St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: St. John's at Duke
St. John’s Head Coach Chris Mullin
On what happened in the second half:
“Yeah, actually I think it started a little bit towards the end of the first half. I think we started off the game pretty well offensively, defensively and the things we talked about coming in that we had to do well we struggled. We had live ball turnovers that to me just turned the game, turned the whole atmosphere of the game. At one point they were eight-for-eight, we were within two points and we had some live ball turnovers and runouts and dunks and a few offensive rebounds, I don’t know if a free throw put back, which forced us to be down 10 at the half and the game had already turned with those turnovers. Coming in our two biggest things were turnovers and rebounding.”
On how the team stayed close in the first half without any points from Shamorie Ponds:
“I thought we were getting good looks. Other guys were making shots, running some nice sets and Marvin (Clark II) had some foul trouble, we had two or three fouls and he was one of our guys who was helping getting open shots. To me, the two things were rebounding and turnovers.”
On if players who are offensive weapons should avoid picking up two or three fouls…
“Totally. He totally has to stay in the game. Especially against a team like this where that matchup can help pressure release and a lot of stuff we were planning on doing involved him not only shooting but being a pressure man so careless fouls bother me, but those things happen.”
On Shamorie Ponds looking unsettled…
“We told him that the kid (Tre) Jones, that’s what he does, if you’re confused and careless with that shot, he’ll expose you, so that was part of it. I think a few times he got free runs to the basket and didn’t look like he had a good hand on the ball, and a few of the layups that he usually makes, his dexterity just wasn’t locked in. I don’t really know why.”
On Mustapha Heron‘s performance…
“I thought he played well, assertive. In some parts of the game, we had stuff that we didn’t execute, the post defense, things like that. So just a bunch of mistakes. To me, like I said, the beginning of the game, first eight to ten minutes they were really hot. We had a nice rhythm going, at one point in time, I just think those live ball turnovers just gave them the energy and turned the game around.”
On if anything can be done to stop Zion Williamson on the run…
“Not throw the ball at him. That’s what I’m saying, there were turnovers and rebounds, so whatever the scenario was, it became a live ball turnover, rebound off a free throw, that was a big focal point of the game.”
On the value of playing Duke and his impression of the team…
“They’re a great team, obviously. Talented, unselfish. It’s great, I love playing Duke. They’re the classiest team in the country, so you can learn a lot from them. Like you said, it’s a non-conference game so for us the biggest thing is to wipe it clean and move on.”
St. John’s guard Mustapha Heron
On facing Duke…
“It’s a childhood dream to play in Cameron. We didn’t get it today. ... It’s not a conference game so we have to move on. We have Marquette on Tuesday. It’s another top-10 team. We have to move on, clear our heads and be ready to play in Milwaukee.
On guarding Zion Williamson…
“I’m not scared of anybody. He’s big but I’m big too. He had his way with us but as far as my take, I’m not scared to match up against anybody. You have to beat him to the spot and try to get in front of him to take a charge. He’s rare being somebody that big and can change directions. If you’re smaller, he’s going to beat you to that spot.”
On Duke’s physicality…
“They have their way with every team in the country. They try to out-physical everybody and that was a point of emphasis for us.”
St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds
On the first half…
“We have to look at the first [17] minutes. We were neck and neck with them. To close the half, they got out to a big run and that opened the game. I was trying to feel the game out. Marvin [Clark II] got off to a hot start and hit a lot of threes. He was the hot hand and we tried to get it to him. As far as me, I couldn’t get it going early. I tried to stay in the game.”
On facing Tre Jones…
“He’s definitely a great defender but it wasn’t just him. It was the team and they had a great game plan. Every time I turned, there was another body.”
On Duke’s defensive pressure…
“I expected it but I had some bad turnovers. … On the road, you can’t do that. The game will change quick.”
On playing Duke…
“I was definitely looking forward to it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win but we knew what we were coming into because we beat them last year. I’m know Coach [Krzyzewski] was saying to them we have to get this one at home.”
St. John’s forward Marvin Clark II
On performance against Duke…
“I look at it as when I get into foul trouble things go array. I didn’t want to give them anything easy. I wanted to foul them hard and show them we play hard. I’ve got to be smart and keep myself in the game. I was proud in the first half. We competed with them neck and neck and answered everything they had to say. The live ball turnovers get them and their crowd into it and we couldn’t find our rhythm in the second half. It’s over with, we have to move on from it but we have to be ready for Marquette. They are another top-10 team and we have to be ready for them.”
On first half positives moving forward…
“We ran our stuff, got our looks, focused on the game plan and got them to turn it over. If we can do it with [Duke], we can do it with anybody. If we play the same way we did in those 17 minutes against Duke going into the rest of BIG EAST play, we’ll be fine.”
On playing Duke…
“I was really looking forward to it. I think the guys would say the same. I’ve never played here and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s something you dream about as a little kid. To have an opportunity to play against Coach [Krzyzewski] on his home court is something everyone dreams about. We have to let this one go and focus on Marquette.”
On Zion Williamson…
“I was looking forward to it. We’ve all heard stories about him and we’ve all seen him. He’s a freak of nature. It felt good competing with someone who is as strong, if not stronger than you. I felt I was fine against him. It’s crazy seeing him live. He’s a mammoth of a man. I wish him all the luck. That’s a great team Coach [Krzyzewski] has of young guys that are together, poised and figuring it out. I wish we took advantage of the opportunity we had in the second half.”
