Pitt looks to quiet Red Storm

‘ ‘ ‘ For the Pitt men’s basketball team, one is not the loneliest number. It’s a spot of envy… ‘ ‘ ‘ For the Pitt men’s basketball team, one is not the loneliest number. It’s a spot of envy for the rest of the nation to look up to. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers (14-0, 2-0 Big East) will play their first game in the history of the program with a No. 1 next to their name when they take on the St. John’s Red Storm (10-4, 1-1 Big East) at the Petersen Events Center Sunday at noon. ‘ ‘ ‘ The team knows that it cannot rest on its laurels. If it does, any club in the Big East can pull out a victory. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘In this conference you have to come out and play every night,’ said senior forward Sam Young earlier this season. ‘ ‘ ‘ St. John’s is a prime example. It defeated then No. 10-ranked Notre Dame last week, 71-65, behind 20 points and 10 rebounds from D.J. Kennedy. ‘ ‘ ‘ Even with the loss of last year’s leading scorer Anthony Mason Jr. for the season with a torn tendon in his right foot, the Red Storm still features four players, all sophomores, averaging double-digit point totals. ‘ ‘ ‘ The most notable of these players is Kennedy, a Pittsburgh native. The sophomore is a combo guard-forward who averages 13 points and seven rebounds per game. ‘ ‘ ‘ He has been a key part in St. John’s coach Norm Roberts’ effort to rebuild the program and bring it back to its glory years in the 1980s and ’90s under coaches like Mike Jarvis and the legendary Lou Carnesecca. ‘ ‘ ‘ Kennedy is no stranger to winning. He starred on the same Schenley High team as Pitt center DeJuan Blair. That team won a state championship in their senior season. ‘ ‘ ‘ Complementing Kennedy are classmates Justin Burrell, Sean Evans and Paris Horne.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ Burrell and Evans are 6-foot-8 forwards averaging 10.5 and 10.1 points respectively, while Horne is another multi-dimensional guard-forward contributing 13 points per game. ‘ ‘ ‘ The Red Storm will need a strong effort down low from these forwards to match the mainstays on the Pitt frontcourt of Blair, Young and Tyrell Biggs. ‘ ‘ ‘ Blair is coming off a dominating 20-point, 17-rebound performance at Georgetown Saturday and averages 12.5 rebounds per game on the season. That total ranks second in the country, behind Oklahoma stalwart Blake Griffin. ‘ ‘ ‘ The emergence of Biggs as a steady contributor has greatly aided the Pitt frontcourt.The 6-foot-8 senior broke into the starting lineup at power forward and is averaging career-highs of 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He also is shooting 51.8 percent from the field, including connecting on half of his 18 3-point attempts. ‘ ‘ ‘ Biggs pulled down 10 big rebounds in the win over Rutgers Dec. 31, and tied his season-high in points with 14 against Georgetown. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt found no trouble with the Red Storm in an 81-57 blowout last season at Madison Square Garden in the teams’ only meeting. ‘ ‘ ‘ Young poured in 26 points in the contest, while Blair added 10 points and eight rebounds. ‘ ‘ ‘ Mason proved to be a nuisance for the Panthers’ defense last year, however, as he totaled 29 points to lead all scorers. ‘ ‘ ‘ The rest of his teammates mustered only 28, lead by Burrell and Kennedy who each with seven. ‘ ‘ ‘ The battle will be broadcast on WTAE-TV as the Big East Game of the Week.