To get where you want to go,
sometimes you need to remember where you've been.
At game's
end, St. John's 77-52 win over Butler was decisive, but not easy. The Bulldogs
succeeded in slow playing St. John's to a 33-30 halftime advantage. While the
tempo they set was a key part of Butler's early success the lead was also
forged in the paint where senior forward Khyle Marshall pounded the glass for
what JaKarr Sampson called "a game's worth of stats " that included
16 points and 7 boards.
While St. John's coach Steve Lavin
was quick to give Butler credit, he also lamented , "I didn't think the team played with an appropriate
sense of urgency in the first half". And while that may be true the lack
of energy can also be attributed partially to the absence of Chris Obekpa since
the energy his shot blocking and defense had provided was missing.
The Red Storm found that sense of
urgency, according to Sampson, by remembering where they'd been."At
halftime we said we'd worked too hard to get into this position to let it
slip. We came out more aggressive."
For the game, St. John's turned
that three point deficit into a lead that stretched to 29. For the team it was
their 9th win in 10 tries. And for Sampson, he not only scored a career high 23
points but helped St. John's defense hold Marshall scoreless and without a
rebound for the entire second half. And while the improved energy and urgency
was key to the win, so was the calming influence of guard Jamal Branch was also
essential. The numbers will say 10
points and 5 assists but his poise, which shows in the box score in the form of
just one turnover combined with his ability to get Samson touches provided a
needed offensive spark.
With games coming at Villanova on
Saturday and against Xavier Tuesday they will need that sense of urgency from
start to finish. If they can remain in the top 3 of the league standings an
NCAA tourney bid is well within their grasp.
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