Johnnies face test out West

Chris Mullin froze at the question — “Are you happy with your team’s performance through eight games” — like it was a pump-fake.

Happy? No, the St. John’s coach is not happy. Pleased with a 7-1 record? Sure. Encouraged by the Red Storm’s strides defensively? Without question. But definitely not happy. “We don’t use that word,” Mullin said.

Mullin knows the road only toughens from here, starting this week with a two-game western swing against WAC preseason favorite Grand Canyon in Arizona on Tuesday and No. 16 Arizona State on Friday in Los Angeles at Staples Center. St. John’s has faced just two top-100 teams so far, according to the analytics website KenPom.com, losing to Missouri and beating Central Florida. The lowest rated team it faces the rest of the year is No. 143 Iona. Cupcake season is over. The defense, led by transfers Marvin Clark II and Justin Simon, has improved significantly, allowing a Big East-low 60.0 points per game and holding the opposition to 37 percent shooting. Rebounding hasn’t been the issue most predicted, the Red Storm grabbing half of a rebound more than opponents per game. But the offense has yet to hit its stride, the Johnnies shooting just 42 percent from the field and 34 percent from 3-point range. Only Clark and Simon are shooting 50 percent or above.

“I see the improvements in a lot of areas, but I always tell the guys each and every day, I just see more there,” Mullin said. “It’s not being over-meticulous. I think each guy, and as a team, we have a lot of a long way to go to maximize our talent.”

These games would’ve been challenges if St. John’s were at full strength, and that won’t be the case against Grand Canyon, as guard Marcus LoVett (sprained left knee) will be out, leaving the Johnnies with eight scholarship players. The high-scoring sophomore may miss the Arizona State game, too, though that has yet to be determined.