On Sunday, they discussed the agonizing defeat. By Monday, it was time to move on, even if the Big East released a statement admitting the officials’ critical mistake.
Marquette, the 16th-ranked team in the country featuring Big East leading scorer Markus Howard, is visiting Carnesecca Arena Tuesday night and continuing to relive the heartbreaking loss to Seton Hall won’t do previously undefeated St. John’s any good.
“The most important thing for us is to move on,” coach Chris Mullin said on a conference call. “They’re all big games in conference. Regardless of what happens prior, the task is to focus on the moment, and that’s preparation for Marquette. Put all our energy and effort into that.”
Easier said than done, especially in the wake of the league admitting the mistake at the conclusion of the 76-74 loss to the rival Pirates. In a statement obtained by The Post, the league said official Mike Stephens blew his whistle prematurely, calling it “an error in judgement.”
The league declined to make anyone available for comment and wouldn’t say whether Stephens would be disciplined. In the statement, it did say once the incorrect judgement call was made, NCAA rules were followed correctly.
St. John’s (12-1) was leading Seton Hall by a point with 3.9 seconds left, when LJ Figueroa deflected the inbounds pass, and saved it from going out of bounds to teammate Mustapha Heron. But the whistle blew in the middle of the play, negating the steal. After a lengthy review, 0.8 seconds were taken off the clock, and the ball was returned to Seton Hall, which prevailed on Shavar Reynolds’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer that sealed a 76-74 victory.
“I think it was quite obvious what happened,” Mullin said.
He was more concerned with his team responding to the defeat in which St. John’s blew a 12-point lead with 9:45 remaining. After playing so well for the game’s first 30 minutes, it stopped moving the ball, took too many quick shots and failed to executive in the final minutes. It was an all-too-familiar pattern to last year’s 0-11 start in the league.
“In some situations, we loved where the ball was; we just didn’t make the right decision,” Mullin said. “We don’t have to revamp anything, recreate the wheel. We have to make a few better decisions.”
There were positives to the game. On the road in a hostile environment, St. John’s outplayed by far the best opponent it has faced, forcing 16 turnovers and limiting the Pirates to 4-of-18 shooting from 3-point range. Star guard Shamorie Ponds had an off game, shooting 2-of-13 from the field and committing five turnovers, and the Red Storm were still in control until the final seconds. The result, the team’s first loss, didn’t go in its favor. And now it has to respond against Marquette before a two-game road trip to Georgetown and Villanova.
“I know my team’s tough. I know they’re mentally strong,” Mullin said. “We’ve been through adversity before. How you handle wins and losses, that’s what it’s all about.”
There is a chance St. John’s could get back forward Sedee Keita. The 6-foot-9 redshirt sophomore, out since Nov. 9 after undergoing arthroscopic right knee surgery, practiced with the team Monday and will be a game-time decision.
“I think he will be a great addition, something we need,” Mullin said. “He adds a dimension we can really use.”
