Hardy, St. John's confident as road test at Louisville looms

St. John's is halfway through perhaps the most intimidating stretch on any college basketball team's schedule, eight straight games against teams in the Top 25. The Red Storm has won two and lost two. And after beating then-No. 9 Notre Dame on Sunday, the Johnnies are emboldened heading into Wednesday night's Big East road game against No. 19 Louisville.

As recently as a year ago, the idea of running such a gauntlet would have been daunting. Not this time around.

"Now it's like we know we can beat any team on every given night as long as we play our style of basketball," senior guard Dwight Hardy said. "Last year our minds were set like, 'Uh oh, we have another (big) game - let's see how it plays out,' instead of compared to this year when we go into the game knowing we can win the game."

St. John's (11-5, 4-2) is yet to play a team such as Louisville (14-3, 3-1), which uses a full-court press for essentially the entire game. The Cardinals are forcing 17.6 turnovers per game, which places them among the 10 best in Division I. The strategy fuels an offense that shoots 38% on three-pointers and averages 80.7 points.

Hardy began the season as the shooting guard but now starts at the point, in part because senior Malik Boothe was slowed by a hamstring injury. Asked if this could be his first big test, Hardy responded, "It could be."

"I know teams haven't been pressing us so far this season so it will be a big test for me but I think I can handle it well," said Hardy, who is averaging a team-high 15.5 points to go with 2.5 assists. "I'll just take my time and find the open player when they set up their press and I'll be fine."

Coach Steve Lavin said it wouldn't be fair to frame this game as a test of Hardy's point-guard abilities. He expects Boothe, who is close to full strength, senior forwards D.J. Kennedy and Justin Brownlee and sophomore guard Malik Stith to be involved.

"Hardy won't even have the ball the majority of the time," Lavin said. "The way we attack the press, he's someone we get it to later in the press offense and not right away. It will be a collective approach."

Hardy said he has embraced the idea of being a floor leader. Freshman Dwayne Polee II even said he plans to emulate Hardy when the 10 Storm seniors are gone.

"Communication has been the big adjustment for me, just being vocal at all times on the court," Hardy said. "I figure if I get through making it to the next level, (point guard is) going to be my natural position. So now is like preparing me.

"Also when things are going well or going bad, I know my teammates look forward to me getting them up and get them prepared to move on to the next battle."