Earl Richardson/Journal-World PhotoNew York ? Don’t look for St. John’s to lead the NCAA in free-throw shooting statistics this season. Don’t even look for the Red Storm to be ranked.
St. John’s made just nine of 20 charities when it surprised Kentucky, 61-60, in Thursday’s opening round of the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic. Then the Red Storm made only 13 of 27 free throws in the 82-74 loss to Kansas in Friday’s championship game.
“As usual our guys showed up to play,” St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis said, “even though everybody is going to wonder who my free-throw coach is.”
Then Jarvis paused for a moment, smiled and quipped: “He has tenure, so I can’t tell you.”
Tenure is one thing, tenacity is another and the young Red Storm three freshmen start have the doggedness of a kennel of hungry pit bulls. Lagging by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Johnnies cut the deficit to two with under two minutes remaining before wilting.
“This is a group of guys who really, really compete,” Jarvis said. “Kansas is a great team and we have nothing to be ashamed of. I see a team with unbelievable potential.”
St. John’s took 20 more shots than the Jayhawks, but made two fewer baskets. The Red Storm also suffered from those free throw woes.
Still, SJU’s defense forced 26 Kansas turnovers.
“Let’s face it,” Jarvis said. “When the other team is in position to put you away and you don’t let them, it’s defense.”
Freshman point guard Omar Cook, who made the all-tourney team despite missing 14 of 20 shots against Kansas, spearheaded SJU’s defense with six of his team’s 12 steals.
“It’s the guys with the biggest hearts who play the biggest,” Jarvis said, referring specifically to Cook.
St. John’s coach Mike Jarvis
Cook took the bulk of his shots from three-point range, but made only four of 12. For that, he credited Kansas.
“They were concentrating on me a lot,” Cook said. “I tried to play as hard as I can, but (Kansas’ guards) were so far out on me, I had to shoot from too far back.”
In playing only his second game as a collegian, the much-ballyhooed Cook learned that playing hard doesn’t always result in victories.
“I’m very disappointed we lost,” he said. “We came here to win. We didn’t come to just compete.”
Meanwhile, Jarvis likes what he has seen so far, and no doubt expects this group of players to make noise in March.
“We believe we are America’s team and we’re going to try to prove that,” Jarvis said. “These guys play with so much heart and so much passion I see the making of a heckuva basketball team.”
