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St. John's Makes NCAA Tournament Return

By Jim Scott | March 17, 2011 2:08pm
Red Storm forward Justin Brownlee reacts after a play against Syracuse at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2011.
Red Storm forward Justin Brownlee reacts after a play against Syracuse at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2011.
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Chris Trotman/Getty Images

By Jim Scott

DNAinfo Senior Editor

MANHATTAN — St. John's will have the support of millions of New Yorkers behind it as the Red Storm return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years against Gonzaga on Thursday night.

The 6th-seeded Red Storm (21-11) square off with 11th-seeded Bulldogs (24-9) in Denver at 9:45 p.m.

After years of losing, St. John's has been one of college basketball's best stories this season under first-year head coach Steve Lavin. The Red Storm improved from 6-12 in Big East play last year to 12-6 this year.

They've earned their spot in the tournament by beating stiff competition. St. John's has six wins against ranked opponents, including a victory over then top-ranked Duke in January.

St. John's head coach Steve Lavin of gestures from the bench during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2011.
St. John's head coach Steve Lavin of gestures from the bench during the first half against the Syracuse Orange at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2011.
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Chris Trotman/Getty Images

The Red Storm are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002. St. John's has not won a game in the tournament since they beat Northern Arizona in the opening round in 2000. The Red Storm were eliminated in the next game by Gonzaga.

The Zags have been transformed over the last decade from a mid major underdog to a perennial basketball powerhouse with 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances. Gonzaga has won nine straight games overall, including a win over St. Mary's to capture the West Coast Conference tournament title last week.

St. John's is led on the court by the play of point guard Dwight Hardy. Hardy was an All Big East selection after averaging a team-high 18 points a game.

The Red Storm will play without senior guard D.J. Kennedy who tore the ACL in his right knee against Syracuse last week in the Big East tournament.

"A devastating blow," Lavin told the Associated Press about the loss of Kennedy.

Kennedy was averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 5.6 rebounds a game.

The Red Storm have won 10 of their last 13 games, but their coming off a 79-73 loss to the Orange in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on March 10. Hardy led the team with 17 points on 9-of-17 shooting against Syracuse.

D.J. Kennedy is helped off the court after being injured in the first half against Syracuse during the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on March 10, 2011. Kennedy tore the ACL ligament in his right knee.
D.J. Kennedy is helped off the court after being injured in the first half against Syracuse during the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on March 10, 2011. Kennedy tore the ACL ligament in his right knee.
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Chris Trotman/Getty Images

St. John's has a 27-28 record all time in the NCAA tournament. The Red Storm have made it to the Final Four twice, most recently when Chris Mullin led them to there in 1985. Lavin has an 11-6 record as a coach in the NCAA tournament. He coached UCLA to the Elite 8 in 1997.