2009 Big East, Round 2, Tournament Preview: Marquette Golden Eagles vs. St. John's Red Storm

2009 Big East Round 2 Tournament Preview - Marquette vs St. John's. The St. John's Red Storm (16-14) will try and win their second Big East Tournament game against Marquette after winning their first post season game since 2003 yesterday over the Georgetown Hoyas, 64-59 . St. John's enters the game having won 3 of their last 4 games while Marquette (23-8) enters with a better record, but having dropped their last 4 games of the regular season. St. John's will be attempting to get into the NCAA tournament by pulling off what seems to be the impossible in 2009 - Win the 2009 Big East Tournament!

2009 Big East Tournament Preview - Marquette

Marquette has been a streaky team this season. Earlier in the season, the Golden Eagles won 12 games in a row entering conference play, but when faced with the upper teams in the division in the last two weeks of the season they could not pull off a victory. Entering the game against St. John's, the big unknown is if star guard, Jerel McNeal will plan (over 20 ppg) and if Marquette will bring their outside sot to the game. The Golden Eagles will be relying on David Cubillan and Dan Fitzergald to take up the scoring slack if McNeal does not play in the game.

2009 Big East Tournament Preview - St. John's

St. John's came into the post season an abysmal 16-14, and 7-9 in Beg East play with playing the weaker teams in the conference. The Red Storm did finish out the season on a high note with a win over Providence. St. John's has a fairly balanced inside attack between forward Lamont Hamilton and center Tomas Jasiulionis, both of whom average more than 10 points a game to balance out other starters Anthony Mason, Jr. and Avery Patterson who also chip in for more than 10 a game.

2009 Big East Tournament Preview - Prediction

For St. John's to have a shot in this game, they will need to pressure the Marquette 3 point shooters and take the ball inside early. If they can establish a consistent inside game and minimize Marquette's second chance points then they will have a shot in this game. Ultimately, however, my prediction is that Marquette is just too talented for the Red Storm to keep up.

Final score prediction: Marquette 88, St. John's 77

Refs:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1532495/2009_ncaa_mens_basketball_conference.html?cat=14
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=269
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/clubhouse?teamId=2599
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com/Mens/NCAA/March_Madness/Final_Four/st-johns-claims-first-tourney-win-since-2003
http://www.collegehoopsvideo.com
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=290690046
http://www.sportsbubbler.com/DisplayTopic.aspx?topicID=3977