There was no slow start. There was no letdown. And there were another 40 minutes of evidence that maybe things have changed. Maybe St. John's really has turned the corner.
Following a near-upset of No. 2 Syracuse on Sunday, the Red Storm opened Wednesday night's game against San Francisco with the urgency they usually reserve for top teams or tough moments, slapping the Dons around, 81-57, at Carnesecca Arena.
St. John's (7-3) spent the first month of the season letting inferior opponents hang around so often potential upsets held much more potential than they ever should, but the lessons of Monmouth, Wagner, Bucknell and Longwood look as if they have been learned. Focus isn't frivolous and talent isn't everything.
Behind a balanced offensive effort — led by D'Angelo Harrison's 18 points — St. John's had its third straight impressive outing, displaying beautiful ball movement and great energy. The early-season infatuation with 3-pointers appears to have faded and the Red Storm played to their strength — attacking the rim with aggression.
Harrison, who hit 2-of-3 3-point attempts, tied Willie Shaw for the school's all-time record for 3-pointers made (151), while sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson led the primarily small first unit with another efficient game, scoring 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He has hit 68.6 percent from the field over the past four games.
Avenging last season's 16-point loss at San Francisco (6-5), the Red Storm led by as many as 28 in the second half and controlled the glass early, outrebounding the Dons 22-8 in the first half. They took a 43-31 halftime lead after converting 10 turnovers into 17 points. Four Red Storm players scored in double figures, with Rysheed Jordan having his third straight solid effort, putting up 10 points and four assists.
The freshman guard played under control, with an ever-growing confidence. After forcing his shot in the first few games, Jordan has found balance as a playmaker, looking to pass, but able to penetrate without the hesitation that plagued him in the first month of the season. He hasn't matched his enormous hype yet, but he's getting closer.
Coach Steve Lavin has said many times that Jordan will be "central to everything."
The point has never been debated, but it never has been more apparent what that could actually mean.
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