Marvin Clark II, St. John's
For Rejuvenated St. John's, Opportunity Knocks
By John Fanta
DAYTON -- Marvin Clark took on the challenge the moment he arrived to campus in 2016. The Kansas City native wanted to take the experiences he had at Michigan State in going to a Final Four in 2015 followed by another Big Dance appearance in 2016, and translate those to Queens.
In his senior season, Clark and the Red Storm are dancing. Announced as the last team in the field on Sunday, the Johnnies are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance in the Chris Mullin Era in a matchup with Arizona State in the First Four on Wednesday night. That said, Clark let his teammates know it’s time to shift into another gear.
“We’re thrilled to be here, but there’s work to be done,” said Clark. “We’re in the field, but now we need to prove ourselves. The play-in game is not how this team wants to be remembered. We’re ready.”
Being remembered matters to the Red Storm’s Shamorie Ponds. The All-BIG EAST First Team honoree is third in the league with 19.5 points per game and second with 5.2 assists per game in a season that’s seen the junior continue to build on his game.
“I want to create my own March Madness moment,” said Ponds, whose Brooklyn pride oozes out of him as he talks about leading the local Johnnies. “Legacy is something that we have talked about and we want to leave our mark.”
“Whether we’re the first team in or last team in, it doesn’t matter,” said St. John’s sophomore forward LJ Figueroa. “We’re 0-0 now and ready.”
Salvaging the opportunity is something on the minds of this Red Storm team, and there’s a belief that they have what it takes to put together a run on the dance floor. There’s a belief that the team that compiled a combined three wins over BIG EAST brass Villanova and Marquette can translate under the spotlight of the NCAA Tournament. Not to mention the fact that the Johnnies are used to that spotlight inside Madison Square Garden.
“We believe we can play with anybody,” said junior guard Justin Simon, the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. “Our positionless style makes us tougher to prepare for and if we defend, it’s a game-changer.”
It could prove to be just that on Wednesday night, as the Johnnies boast a +5.1 turnover margin, good for fourth in all of college basketball. Arizona State commits and forces nearly 14 turnovers per game, so it’s not a differentiator for the Sun Devils. What is ASU’s strength?
“Rebounding is the concern,” said Mullin. “We have to be ready to match them physically inside. That’s our priority.”
The Sun Devils finished second in the PAC-12 with a +4.8 advantage on the glass per game.
Beyond strategy, Mullin wants to see his team enjoy themselves the way he did in four NCAA Tournaments from 1982-85, capped off by the program’s last Final Four appearance.
“We have to let it all hang out and cherish this moment,” said Mullin.
“This is what it’s all about.”