The hype began in late May, across a dizzying 48 hours when St. John’s got its leading scorer back (Shamorie Ponds), and added one (Mustapha Heron) from the SEC regular-season co-champions.

It has only intensified in the months that have followed, building up to a fascinating season in Queens for Chris Mullin and Co. Tuesday night, it begins for real, and big results are expected from this win-starved fan base.

Since Mullin returned to the school where he became a national name, he has yet to claim a winning season, accumulating a 38-60 record. Now, he has his most talented team by far, led by Ponds, who became the first Johnnie to be named the Big East’s Preseason Player of the Year since Malik Sealy in 1991.

Expectations are through the roof, with season tickets to students already sold out and ticket sales overall up 15 percent. The pressure is on.

Why St. John’s will make the NCAA Tournament
Shamorie Ponds and Mustapha Heron not only give St. John’s the best 1-2 punch in the Big East, but one of the premier tandems in the country, a pair of explosive southpaws capable of turning a game with one scoring flurry. They have plenty of help, including returning starters Marvin Clark II and Justin Simon, as well as junior college All-American L.J. Figueroa. Most importantly, there is depth, with 11 scholarship players that will allow coach Chris Mullin to play up-tempo and press full court.

Why St. John’s won’t make the NCAA Tournament
Just because the talent is there, doesn’t mean it will be utilized properly. In his first three years, Chris Mullin hasn’t made the most out of his teams. Expectations only increase the pressure and St. John’s incredibly soft non-conference schedule will leave a team with several new pieces — and minimal inside presence — poorly prepared for Big East play.

Nov. 19, 20 — Legends Classic at Barclays Center
The Red Storm will pick up wins in non-conference play, but little respect. One of the only potential land mines comes in Brooklyn, where St. John’s will face either VCU or Temple after a game against California.

Jan. 27 vs. Georgetown
Catch every game with Mullin and Patrick Ewing on the Garden sideline that you can. Last season, the Hoyas took two of three meetings, but the Red Storm claimed the Big East Tournament’s first-round matchup.

Feb. 2 at Duke
Last season, the Red Storm pulled off the massive upset behind Ponds’ 33 points. Doing so in Durham will be even harder, going up against a Blue Devils team with three freshmen (R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish) who could end up the top three picks in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Feb. 17 vs. Villanova
After an 0-11 start in Big East play last season, St. John’s earned its first conference victory with a stunner at Villanova. The defending national champions remain the team to beat in the conference, but the Red Storm now match up even better and need to capitalize on the rare chance for a marquee win.

March 9 at Xavier
The Red Storm play their final two games on the road and close the regular season against the defending Big East regular-season champs — who may also be fighting for an NCAA Tournament spot. This game could determine whether a conference tournament run is a necessity, or a bonus.

Can they handle the hype?
The Johnnies struggled to beat a Division II team in their lone exhibition game, playing like a team which had already received an invitation to the Dance. Afterwards, Chris Mullin admonished his players for their effort. A lot will come easy because of the talent, but the group hasn’t accomplished anything yet.

How will Shamorie Ponds and Mustapha Heron complement each other?
The Big East’s leading scorer (Ponds), and the leading scorer on last season’s SEC co-champs (Heron) have been friends since before college, and should form one of the best backcourts in the country. But paper makes the adjustment of playing alongside another star look easier than it often ends up being.

Will the frontcourt carry its weight?
The Red Storm look significantly better since last season, but the departure of big man Tariq Owens hurts. St. John’s guards are good enough to pile up points, but the worst rebounding team in the Big East is now also without its top shot-blocker from last season. Chris Mullin is counting on 6-foot-9 forward Sedee Keita to fill the void, but the South Carolina transfer only averaged 9.6 minutes per game as a freshman two years ago.

Coaching is the biggest question surrounding this team. Chris Mullin has faced extensive criticism for his record thus far, and much of it has been warranted despite the difficult situation he entered into. But he’s never had a team quite like this, with such depth, versatility and explosive offensive ability. It’s up to him to make sure the pieces fit.

Prediction: NCAA Tournament, one and done

The Johnnies won’t cruise into March Madness. There will be harrowing stretches, in part due to a tepid non-conference schedule that narrows their margin for error. But there is too much talent and experience in place, especially in a down year for the Big East, to miss the Dance.