St. John’s has been here before. It finishes strong. There is reason for optimism. Momentum going to offshin.
But, then, something goes wrong. A key player escapes. Necessary additions have not been made. We saw it go through the final season of Chris Mullin. Tariq Owens, the team’s defensive stalwart, departed. That group still made the first four of the NCAA Tournament, and added Mustafa Heron and LJ Figuero to the offshin, but I always wonder what Owens will be able to do with Owens being a true rim protector that will help Texas Tech reach National Championship Game.
St. John’s now occupies a similar place after St. John Anderson’s second season, dropping its first winning campaign in league play in six years. There is a possibility of huge weather here. Correct moves and this is a top-25 caliber team.
Below are three keys to this type of season for next year, this fan base has been waiting for two decades:
Player retention
St. John’s to retain Julian Champagne, Greg Williams Jr., Posh Alexander, Marcellus Arlington and Dylan Ade-Wusu. I expect Champagni to return to test the NBA’s draft waters. The coaching staff feels that he is in a good position with this group. Experience in college basketball is now very important, especially continuity, as there is now a lot of turnover every season. Champagnie could be next year’s Big East President’s Player of the Year. Alexander may be the league’s best point guard. I think Williams is a breakout candidate as a senior if his Balki can get back – and stay – right.
There will always be a departure. This is the nature of the game. Reserve forward Ishaah Moore entered the transfer portal on Sunday. His close friend Wing Vince Cole followed him on Monday night. There can be more. The best programs keep their best players. It is necessary for St. John.
Add size
Losing 6-foot-10 moors reduces program additions. The coaching staff felt that Asia Nyave, apart from 6-10 mid-year, would help him defensively, if eligible, which Moore lacks. He was able to practice since January, gaining valuable familiarity with the system. The recruiting class next year includes two high-energy 6-8 Forwards for the Drissa Trail, Long Island Lutheran, and O’Mara Stanley, which fit Anderson’s uptempo style.
St. John’s is more in need, however. It is able to find a back-to-the-basket big man who is capable of scoring in the post and being a factor on the glass. Stanley, Troray and Nyve have never played Division I basketball. It is difficult to project how productive they will be.
Just look at where Saint-John struggled to lose late in the set-hall, DePaul and Butler: Paint. It needs someone with experience, size and power. Some interesting names have already hit the transfer portal: UMass All-Atlantic 10 first team forward Mitchell and Louisville forward Eden Ignihon, a former top-100 recruit who attended high school on Long Island. The added gradual transfer of St. John’s over the last two years to big men Damien Sears and Arnoldo Toro. Nor provided nearly adequate production. Employees need to find a starting five.
Change dun
All indications are Rashim Dunn will not use the extra year of eligibility. All players were given and returned. Dunn had shortcomings as a shooter and decision-maker, but they were valuable, especially on the defensive end. St. John’s needed to find a replacement, and I don’t believe it would be fair for three-star recruit Andres Pinzone to expect him to take such important minutes right away. I will go to the transfer route here again, but I will not look for the Dun clone.
St. John is more in need of a shooter to kill Alexander. Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker, who joined Christ the King in Queens, is one of several early targets. I felt that with Dun and Alexander playing together, St. John’s found it easier to set up half the court, as they were such players. Adding a guard that can space the floor will actually help Alexander and free up the driving lane. Apart from Williams, St. John’s does not have another guard, who also shot 30 percent from 3-point range. And now that Cole is one of the team’s better shooters, it increases the need for another player who could be a threat from deep.
Division of thoughts
It was a strong season for St. John for a number of reasons. Champagne and Alexander emerged as the faces of the program. Johnnies did not have a single COVID-19 stoppage for everyone from administrators to players.
This year, in my opinion, the goal was showing progress. This needed to be done to recruit Anderson and his staff. Did it. They went 5–13 to 10–9 in the Big East. St. John also showed that it was not quite ready for the big time. When it was time to prove it in the tournament, in games against Butler, DePaul and Seton Hall, it fell short. Some of it was young. Some of it was a roster that was short in a few pieces.
Fans should be pleased with the season. He got to see growth and improvement, a cause that proceeded with anticipation rather than being the usual dreaded one. This sets St. John up for a huge year for the next season – certainly one that follows the current trajectory of the Offense program.
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