Mustapha Heron helped St. John's beat 16th-ranked Marquette in front of a sellout crowd at Carnesecca Arena.
In Biggest Game This Season, St. John's Puts Together Perfect Storm
By John Fanta
QUEENS -- St. John’s has Red Storm fans dreaming, and rightly so.
In a game Chris Mullin’s team needed to have to avoid an 0-2 start in BIG EAST play, his experienced team rose to the occasion, putting together its most complete performance of the season in an 89-69 handling of No. 16 Marquette on New Year’s night. A raucous sellout crowd of 5,602 at Carnesecca Arena rarely sat down, as all five Johnnies starters scored in double figures in a game that was never in doubt for virtually all of the second half.
“The building was a big factor,” said Mullin. “Our fans realize it’s been a progression. They’ve watched it grow, and when you do it that way, people connect to it. It’s authentic and genuine.”
There’s nothing more authentic when you think about St. John’s Basketball than legendary coach Lou Carnesecca, who was right behind the Red Storm bench in applause in the final minutes.
“He’s been with me through thick and thin,” said Mullin before the season. “When you really need somebody, is when you’re going through the lows while trying to build a program. Coach Carnesecca was with me during the losing streaks. That’s when I needed him the most, and it’s rewarding to have him with me now.”
How strong was the performance? Just ask coach Steve Wojciechowski, who has led Marquette to three Top-15 wins and a Top-20 ranking in his fifth year at the helm.
“St. John’s is an outstanding team,” said Wojciechowski. “We’ve played half a dozen, maybe more high-major teams. This St. John’s team is every bit as good, if not better than every team we’ve played.”
What was known about this St. John’s team was that they had the star coming into the season, with BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Shamorie Ponds leading the way. The junior was as advertised, powering the Johnnies with 26 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists.
But, what stood out to his head coach, a Red Storm legend, was how Ponds responded from just an eight-point showing at Seton Hall on Saturday.
“I’ve had games like the one he had on Saturday all the time,” said Mullin. “It’s how you respond from those that makes you a great player. Shamorie did what the greats do tonight. He’s growing up.”
“What’s different about him this year is he’s making the right play,” said Wojciechowski. “He’s setting up his teammates for success, and that’s what makes him and this team special.”
The start to 2019 was just that - special.
With a star player, a coach set on getting his alma mater back to the Big Dance and a New York fanbase hungry for a winner, the pieces that St. John’s has aligned showed the results they can bring on New Year’s Day.
“This is only the beginning,” said Red Storm senior Marvin Clark II.
“We want more of it to come.”