Get Ready for 25-26!

[gregbodkin]

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

Agreed. Chemistry is the next step. These guys have to like each other and then become a unit that can anticipate each other's moves. After that they have to love each other enough to protect each other in order to become a team.
I have total confidence that CRP picked these guys because he saw that kind of potential in all of them. He is "The Maestro!"

 

[Redenbacher]

Can’t believe I’m saying this but, When you have a so-so team, a Fland signing would be huge. But we’re so strong this year at 1-3, it would be incremental. Save NIL for next year.

Compare these 2 sets of PGs:

UConn: Silas Demary / Malachi Smith
SJU: Ian Jackson / Dylan Darling

That’s the hill Pitino has to climb. He obviously thinks he can, but to say we’re strong at the 1 position is a stretch.

 

[NCJohnnie]

Replace Kadary and we don’t have the success we had last year. To call him selfless doesn’t fully describe the backseat he took to make sure we thrived. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a star do it to that extent before.

Sanon and Jackson both have some minor chemistry concerns. I did not want Sanon when I thought RJ would return for that reason. With no RJ, we do need someone to be the bulk perimeter guy and take some of the tougher and/or more unpopular shots.

I think Jackson will look to distribute and prove he is a lead guard.

Mitchell and Sellers are not concerns for me there at all. Zuby and Ayo obviously aren’t either…add Prey to that group.

Hopkins is a wildcard. He could really help with some of that Kadary load. That is within his abilities.

For me Hopkins is the wild card in many respects. I don't worry as much as some others about the point. I think Jackson & Darling will be mostly ok.
But Bryce has only played one full season of college basketball and that was over 2 years ago. I know staff did their due diligence on him being healthy but I always worry a little bit about things like rust/re-injury in situations like this. Probably worrying unnecessarily but will feel better after I see him play 5 or 6 games.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Does not belong in the same sentence.

TiS watched him closely and Bryce's first year was very special, can he be mentioned in the next breath, not the same breath? How about a "poor man's version"? Just asking.

Saying "got some in him" is not saying they are the same player. BTW Ron Ron is an all time favorite player and if Hopkins gives us his first year Friar numbers I'd be thrilled.

Ronnie:

Season

Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	eFG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS	Awards
1997-98	St. John's (NY)	Big East	FR	F	32	12	27.2	4.3	10.5	.415	1.1	3.3	.327	3.3	7.2	.455	.466	1.9	3.6	.526	6.3	1.9	1.6	1.1	2.9	2.5	11.6
1998-99	St. John's (NY)	Big East	SO	F	37	37	34.2	5.3	11.3	.469	1.6	4.2	.374	3.7	7.1	.525	.538	2.3	3.6	.644	6.3	4.2	2.1	1.2	2.8	2.3	14.5
Career		69	49	30.9	4.9	10.9	.445	1.3	3.8	.355	3.5	7.2	.492	.506	2.1	3.6	.589	6.3	3.2	1.9	1.2	2.9	2.4	13.1

Bryce (before he got hurt)

GP	GS	MIN	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
33	33	34.9	5.3-11.7	45.2	0.8-2.3	36.4	4.4-5.8	75.9	1.6	6.8	8.5	2.3	0.6	0.8	2.2	2.3	15.8

 

[kranmars]

Compare these 2 sets of PGs:
UConn: Silas Demary / Malachi Smith
SJU: Ian Jackson / Dylan Darling

That’s the hill Pitino has to climb. He obviously thinks he can, but to say we’re strong at the 1 position is a big stretch.

But to say it is a “big stretch” to say we are strong and 1 position, is an equally big stretch.

 

[paultzman]

 

[paultzman]

 

[mkras99]

It is going to be a mess. Lots to process in a short period of time and I’m sure mistakes have and will be made. Would just urge patience.

 

[IDRAFT]

5,500 new accounts if true is mind boggling.

 

[dk423]

 

[lawmanfan]

TiS watched him closely and Bryce's first year was very special, can he be mentioned in the next breath, not the same breath? How about a "poor man's version"? Just asking.

Saying "got some in him" is not saying they are the same player. BTW Ron Ron is an all time favorite player and if Hopkins gives us his first year Friar numbers I'd be thrilled.

Ronnie:

Season

Season	Team	Conf	Class	Pos	G	GS	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	3P	3PA	3P%	2P	2PA	2P%	eFG%	FT	FTA	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS	Awards
1997-98	St. John's (NY)	Big East	FR	F	32	12	27.2	4.3	10.5	.415	1.1	3.3	.327	3.3	7.2	.455	.466	1.9	3.6	.526	6.3	1.9	1.6	1.1	2.9	2.5	11.6
1998-99	St. John's (NY)	Big East	SO	F	37	37	34.2	5.3	11.3	.469	1.6	4.2	.374	3.7	7.1	.525	.538	2.3	3.6	.644	6.3	4.2	2.1	1.2	2.8	2.3	14.5
Career		69	49	30.9	4.9	10.9	.445	1.3	3.8	.355	3.5	7.2	.492	.506	2.1	3.6	.589	6.3	3.2	1.9	1.2	2.9	2.4	13.1

Bryce (before he got hurt)

GP	GS	MIN	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT	FT%	OR	DR	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
33	33	34.9	5.3-11.7	45.2	0.8-2.3	36.4	4.4-5.8	75.9	1.6	6.8	8.5	2.3	0.6	0.8	2.2	2.3	15.8

If TiS is the authority you're citing then you have already lost the case, counselor.

