Red Storm looking past injuries
Chris Mullin doesn’t like to look back or ahead. His focus is always on the present. So, while the 0-2 start in Big East play may be disappointing, the St. John’s coach is worried about Wednesday at Creighton, not the injuries to leading scorers Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett that have kept them out of the lineup, or the two losses to begin conference play.
His players feel the same way, and so they were pleased with the performance on New Year’s Eve at Seton Hall, even if it was in defeat. Even shorthanded, they played with the kind of intensity, selflessness and passion that is needed after the subpar effort against Providence on Thursday, los- ing to the nation’s 21st-ranked team by just five points on its home floor.
“We had great fight, great energy, from start to finish,” redshirt sophomore Justin Simon said in a phone interview. “We come out with the same mentality [on Wednesday], I like our odds against Creighton.”
It will obviously be a major challenge to avoid an 0-3 start, especially if LoVett and Ponds remain out. St. John’s (10-4, 0-2 Big East) would have just seven scholarship players, but Ponds did practice Wednesday, offering hope of a return, while LoVett remained out, a source said. The heavily favored Bluejays (11-3, 1-1) were ranked in the top 25 before a road loss to No. 21 Seton Hall, and feature a deep and explosive roster that plays at a frenetic pace led by dynamic two-way guards Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas.
Having either LoVett or Ponds back would be significant, as the two average a combined 35 points per game. But both remain day-to-day with knee injuries. LoVett (sprained left knee) hasn’t played since a win over Central Florida on Nov. 26, and despite optimism over his possible return in recent weeks, still isn’t practicing.
The coaching staff expected Ponds to play Sunday against Seton Hall after hurting his right knee Thursday against Providence, but he didn’t believe he could help the team, a source said, and sat out the loss. An MRI taken Friday revealed no structural damage and Ponds received the go-ahead from doctors to play once he felt up to it, the source said.
“Those are probably two of the top guards in the Big East,” said Simon, who had 15 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and five steals Sunday. “It hurts to not have them out there. ... Our game has to be taken to a higher level [without them]. We talk about everyone taking their game to the next step. We have to go out and bring it.”