<p>The Orange (25-6 overall and No. 11 in both college basketball polls) jumped out to a nine-point, 14-5, advantage in the game's first six minutes. St. John's (21-10 and No. 17 in the AP poll/No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll) responded with a 17-6 run, which included senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100042/dwight-hardy">Dwight Hardy</a>'s seven first-half points, to take a 22-20 lead with 7:27 to play. The Red Storm held onto the lead by forcing Syracuse (12 first-half turnovers) into a lot of bad decisions on offense.</p>
<p>Freshman guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124403/dion-waiters">Dion Waiters</a> has netted a team-best eight-bench points for Syracuse, which shot 3-of-10 from 3-point land and just 10-of-27 (37.0 percent) from the floor. Sophomore guard Brandon Triche has chipped in with seven points, while freshman center <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/124408/fab-melo">Fab Melo</a> has tallied six points and four rebounds.</p>
<p>Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26274/sean-evans">Sean Evans</a> has seven points for St. John's, which defeated Rutgers, 65-63, Wednesday in the second round.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/syracuse-orange/2011/3/10/2042679/st-johns-basketball-syracuse-basketball-halftime-score-fab-mel-2011-big-east-tournamentJared Smith2011-03-10T12:07:06-05:002011-03-10T12:07:06-05:00Syracuse vs. St. John's Preview: Big East Tournament Settles Battle Over Madison Square Garden
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k4AZ3zUXGjVqYFKP2-sft2B2rWA=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828127/large_newyork.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>If there's one thing the 2011 Big East Tournament quarterfinals will settle Thursday, besides Friday's semifinal matchups, it's the battle of squatters rights between the Syracuse basketball program and St. John's basketball program for Madison Square Garden (2 p.m. on ESPN).</p>
<p>For years, the No. 4-seeded Syracuse Orange (No. 11 in both college basketball polls) have claimed the World's Most Famous Arena as their home away from home. Considering the Orange have earned five Big East Tournament titles, while compiling a winning percentage of 63.4 percent, it's hard to argue against their claim. SU, which also plays a few yearly regular season contests at MSG, always does a solid job of drawing a large orange-wearing audience to NYC.</p>
<p>This season has been a bit different as the No. 5-seeded St. John's Red Storm (No. 17 in AP poll and No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll) has tried to reclaim their territory using a handful of top-notch victories at MSG, which is used as the Red Storm's home court for premier contests -- Carnesecca Arena in Jamacia, N.Y. is the official home of the Johnnies. After losing 76-59 to SU, Jan. 12, in an early-season game at MSG, the Red Storm collected five straight victories at Four Pennsylvania Plaza. Those victories, which included upsetting No. 5 Duke, Jan. 30, No. 21/19 UConn, Feb. 10, and then No. 3 Pittsburgh, Feb. 19, made red the mandatory color to wear inside MSG.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for St. John's fans, in the world of sports, home court is never officially reclaimed until you beat the territorial bully head-to-head. And, that's what an improved St. John's will try to do Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p>Led by senior point guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100042/dwight-hardy">Dwight Hardy</a>, the Red Storm are a much different, more confident squad than the group who played the Orange the first time around. Since then, St. John's has cut down on its mental mistakes and put the ball in Hardy's hands. Those simple tweaks helped the Johnnies win nine of their last 11 regular-season contests, vault to the top of the Big East standings and into the national rankings for the first time since 2000. Senior forward <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100044/justin-brownlee">Justin Brownlee</a> (12.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26271/d-j-kennedy">D.J. Kennedy</a> (5.7 rpg) have turned into solid contributors inside, while senior guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26268/malik-boothe">Malik Boothe</a> (3.0 assists per game and 1.6 turnovers per game) has been a steady, ball-handling presence.</p>
<p>After beating St. John's, Syracuse beat the Cincinnati Beacats, Jan 15, to improve to 18-0 overall, but then went into a tailspin losing six of its next eight games. The Orange stabilized themselves when they began to let sophomore guard <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/100046/brandon-triche">Brandon Triche</a> become the leader. Triche, who's currently Syracuse's fourth-best scorer (11.2 ppg), is SU's go-to guy when struggling. With Triche and the improved play of redshirt-senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26307/scoop-jardine">Scoop Jardine</a> (12.6 ppg and 6.0 apg) the Orange rallied off five straight victories to end the regular season and claim the double-bye in the Big East Tournament -- ironically, St. John's controlled the No. 4 seed in the final week, but lost to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/seton-hall-pirates">Seton Hall Pirates</a>, March 3, to lose its one-game advantage in the league standings.</p>
<p>When it comes to NCAA Tournament seedings, <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/rutgers-scarlet-knights/2011/3/8/2037540/big-east-basketball-bracketology-101-espn-joe-lunardi-andy-glockner-big-east-tournament-2011">there's not much at stake</a>. As of Tuesday, Syracuse was predicted to earn a No. 2 or No. 3 seed, while St. John's was a solid No. 4. SU could maybe solidify a No. 2 seed with a Big East Tournament finals appearance and St. John's could move up to No. 3. In the end, this game is basically playing for New York state pride and MSG bragging rights.</p>
<p></p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget events clearfix">
<div class="next_game">
<h3>Next Game</h3>
<div class="pane-body">
<p class="game-title"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/st-john-s-red-storm">St. John's Red Storm</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/syracuse-orange">Syracuse Orange</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/75607">Thursday, Mar 10, 2011, 2:00 PM EST</a><br> Madison Square Garden - New York, NY</p>
<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/events/75607">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/3/10/2331255/syracuse-vs-st-johns-preview-big-east-tournament-settles-battle-overJared Smith