Having watched every game Ron Artest played for St. John's and many of the games Bryce Hopkins played for Providence before he got hurt, I can assure you that they are completely different players.

Bryce Hopkins is a strong inside scorer and rebounder who can shoot some (and it would not surprise me if he is a better shooter now). He is a classic 4, you could maybe play him at the 3 if you really wanted to and you could maybe steal a few minutes with him at the 5 in a small-ball lineup.

Ron Artest in college could have played any position 1 through 5 and been good at it. One of the more versatile, complete players I've had the pleasure of watching. Think of Kadary with stronger on-ball defensive skills and a jump shot, or Zuby with a handle and jump shot and you're sort of in the ballpark.

Hopkins is a very good ballplayer. Ron Artest was a unique ballplayer. Just totally different conversations.

 

[Marillac2]

5,500 new accounts if true is mind boggling.

Insane! New Yorkers don't want to miss something big. It's happening in Queens with the Mets too.

 

[paultzman]

Used to say re something like this, “playing w the big boys”. Now, “we are one of the big boys”

 

[ptc666]

Can't wait for the season to start. Agree 100% Kadary will be the most missed of the guys leaving. Seems Mitchell can replace the defensive intensity of Aaron Scott and Jackson / Sanon can replace the scoring of RJ. If Jackon can become a fully evolved lead guard that all worries go away, but (as many noted) the nuclear bomb is if chemistry doesn't click and we have a lot of guys looking to score and not play as a team. I trust Rick will nip that in the bud and get this group humming.

Outside of chemistry, I think Bryce and Darling are the two guys that can turn SJU into a national championship team. If Bryce is sophomore Bryce and Darling can be 75% of what he was last year playing at the BE level, then this team could be unstoppable.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

If TiS is the authority you're citing then you have already lost the case, counselor.

Having watched every game Ron Artest played for St. John's and many of the games Bryce Hopkins played for Providence before he got hurt, I can assure you that they are completely different players.

Bryce Hopkins is a strong inside scorer and rebounder who can shoot some (and it would not surprise me if he is a better shooter now). He is a classic 4, you could maybe play him at the 3 if you really wanted to and you could maybe steal a few minutes with him at the 5 in a small-ball lineup.

Ron Artest in college could have played any position 1 through 5 and been good at it. One of the more versatile, complete players I've had the pleasure of watching. Think of Kadary with stronger on-ball defensive skills and a jump shot, or Zuby with a handle and jump shot and you're sort of in the ballpark.

Hopkins is a very good ballplayer. Ron Artest was a unique ballplayer. Just totally different conversations.

May it please the Court.

TiS, esteemed Johnny fan for 40 + years, is as an astute observer of Johnnies BB as any expert witness. I found him eminently qualified to provide expert testimony.

It is fair to say LMF's descriptions above, while accurate, also leads one to conclude, the two gentlemen in questions share rebounding skills, share shooting skills, share defensive skills and share switching skills (albeit one's are better in that area than the other admittedly).

I (and TiS) rest our case.

Thank you your Honor.

 

[lawmanfan]

May it please the Court.

TiS, esteemed Johnny fan for 40 + years, is as an astute observer of Johnnies BB as any expert witness. I found him eminently qualified to provide expert testimony.

It is fair to say LMF's descriptions above, while accurate, also leads one to conclude, the two gentlemen in questions share rebounding skills, share shooting skills, share defensive skills and share switching skills (albeit one's are better in that area than the other admittedly).

I (and TiS) rest our case.

Thank you your Honor.

An eagle and a turkey both have wings, feathers, and a beak, too.

 

[paultzman]

Used to say re something like this, “playing w the big boys”. Now, “we are one of the big boys”

Dave also noted the CBS Classic will take place in Atlanta this year and MSG next year. St. John’s anticipates to play at MSG next year but it’s not confirmed yet, per source #sjubb

 

[paultzman]

Must say Dave gets a lot of info out there early. Not knocking anyone, but imo our SID really should take note and raise his social media game. Our “professional franchise” merits a much more thorough and proactive approach imo.

 

[ChiTown Red]

Must say Dave gets a lot of info out there early. Not knocking anyone, but imo our SID really should take note and raise his social media game. Our “professional franchise” merits a much more thorough and proactive approach imo.

Or, they should just hire Dave and set him loose. #problemsolved

 

[SJU85]

Must say Dave gets a lot of info out there early. Not knocking anyone, but imo our SID really should take note and raise his social media game. Our “professional franchise” merits a much more thorough and proactive approach imo.

In fairness, has the Classic actually put anything out on this change yet? If not, it I highly possible that we can’t put out an official press release until they do since it is their tournament.