Spoiler alert: St. John’s would wind up losing this game by 38 points, their worst loss since 2002. They would then lose to Providence in the first round of the Big East Tournament, and to San Diego State in the first (fine, second) round of the NCAA Tournament, both by double digits. This after winning eight of their previous 10, including four straight. But that all came later.
Rysheed Jordan was in his hometown of Philadelphia, his St. John’s squad was up 8 early, and as he split the double team up top the lane was briefly, tantalizingly open. It didn’t stay that way, but by then it was too late. As Villanova junior guard Dylan Ennis (brother of the Bucks’ Tyler Ennis) popped out to draw the charge, Jordan had already taken two dribbles down the lane and elevated like his name-and number-sake. It was, as they say, Jordanesque.
Was it a charge? Maybe. Ennis seemed to be out of the circle, and his feet appeared to be set. But seeing that it was St. John’s final great moment of the year, it’s nice that they got the benefit of the doubt.
