‘This is year’ to Storm Big East
It could be the perfect Storm. The Big East is projected to be down. St. John’s has by far its best roster of the Chris Mullin era — a loaded ensemble that includes potential Big East Player of the Year Shamorie Ponds, possibly differencemaking Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron and the depth that was sorely lacking a year ago.
The NCAA Tournament should be well within reach, and the players know it.
“There’s a lot riding on this year, but it’s no pressure,” Marvin Clark II, the team’s lone senior, said at the annual Dribble for the Cure charity event Saturday afternoon at Carnesecca Arena. “We put the work in. Last year we went through our ups and downs, but I think we ended the season on a high note, and we finally learned what it takes to win. We got a great collection of talent and we have depth, something we haven’t had since I’ve been here.
“I think we’re ready to put it all together and win.”
Mullin has yet to win since returning to his alma mater, posting an ugly 38-60 record in his first three seasons. There were high hopes last year, before a knee injury ended starting point guard Marcus LoVett’s season in late November and the team began Big East play 0-11. St. John’s rebounded to stun Duke and Villanova in February, and went 6-4 over the season’s final 10 games.
The return of Ponds, an All-Big East firstteam performer last year who flirted with going pro, ramps up expectations. Fellow returning starters Clark and Justin Simon are back, along with sophomore sharpshooter Bryan Trimble Jr., who dropped close to 20 pounds in the offseason.
Though shot-blocking specialist Tariq Owens transferred to Texas Tech, there were several notable additions — led by Heron, SEC co-champion Auburn’s leading scorer who is hoping to land a hardship waiver to gain immediate eligibility, and junior college All-American L.J. Figueroa. Sitout transfers Sedee Keita (South Carolina) and Mikey Dixon (Quinnipiac), the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2016-17, are also expected to make an immediate impact.
“There’s no ifs, ands or buts — no excuses,” Clark said.
Ponds, the Big East’s leading scorer a year ago at 21.6 points per game, admitted the decision to come back was “hard.” NBA evaluators stressed to him the importance of refining his game, becoming a more efficient player, developing further as a playmaker and acting more like a pro — such as eating better and maintaining more traditional sleeping habits.
Clark and Simon called season-tickets holders this week ahead of Wednesday’s first official practice, thanking them for their support, and it led to conversations about the team’s hopes for the season. Clark didn’t make any predictions, but he did make one guarantee.
“This is the year,” he told one fan.