NEW YORK – Street-smart, alley-tough New Yorkers – guys like Lou Carnesecca – have come to expect muggings in the Big Apple.
Routine. Happens every day.
Highway robbery in the Heart of America, however, is another story.
“We remember quite well what they did to us,” said the St. John’s coach referring to a 63-54 loss to the Jayhawks on Dec. 5 in Allen Fieldhouse. “They picked our pockets.”
Indeed, Kansas robbed the ball 11 times in that earlier meeting.
The Redmen’s highly touted former San Jacinto (Tex.) Juco backcourt of Greg “Boo” Harvey and Michael Porter will certainly, in the true spirit of the big city, be looking for revenge in tonight’s ECAC Holiday Festival finale.
Tipoff for the title game and rematch is approximately 8:30 p.m., Lawrence time, at Madison Square Garden. The consolation game between marist and Memphis State starts at 6 p.m.
“I’m sure they’ll play better,” Kansas coach Larry Brown said following Tuesday’s two-hour practice session at the Garden. “Their guards did not play as well (in Lawrence) as they’re capable. Hopefully that’s because of the play of our guards. Boo and Michael Porter and Jayson Williams are great kids and will get even better as they fit into the system.”
In that first meeting – St. John’s only loss, by the way – the 6-9 Williams scored 11 points off the bench, while the 6-1 Porter totaled eight on four of eight shooting and the 5-11 Harvey six on miserable three of 14 marksmanship.
KU’s own juco backcourt pair of Otis Livingston and Lincoln Minor did much of the defensive work on Harvey and Porter.
“They are extremely talented,” said Minor, who scored four points in Monday’s unimpressive 64-62 first-round win over Memphis State. “I don’t think they had their best game. We’ve just gotta play good man-to-man again and get a lot of help from our teammates.”
“We played good sound defense on them in Lawrence,” said Livingston, who had four points and four assists versus MSU. “I think he (Harvey) will come out and play his game. He won’t be thinking about the first game. That’s when you make mistakes, when you try to do too much. I’ll have to keep him in front of me – not let him turn the corner and penetrate.”
The Redmen’s otehr top gun is 6-9 senior Shelton Jones, who is averaging 18.3 points per game compared to Porter’s 14.7 and Harvey’s 12.3.
Jones scored 17 in the first meeting.
“He’s a good player, a great player,” said Minor. “I think their whole team is good. They’ll be looking toward it more since we beat them the first time. They’ll be looking to get back at us.”
Yes, but the revenge motive might not be enough against the Danny Manning-led Jayhawks. The 6-10 Manning, who scored 19 versus Memphis State, had 21 versus St. John’s.
How will the Redmen stop Manning?
“Nobody has,” said Carnesecca. “The only technique to use is the Fu Manchu technique. I’ll leave it to you to find out what that is.”
The Redmen realize stopping Manning will be vital if they hope to snare their fourth consecutive Festival title.
“He’s very talented, but also a smart player,” said Jones. “If you worry about him too much, their other four players will beat you. We’re preparing for this like any other game. In the back of our minds, we know they beat us before, but we’re not going to be all rah-rah about it.”
The teams will hope to put on a good shot. Monday’s games weren’t exactly crowd-pleasing thrillers. Kansas hit a dismal 37.9 percent from the field in its win, while St. John’s shot 43.3 percent in its 65-59 decision over Marist.
KU’s shooting percentage for the season dropped from 58.1 percent before the game to 55.7.
“We didn’t play for nine days and Memphis State played good defense,” said Brown. “I don’t think their game (St. John’s-Marist) was a classic, either. There’s pressure on the kids playing in the Holiday Festival. It’s a big deal.”
Last year, Kansas beat St. John’s, 62-60, in the Garden on two Keith Harris free throws with no time left on the clock.
“We played ’em here last year before a big crowd and came back from 10-12 down,” said Brown. “Our kids were really excited after that. To come and play here is a challenge. It’s what we want. It helps prepare you for later. I’m glad we’re in the final game. It’s exciting.”
Notes
Kansas, six of 24 from three-point range through nine games, hit four of eight against Memphis State…KU’s Kevin Pritchard on what he’s been doing in New York. “Mainly just walking around and looking around,” he said. “We’re here to play basketball.”…6-10 Sean Alvarado, who hasn’t played all season, practiced Tuesday, and may be pulled off the red-shirt list if the Jayhawks lose any big men to grades…KU’s cheerleaders aren’t here. They’re headed for the national championships this weekend in Dallas…
