St. John's University Athletics
QUOTES: 2019 BIG EAST Men's Basketball Media Day
Head Coach Mike Anderson, Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa spoke with the media on Thursday at Madison Square Garden
St. John’s Head Coach Mike Anderson
On initial impression of New York and playing at Madison Square Garden…
“For me, having the opportunity to be the head coach [at St. John’s] is something I’m excited about. … It’s the mecca of basketball and you’re going to have a chance to play in front of some great fans. I’m so impressed with the knowledge of the fans up here, not only as just fans, but people that live in the New York area. They’re up on BIG EAST basketball, they’re up on NBA basketball, they’re up on all of that. For me, to have the opportunity to be here with my wife, we’re enjoying it and embracing it. The city is alive, it’s vibrant. I love New York and I can’t wait to put a team out there on the floor that these fans and this city can embrace.
On LJ Figueroa and Mustapha Heron being the centerpiece…
“If you are going to start a team, you want to have some guys that can come back and be key contributors on your basketball team. … Tremendous players and I think what took place this summer, Val [Ackerman] talked about those guys having an opportunity to play at the Pan Am Games, I thought that was a valuable experience for these guys to come back and be leaders on this basketball team. … To have those guys back will be very important in terms of establishing the work ethic. … They’re going to have to help us navigate through this great league. … We have our work cut out for us but, again, having those guys can help make that transition easier.
On building his program at St. John’s …
“There’s work to be done. The inexperience factor, I think we have to make that not be a factor. We need to get our guys inundated in terms of how we want to play, whether through practice or through non-conference schedule, to prepare them for BIG EAST play. I think Mustapha [Heron] and LJ [Figueroa] have been leading this bunch here. Guys are working extremely hard and these guys are picking up on what we want offensively and defensively. For me, we need to make sure that these guys are playing at a high level.”
On the type of players who fit best into his system…
“I like basketball players who make decisions. I like instinctive players. I like tough players, aggressive guys. I always say you can pull it back. It’s hard to get going, full throttle. That being said, I’m big on versatility. The way we play, there are a lot switch in place plays. I like to be on attack, more so than just attacking defensively, but people will see, we also want to attack offensively. Hopefully, there is going to be some wear and tear that takes place in the game and boosts the offensive. When we talk about prototypical player, I have one word. Winning.”
On his players learning his system…
“It’s a learning curve, but they embrace it. They look for it and hear about it. They have seen it on film and Mustapha [Heron] had a chance to play against our team. I think guys want to play up-tempo basketball, play instinctive. It’s harder to play the way we play than it is to walk up and pass it 20 times, so we give them a little freedom, but at the same time we are structuring what we do.”
On Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa…
“When you think about LJ and Mustapha, last year was their first year [at St. John’s]. Now they are thrusted into the seat of being leaders on this basketball team and they embrace it. I think they will thrive. The style of play will open up the game for them.”
St. John’s Forward Mustapha Heron
On the upcoming season…
“Senior year, so it’s go big or go home. It’s the last year, last preseason of college eligibility. I’m taking it one day at a time, appreciating every day, trying to learn every day, get better as a leader, a player and as a person.”
On being the most experienced member of the team…
“I think the keyword this morning on the panel was veteran leadership. Being in college for four years, playing in two different conferences, I think I can bring something to the table that is a little different.”
On describing Head Coach Mike Anderson…
“He’s a grinder. I feel like I’m a grinder and I think we fit perfectly. I think the team is very excited to learn all the culture of teaching.”
On embracing the leadership…
“I’ve taken it head on. I have to be as one of the seniors. Have to be a leader, one of the guys that’s first guy in, last guy to leave, who’s preaching coach’s lesson, who’s pulling guys to the side and making sure his message is getting across to everybody.”
On Greg Williams…
“He brings explosiveness, athleticism, definitely has young legs in him.”
On being picked ninth in preseason polls…
“It’s motivation, but it’s someone else’s opinion. We can’t control someone else’s opinion, so we have to go out and do what we’re supposed to.”
On Coach Anderson’s style of play…
“It’s the same style as the last 20 years. Nothing is going to change. He tells us every day in practice, he’s not going to change anything. We are going to be playing hard, playing fast, playing competitively every single night. I think that’s why I’m so excited for this year, because we can catch people off guard.”
St. John’s Forward LJ Figueroa
On his development from last season...
“I feel like I’ve gotten better. Just staying low on the ground, not playing so high up, being able to attack quicker off the dribble, more conditioned and my body feels all-around better.”
On the team culture…
“It’s a team sport, I lean on my teammates. A lot of our big men, we are making sure they finish around the rim and do all the little things we need them to do just to make the game easier, because nobody can do it by themselves. Putting the confidence and trust in my teammates allows them to do what they need to do on the court.”
On taking on a leadership role this season…
“I’m more than excited to take on this role to help our younger guys on the team be the best they can be. We’re definitely excited with a new system, new coach, new players. Its definitely a whole new system, but just have fun with it and bring everything you can everyday.”
