The 2010-11 edition of Saint John's basketball begins its season against nationally-ranked (Division II) St. Cloud State tonight. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Live Stats | Listen Live
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: SJU dropped an 86-56 exhibition loss at Division I Marquette nine days ago in Milwaukee, Wis. The Golden Eagles led 38-25 at the half as the visiting Johnnies were 6-for-18 from three-point land, including senior Sam Blank's (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) 4-for-6 showing. A three-pointer by junior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) to open the second half brought the Johnnies to within 38-28, and another at the 15:10 mark cut the deficit to eight points (42-34) before Marquette answered with a 14-2 run. Blank led the Johnnies with 13 points, while Burns added nine. Senior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) added eight points and fellow senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) collected three points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Johnnies committed 17 turnovers and shot just 37.3 percent (19-51) in the game, including a 12-for-29 performance from behind the arc. SJU played all 20 of its dressed players, of which six made a three-pointer.
A LOOK AT THE HUSKIES: The Huskies were ranked No. 3 in the 2010 Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 and No. 8 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Preseason Top 25 poll. SCSU returns four of five starters and 10 letterwinners from a team that went 29-6 and made a trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four last season. The Huskies won their first Elite Eight game behind one of the top performances in the history of the tournament from senior guard Taylor Witt. Witt posted the fourth-highest scoring total in an Elite Eight game with 43 points, including 38 in the second half.
THE LAST MEETING: SJU relinquished a 12-point lead with 10:32 left in regulation and suffered a 78-71 loss to No. 10 St. Cloud State in St. Cloud. The Johnnies missed eight consecutive shots, including seven three-pointers, turned the ball over three times and failed to score during a 6:36 span before SCSU cut it to a one-point game with 3:39 left. Blank hit a three to give SJU a four-point lead with 2:12 left, but failed to get a shot off the rest of the second half. The Huskies then proceeded to outscore SJU 16-9 in overtime. Blank led all scorers with a career-high 21 points off the bench, 16 of which came in the first half. Burtzel posted his first of 11 double-doubles on the season with 12 points and 12 boards. Jesse Fisher led five Huskies in double figures with 17. SCSU out-rebounded SJU 43-34 in the contest, including a 20-12 edge on the offensive glass. SJU shot an even 50.0 percent (5-10) from three-point range in the first half, but just three of 15 (20.0 percent) in the game's final 25 minutes. SCSU recorded a 48-22 scoring advantage in the paint and a 25-15 scoring edge off turnovers.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 20-24 against St. Cloud State under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 12-8 record in Collegeville. SCSU has won 11 of the last 13 meetings overall. The last time SJU defeated the Huskies, in Collegeville, occurred Nov. 30, 1983 (a span of six meetings).
