What's happened
St. John’s defeated Butler 84-70, securing their second Quad 1 win of the season. Bryce Hopkins led the team with 17 points, and the team improved defensively after halftime, forcing turnovers and outscoring Butler in the second half. The game marked a key victory for the Red Storm.
What's behind the headline?
The victory signals a significant turnaround for St. John’s, highlighting their improved defensive effort and strategic adjustments. The team’s use of a two big-man lineup, featuring Prey and Ejiofor, sparked their second-half surge. The game also exposed ongoing issues with offensive consistency and late-game decision-making, particularly among their young guards. The team’s ability to force turnovers after halftime was crucial, as Butler committed a season-high 21 turnovers, which St. John’s capitalized on. This win suggests that the Red Storm are beginning to address their previous shortcomings, especially in closing out games. However, their reliance on key players like Ejiofor and Hopkins remains a double-edged sword, as inconsistent offensive contributions from others could hinder future success. Moving forward, St. John’s will need to sustain their defensive intensity and develop more reliable offensive options to compete at higher levels consistently.
What the papers say
The coverage from NY Post and AP News provides a detailed account of the game, emphasizing the team’s defensive improvements and key players’ performances. The NY Post highlights the team’s resilience and strategic adjustments, such as the two big-man lineup, while AP News focuses on individual contributions and the game’s pivotal moments. Contrasting opinions are minimal, but the NY Post underscores the team’s defensive turnaround as the defining factor, whereas AP News emphasizes individual player stats and the game’s flow. Both sources agree that this victory is a positive step for St. John’s, though they note ongoing challenges with offensive consistency and late-game execution.
How we got here
The game followed recent struggles for St. John’s, including a loss to Providence. The team has been working to improve its late-game performance and defensive consistency. Previous games showed issues with closing out leads and offensive inconsistency, especially among key players like Hopkins and Jackson.
Go deeper
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Bryce Hopkins (born September 7, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Providence Friars of the Big East Conference He was a consensus top-40 recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class.
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