On what happened in the second half:
“Yeah, actually I think it started a little bit towards the end of the first half. I think we started off the game pretty well offensively, defensively and the things we talked about coming in that we had to do well we struggled. We had live ball turnovers that to me just turned the game, turned the whole atmosphere of the game. At one point they were eight-for-eight, we were within two points and we had some live ball turnovers and runouts and dunks and a few offensive rebounds, I don’t know if a free throw put back, which forced us to be down 10 at the half and the game had already turned with those turnovers. Coming in our two biggest things were turnovers and rebounding.”
On how the team stayed close in the first half without any points from Shamorie Ponds:
“I thought we were getting good looks. Other guys were making shots, running some nice sets and Marvin (Clark II) had some foul trouble, we had two or three fouls and he was one of our guys who was helping getting open shots. To me, the two things were rebounding and turnovers.”
On if players who are offensive weapons should avoid picking up two or three fouls…
“Totally. He totally has to stay in the game. Especially against a team like this where that matchup can help pressure release and a lot of stuff we were planning on doing involved him not only shooting but being a pressure man so careless fouls bother me, but those things happen.”
On Shamorie Ponds looking unsettled…
“We told him that the kid (Tre) Jones, that’s what he does, if you’re confused and careless with that shot, he’ll expose you, so that was part of it. I think a few times he got free runs to the basket and didn’t look like he had a good hand on the ball, and a few of the layups that he usually makes, his dexterity just wasn’t locked in. I don’t really know why.”
On Mustapha Heron‘s performance…
“I thought he played well, assertive. In some parts of the game, we had stuff that we didn’t execute, the post defense, things like that. So just a bunch of mistakes. To me, like I said, the beginning of the game, first eight to ten minutes they were really hot. We had a nice rhythm going, at one point in time, I just think those live ball turnovers just gave them the energy and turned the game around.”
On if anything can be done to stop Zion Williamson on the run…
“Not throw the ball at him. That’s what I’m saying, there were turnovers and rebounds, so whatever the scenario was, it became a live ball turnover, rebound off a free throw, that was a big focal point of the game.”
On the value of playing Duke and his impression of the team…
“They’re a great team, obviously. Talented, unselfish. It’s great, I love playing Duke. They’re the classiest team in the country, so you can learn a lot from them. Like you said, it’s a non-conference game so for us the biggest thing is to wipe it clean and move on.”
St. John’s guard Mustapha Heron
On facing Duke…
“It’s a childhood dream to play in Cameron. We didn’t get it today. ... It’s not a conference game so we have to move on. We have Marquette on Tuesday. It’s another top-10 team. We have to move on, clear our heads and be ready to play in Milwaukee.
On guarding Zion Williamson…
“I’m not scared of anybody. He’s big but I’m big too. He had his way with us but as far as my take, I’m not scared to match up against anybody. You have to beat him to the spot and try to get in front of him to take a charge. He’s rare being somebody that big and can change directions. If you’re smaller, he’s going to beat you to that spot.”
On Duke’s physicality…
“They have their way with every team in the country. They try to out-physical everybody and that was a point of emphasis for us.”
St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds
On the first half…
“We have to look at the first [17] minutes. We were neck and neck with them. To close the half, they got out to a big run and that opened the game. I was trying to feel the game out. Marvin [Clark II] got off to a hot start and hit a lot of threes. He was the hot hand and we tried to get it to him. As far as me, I couldn’t get it going early. I tried to stay in the game.”
On facing Tre Jones…
“He’s definitely a great defender but it wasn’t just him. It was the team and they had a great game plan. Every time I turned, there was another body.”
On Duke’s defensive pressure…
“I expected it but I had some bad turnovers. … On the road, you can’t do that. The game will change quick.”
On playing Duke…
“I was definitely looking forward to it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win but we knew what we were coming into because we beat them last year. I’m know Coach [Krzyzewski] was saying to them we have to get this one at home.”
St. John’s forward Marvin Clark II
On performance against Duke…
“I look at it as when I get into foul trouble things go array. I didn’t want to give them anything easy. I wanted to foul them hard and show them we play hard. I’ve got to be smart and keep myself in the game. I was proud in the first half. We competed with them neck and neck and answered everything they had to say. The live ball turnovers get them and their crowd into it and we couldn’t find our rhythm in the second half. It’s over with, we have to move on from it but we have to be ready for Marquette. They are another top-10 team and we have to be ready for them.”
On first half positives moving forward…
“We ran our stuff, got our looks, focused on the game plan and got them to turn it over. If we can do it with [Duke], we can do it with anybody. If we play the same way we did in those 17 minutes against Duke going into the rest of BIG EAST play, we’ll be fine.”
On playing Duke…
“I was really looking forward to it. I think the guys would say the same. I’ve never played here and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s something you dream about as a little kid. To have an opportunity to play against Coach [Krzyzewski] on his home court is something everyone dreams about. We have to let this one go and focus on Marquette.”
On Zion Williamson…
“I was looking forward to it. We’ve all heard stories about him and we’ve all seen him. He’s a freak of nature. It felt good competing with someone who is as strong, if not stronger than you. I felt I was fine against him. It’s crazy seeing him live. He’s a mammoth of a man. I wish him all the luck. That’s a great team Coach [Krzyzewski] has of young guys that are together, poised and figuring it out. I wish we took advantage of the opportunity we had in the second half.”