Acquainted questions plague St. John’s from their loss to Marquette

Alumni Corridor opened in 1961 and have become often called Carnesecca Enviornment in 2004. The outdated constructing has seen plenty of basketball, some good and rather a lot worse recently.

There has by no means been an evening like this from the house facet defensively. St. John’s has allowed 4 factors below 100, probably the most it has even given up right here in regulation, a transparent indication of the place this once-promising season is headed.

“Our protection was terrific,” coach Mike Anderson mentioned after his Johnnies dropped their fourth straight 96-85 loss to Marquette, which fell to 1-4 in Huge East play. Not solely is it now 0-5 in Quad 1 and a pair of video games, however it’s even within the high 100 of the NET rankings.

Protection is meant to be the calling card of this program below Anderson, however it hasn’t stopped anybody since convention play started. After getting torched by Seton Corridor on New Yr’s Eve, Marquette erupted for 96 factors on 53.2 % capturing and 25 factors in transition. It hit 7 of 12 3-point makes an attempt within the second half and went up by 55 factors.

“Proper now, we have not change into the defensive staff that I would like,” Anderson mentioned. He added: “I believed we might go a bit of additional [at this point], I actually did. … Our protection is what’s hurting us proper now.”

The night time started in ominous style with the varsity declaring guard Andre Curbelo unavailable for not assembly staff standards, and one other level guard, Posh Alexander, unusually not beginning. Requested if Alexander would come off the bench, Anderson mentioned he wished to get to know different gamers. Curbelo was not on the bench, however was noticed on the sphere in a hooded sweatshirt.

“You need to keep on with staff coverage, that is all,” Anderson mentioned, declining to remark additional on the matter.

Nonetheless, St. John’s outplayed Marquette for many of the first half, taking an eight-point lead into halftime. However after the Golden Eagles adjusted at halftime, St. John’s lacked the response it wanted, which was additionally the case in latest ugly losses to Villanova and Seton Corridor. This staff has proven a disturbing behavior of not with the ability to hit. In that four-game shedding streak, it was a 17-2, 16-0, 22-8 and 16-2 shortstop.

“We do not wish to lose. I do not suppose anybody on this world likes to lose,” mentioned Joel Soriano. “Disappointing, very disappointing. I really feel like we’re proper there, we’re simply attempting to recover from the hump.”

As he has been all season, Soriano was one of the best participant for St. John’s (11-5, 1-4) with 22 factors and 13 rebounds. Dylan Adae-Wusu added 21 factors and 5 assists in a uncommon beginning position, however dedicated three turnovers. Olivier-Maxens Prosper led Marquette with 29 factors and Cam Jones had 16.

Marquette got here out the opposite staff at halftime, happening a 16-2 run to take the lead. The Golden Eagles hit six of their first eight pictures of the second half, together with three 3-pointers, and immediately a nine-point St. John’s lead grew to become a seven-point deficit. Marquette (12-4, 4-1) scored 32 of its first 46 factors within the second half and dominated on the boards. Prosper’s 3-pointer made it an 11-point lead with 9:25 left.

St. John’s received inside 4 with 3:14 left, however it could not come again on a layup by David Jones (13 factors) and Prosper transformed a three-point play to push the lead again to seven. The sport was by no means in jeopardy once more.

“Our protection wasn’t the place it wanted to be, particularly within the second half. However quick breaks, quick breaks, that is one of many issues we have actually harped on going again on protection,” Anderson mentioned. “Even proper there with 4 minutes to go, we reduce it to 4 and all you need to do is cease. And we could not.”