St. John's University Athletics
QUOTES: Media Availability on Wednesday, August 10
St. John's Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Anderson, junior guard Andre Curbelo and red-shirt senior guard Montez Mathis spoke with the media in advance of the team’s foreign tour to the Dominican Republic
St. John’s Head Coach Mike Anderson
Opening statement...
“Guys are getting their bags packed and I’m sure they’re looking forward to playing against [outside competition]. We’re working on our 10th practice today. ... We’re looking forward to continuing to find out more about our basketball team. The time spent so far has been very insightful. Hopefully, this trip will create a bonding situation.”
On what he’s hoping to learn from the trip…
“I told our guys yesterday, I want to see what they bring to the table from a basketball IQ standpoint. Obviously, from a talent standpoint, we know what they bring to the table. I want to see what they can bring defensively and offensively. For me, it’s more about them getting familiar with one another in terms of how we want to play. I want to see what the tempo is going to be like. We want to see if we can address the things we didn’t do well last year. Our defense needs to be better and we have to rebound the basketball.”
On players that have improved since last season…
“Joel [Soriano] has picked up where he left off last year. I think he’s going to be a guy that’s capable of being our leading rebounder and one of the leading rebounders in our league. He gives us a presence. I think he’s been one of the guys that stood out. Esahia Nyiwe continues to be that glue guy. Even more so, I think he’s a lot more comfortable in his role in terms of being a passer and catching and finishing. I’m excited about those frontline guys to go along with the guards.”
On Kolby King and AJ Storr …
“I think this time has been tremendous for those guys. It’s opened their eyes up. Those guys have followed the lead of the guys that are here. They’re gym rats. They are always in the gym. I have to chase them out of the gym sometimes. I think we’ll see those guys have some bright moments. I’m anxious to see them play as we go over and play in the Dominican Republic. Kolby has quickness, can score, distribute and defend. He’s an unbelievably athletic kid. Both of them still have a way to go. They have to learn and get more savvy in terms of how to play in the BIG EAST. It’s a big difference. The physicality is totally different than what they’re used to.”
Junior guard Andre Curbelo…
On coming to St. John’s University…
“St. John’s is great. It’s home, and home is always good. Coming home, I get to be around my whole family, my support circle, my people. So, it’s been great, very welcoming from everybody. Like I said, just that feeling of coming home makes it even better when you know you’re coming to a place where everybody is excited about you.”
On playing next to fellow point guard Posh Alexander…
“It’s been great. He’s a great dude on and off the court. He’s been very welcoming, and I know a lot of people are probably asking themselves ‘oh how is that going to work’ and this and that. Listen, If I get it, he’s running, if he gets it I’m running. We are getting along very well and it makes it easier when guys are as welcoming as they are. Everybody knows that I’m the new kid in town and I get a little shy until I figure everything out, but they have made the process really easy.”
On playing in Coach Anderson’s system…
“It’s way different than Illinois, I can already tell. At Illinois we tried to play fast, but it was more plays, motions and playing inside-out. Here I can already tell the difference, we do this thing called periods in practice where we play seven periods for four minutes. If you’re not running as hard as you can coach will let you know, he makes us run. So, we are doing things that will translate to our style of game. I can’t wait to go to the Dominican Republic, because what we are doing in practice will be really good for our game.
On playing with sophomore guard Rafael Pinzon in high school…
“In high school, Rafael and I played together my senior year, but COVID cut it short for us. We got to play a few games together like [against] Sierra Canyon for example, that was probably our best game together I would say.”
Redshirt senior guard Montez Mathis…
On what is it like playing in a two-point guard system…
“The system is great. Posh and Curbelo are two great point guards, two pass first point guards. All I have to do is run the floor and hit open shots when they give it to me. It’s been working great in practice, so that’s all I’ve been trying to focus on, just hit open shots and run the floor because I know they are going to find me every time.”
On improvements he has seen within the team.…
“Dylan’s jump shot has gotten a lot better and Joel has been dominating in practice so far this summer. Joel is going to have a big year for us this year. Other than that, I feel like everyone on the team has improved and it’s going to be a good year.”
