Storm Clouds Surround Roberts' Future

NEW YORK -- E-NORM-OUS screamed the back page headline of Wednesday's New York Post.

PERFECT STORM was the headline on the back page of the New York Daily News.

Both New York tabloids were hailing St. John's and Coach Norm Roberts for Tuesday's thumping of UConn. But that's already yesterday's news.

What have you done for me lately?

On Wednesday, the Johnnies lost to Marquette in the second round of the Big East tournament. The Red Storm played hard 'til the bitter end, but it still wasn't enough in the 57-55 loss -- the 100th loss in Roberts' six seasons at St. John's.

How will the tabloids treat Roberts after Wednesday's loss? And, more importantly, what is Roberts' future at St. John's after another season ended way short of an NCAA tournament bid?

During the postgame press conference, Roberts was asked only two questions. Afterward, though, at least two dozen media members formed a half-circle around Roberts, who not so ironically was positioned with his back against the wall beside Madison Square Garden's Tower B elevator.

So is St. John's going up or is Roberts going down?

Roberts made his case that the program is continuing to make progress. He said the program was at "rock bottom" when he took over in 2004.



Share "I think we're far along," said Roberts, who is 81-100 at St. John's. "When I first got here, we were rock bottom and you're rock bottom playing in the best league in America and there's no cupcakes in our league."

This year, however, was supposed to be Roberts' breakthrough season. The Red Storm returned six players with starting experience and 97.2 percent of their scoring and 95.1 percent of their rebounding from last year's 16-18 team. Despite basically having the entire team back, the Red Storm still only finished 6-12 in the Big East for a second consecutive season.

Before the season, the preview magazines all touted St. John's glowing prospects for the year.

"Red Storm? Perfect storm is more like it," wrote Lindy's. "In a year when so many of the marquee teams in the Big East need to replace an abundance of key players, St. John's coach Norm Roberts finds himself sitting with a pat hand.

"Roberts finally appears to have all the pieces in place, from depth to experience to athleticism. There's also opportunity knocking in the rebuilding Big East. This looks to be a team built for success and one that should flirt with an NCAA bid."

St. John's never flirted with an NCAA bid. They got stood up. Instead the Red Storm are settling -- and hoping -- for an NIT bid. Hey, it beats whatever the College Basketball Invitational post season tournament was that St. John's played in last season.

"I think [the NIT] would be another step for our players and our program," Roberts said.

After losing to St. John's Tuesday, UConn coach Jim Calhoun said better days are on the horizon for the Red Storm.

"They certainly have a bright future ahead of them," Calhoun said. "[With a number of] juniors and seniors, they'll be one of the better teams in the Big East. Certainly in the top five or six next year."

Next year does look promising -- just as this year looked promising. St. John's loses only one senior, Anthony Mason Jr., who averaged 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Marquette coach Buzz Williams gushed about how tough Roberts' teams play after Wednesday's game.

"Coach Roberts doesn't get the credit he's deserving of how hard his team plays," Williams said. "And not that I'm old, but I always trust our players to tell me the truth about other players, and if you were to ask our players who is the hardest playing team in the league, they would tell you St. John's.

"I don't think teams play hard just for one another. I think they play hard for one another and their coach. That's what St. John's does."

But what will Chris Monasch do?

Monasch, St. John's athletic director, will make the decision on Roberts' future. Roberts said he hasn't spoken to Monasch about his future, but added that isn't unusual because they usually don't evaluate a season until after it's over.

While it seems to be a consensus opinion that St. John's plays hard, Roberts was asked if he realizes some believe he hasn't won enough.

"That's all fair and that's life," Roberts said. "We're paid to win games. That's the bottom line in coaching, you're paid to win games. But I think you're also paid along the process [of] making sure things are right.

"I think we've gotten over the hump, now we need to be consistent."

Former St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca remains optimistic about the Red Storm's future. He told the New York Post after the UConn victory Tuesday that "we're only one or two players away."

Critics of Roberts would say, sure ... if the two players are LeBron and Kobe.

So while Roberts waits word on his future, he'll keep working hard and preparing for what he hopes is an NIT berth and a seventh season at St. John's. He's prepared to continue to battle the "corporation" type teams in the Big East.

"There are teams in our leagues that you could say are corporations and then there are the 'knuckle up teams,' that have to be tough," Roberts said. "We want to be one of those 'knuckle up teams' because that's who we are. That's what St. John's has always been -- a little school in Queens that works very hard."

Works hard, but unfortunately hasn't won much lately.

Contact FanHouse senior writer Brett McMurphy at brettmcmurphy@gmail.com