Team Profile

The arrival of 5-10 freshman Elijah Ingram, from storied St. Anthony's in New Jersey, should allow Marcus Hatten to play predominantly at the two guard. Ingram, a four-year starter at St. Anthony's, led his team to back-to-back state titles and the No. 2 national ranking last year. The state player of the year in New Jersey, and a McDonald's All-American, Ingram averaged 18 points, seven assists and four rebounds.

"He is potentially a very special point guard," Jarvis said of the left-handed Ingram. "He can run a team and he brings that Jersey City toughness, winning with intelligence and quickness. And he'll make the open [three-pointer].

"With Marcus and Elijah, I'm really excited to see how that works."

That's not all Jarvis is jumpy about.

Forward Anthony Glover graduated in May to earn his fourth season of eligibility back and is working on a masters degree in criminal justice. The 6-6, 225-pound Glover (10.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg), a tenacious defender and rebounder, won't be needed as much to patrol the lane and shouldn't have to average nearly 30 minutes a game.

"I think that'll help him be even more of an aggressive player than he is," Jarvis said.

Blue Ribbon Analysis
BACKCOURT A-
BENCH/DEPTH B+
FRONTCOURT B
INTANGIBLES B+

Forget the first-round NCAA Tournament exit courtesy of Wisconsin.

Given what it had going in to last year, that the Red Storm was one of the Big East's six NCAA Tournament teams was evidence of one of Jarvis' best coaching jobs. Only Hatten and Glover averaged in double figures and Jarvis started 11 players over the course of the season, tinkering with the lineup until he got it right.

The arrival of Ingram finally solves the puzzle. Now Hatten should be even more dangerous and St. John's should have one of the league's best and deepest backcourts, supplemented by Stanley and Shaw.

The one weakness could be outside shooting. No player is automatic from downtown. In fact, Hatten (.282 3PT) and Shaw (.252) must really pick it up, although Hatten has had a few good streaks. The Red Storm (.269) were last in the conference last year from three-point land. Hatten should have enough help that he won't have to take so many bad shots and he will avoid nights like 6-for-26 against UConn, 4-for-15 against Duke or 5-for-19 against Seton Hall.

Depth should be a strength and the frontcourt has lots of potential. Glover is just the type of veteran leader Jarvis needs to make sure his frontcourt mates with more talent stay hungry.

"We have enough guys who have tasted adversity (two years ago in a 15-16 season) and enough who tasted success last year," Jarvis said.

It's a good bet that this season will be a lot more like last year-and even better.

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