Get Ready for 25-26!

lawmanfan said:
Lot of potential talent but I think a lot of work to do to turn it into a complete team.

I suspect the approach will be the inverse of last year - That one was to be good enough on defense to survive until your offense came around; this one will be to be good enough on offense to survive until your defense gels.

I also think that most people (Marillac and I being the most vocal exceptions) do not fully appreciate how important it was last year to have a PG with zero ego. That absence will be felt next year because I suspect "selflessness" is going to be a challenge for the squad. Pitino is going to have to work very, very hard to create that without having a player who embodies it.
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Yes. We were blessed. Both Devion and Kadary were selfless. They made last season possible. We need the same leadership at pg this year.
 
Jack Williams said:
My point with that is this. St. John's was one of the top teams in the country last year. However, going into the season, St. John's had not broken through in a real way yet, so no one was going to actually rank us in the top 15 in preseason polls. Coming back this year, there is now a real proof of concept, there is a proven commodity at center in Zuby, and it feels like pundits now see Pitino's vision are ranking us in the top 15 consistently. That was the case before we even got Sellers and Jackson. Last years team paved the way for writers and voters to feel "safe" about ranking SJU higher in their preseason polls, and I just don't think that is a proper indicator of which team has more talent. Certainly not enough to be able to confidently declare one roster has insane level of talent upgrade over the other. Remember, MR is the same guy who declared with full confidence that 2024-25 UConn would be better than the previous huskie team. I am pumped for next season, but I also speak fluent in "offseason overhyping" as a jets fan ;)


I see your point, but why only name the above 3 guys? Last years team also had Kadary Richmond and RJ Luis. Those are insanely big pieces that can't be left out of the discussion when comparing rosters.

Overall, I think it is more than fair to say this roster has a ton of potential, but I still maintain that declaring one roster to be vastly superior to the other talent wise, at this stage of the game, is premature.

I do see a lot of offensive talent being assembled here, but I also have real questions about what we will be defensively, if Hopkins can play our brand of D consistently, if having a combo guard be our PG will work. The 24-25 team couldn't shoot, but I still view their team defense to be part of their talent. Scott and Kadary namely were two of the most talented defenders I have seen here. It is hard for me to give next years team the green light on having more "talent" just because of recruiting rankings. So maybe overall this should just be tabled until next year when the games are played.

I've thought a lot about it and I think Mitchell jumping on board would be huge for this roster. Jackson, Sellers, Sanon, Bryce can all score/shoot, Mitchell would be a balancing piece that would be perfect for this group
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So now we are agreed this roster is more talented? Mitchell is here. Along with best defensive center in NAII conference as well as new defensive specialist at wing? Yes? Consensus?
 
logen said:
1) I acknowledged it all starts with talent but it is a start, nothing more nothing less

2) PG, sorry but I don’t share your belief in Pitino’s infallability. It is not about ball handling at all, it is about understanding the team, the game, time and score, it is about a mind set, not just being able to dribble and pass

3) Hopkins has not played in two years, I will wait to see him and the team before passing judgement. As for others, plenty of great players are afraid of the moment, again about a mind set, not just talent

4) I agree but a big can lead while the clock is off, VERY difficult while it is running, I should have been more specific
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Ah Logen, yes much uncertainty. It may even rain tomorrow. You never know.

But can we agree this is best position we have been in for decades! Can we allow a little joy into these pages!

First round is on me!
 
I think we start in top ten and finish in top ten. Start to finish. Trust Pitino. He is dead set intent on winning NCAA. Period. End of story. A challenging pre conference schedule will battle harden the roster and we have the weapons and athletes .
 
Redenbacher said:
Updated Depth Chart:
PG: Jackson, Darling
SG: Sellers, Liotopoulos, Odih
SF: Sanon, Ayo, Suljanovic
PF: Hopkins, Mitchell
C: Ejiofor, Prey, Tamba
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Joedib said:
Ah Logen, yes much uncertainty. It may even rain tomorrow. You never know.

But can we agree this is best position we have been in for decades! Can we allow a little joy into these pages!

First round is on me!
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You generate your own joy, I am no cheerleader; there are plenty enough of those here to brighten your day and you and they are more than entitled. I have been around basketball long enough to know garnering talent is THE required beginning, no question, and certainly the Johnnie’s have done that, but to think that is anything but a beginning and there are no givens or guarantees is
 
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