St. John’s had every reason to be worried about their season taking another body blow. Since their overtime win at Georgetown, the Johnnies lost four of their next five games. A loss at Creighton would send their promising NCAA Tournament hopes spiraling into the always-crowded room of bubble teams.
St. John’s is coming of age. Image Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
St. John’s was faced with a panic button pushed so much they may have needed a replacement for it from Staples. But give Chris Mullin’s team all the credit for how they responded to the pressure.
Shamorie Ponds scored 26 points and the Johnnies shot 57.9% from the field to help secure a blowout win over Creighton, Wednesday night in Omaha. The win helped St. John’s improve to 4-5 in the Big East, 16-5 overall.
This was more than just a win for St. John’s, it was arguably their strongest statement yet they’re ready for March Madness.
A sign of a team ready to turn the corner, from rebuilding to contenders, is the level of their resiliency. Can they overcome adversity when it threatens to derail you from your accomplishments?
This St. John’s team, for all their preseason hype, has never been in this situation. They’re in the midst of having to prove they’re more than just box-office potential.
Losing four of the last five games was more than enough to raise an eyebrow for all the wrong reasons. And that’s what made their win over Creighton such an eye-opener. St. John’s, in seven previous tries, had never won on the road against the Bluejays. But they went into a tough environment and ran the home team off the court. They did it by going back to their strengths. That’s the sign of a young team realizing they have what it takes to be more than just potential. Here’s what went right for St. John’s…
- Turnovers have been an issue for Creighton this season. St. John’s capitalized and scored 20 of their points off 14 Creighton turnovers.
- St. John’s racked up 18 team assists on Creighton. That’s a clear indication of the ball movement returning to the offensive attack. The Red Storm are third in the Big East with an average of 15.4 assists per game. When the ball moves it means an open shot is only a matter of time.
- When Chris Mullin’s offense this season hits another gear when the Johnnies are quick in transition, the ball doesn’t stick, and the three-point shot is falling. They were three-for-three against Creighton. St. John’s went 13-for-31 from long range, with eight of those in the first half.
- St. John’s gave up 80 or more points in their last two games, both losses. But they shut Creighton’s offense down and held them to only 67 points on 41.7% shooting from the field. Strong team defense begins with commitment and attitude. St, John’s came into Omaha focused and clearly with a chip on their shoulder.
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