Johnnies present next Tourney test

This one they had to have.
It was something head coach Bob Reasso made clear heading into Wednesday night’s Big East Tournament opening round game at West Virginia.
And have it they did.
Sophomore forward Ibrahim Kamara got the Scarlet Knights off to a flying start with a fifth minute goal as they never looked back, clinching an emphatic 2-0 victory.
“I think our guys knew this was a game they had to win,” Reasso said afterwards. “We were really disappointed the way we played [Oct. 28] against Villanova, and we knew it would take a determined effort to bounce back and we’ve done that in our last two games against South Florida and then again [Wednesday] night.”
The victory was just RU’s third away from Yurcak Field this season, but Reasso said the tough schedule his team plays prepared it for the Big East Tournament.
“I thought we were the better team on the night and that’s why we play such a tough schedule,” Reasso said. “You take some more losses during the [regular] season but by the time tournament play comes around hopefully you’re guys are ready [to compete].
“These were two really good games back-to-back for us, and the guys were terrific tonight.”
RU (9-9-0, 5-6-0) has three games this season against top-10 teams, beating No. 8 Connecticut 2-1, but falling to No. 3 California Santa Barbara and No. 5 Louisville.
Next up, a trip to Queens Saturday night for a Big East quarterfinal with arch-rival St. John’s. The Red Storm (7-2-8, 6-1-4) finished third in the Red Division and easily defeated the Knights 2-0 this season.
But something is different for RU this time — its leading scorer is playing.
“[Kamara’s] been great and he scored another brilliant goal [Wednesday],” Reasso said. “He didn’t do what we expected of him [as a freshman] because he wasn’t fit, but he came into camp this year in shape and he’s one of the best forwards in the country at holding up the ball. Ibe’s been terrific all year for us.”
This is the 10th time the Knights have advanced to the Big East quarterfinals and the fifth time they meet St. John’s in a conference tournament game.
Things could get a bit sticky, as junior captain Yannick Salmon slightly injured his knee against West Virginia, Reasso said. But the 29-year head coach said he expects Salmon, who has six goals this season, to be ready for Saturday night’s match.
Junior back Aly Mazhar, nursing an ankle injury, will not play, and classmate Andrew Cuevas gets his second consecutive start in the middle of the back four.
Yet if there is one thing Reasso knows, it is that his team understands its position. They have to because they are going to need another win Saturday.
“We play this tough schedule for a reason,” Reasso harps back to. “It gets you ready for the tournament and the type of performance we had [Wednesday] night — those are the performances you need in tournament play.”
 

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