Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic
CINCINNATI — Tuesday night’s 82-72 win over Xavier marked the midpoint of St. John’s season. It has been an interesting year, to say the least.
St. John’s is 13-3 overall and 4-1 in Big East play, in position to reach the main draw of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade.
There have been two buzzer-beaters, a suspension, a star has emerged, a preseason concern has become a glaring problem and legendary coach Lou Carnesecca died at the age of 99.
The Post takes a look at the Johnnies 16 games in:
MVP
Zuby Ejiofor has been St. John’s best and most consistent player.
The affable 6-foot-9 forward is a front-runner for the Big East Most Improved Player.
He’s a two-way force, the backbone of St. John’s ninth-ranked defense and the nation’s second-leading offensive rebounder at 4.4 per game.
The tri-captain with the nonstop motor had the biggest moment of this season up to this point, a baby jumper at the horn to give the Red Storm their first victory at Providence since 2017.
He has more than doubled his scoring output from a year ago, averaging 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.1 steals.
Moment to remember
The day after Ejiofor missed two free throws in the final seconds of a second overtime of a heartbreaking loss to Baylor that ultimately cost St. John’s the game, Red Storm fans in the Bahamas showered him with chants of “Zu-by, Zu-by,” to lift him up.
The Johnnies followed by whipping Virginia by 25 points.
A few weeks later, Ejiofor made sure fans were able to celebrate in the first game after Carnesecca’s passing, going for 28 points and 13 rebounds in an emotional rout of Kansas State.
Moment to forget
St. John’s lost at the horn on Jeremy Roach’s 3-pointer in the Bahamas, a shot that wouldn’t have counted had the clock started on time.
It was a gut-punch of a loss to a top-20 team that would’ve been big for the Johnnies’ résumé.
It didn’t feel like a November defeat.
Biggest disappointment
This is easy. Three-point shooting. It is holding this team back.
St. John’s hit just nine 3-pointers in its first four league games and went 1-for-21 in an ugly home win over Butler on Saturday.
As a team, the Johnnies are shooting 30.9 percent from beyond the arc, which is 297th in the country.
Top shooter Brady Dunlap going down with a left hand injury that required surgery in December hasn’t helped, and recent shooting slumps by RJ Luis and Aaron Scott have made it easy to defend this team in the half-court.
Second-half player to watch
Kadary Richmond’s arrival from Seton Hall was supposed to give St. John’s a top-25 player in the country.
That player has yet to establish himself.
There have only been glimpses of Richmond the difference-maker, such as his play late in the double-overtime loss to Baylor and win over Butler.
He’s struggled mightily at the free-throw line, shooting 44 percent, and hasn’t consistently made an impact, notching 10.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST BIG EAST STANDINGS AND ST. JOHN’S STATS
But he’s also traditionally been a slow starter, and he came alive against Butler when the Johnnies desperately needed him.
St. John’s will need him at his best in February, when the schedule stiffens.
Outlook
This feels like a tournament team, and potentially a dangerous one if the shooting comes around.
St. John’s is five points away from being undefeated.
It is an elite defensive team, a high-level offensive rebounding team and a particularly potent unit in transition.
Last year’s team improved on its deficiencies significantly from November until March.
If this group can do the same, Johnnies fans will have a lot to celebrate.
Unlike a year ago, there are no bad losses weighing them down.
And there are reasons to believe Rick Pitino will have his players clicking by March, as he did last winter.
