For years, St. John’s has defended the 3-point line like it was an optional exercise.
It routinely was hurt beyond the arc, outscored frequently from the perimeter.
Sometimes, it was the result of former coach Mike Anderson’s press leaving the Johnnies out of position. Other occasions, it was poor rotations or too much unnecessary switching.
Whatever the reason, St. John’s routinely got hurt from deep.
It was tied for 217th in the country in 3-point defense last year at 34.5 percent. The year before, it was 209th at 34.1 percent. In 2020-21, it was 196th at 34.2 percent. It simply was not emphasized.
Now, compare that to Rick Pitino’s first game.
In the Red Storm’s 90-74, season-opening win over Stony Brook, they limited the Seawolves to 4 of 16 shooting from 3. St. John’s outscored them by 21 from long distance.
One of Pitino’s goals for the opener was running Stony Brook off the 3-point line.
As important as shooting the 3 is to him, and he was one of the first coaches to be a proponent of the 3 upon its introduction dating back to his days as a Knicks coach in the late 1980s, defending it is just as important, the Hall of Fame coach said on Tuesday.
In the two exhibition games, St. John’s 3-point defense was strong too, holding Pace and Rutgers to a combined 11 of 40 from distance.
Pitino has a rule: No “Statue of Liberties.” That means, no fake contesting 3-point attempts late with one hand up.
He will pull anyone if that happens, which we saw a few times during the preseason.
There were obviously several differences in Pitino’s first game compared to what we have seen from St. John’s in recent years, and the Johnnies’ 3-point defense might have been the most stark of them all.
Some other takeaways from the opener:
— The biggest positive was the play of Jordan Dingle, the nation’s leading returning scorer at 23.4 points per game.
The Ivy League Player of the Year’s transition to his new school had not been smooth. He missed a lot of time in the summer and fall due to injuries, and didn’t appear in either exhibition game.
He was a mystery to me.
Dingle, though, looked like a difference-maker against Stony Brook, scoring 13 points in 20 minutes.
There was obviously some rust — he came up short on a few open looks from beyond the arc — but this was a significant step for both Dingle and St. John’s.
He’s a guy who can really score, either as a jump-shooter or penetrator.
St. John’s offense was very up and down during the preseason. Dingle’s ability as a shot creator is something that is needed.
— Glenn Taylor Jr. scored only three points in 18 minutes, but the wing from Oregon State had a major impact on the game. St. John’s outscored Stony Brook by 23 points in his 18 minutes.
He was all over the place, defending, pushing pace, and creating scoring opportunities. I was surprised he didn’t start.
Pitino said he went with Sean Conway, a transfer from VMI instead, because he wanted another shooter on the floor.
Taylor was also very impactful in the exhibition win over Rutgers. He might be the Johnnies’ best defender, and he can guard several different positions.
— Admittedly, I was a bit surprised when St. John’s brought in Iona transfer Cruz Davis in mid-April.
He only averaged 6.5 points in 18.9 minutes as a freshman last year in the MAAC. The 6-foot-3 guard, though, looks like a player.
He was impressive in an open practice on Oct. 1, missed some time with a broken left hand, but was back for the opener, and produced five points, three assists and a steal in eight minutes.
Davis, a three-star prospect who initially committed to Oregon State before winding up at Iona, has a sweet-looking jumper and real burst off the dribble.
Pitino has raved about how well he has performed in practice, and felt he should’ve played him more against Stony Brook. Davis could be a surprise contributor this year.
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