Steve Lavin made an impact yesterday when he spoke to his St. John’s players. He must have channeled his inner Vince Lombardi because he created a monster.
Whether St. John’s turns out to be the monster that stomps through the Garden in the Big East Tournament, which begins today, like Godzilla trashing Tokyo, or the Cookie Monster remains to be seen.
All that is certain is that by the time the Red Storm players met with media yesterday, they had taken hubris to a level never before seen by such a young a team — maybe any team.
Asked how they thought they would fare this week, a team, mind you, comprised of five freshmen and a JUCO transfer, none of whom have ever played in this tournament, the players' answers were mind-blowing.
Pittsburgh less than a week ago, Moe Harkless and St. John’s believe they can beat the Panthers in today’s opening round of the Big East tournament." title="GAINING CONFIDENCE: Despite being pulverized by Pittsburgh less than a week ago, Moe Harkless and St. John’s believe they can beat the Panthers in today’s opening round of the Big East tournament." width="300" height="300" src="/rw/nypost/2012/03/06/sports/web_photos/06.1s057.SJU1c--300x300.jpg" />
Anthony J. Causi
GAINING CONFIDENCE: Despite being pulverized by Pittsburgh less than a week ago, Moe Harkless and St. John’s believe they can beat the Panthers in today’s opening round of the Big East tournament.
“I expect to win,’’ said forward Sir’Dom Pointer.
The whole thing?
“The whole thing,’’ said Pointer.
Did we mention this team is comprised of five freshmen and one JUCO transfer? Did we mention the Red Storm open today against Pittsburgh, a veteran team that pulverized them 89-69 less than a week ago?
“It’s going to be a different story and a different game,’’ said point guard Phil Greene.
Good lord, Pittsburgh is going to need a Dumpster for all this trash talking. Who are these Red Storm to announce themselves as the team to beat in this tournament? Their conference record, 6-10, seemingly contradicts their bravado.
But hey, since when did New Yorkers not wrap their hearts around an underdog who believes. We give you Joe Namath. We give you the 1969 Mets. We give you 1980 USA hockey team.
We give you the 2012 Red Storm? Really?
“Wait and watch,’’ said Greene. “We’re ready to surprise a lot of people.’’
The Red Storm (13-18), the No. 12 seed, have some reason to think it won’t get bludgeoned by Pittsburgh (16-15) as was the case the last time. The game is in Madison Square Garden, the Red Storm’s homecourt.
And power forward Moe Harkless, who Post sources said will be awarded with Big East Rookie of the Year honors today, hopefully won’t be limited to a season-low 22 minutes and four points as was the case last Wednesday.
Harkless rolled his right ankle in that game and sat the final 11:37. He showed no ill effects Saturday night against Rutgers when he scored eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds, just missing his 12th double-double in a 61-58 loss at Rutgers.
Surely the presence of Harkless, the team’s leading rebounder (8.6 rebounds per game) will aid the Red Storm, which got Windexed on the boards, 31-17. But is home court and a healthy Harkless enough to turn a 20-point defeat?
Even if it is, does this team really think it can win five straight, its only chance of making it to the NCAA tournament? Does it really see itself climbing a ladder and cutting down the nets on Saturday night?
“We’ve talked about it,’’ said Greene. “We’re going to come out and we’re going to surprise a lot of people.’’
What on earth did Lavin say? Even the usually straight-laced assistant coach Mike Dunlap has thrown caution to the wind. When asked if he thought the Red Storm could win it all he responded:
“Why not?”
lenn.robbins@nypost.com
Red Storm, Moe Harkless, Moe Harkless, Pittsburgh, the Red Storm players, Harkless, Vince Lombardi
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