Top 25- Getting & Staying Ranked (2018-19)

[GumbyDamnit!]

That game vs SHU will absolutely be interesting. The other thing to watch will be how the Johnnies handle the different class of athlete that SHU can throw at them (than most cupcakes can). Our brothers at CU often tell us that the level of athlete at a non-major conference program is usually much different than one at a high level conference program. SJU did win at Rutgers (the worst of the B10 team) by 20 (nice job), but battled to the horn against VCU, Cal, and GT (all games won by less than 3 points). Mamuke, Nzei and Thompson may present a physical presence that St. John's might struggle with--at least initially.

[sju88grad]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

I think the schedule is a key reason why this game is so important to St. John's. Losing this game as a one-off would be no big deal, but with Marquette up next followed by a couple more tough road games, losing @SHU sets up the possibility of a slow start to BE play which is going to create the narrative that SJU was just a product of a weak schedule and pile on the pressure. Winning this game, on the other hand validates SJU's unbeaten record and gets them comfortably into polls.

Totally agree with these posts. This year’s schedule left a lot to be desired but it is what it is....this year seems to be an anomaly....next year looks to be pretty challenging.....potential Gavitt game, Big 12 matchup, Hall of Fame tourney over Thanksgiving (Arizona St., Virginia and UMass) and a newly announced game vs Arizona in December in the Warriors new arena in the Bay Area.....

I hate that our first 4 games are so tough since we haven’t played the type of schedule that SHU has played....if we manage to go 2-2, I’ll be happy....

[stever20]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

I think the schedule is a key reason why this game is so important to St. John's. Losing this game as a one-off would be no big deal, but with Marquette up next followed by a couple more tough road games, losing @SHU sets up the possibility of a slow start to BE play which is going to create the narrative that SJU was just a product of a weak schedule and pile on the pressure. Winning this game, on the other hand validates SJU's unbeaten record and gets them comfortably into polls.

Totally agree with these posts. This year’s schedule left a lot to be desired but it is what it is....this year seems to be an anomaly....next year looks to be pretty challenging.....potential Gavitt game, Big 12 matchup, Hall of Fame tourney over Thanksgiving (Arizona St., Virginia and UMass) and a newly announced game vs Arizona in December in the Warriors new arena in the Bay Area.....

I hate that our first 4 games are so tough since we haven’t played the type of schedule that SHU has played....if we manage to go 2-2, I’ll be happy....

good to hear about St John's for next year....

One question- will St John's be in the Gavitt games next year? They haven't sat out yet- one of 3 that haven't (Creighton/DePaul the others).

[REDMEN1415]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

"Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win."

I want this game in the worst way, get this and SJU will be ranked for the 1st time under Mullin.
2-2 isn't bad giving the first 4 game, but it's just avg, if we want to show that this year is diffent, and not the same ole shit with SJU.
Gotta be better then just avg, it's just how it is

[adoraz]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

"Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win."

I want this game in the worst way, get this and SJU will be ranked for the 1st time under Mullin.
2-2 isn't bad giving the first 4 game, but it's just avg, if we want to show that this year is diffent, and not the same ole shit with SJU.
Gotta be better then just avg, it's just how it is

I rather keep my expectations in line. I'd be happy with 2-2 given that we will probably only be favored in 1 game (at best, 2).

I hope the team has the same attitude as you do, but as a fan I rather not set myself up for disappointment.

"Same ole" for SJU means starting 0-11... not going 2-2 against the best 3 BE teams and an away game.

[stever20]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

"Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win."

I want this game in the worst way, get this and SJU will be ranked for the 1st time under Mullin.
2-2 isn't bad giving the first 4 game, but it's just avg, if we want to show that this year is diffent, and not the same ole shit with SJU.
Gotta be better then just avg, it's just how it is

I rather keep my expectations in line. I'd be happy with 2-2 given that we will probably only be favored in 1 game (at best, 2).

I hope the team has the same attitude as you do, but as a fan I rather not set myself up for disappointment.

"Same ole" for SJU means starting 0-11... not going 2-2 against the best 3 BE teams and an away game.

I think there's a big question if Seton Hall is better than Butler. Seton Hall may look better to St John's come Saturday given the cupcakes they've been playing. But long term, not so sure.

[REDMEN1415]

Seton Hall had an insane OOC finish to get to their current position.

5 straight wins including UK (n), Rutgers (h) and Maryland (a).

Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win. More importantly, a win over a very solid Hall team would elevate them in the rankings.

ESPN gives us a 45% of winning, so of course either way wouldn't surprise me. If St. John's gets off to a slow Big East start (1-3 or 0-4), I think the schedule maker should get a lot of criticism for not preparing the team for Big East play.

The new AD has done an excellent job, and he won't allow another weak OOC like this again. We escaped with a great OOC result, but just barely. Whether it impacts our conference start remains to be seen.

"Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win."

I want this game in the worst way, get this and SJU will be ranked for the 1st time under Mullin.
2-2 isn't bad giving the first 4 game, but it's just avg, if we want to show that this year is diffent, and not the same ole shit with SJU.
Gotta be better then just avg, it's just how it is

I rather keep my expectations in line. I'd be happy with 2-2 given that we will probably only be favored in 1 game (at best, 2).

I hope the team has the same attitude as you do, but as a fan I rather not set myself up for disappointment.

"Same ole" for SJU means starting 0-11... not going 2-2 against the best 3 BE teams and an away game.

Well Saturday is a huge game, if they lose that, then they'll feel pressure on Tuesday vs marq saying we can't start 0-2 knowing what happened last year.
Gotta play loose without the pressure or shit could start going down hill really fast.

[adoraz]

"Really glad they were able to put together a great OOC resume, because it makes it so the Johnnies don't necessarily need to win."

I want this game in the worst way, get this and SJU will be ranked for the 1st time under Mullin.
2-2 isn't bad giving the first 4 game, but it's just avg, if we want to show that this year is diffent, and not the same ole shit with SJU.
Gotta be better then just avg, it's just how it is

I rather keep my expectations in line. I'd be happy with 2-2 given that we will probably only be favored in 1 game (at best, 2).

I hope the team has the same attitude as you do, but as a fan I rather not set myself up for disappointment.

"Same ole" for SJU means starting 0-11... not going 2-2 against the best 3 BE teams and an away game.

Well Saturday is a huge game, if they lose that, then they'll feel pressure on Tuesday vs marq saying we can't start 0-2 knowing what happened last year.
Gotta play loose without the pressure or shit could start going down hill really fast.

I agree starting 0-2 wouldn't be good. Most fans would start getting anxious at that point.

I think the team's attitude is different from last year. Everybody around for that 0-11 skid went on to beat Duke, Nova, Marquette, Butler, Georgetown (BET), etc and start OOC play 12-0. The team has had a really, really strong resume since Duke. If you took their resume from February 2018 to December 2018, they would without a doubt be a Tournament team (and a high seed).

That said, it is important to get a W within the first 2 games, because I don't see them winning both of the following 2.

[REDMEN1415]

If sju wins Saturday night, they'll be an undefeated ranked team, with a ranked Marquette that is fav to win the b.e. conf coming in.
The crowd will be insane, the kids will feed off the crowds energy. If we win Saturday night, there'll be a damn good chance at going 2-0

[kayako]

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketbal ... ated-press

16 Marquette

28 Nova
29 Seton Hall

St. John's with only 1 vote.