St. John’s doesn’t need a rallying call. The nine active seniors on this team have never approached hearing their name called on selection Sunday until this year. The university hasn’t sniffed the NCAA tournament since 2002.
This was all the inspiration this team needed to do everything in their power to advance to the tournament, giving them a chance to bring home St. John’s first NCAA championship and reestablish the school as a force in the Big East and around the nation.
But now have the Johnnies have a rallying call.
One they’d rather do without.
“Do it for D.J.”
This slogan graced the front of senior Sean Evan’s shirt as they waited to hear their name and match-up read on Sunday.
It of course referred to senior D.J. Kennedy who suffered a season – and college career – ending torn ACL in the loss to Syracuse in the Big East tournament.
Evans, who is roommates with Kennedy and had the back of the shirt “I am my brother’s keeper,” spoke of the difficulty it is playing without his “brother.”
“It’s sad that he’s not going to be able to play,” said Evans. “And it’s not only sad for him; it’s sad for us.”
This is a close-knit team that will use Kennedy’s absence as motivation.
“He’s definitely our inspiration,” said senior Justin Burrell, who also called Kennedy one of the teams leaders. “We love him so much.”
“We need to rally for him and make a great run,” said Wooden award finalist Dwight Hardy. Hardy added that when he finally heard St. John’s name called on selection Sunday the first person he looked at was Kennedy and thanked him for helping the team get to where it is.
Kennedy ends his St. John’s career as the university’ 12th leading scorer all-time, 11th in rebounds and sixth in steals. He will travel to Denver with the team, serving as a de facto assistant coach saying he wants to help the team win "anyway [he] can."
While the players receive a boost seeing Kennedy his normal, lively self, they know he wants to be on the floor in what would be his only NCAA tournament.
“I think he’s happy but deep down inside I know he just wishes he could be on the court with us,” said Hardy.
"I’ve wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament since I picked up a basketball in grade school," said Kennedy. "This is a real blow."
Though he can’t play that doesn’t mean he’s any less a member of the team. As Burrell said, “He’s still a part of what we do with St. John’s basketball.”
Click here for a preview of the Johnnies match-up with Gonzaga.
