Big East Media Day Bodes Well For St. John’s
On paper, St. John’s underwent more roster renovation and outgoing transfers than nearly every team in the Big East. Despite this, however, SJU capitalized on a wild and topsy turvy transfer market.
They were able to reload in quick-hit fashion by landing the likes of Montez Mathis (Rutgers), Stef Smith (Vermont), Joel Soriano (Fordham), and Aaron Wheeler (Purdue). With Julian Champagnie opting to return after testing the NBA draft waters this past June, the roster is revamped, and the table appears set. The program has shifted its gaze to snapping a three-year NCAA tournament berth drought.
On Tuesday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden, St. John’s was projected to finish fourth in the Big East. In addition to this, Champagnie was selected as a unanimous Pre-Season Big East first-team selection.
Posh Alexander, following a promising freshman campaign in which he was voted Conference Freshman of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year, was named as a Pre-Season Big East second-team selection.
Champagnie, who starred at Bishop Loughlin High School under Ed Gonzalez, authored a benchmark year last season. The reigning Big East First Team Selection and the conference’s leading scorer, Champagnie put up gaudy statistics with 19.9 points and 7.4 boards per game.
The sophomore Alexander, also a local NYC product out of Our Savior Lutheran in the Bronx, averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 assists. He was able to solidify his incoming golden boy status with a 21-point (8-for-14 FG, 3-5 3FG) and four assist performance during a 92-81 victory over Providence and an 18-point, six assist, and three-steal performance during a 74-70 win over then No.23 UConn.
St. John’s adds to its perimeter game with the fifth year graduate student Smith, a 3-point ace and deep shot maker who averaged 13.6 points per game and six games of three 3-pointers or more at Vermont. In Soriano, who played at Stepinac HS, they add a 6-foot-11 and 250-pound interior presence who averaged a near double-double at Fordham and is starting to blossom as a back to the rim scoring threat. Mathis, a well built 6-foot-4 and 210-pound guard, brings a veteran savvy and has earned plaudits for his pre-season play.
Rafael Pinzon, a tough Puerto Rican guard via Long Island Lutheran, should offer immediate contributions as a 6-foot-6, 180-pound playmaking incoming freshman. Junior College transfer Esahia Nyiwe, a 6-foot-10 and 215-pound junior, adds length and shot blocking ability.
Villanova was selected as No.1 overall in the conference with 100 votes and projected to win the Big East regular season title. UConn was selected at No.2, registering 84 total votes. Wedged in between St. John’s was Xavier at No.3 (76 votes) and Seton Hall at No.5 (68 votes). Butler, Providence, Creighton and Marquette were projected to finish 6-9, in that order. Veteran Villanova guard Collin Gillespie was projected as Big East Player of the Year.