On initial impression of New York and playing at Madison Square Garden…
“For me, having the opportunity to be the head coach [at St. John’s] is something I’m excited about. … It’s the mecca of basketball and you’re going to have a chance to play in front of some great fans. I’m so impressed with the knowledge of the fans up here, not only as just fans, but people that live in the New York area. They’re up on BIG EAST basketball, they’re up on NBA basketball, they’re up on all of that. For me, to have the opportunity to be here with my wife, we’re enjoying it and embracing it. The city is alive, it’s vibrant. I love New York and I can’t wait to put a team out there on the floor that these fans and this city can embrace.
On LJ Figueroa and Mustapha Heron being the centerpiece…
“If you are going to start a team, you want to have some guys that can come back and be key contributors on your basketball team. … Tremendous players and I think what took place this summer, Val [Ackerman] talked about those guys having an opportunity to play at the Pan Am Games, I thought that was a valuable experience for these guys to come back and be leaders on this basketball team. … To have those guys back will be very important in terms of establishing the work ethic. … They’re going to have to help us navigate through this great league. … We have our work cut out for us but, again, having those guys can help make that transition easier.
On building his program at St. John’s …
“There’s work to be done. The inexperience factor, I think we have to make that not be a factor. We need to get our guys inundated in terms of how we want to play, whether through practice or through non-conference schedule, to prepare them for BIG EAST play. I think Mustapha [Heron] and LJ [Figueroa] have been leading this bunch here. Guys are working extremely hard and these guys are picking up on what we want offensively and defensively. For me, we need to make sure that these guys are playing at a high level.”
On the type of players who fit best into his system…
“I like basketball players who make decisions. I like instinctive players. I like tough players, aggressive guys. I always say you can pull it back. It’s hard to get going, full throttle. That being said, I’m big on versatility. The way we play, there are a lot switch in place plays. I like to be on attack, more so than just attacking defensively, but people will see, we also want to attack offensively. Hopefully, there is going to be some wear and tear that takes place in the game and boosts the offensive. When we talk about prototypical player, I have one word. Winning.”
On his players learning his system…
“It’s a learning curve, but they embrace it. They look for it and hear about it. They have seen it on film and Mustapha [Heron] had a chance to play against our team. I think guys want to play up-tempo basketball, play instinctive. It’s harder to play the way we play than it is to walk up and pass it 20 times, so we give them a little freedom, but at the same time we are structuring what we do.”
On Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa…
“When you think about LJ and Mustapha, last year was their first year [at St. John’s]. Now they are thrusted into the seat of being leaders on this basketball team and they embrace it. I think they will thrive. The style of play will open up the game for them.”
St. John’s Forward Mustapha Heron
On the upcoming season…
“Senior year, so it’s go big or go home. It’s the last year, last preseason of college eligibility. I’m taking it one day at a time, appreciating every day, trying to learn every day, get better as a leader, a player and as a person.”
On being the most experienced member of the team…
“I think the keyword this morning on the panel was veteran leadership. Being in college for four years, playing in two different conferences, I think I can bring something to the table that is a little different.”
On describing Head Coach Mike Anderson…
“He’s a grinder. I feel like I’m a grinder and I think we fit perfectly. I think the team is very excited to learn all the culture of teaching.”
On embracing the leadership…
“I’ve taken it head on. I have to be as one of the seniors. Have to be a leader, one of the guys that’s first guy in, last guy to leave, who’s preaching coach’s lesson, who’s pulling guys to the side and making sure his message is getting across to everybody.”
On Greg Williams…
“He brings explosiveness, athleticism, definitely has young legs in him.”
On being picked ninth in preseason polls…
“It’s motivation, but it’s someone else’s opinion. We can’t control someone else’s opinion, so we have to go out and do what we’re supposed to.”
On Coach Anderson’s style of play…
“It’s the same style as the last 20 years. Nothing is going to change. He tells us every day in practice, he’s not going to change anything. We are going to be playing hard, playing fast, playing competitively every single night. I think that’s why I’m so excited for this year, because we can catch people off guard.”
St. John’s Forward LJ Figueroa
On his development from last season...
“I feel like I’ve gotten better. Just staying low on the ground, not playing so high up, being able to attack quicker off the dribble, more conditioned and my body feels all-around better.”
On the team culture…
“It’s a team sport, I lean on my teammates. A lot of our big men, we are making sure they finish around the rim and do all the little things we need them to do just to make the game easier, because nobody can do it by themselves. Putting the confidence and trust in my teammates allows them to do what they need to do on the court.”
On taking on a leadership role this season…
“I’m more than excited to take on this role to help our younger guys on the team be the best they can be. We’re definitely excited with a new system, new coach, new players. Its definitely a whole new system, but just have fun with it and bring everything you can everyday.”