On Posh Alexander and Andre Curbelo…
“I see it every day, Posh and Curbelo have great chemistry together. I see it in practice with how they play together, If Curbelo has it Posh runs, if Posh has it Curbelo runs. They’ve been playing great together.”
Opening statement...
“Guys are getting their bags packed and I’m sure they’re looking forward to playing against [outside competition]. We’re working on our 10th practice today. ... We’re looking forward to continuing to find out more about our basketball team. The time spent so far has been very insightful. Hopefully, this trip will create a bonding situation.”
On what he’s hoping to learn from the trip…
“I told our guys yesterday, I want to see what they bring to the table from a basketball IQ standpoint. Obviously, from a talent standpoint, we know what they bring to the table. I want to see what they can bring defensively and offensively. For me, it’s more about them getting familiar with one another in terms of how we want to play. I want to see what the tempo is going to be like. We want to see if we can address the things we didn’t do well last year. Our defense needs to be better and we have to rebound the basketball.”
On players that have improved since last season…
“Joel [Soriano] has picked up where he left off last year. I think he’s going to be a guy that’s capable of being our leading rebounder and one of the leading rebounders in our league. He gives us a presence. I think he’s been one of the guys that stood out. Esahia Nyiwe continues to be that glue guy. Even more so, I think he’s a lot more comfortable in his role in terms of being a passer and catching and finishing. I’m excited about those frontline guys to go along with the guards.”
On Kolby King and AJ Storr …
“I think this time has been tremendous for those guys. It’s opened their eyes up. Those guys have followed the lead of the guys that are here. They’re gym rats. They are always in the gym. I have to chase them out of the gym sometimes. I think we’ll see those guys have some bright moments. I’m anxious to see them play as we go over and play in the Dominican Republic. Kolby has quickness, can score, distribute and defend. He’s an unbelievably athletic kid. Both of them still have a way to go. They have to learn and get more savvy in terms of how to play in the BIG EAST. It’s a big difference. The physicality is totally different than what they’re used to.”
Junior guard Andre Curbelo…
On coming to St. John’s University…
“St. John’s is great. It’s home, and home is always good. Coming home, I get to be around my whole family, my support circle, my people. So, it’s been great, very welcoming from everybody. Like I said, just that feeling of coming home makes it even better when you know you’re coming to a place where everybody is excited about you.”
On playing next to fellow point guard Posh Alexander…
“It’s been great. He’s a great dude on and off the court. He’s been very welcoming, and I know a lot of people are probably asking themselves ‘oh how is that going to work’ and this and that. Listen, If I get it, he’s running, if he gets it I’m running. We are getting along very well and it makes it easier when guys are as welcoming as they are. Everybody knows that I’m the new kid in town and I get a little shy until I figure everything out, but they have made the process really easy.”
On playing in Coach Anderson’s system…
“It’s way different than Illinois, I can already tell. At Illinois we tried to play fast, but it was more plays, motions and playing inside-out. Here I can already tell the difference, we do this thing called periods in practice where we play seven periods for four minutes. If you’re not running as hard as you can coach will let you know, he makes us run. So, we are doing things that will translate to our style of game. I can’t wait to go to the Dominican Republic, because what we are doing in practice will be really good for our game.
On playing with sophomore guard Rafael Pinzon in high school…
“In high school, Rafael and I played together my senior year, but COVID cut it short for us. We got to play a few games together like [against] Sierra Canyon for example, that was probably our best game together I would say.”
Redshirt senior guard Montez Mathis…
On what is it like playing in a two-point guard system…
“The system is great. Posh and Curbelo are two great point guards, two pass first point guards. All I have to do is run the floor and hit open shots when they give it to me. It’s been working great in practice, so that’s all I’ve been trying to focus on, just hit open shots and run the floor because I know they are going to find me every time.”
On improvements he has seen within the team.…
“Dylan’s jump shot has gotten a lot better and Joel has been dominating in practice so far this summer. Joel is going to have a big year for us this year. Other than that, I feel like everyone on the team has improved and it’s going to be a good year.”
On Posh Alexander and Andre Curbelo…
“I see it every day, Posh and Curbelo have great chemistry together. I see it in practice with how they play together, If Curbelo has it Posh runs, if Posh has it Curbelo runs. They’ve been playing great together.”