St John’s has the talent in their backcourt to compete for a spot in the postseason. But it’s going to take more than strong guard play to make headway in the Big East.
Chris Mullin is in his third season as head coach, it’s been a slow climb for the Red Storm but there’s plenty of reason for hope.
With sophomores Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett, St. John’s has one of the conference’s more exciting backcourts.
College basketball game, much like in the NBA, has evolved into more of an emphasis on the guards and perimeter-oriented players. But this doesn’t take away from the importance of being able to rebound. This is where the Red Storm may struggle.
In their season opener on Friday night, the Red Storm came away with a 77-61 win over New Orleans.
LoVett and Ponds played well, as expected. St. John’s was also outrebounded, 42-27, but found a way to still win.
St. John’s Will Need Marvin Clark III
Against a team like New Orleans, no disrespect to them, Mullin’s team was able to rely on the talent of their guards. But that won’t always be the case as the season progresses.
If St. John’s is going to take the next step in their growth, they’ll need an improved effort on the glass. There’s size upfront with 6-11 Tariq Owens and 6-7 forward Kassoum Yawke. The knock on 6-7 Bashir Ahmed is he remains erratic and needs to find more consistency in his game.
The arrival of Marvin Clark III could be key to this team’s rebounding issues. He’s 6-7 but sat out last season after transferring from Michigan State. Clark III brings Big 10 experience with him, that’s going to be valuable this season for Mullin.
LoVett and Ponds will supply the offensive firepower for St. John’s, but they can’t do it all alone. Mullin is doing a good job at getting this team to take on his identity. They’re tough, play defense, and they’re scrappy.
This could be the breakthrough season St. John’s has been waiting for, if they find a way to improve on the boards.
