The outcome was foreseeable.
St. John’s game on Tuesday night was not about that, given that its opponent, LIU, is rated 350th by KenPom.com and is in the midst of a huge rebuilding process under first-year head coach Rod Strickland.
No, this game was crucial because Posh Alexander returned to the court healthy and confident after suffering a head injury last week during the Red Storm’s Empire Classic victory against Syracuse.
Alexander was his normal self on this night, scoring 12 points and dishing out eight assists in 27 minutes. Importantly, he made his first two 3-pointers of the season during the Red Storm’s 95-68 rout of the Northeast Conference opponent at Carnesecca Arena.
This season, Alexander will need to make that shot for St. John’s, which will require him to be at his best. Sunday, when the Red Storm visit No. 23 Iowa State, Coach Mike Anderson’s squad will undoubtedly need him. The Cyclones will be by far their most formidable opponent this season.
The Red Storm’s 8-0 start is three victories short of matching the start of the 2018-19 St. John’s NCAA Tournament squad. This group, like previous club, has played an easy non-conference schedule. Iowa State will be its first opponent in the top 50. Its non-conference schedule is rated 326th in the country.
After suffering a head injury last week, Posh Alexander shown no indications of persistent issues.
Corey Sipkin, New York Post
Nonetheless, there has been much to like thus far. Joel Soriano, who recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds against LIU, has seven double-doubles in eight games and appears to be one of the most developed players in the country.
Jacob Johnson scored 17 points to lead the Sharks. LIU’s Quion Burns recorded 10 points and eight rebounds (1-4).
Andre Curbelo (eight rebounds, seven assists) and David Jones (14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) have both lived up to the preseason buzz by scoring 18 and 14 points, respectively. There is greater athleticism, which better suits Anderson’s uptempo style, and there is more depth than in previous seasons.
St. John’s Red Storm number three Andre Curbelo drives to the basket.
St. John’s enjoyed a 44-20 advantage after a dominating first half in which its inability to make jumpers from the outside was about the only blemish. The Red Storm made only two of nine three-point attempts, but made 18 of 25 two-point attempts and converted 10 LIU turnovers into 16 points.
Soriano led the team with 12 points and six rebounds, while Curbelo and Alexander combined for 17 points and 11 assists as point guards.
In the first half, Anderson utilized ten players, and seven different individuals scored. Curbelo concluded the overpowering first half in spectacular fashion by abandoning his opponent on the court with a fast crossover and completing a baseline drive. This culminated a 14-2 run that transformed a substantial lead into a rout.
Montez Mathis, a postgraduate senior, missed the game due to an unexplained illness. Rafael Pinzon (right ankle) returned and scored 14 points, a season best.
»Posh Alexander demonstrates encouraging signals as St. John’s sails past LIU«