February 25th, 2009: Seton Hall at St. John's

St. John's Red Storm 78, Seton Hall Pirates 57

An ensemble cast brings much-needed awesome back to Queens.


Even in the worst of seasons, every team is vouchsafed one game where things flow well, where everything goes right, and even if it's just for one moment, you can pretend that you're among the greatest teams in the world. St. John's had that game tonight.

Okay, so the anthem was awful beyond all imagining. I have no idea why they keep asking this guy to sing, because while he may work with the team, he has no voice. At all. It's very bad. And he keeps screwing up the words. Now imagine all this in a wannabe R&B falsetto with the rasp of a bad mic behind every word. There's a circle of hell where this is done somewhere for all eternity. I hope never to do anything bad enough to send me there.

That was fail. Epic fail was Monique McLean, making her grand reappearance in a bright yellow sweater that was far too tight and a gray leopard-print skirt that was also far too tight. If you're going to show up after disappearing for three games with various sordid rumors swirling around you, at least do so without looking like you're going streetwalking afterwards.

I'm not quite sure what's happened to Seton Hall since the last time I saw them. They have talent, but they've just gone flat. Noteisha Womack's numbers will look flashy, though we kept her off the boards- but she got a lot of quick points in garbage time, when no one was really guarding her. Shantel Brown did most of the damage for the Hall in the first half. She reminds me of a miniaturized Natalie Williams. Kandice Green showed flashes, but it really did kinda show that she's a freshman tonight, and that she's not quite stepping up a la Da'Shena. Didn't really notice Ebonie Williams except when she popped those threes- really didn't notice Jadis Rhodin at all. I was very surprised to see Kashmere Joseph and Nicole Emery so far down in the rotation- certainly Whitney Wood showed me nothing that would suggest she deserves to be in the rotation. Joseph needs a new bra. Emery disappeared tonight. I don't know what happened to her. I got my first look at Shanai Heber- she didn't play in their game against Marshall. Good distributor, but not savvy on the defensive end, and a bit bloodthirsty in lost cause minutes- near the end of the game, she looked like she was trying to run Sheree Ledbetter down to foul her, with Seton Hall down twenty. I think Green's going to be the next big thing for this team- if Mangina coaches her.

I love ensemble games. Statistically, Da'Shena's 17 and 7 probably makes her the star of the show, but this was a real team game. Da'Shena stepped up her scoring in approximately the third quarter to help us maintain control. Sky played well- one board away from a double-double. Joy was working hard on the boards and inside. Sheree got the start, and while her numbers aren't eye-popping, the offense ran faster with her in the game (though she's got to move her hands on defense, or Coach will try to go out there and move them for her). Kelly hit her shots and made plays on the sidelines. Coco had one of the best games I've ever seen her play- whatever she had for breakfast this morning, I hope she has again on Saturday, because we're gonna need that energy, that effort, and that offense. Recee, facemasked once more, brought nuch-needed physicality against some rough play by Wood and Joseph. Britney was solid, including one incredible rebound that I didn't think any guard who wasn't named Deanna Nolan could pull off, involving high vertical and long horizontal. Kristen came in, hit her first shot, and was solid. We even had a Victoria sighting. Some great team plays, some great heady plays.

Play of the game for obvious satisfaction: Coco gets the ball in the high post. She doesn't have a shot, so she whips a pass to Kelly on the wing. Kelly doesn't have a shot, so she snaps the ball inside to Joy, who's got an easy lay-up. Crisp, efficient, successful.

Play of the game for subtle satisfaction: near the end of the game, Sheree, or maybe it's Britney, is having some trouble shaking off the Seton Hall defenders. Kristen, standing nearby, claps her hands sharply to let Sheree know she's open, and gets the ball.

Got to talk to Sky's mom after the game. She has the kind of dominating, or perhaps domineering, presence that her daughter thinks she has and may yet grow into.

Gotta love coaches at the end of blowouts. I think everyone heard her yell, "RECEE! PLAY SOME DEFENSE!" when Womack blew past her on a play. Attagirl, Kim. Never be satisfied. (And never let your kid try to distract you during halftime when you're just trying to get back to the bench. Poor Trevor just wanted to be hugged.)

Dear Ms. Joseph: things may be different in Britain, but the next time you grab Recee like that, you better have bought her a drink first.

I'm still just caught up in the relief of having won a game. Because I had to miss the MSG games, the last time I saw them win was against Boston College, back on December 21st. :(

This was good. We needed this.

Watch this space for pictures.