Mullin satisfied with progress entering year four, not dwelling on past at St. John's

Chris Mullin may be on hot seat among St. John's fans, but Red Storm coach is not conceding to pressure, admitting his satisfaction with progress through first three years at helm. (Photo by Josh Adams/College Hoops Digest)

JAMAICA, NY -- Not even the title of most decorated player in his alma mater's history has been able to save Chris Mullin from the inevitable criticism he has faced through the first three years of his second career as the head coach of the St. John's Red Storm.

Entering year four, Mullin has emerged as a battle-tested veteran of the impatient reactions of boosters and fans who feel the program should have returned to its once-perennial postseason stage sooner, and continues to employ the same never-say-die mentality he vehemently displayed last season in the throes of an 11-game losing streak to begin Big East Conference play as he shepherds what ranks as his most talented roster since the Hall of Famer and two-time Olympic gold medalist was tabbed to replace Steve Lavin in 2015.

"It was bare," Mullin said of the prospective cupboard he inherited three years ago, a roster pieced together from graduate transfers and role players that ultimately finished 8-24, managing only one league win in the process. "But that's in the past, and we're here now with what I think is some nice depth, some good versatility. That's the way it's supposed to be, but it takes time to get there. In the NBA, we would cut people and make trades, but here, it's a little more of a slower process. We're glad with where we are now."

"I'm probably never satisfied, but again, the progress has been steady, somewhat miraculous if you look at where we came from. But that's in the past, and we're focused on this season."

Coming off a 16-17 campaign highlighted by a resurgent February that began with historic victories over preseason No. 1 Duke and eventual national champion Villanova, Mullin returns a cadre of experienced and multifaceted players to the corner of Union and Utopia, beginning with junior point guard Shamorie Ponds, considered by most to be the frontrunner for Preseason Player of the Year honors in the Big East when the award is announced at next Thursday's media day. Ponds' backcourt partner, Justin Simon, returns for his junior season as well, and the arrival of incoming transfer Mustapha Heron from Auburn only accentuates the Red Storm's massive upside. In addition, fifth-year senior Marvin Clark II is back as the elder statesman of a burgeoning front line that should be closer to the desired common goal of not only playing faster, but maintaining the unmistakable defensive energy that has created chaos in many forms against varying classes of opponents.

"We've got a lot of offensive players, guys that have scored big-time in college basketball," said Mullin. "So with that, my thought's not really with two (Ponds and Heron), but with five guys on the court that have to share the ball, set screens, be unselfish. They'll be a big factor for us on the defensive end, be able to force turnovers and increase possessions so everyone gets a piece of the pie."

"We can put guys on the court at every position that can really score the ball. You could line up five guys that can get off the dribble and make a three, so when you have lineups like that, it's gonna open up the floor. We can put guys in the post, and they'll have room to operate and make plays for their teammates. Over the last few years, we've gotten better in a lot of areas, and they've gotten better as we've gotten better players."

With that said, expectations for a program now entering its 19th season since its last NCAA Tournament victory have become clearly defined as a bar where anything less than a win on the highest stage in March -- maybe even two wins depending on whom you ask -- would be seen as a disappointment. Nevertheless, the architect of the resurgence is unfazed by the external perception of what constitutes success, finding peace of mind in the circuitous road traveled back to respectability.

"I like this team," Mullin reiterated. "It takes time to get there. If we could waive people and trade people, we might have made some transactions, but we did it the old-fashioned way. Along the way, I think we've gained a lot of great experience."

"Experience doesn't always come in sugar and smiles. Sometimes you've got to deal with some adversity, which I think is probably the best thing for you. It's been a nice, natural progression, we've respected the journey, but it takes wins and losses. We've never shied away from it, we've never blamed anybody, and hopefully this year will be a nice, winning season."