Anderson embracing New York life as St. John’s opens Big East tournament

Mike Anderson’s first Big East Tournament begins Wednesday as St. John’s meets Georgetown. (Photo by Bob Dea/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

Eleven months after it was consummated, Mike Anderson’s hire at St. John’s still raises eyebrows, only now in a different way.

When athletic director Mike Cragg tabbed Anderson to replace Chris Mullin at the helm of the Red Storm last April, his decision was met with resounding skepticism, with many pundits questioning the southern roots of the 60-year-old Anderson, who — despite not once enduring a losing season in 17 years as a head coach — had never shepherded a program north of the Mason-Dixon Line until this season.

That streak remains intact — St. John’s is 16-15 as it opens postseason play Wednesday in the opening round of the Big East Tournament, taking on Georgetown at Madison Square Garden — as does Anderson’s ability to get the most out of his roster despite coaching in the midst of not being a native New Yorker, a notion he has insisted to be nothing more than overblown hype.

“I think coaching is coaching,” he said on Monday's Big East coaches’ conference call. “I always listen to the old coaches, the John Thompsons, the Nolan Richardsons, even Roy Williams. He just said, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’ Basketball is basketball, coaching is coaching. Just continue to be who you are and do the things you believe in.”

“At St. John’s, I’m believing in these kids. I’m pushing these kids. We’re trying to develop these young men. That doesn’t change.”

Anderson has certainly developed a young roster, gaining even more plaudits for doing so after Mustapha Heron’s season-ending ankle injury, turning a young supporting cast into equally important cogs alongside LJ Figueroa. Freshman Julian Champagnie received well-deserved all-rookie recognition in the Big East, and the sophomore trio of Marcellus Earlington, Josh Roberts — before a shoulder injury derailed his March — and Greg Williams has been instrumental in the Red Storm’s suddenly resurgent stretch drive.

“We’re playing pretty good basketball,” said Anderson. “Our season has been a lot of almost, and sometimes that takes place because guys aren’t ready to take that next step. Now you’ve got other guys that are contributing. Julian, the last couple of games, has been playing well, Greg’s really giving us a punch in the starting lineup, then you’ve got Marcellus coming off the bench, giving us some quality minutes, David Caraher gave us some big minutes.”

“People don’t have to just worry about LJ, but some other players as well. When you have a team where people have to concentrate not on just one or two players, now you have options.”

Georgetown swept both regular season meetings with St. John’s this season, including a 17-point comeback in the final seconds at the Garden on February 2. Anderson admitted the Hoyas’ interior-driven game will be a concern for his Red Storm team as it must make defending the glass its top priority, but one thing the veteran leader will not be worried about is his perceived unorthodox geographical fit, which is easily mitigated by his track record.

“It’s not my first rodeo,” Anderson adamantly stated. “So for all the haters, keep doing it. The people that matter the most, who understand this position and what we’re trying to do, I listen to those guys. I’m even more motivated than I’ve ever been. Whether I’m a country boy, city boy, I’m loving St. John’s and I’m loving New York.”