“Schenley graduate Kennedy enjoying Red Storm's success”

Schenley graduate Kennedy enjoying Red Storm's success

Posted: 18 Feb 2011 09:00 PM PST

When D.J. Kennedy left the Hill District for St. John's four years ago, he envisioned playing for a winning basketball program in New York City.

So did his upbeat, talented then-freshmen teammates. But St. John's was so bad that first season, it didn't even qualify for the tournament — the Big East Tournament.

Three years later, Kennedy and his fellow seniors are close to fulfilling their goal, moving to the brink of an invite to March Madness and putting some additional bounce into the basketball-crazy Big Apple.

"We came here together," Kennedy said, "and we all know what it means to each one of us."

The 6-foot-5 Kennedy won a state crown at Schenley High School with San Antonio Spurs forward and former Pitt star DeJuan Blair, but it has taken a cohesive senior class — and the arrival of new coach Steve Lavin — to finally turn things around at St. John's.

Barring a complete meltdown the rest of the way, the Red Storm (16-9, 8-5 Big East) will make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002 — regardless of what happens today against No. 4 Pitt (24-2, 12-1) at Madison Square Garden.

"I'm real happy for him," Blair said Friday. "He's doing an excellent job."

Said Kennedy: "I'm just happy to get the opportunity — if we keep handling our business — to finally play in the NCAA Tournament."

Kennedy is one of nine seniors on the roster, including seven who endured the tough 11-19 season in 2007-08, followed by a first-round loss in the forgettable College Basketball Invitational as sophomores and a one-and-done NIT bid last season.

The Red Storm are No. 16 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index, bolstered by four Big East road wins and a rout of No. 5 Duke last month.

"They are playing with a lot more sense of urgency," said Pitt sophomore guard Travon Woodall, a New York City native. "Nobody wants to go through college without making the tournament. I think this group is pushing a lot harder."

Kennedy's numbers are down almost across the board this season, but it has nothing to do with production. He is getting more help from his teammates: One season after leading St. John's in virtually every category, Kennedy is filling a role on a squad that Pitt coach Jamie Dixon calls "about as old a team as I've seen."

"It doesn't bother me at all, the numbers being down," Kennedy said. "The whole thing is we are winning."

Kennedy scored 15 points against Marquette on Tuesday night, passing former St. John's stars Walter Berry and Willie Glass into 14th place on the school's all-time scoring list. He ranks first or second on the team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

"He is the hub of the wheel for us offensively," Lavin said. "We are at our best when D.J. Kennedy is aggressive. When he is influencing the game offensively and defensively, we are much better."

Pitt recruited Kennedy out of Schenley, but the Panthers ended up signing Brad Wanamaker. Kennedy, looking for playing time and a change of scenery, decided on St. John's. The long road for the seniors is about to pay off.

"We have a very likeable group of players because they have a resolve to finish on a high note," Lavin said. "That makes you want to root for them."

scouting report

No. 4 Pitt at St. John's

Noon today, Madison Square Garden

Records: Pitt 24-2, 12-1 Big East; St. John's 16-9, 8-5

TV/radio: ESPN/93.7 FM The Fan

Favorite: Pitt by 3

Series: St. John's leads 33-21

Outlook: This game matches two of the most experienced teams in the Big East, if not the nation. The teams combine to start seven seniors.

Pitt, looking to move closer to its first league crown in seven years, returns to Madison Square Garden, the site of its Coaches vs. Cancer title over Maryland and No. 3 Texas in mid-November.

The Panthers weathered Ashton Gibbs' knee injury, going 3-0, and will return the junior guard today in some role. Pitt went 4 for 24 from 3-point range without the sharp-shooter, but his return — combined with St. John's generous perimeter defense — could bode well. St. John's is allowing nearly eight 3-pointers a game, the most in the Big East.

St. John's could all but clinch its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2002 with a victory. Regardless, the Red Storm are in great shape, with four Big East wins in a row, among them conquests at Marquette and Cincinnati, along with an 89-72 drubbing of UConn. They also beat Duke, 93-78, on national television for their first win over a top-5 team in 11 years. Those will go a long way on Selection Sunday. For sure, the Johnnies' mid-December losses to St. Bonaventure and Fordham are a distant memory for a team getting hot at the right time.

Pitt is 6-0 on the road this season and 14-5 in its past 19 games at Madison Square Garden. "They are as impressive as any team in the country at methodically dismantling opponents," St. John's coach Steve Lavin said.

St. John's is 6-1 at the Garden this season with wins over No. 5 Duke, No. 8 Notre Dame, No. 9 Georgetown and No. 13 UConn by an average margin of 11 points per game.

Pitt

Coach: Jamie Dixon, eighth season (212-56)

F Nasir Robinson, 6-5 Jr.: 8.7 points per game

F Gilbert Brown, 6-6 Sr.: 11.1 ppg

C Gary McGhee, 6-11 Sr.: 7.3 ppg

G Brad Wanamaker, 6-4 Sr.: 12.6 ppg

G Travon Woodall, 5-11 So.: 6.9 ppg

St. John's

Coach: Steve Lavin, first season (16-9); eighth overall (161-87)

F Dwayne Polee, 6-7 Fr.: 4.6 ppg

F Justin Brownlee, 6-7 Sr.: 12.8 ppg

G D.J. Kennedy, 6-5 Sr.: 10.4 ppg

G Dwight Hardy, 6-2 Sr.: 17.1 ppg

G Paris Horne, 6-3 Sr.: 7.6 ppg

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