http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/excuses_out_the_door_as_st_john_vM2kQkRkUlbq5puY7jWH1KIn the last two seasons, St. John's coach Norm Roberts has had a number of key phrases at his disposal when asked about his disappointing team: It was young; there were injuries; there was no depth off the bench.
Not that Roberts ever used any of those as excuses, but they were there for people to justify the Red Storm going 11-25 in the Big East and finishing 14th and 13th (in a 16-team league) in the previous two years, respectively.
Well, the excuses are now out the window (somewhat) as Roberts leads the team into the season opener tonight against LIU at Carnesecca Arena.
"I think we're deeper than we were before and we're more experienced than we were before," Roberts, ready for his sixth season, said yesterday. "I can see no reason why people aren't real excited. How can you not be?"
For one, they're not as healthy as they would like to be. Star forward Anthony Mason Jr., who missed all but two games last year due to surgery on his right foot, is out until at least mid-December because of a right hamstring injury. Forward Rob Thomas, a key reserve, will also be out until mid-December with a groin issue.
The good news? They've added four players who are all set to contribute right off the bat. The best of the bunch is junior college transfer Dwight Hardy, a guard who is coming off a third-team NJCAA All-American season at Indian Hill Community College in Iowa. Hardy will start the year backing up the two best (healthy) players Roberts has, guards D.J. Kennedy and Paris Horne.
"There were times last year that if D.J. and Paris weren't going good, we were in trouble and that's it," Roberts said. "Bottom line is we were dead in the water. That's not the case this year."
No, the case this year is that if Roberts doesn't produce more wins, his job will be in serious jeopardy. Everyone on the team understands how tough the Big East can be, but the Red Storm can't focus on anyone but itself.
"The atmosphere of this season has more hype because everyone is expecting us to be better than we were last year," Horne said. "I think we're going to do pretty good in the conference."
"In our league, you can't harp on a loss," Roberts added. "Expectations in New York City are always high. Expectations are always high and you have to do it out there on the floor."
bcyrgalis@nypost.com