Two years ago, St. John’s entered the Maui Invitational knowing the results would not be favorable. Last year, in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, the Red Storm had higher hopes, but realistic expectations, understanding merely competing was the goal.

This year, however, Chris Mullin’s more experienced and talented team can think big as it begins a holiday tournament on Thanksgiving Day in Orlando against Oregon State. A title in the AdvoCare Invitational isn’t unrealistic.

“We’re coming with that mindset,” sophomore guard Justin Simon said in a phone interview. “We got some heat coming in, [at] 4-0.”

After all, Mullin has repeatedly told his players this year is “winning time,” according to Simon. Thus far, the Johnnies have shown signs they are ready to do just that, 4-0 for the first time since Steve Lavin’s final season, 2014-15, when the program reached the NCAA Tournament.

“Everything we do, going back two years, has always been geared towards winning,” Mullin said. “I’m not here recreationally. I swim for recreation.”

Transfers Simon and Marvin Clark II have been as advertised, two-way impact players and immediate leaders. Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett have picked up where they left off as dynamic high-scoring freshmen, averaging a combined 32.3 points per game, and Bashir Ahmed has shown more consistency at both ends of the floor. Coming off the bench, Tariq Owens remains the team’s X-Factor, a human eraser on defense and high-level finisher around the rim on offense.

And, yet, there is still plenty of room for growth. Mullin doesn’t believe his team has found its rhythm at the offensive end, shooting only 44 percent from the field. Simon, averaging 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists, thinks he has more to offer.

“I feel like I’ve shown glimpses of how good I can be, but I feel like I can be a lot better,” the Arizona transfer said. “I just feel that I haven’t really put 40 minutes of my game together yet.”

St. John’s defense has stood out the most thus far, a major improvement upon Mullin’s first two seasons. All four opponents have scored 61 points or less, a year after the Red Storm held the opposition to that figure just three times all season. The opposition is shooting just 34 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point land.

“I think it’s trust, it’s really about the help side,” Mullin said. “Individually, we’ve gotten a little better controlling the ball, not letting [teams] get into the middle. And then I think it’s just getting our guys getting off their man [to help].”

Of course, the first four opponents are mostly inferior — Nebraska, which St. John’s routed by 23, is in the AdvoCare field — to what the Red Storm will see in Orlando, potentially three high-major opponents starting with Oregon State on Thursday afternoon (2 p.m., ESPNU). But the Johnnies’ side of the bracket isn’t quite as formidable now that Michael Porter Jr., Missouri’s likely one-and-done freshmen and top-five draft pick, is likely out for the season after undergoing back surgery. A Sunday night showdown for the championship against No. 23 West Virginia seems possible.

“We look at it as a big week to perform at a high level in front of the whole country,” Simon said. “It’s going to be a nationally televised tournament. A lot of great teams in this event. We like our chances.”

— Three games in four days is a challenge for most teams, but particularly one such as St. John’s that has just nine available scholarship players. Coach Chris Mullin has cut his rotation to seven at times this year, too, so fatigue could be an issue, especially since the Johnnies prefer a fast pace. If St. John’s reaches the final, it will have the benefit of extra rest, as the championship game is scheduled for Sunday night at 9:30 after an off day on Saturday.

– The Johnnies have no excuse not to play for the crown. The likely season-ending back injury to Porter Jr. blows open their side of the bracket. Missouri, a potential second-round opponent if it gets by Long Beach State, has looked shaky without Porter, beating Division II Emporia State by five points and getting blown out by Utah in its last two games. Of course, St. John’s first has to get by Oregon State, which was picked eighth in the PAC-12 and is expected to be vastly improved after winning just five games a year ago.

— The Red Storm’s thin front line that lacks bulk will be put to the test, potentially facing several large front lines. It has held up so far, out-rebounding three of its first four opponents, but now comes a major step up in class. Oregon State features the forward tandem of 6-foot-8, 220-pound Tres Tinkle and 6-foot-10, 250-pound Drew Eubanks while Missouri, even without Porter, has similar size paired with skill.