St. John’s NCAA Tournament hopes are once again in jeopardy after a disappointing loss to Providence. This has become a recurring theme for the team over the past month, as they consistently take leads against quality opponents at halftime only to be outplayed and defeated in the second half.
In their recent game against Providence, St. John’s held a five-point lead going into the second half. However, their defense was nowhere to be found, allowing the Friars to shoot 54 percent from the field in the second half. St. John’s offense also struggled, settling for ill-advised shots and going 0-for-9 from 3-point range after halftime.
Despite a strong performance from RJ Luis, who had 16 points and 14 rebounds, St. John’s was unable to overcome their second-half struggles. They found themselves down by seven late in the game but managed to tie it up with a jumper from Daniss Jenkins. However, they were unable to maintain their momentum and allowed Corey Floyd Jr. and Josh Oduro to score crucial baskets for Providence, resulting in a four-point deficit with only 41.5 seconds left.
The first half of the game was a microcosm of St. John’s turbulent season, with moments of promise and disappointment. They fell into an early 13-point hole and allowed Providence to make six of their first nine 3-point shots. However, St. John’s managed to rally with runs of 12-0 and 23-5, entering halftime with a five-point lead.
Unfortunately for St. John’s, this momentum did not carry over into the second half. Providence quickly regained control of the game with a 10-2 run, led by Oduro’s eight points. By that point, the Friars had outscored St. John’s by 11 in the second half.
This loss puts St. John’s NCAA Tournament hopes in serious jeopardy. Barring a significant winning streak to end the season, it is increasingly unlikely that they will receive an at-large bid. The team will need to address their second-half struggles if they hope to turn their season around and make a postseason run.
Overall, St. John’s recent loss to Providence highlights a recurring issue for the team. Their inability to maintain leads and perform consistently in the second half has cost them several games over the past month. If they want to salvage their season and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, they will need to find a solution to this problem quickly.
