St. John’s Basketball: Takeaways from loss to Michigan in Gavitt Games

2. Perimeter defense needs work

What really told the story for Michigan was their ability to shoot the basketball in this one, and St. John’s lack of ability to defend that three-point shot. Burnett knocked down four threes in the first half to help spark a Michigan team that finished the game making just over 42 percent of their threes.

These shots were momentum killers for St. John’s, who has their moments to make runs in this game that were just soiled by an open three from Michigan that was drained. Six different Wolverines had a make from behind the arc, and the Red Storm just did not have the answer there

This was a big part of why Michigan had no trouble driving inside, because the Red Storm were forced to hang back and watch for the kick on drives, rather than defending an open layup. The Wolverines just had answers for everything Pitino and the Johnnies were trying to do, and even  adjustments could not fix the situation they were in.

Three-point shooting was not something St. John’s was able to combat back with either, they were inefficient from downtown, only making 33.3 percent of their threes. This game had the makings of a shootout with back and forth scoring, but the offense did not show up the way it needed to in this situation.

Time will tell if this is a talent issue, coaching, or if Michigan is just that good this season, but something will have to give for the Red Storm and they need to figure perimeter defense out going forward.