The beginning has been enjoyable.
The nationwide rating is nice for optics.
Three 20-point wins to begin the 12 months, a feat St. John’s hasn’t achieved since 1983-84, shouldn’t be dismissed irrespective of the caliber of opponent.
However now we start to search out out about Rick Pitino’s Johnnies.
Beginning Sunday in opposition to New Mexico and Pitino’s son Richard on the Backyard, adopted by three video games in 4 days within the Bahamas that’s highlighted by a gathering with No. 12 Baylor, St. John’s will get examined.
It’ll get pushed.
It’ll get challenged.
“I feel like people are going to learn that we can play with anybody, we can go out there and compete and look good doing it,” sophomore guard Simeon Wilcher mentioned Friday. “What we’re going to determine about one another is how we stick collectively via the ups and downs. Each recreation shouldn’t be going to be excellent and nice. It’s all in regards to the response when stuff begins to not go our approach.
“Not to disrespect any of the teams we’ve played,” he added, “but it’s definitely a big jump.”
St. John’s actually appears extra ready for a step up in competitors than it did presently final 12 months.
Keep in mind, it had just one tune-up recreation earlier than being walloped on the Backyard by Michigan, which wound up as one of many extra disappointing groups within the nation.
From there, the Johnnies had been lucky to go 2-1 within the Charleston Basic, scraping previous North Texas, dropping to Dayton and knocking off Utah.
The competitors might be significantly higher this 12 months.
New Mexico (3-0) is coming off a formidable neutral-site victory over then-No. 22 UCLA and returns two key items from its NCAA Match staff a 12 months in the past in dynamic guard Donovan Dent and bodily ahead Nelly Junior Joseph, who performed beneath Pitino for 2 seasons at Iona College.
Baylor, regardless of a lopsided season-opening loss to fourth-ranked Gonzaga, is a well-liked Last 4 decide.
If St. John’s will get previous the Bears, it might seemingly face No. 11 Tennessee the next evening.
The journey ends in opposition to Georgia, which is led by improbable five-star freshman ahead Asa Newell and a deep backcourt.
“I’ll be very transparent: I don’t know how good we are. It’s a question mark right now,” Pitino mentioned. “Have we taken care of two exhibitions and three [regular-season games]? Yes, we have. But we haven’t seen competition like we’re facing [the next four games].”
Pitino’s second St. John’s staff appears higher outfitted for this stretch than his first one.
That group was mainly fully new.
This one has 4 returning core gamers in Wilcher, Zuby Ejiofor, RJ Luis and Brady Dunlap.
It has seemed terrific on the defensive finish, ranked 14th within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity.
Its three opponents, Fordham, Quinnipiac and Wagner, have scored a mean of 59.3 factors on 34.8 % taking pictures from the sector whereas committing 16.3 turnovers per recreation.
The offense is extra of a piece in progress, which shouldn’t be a shock contemplating the Johnnies’ two major ball-handlers, Kadary Richmond and Deivon Smith, are newcomers.
Richmond, an All-American candidate who spent the previous three seasons at rival Seton Corridor, has but to take command of the offense.
He tried solely seven pictures prior to now two video games, although he had seven assists within the Wagner win and was pivotal within the game-turning 26-3 run within the second half.
“I want Kadary to start getting back to himself, taking more shots because I feel like it’s really not many people in college that can stay in front of him,” Wilcher mentioned. “He’s just figuring it out. It’s still early in the season. We’re only three games in. Watch, next game you’re going to see a totally different [player].”
Actually, this seems like the beginning of the season for St. John’s.
The three-0 document and No. 22 nationwide rating look good, however this staff remains to be very a lot a thriller.
You solely can study a lot from observe and by beating up overmatched opponents.
That adjustments beginning Sunday.
“These next few games for us are very important,” Wilcher mentioned. “They’re going to set the tone for the rest of the season.”
A portion of proceeds from the St. John’s-New Mexico recreation will go to the Tunnel to Towers Basis.
The matchup has been dubbed the NYC Hoops for Heroes Basic.
