St. John's University Athletics
Three-Time NBA Champion Bill Wennington Highlights
10/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
QUEENS, N.Y. - A capacity crowd of Red Storm supporters gathered at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan on Thursday night to join head men's coach Chris Mullin, head women's coach Joe Tartamella, special guest Bill Wennington and master of ceremonies Craig Carton in celebrating the upcoming 2015-16 basketball season as part of "An Evening With St. John's Basketball."
Following opening remarks from Interim Director of Athletics Joseph Oliva, Esq., Carton recapped a 2014-15 women's season that was highlighted by an eighth-straight postseason appearance as the Red Storm advanced to the Third Round of the WNIT and finished 23-11. Tartamella was then invited to speak about the upcoming season for his squad, which was picked second in the league's Preseason Poll and features the Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year in Aliyyah Handford.
"I've been coming to this event for a number of years now and it's always great to see the turnout," said Tartamella. "I do feel like it's family and a lot of the faces I see in here, I get to see at a lot of events. Just getting to talk about our program and our players, and seeing the interest that you have in our program and with the men's program has been very exciting for me over that time."
Tartamella went on to discuss the program's growth and recruiting. "It's been fun to watch the transition to becoming a team that's been in the Top 25 year in and year out, so most of the players that we see are aware of our program," he added. "The one thing that stands out is that they watch us play and they really enjoy the style, they enjoy how hard we play and I think that's been the biggest thing."
Carton then summarized the highlights of a 2014-15 men's season that featured a 28th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and a national ranking that peaked at No. 15 as part of a 21-12 campaign. Mullin, the all-time leading scorer at St. John's and the lone three-time BIG EAST Player of the Year in league-history, was then invited to talk about his return to his alma mater and his new-look Red Storm team that features three returners and 10 newcomers.
"We're about a week into practice. It's seems like every point I make, whether it be offensively or defensively, is about teamwork," said Mullin. "Offensively, we're trying to get the guys to share the basketball, be unselfish, play aggressively, be confident. Defensively, we're doing all these drills so we can pressure the ball, but have help behind you so you can be confident that you're teammates are going to help you."
Mullin continued, "I always got my confidence from preparation and knowing I was surrounded by good people. As we take over this program and try to lead it to great heights, the support I receive is going to be really important, not only from my coaching staff, but from you people who are really our sixth man."
A three-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, a first round draft pick and one of Mullin's teammates on the 1985 Final Four team, Wennington was then introduced and discussed the impact St. John's University had on his life. A highlight video followed to celebrate Wennington's collegiate playing days and 13-year NBA career.
"We got our foundation here [at St. John's]," said Wennington. "You hear Chris [Mullin] talking about foundation and getting players to play well and this is what St. John's gave us to help us be who we are today."
"I would not be standing here today speaking to you if it wasn't for St. John's and what St. John's taught me in the classroom and just the life lessons I learned in school and from Coach Carnesecca and my teammates," added Wennington.
Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw, Ph.D., President, St. John's University, and Mullin then presented Wennington with a commemorative No. 23 jersey. Attendees were also treated to a special panel session as Carton moderated a discussion between former teammates Mullin and Wennington.
The Mullin Era officially begins on Nov. 13 as the Red Storm hosts local foe Wagner at Carnesecca Arena. The women's team also opens its season on Nov. 13 with a road game against UCLA at historic Pauley Pavilion.
