Why this St. John’s season has been a frustrating, yet necessary, uphill battle

By: Troy Mauriello

St. John’s fans, I feel your pain.

Losing is never easy. Losing with the consistency that this program has lost over the past two decades is even tougher. And losing in the fashion that the Red Storm have dropped some games this season is downright torturous.

As fans of this torture, we have accustomed ourselves to the ever-hopeful phrase, there’s always next year.

A vital part of your 2015 NCAA Tournament team gets suspended for smoking pot hours before Selection Sunday? There’s always next year.

Your star point guard on a promising 2017 team is “day-to-day” for two months, only to never return and leave the program months later? There’s always next year.

Arguably the most talented team in school history fails to reach the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, and the best player in school history resigns after four tumultuous seasons as head coach? Say it with me: There’s always next year.

Well eventually next year has to come. And with the Red Storm currently sitting at just 14-12 overall and 3-10 in the Big East, it’s time to utter that phrase yet again. But for once, I believe there is legitimate hope for the Johnnies’ future, instead of just delusional pipe dreams.

Mike Anderson is the best coach this program has had in years, if not decades. He is a proven winner, and while his streak of 17 consecutive winning seasons as a head coach may be coming to an end, this year shouldn’t change that.

Anderson wasn’t officially hired until late April. He inherited a roster mostly in shambles, and a program trying to recover from a coaching search that was a national embarrassment. He silenced the critics – myself partially included – who said he would struggle to recruit with no local ties. But most of all, he got his players to buy in.

Despite lacking the talent needed to compete at a high-level in the ultra-competitive Big East this season, Anderson has gotten the most out of his roster. St. John’s has dropped only four games this conference season by double-figures. The Red Storm have either led or been within eight points in the second half in 12 of their 13 Big East games this season.

The Johnnies have suffered some crushing home losses this season as well, against Butler, Seton Hall, Georgetown and Xavier. But I chalk those up to a talent disparity taking over late in games. All four of the teams mentioned above are firmly in or around the NCAA Tournament bubble, and they feature All-Big East talents in Kamar Baldwin, Myles Powell, Omer Yurtseven and Naji Marshall. St. John’s just doesn’t have that talent, or that “closer” to match.

And while it’s fair to criticize Anderson’s rotations and late-game play calling, you’d be a fool to think he has not gotten the very most out of his roster in 2019-20.

For proof, just look at some of the underclassmen on the Red Storm roster. Freshman G Julian Champagnie looks poised beyond his years, and could be a key cog in future tournament teams – maybe even playing a “do-it-all” role similar to Sir’Dominic Pointer on the 2015 squad. Sophomores Marcellus Earlington, Josh Roberts and Greg Williams Jr. have also excelled this season after collectively combining for just over 18 minutes per game as freshmen.

Earlington has become a key contributor in the paint, supplying 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season, ranking fourth and third on the team, respectively. Roberts grabs nearly six rebounds per game, and ranks fourth in the conference in blocked shots. Williams Jr. has proven to be a serviceable offensive guard, and a tenacious perimeter defender.

With only two seniors who play meaningful minutes this season, there’s reason to believe Anderson will return the bulk of his roster in 2021. Local recruits Posh Alexander and Dylan Wusu are coming in as well, along with talented JUCO big man Isaih Moore.

So yes, it feels like we say it every season: There’s always next year.

But with a real head coach in place, a strong returning roster and a conference that should be taking a step back, there is no reason to believe that next year cannot be the year for St. John’s.