Jay Wright’s long-ago advice pays off for St. John’s sparkplug
By Zach Braziller January 21, 2017 | 6:45pm
St. John's finds perfect antidote for losing streak
Tariq Owens’ motto is: “Don’t let anyone outwork me.” He prides himself on effort. He admittedly is a “pest” in practice, treating simple workouts like NCAA Tournament games.
Lately, the constant energy of St. John’s redshirt sophomore forward isn’t the only attribute standing out.
“When he comes in, things change,” Red Storm coach Chris Mullin said.
Though much has been made of St. John’s (9-11, 3-4 Big East) shortcomings in the paint — from Yankuba Sima’s decision to transfer to Kassoum Yakwe’s struggles — Owens has been a bright spot. He is the best forward St. John’s has at its disposal, a factor at both ends of the floor. His numbers — 5.6 points, 5.1 rebounds — may not scream breakout performer, but a closer look reveals significant strides being made.
Owens, wiry strong at 195 pounds, has reached double figures scoring just four times, but they have come over the past 11 games, twice in the previous five. He is leading the Big East with 2.4 blocked shots per game, tied with Yakwe. Of late, Owens has shown his offensive ability, a strong mid-range jump shot and ability to play above the rim. He is coming off arguably his best performance of the year, a 10-point, nine-rebound, four-block effort in a win over DePaul.
“This is sort of what we worked towards [last year], all the extra time in the gym when the team was at games, but I didn’t think I would have this big of an impact,” Owens said in advance of Sunday’s showdown with Seton Hall in Newark. “I knew I could block shots, I knew I could play defense, but I didn’t expect it to be to this level.”
The only reason the Maryland native comes off the bench, Mullin said, is because the second-year coach prefers to have a reserve who brings something different to the table, a player who can provide a spark. Mullin saw this last year — the jumper, the shot-blocking ability, the soaring dunks — in practice. It just took time for it to translate.
“The real step is doing it in the game and proving it to yourself,” Mullin said. “That’s where the true confidence comes from. He’s probably saying to himself, ‘I can do this.’ ”
Owens always put in effort, but one summer while in high school, he received advice that stuck with him. Villanova coach Jay Wright asked him if he wanted to play in the NBA one day. Owens answered yes, and Wright responded that it was attainable — if he could use his length to defend at a high level and consistently play hard.
It stuck with him.
“Just hearing that, it changed my mindset,” Owens said. “It’s something I took into [account]. … I try to listen to what I’m told.”
Owens takes pride in being relentless, outworking opponents. It really sunk in his freshman year at Tennessee. The only way he was going to get on the floor was by playing harder than everyone else. That carried over to St. John’s, where he would dive on the floor during practices.
“I can be a bit of a pest,” he said with a smile. “It’s a mindset. Not everybody is going to get on the floor for a ball. … My dad just always told me, ‘When you’re out there, the ball is the most important thing. Get the ball at all costs.’ ”
Said Mullin: “Those guys are invaluable.”
Particularly when they begin to produce as Owens has. He looked nervous early on, unsure of himself, often passes up shots. After all, as a freshman at Tennessee, Owens was used sparingly, averaging just 7.6 minutes per game. But with each contest, he looks more comfortable, believing he not only belongs but can be a difference-maker
