That’s why jay W from Nova was so successful. He recruited a team w player who complimented one another
Transfer Portal
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
I agree he will hit the portal hard and I think only two top 100 kids are uncommitted, Bronny James and Garwey Dual who decommitted from PC.
I am really anxious to see what he does with a full recruiting cycle with the 2024 class, not just locally but nationally.
Onwards and upwards.
buckethead
Well-known member
I like how he has already mentioned a culture change and part of that change seems to be to make MSG our home court again. Although the era of mega-college campuses has cast some shadow on the mystique of MSG, it is still a huge stage. RP will do everything to sell MSG and it will again become a selling point for athletes and synonymous with the benefits of playing for St. John's. It is the seventh largest seating capacity arena in college ball, home to a pro-team and is a center piece of basketball history.
I believe that MSG lost a LOT of luster over the years due to OUR lack of success and, besides Lavin, not having someone who can actually sell the MSG vision. (Lavin was a great salesman despite his Xs and Os needing some help). Pitino has a history of success and kids know this. Filling kids heads with pictures of 19,000 screaming fans in the garden will sell, because Rick brings the legacy and skills to make it happen. Just an opinion.
SJU85 likes fine cigars so he’s got some elitism in his blood he just doesn’t know it yet. But when I bring him up to the top of my ivory tower to look down on all the peasants while eating caviar and lobster then finish it off with his fine cigars I’m fully confident he’s joining the ivory tower club
Look with respect to Pitino shedding kids from the roster there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it.
The right way is to have a conversation with each kid let them know where they stand and be honest with them about their chances of playing and where they would fit and if it means they would be better somewhere else be honest. Let them know the Portal is available and he and the staff will help in trying to have them land on their feet somewhere else. That is the right way and I have no doubt that is the way he will do it.
But bottom line is he did not recruit these kids, he is coming here to turn this around and win. So if that means overhauling the roster then so be it. I mean first year coaches like Jerome Tang at KSU and others totally overhauled their rosters which meant kids transferring out. Heck forget new coaches look at Jeff Capel and Pitt. I think his entire starting 5 were brand new kids all from the portal.
I think the fact that Pitino said the quiet part out loud has maybe ruffled a few feathers but look at how many names are in the Portal already before 1 SJU player entered. It is the way of the world now. We can't have it both ways. We can't argue for years that players deserve freedom of movement without penalty or needing permission because coaches are allowed to move, but if a coach decides a player just is not a good fit here we think that is heartless.
The right way is to have a conversation with each kid let them know where they stand and be honest with them about their chances of playing and where they would fit and if it means they would be better somewhere else be honest. Let them know the Portal is available and he and the staff will help in trying to have them land on their feet somewhere else. That is the right way and I have no doubt that is the way he will do it.
But bottom line is he did not recruit these kids, he is coming here to turn this around and win. So if that means overhauling the roster then so be it. I mean first year coaches like Jerome Tang at KSU and others totally overhauled their rosters which meant kids transferring out. Heck forget new coaches look at Jeff Capel and Pitt. I think his entire starting 5 were brand new kids all from the portal.
I think the fact that Pitino said the quiet part out loud has maybe ruffled a few feathers but look at how many names are in the Portal already before 1 SJU player entered. It is the way of the world now. We can't have it both ways. We can't argue for years that players deserve freedom of movement without penalty or needing permission because coaches are allowed to move, but if a coach decides a player just is not a good fit here we think that is heartless.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
Not sure how this works? Does the coach say if you stay you won’t play so would be better off transferring? Or can you actually tell the kid to leave? I know in the greatest College Basketball movie of all time One on One it wasn’t that easy.
Speedy did the same at Hofstra
Footwork21
Active member
Absolutely, and I don't have an issue at all with Pitino turning over the roster heavily. When you bring in a HOF coach, you let him do whatever he needs to turn the ship around.
What rankled me is some of the folks on here turned on these players and immediately started to decide who should and shouldn't be on the team going forward based on their own criteria and not necessarily Rick Pitino's as if these kids are pieces on a gameboard and not human beings who have academic and social lives at this school in addition to being members of the basketball team.
SJU14
Well-known member
In the nicest way possible you tell them that they are better off playing somewhere else. Word about these kinds of conversations spreads quick in coaching circles so you don't want to piss people off but at the same time it is appreciated when you are honest with them.
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Overall I agree. This is the nature of the beast.
But as I mentioned in an earlier post, a part of me would like to see Soriano, Posh, and Wusu take one last crack at the NCAA Tournament together as seniors.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
I didn’t appreciate it when happened to me lol
Thought maybe changed along with everything else.
For selfish reasons maybe.
But I will leave those decisions to Coach. This isn't 2010 when you had like 10 kids coming back as seniors. The Portal and immediate eligibility now makes that type of roster basically impossible.
One of the courses I took at St Johns that made an impression on me was a Philosophy Course, "Logic", where we were encouraged to think and not just accept things at face value. It is very interesting that he mentioned Soriano who was our most productive player this past season and Traore who in essence was our 13 man, but was always involved, encouraging, and supportive of his teammates. What I believe Pitino was saying to the recruits and the players who have eligibility remaining is that if you bust your ass and can accept the role you are given between 1-13, all is well. If not, this is not the place for you.
In essence, play as hard as Soriano and have the attitude of Traore. This makes perfect sense to me.
In essence, play as hard as Soriano and have the attitude of Traore. This makes perfect sense to me.
They are purely selfish. I am am college basketball greedy now.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
Traore thing is more than a little odd in my opinion. Even if kid is greatest guy on planet. Unless was used to light fire or send message to rest of kids…,,
I’m on thin ice paragraphing wise . And , rightly so . I had the same trouble in English Composition . And , that was before computers . Anyway , I would say that nearly every poster agrees that Posh and Wusu gave everything on the Court . In my opinion CMA taking Curbelo did not create happy feelings from Posh . And, why would they ? In my opinion , I think Posh could deliver a goods 20-25 minutes in Rick’s system . Solely on his defensive intensity . But , Pitino has a definite blue print in terms of Roster players . And , we have seen the Skaka Smarts , Milers , etc use the Portal to get their type players . Smart overhauled nearly the entire Marquette roster . As posters , most of us have no idea what our Locker Room or Practies were like and if Fr Shanley believed the situation was out of control , firing Anderson was the right move . We can applaud both , Posh and others we liked but ,have to allow Rick to pick his own team . Not try and salvage Anderson ‘s team
I like it... Every College team has scholarship guys on the end of the bench that will never sniff the floor when the ball is tipped.
But they are needed in Practice... A solid team needs bench guys to bring it day in and day out in Practice to challenge those starters/studs to be the best they can be.
Exactly. With the exception of Curbello, I generally feel this way. Kids move. Sometimes it is their decision, sometimes the coach, sometimes a combination. Many times it works for the best for all involved. Part of the deal, especially now. But players like Posh, Wusu, etc deserve nothing but our admiration and respect. Those kids played well, really well at times. Brought us some nice moments as fans. Seemed to represent the University well, etc. When there is movement, best to say thanks and good luck.
Easiest thing to do in one day is keep the 1st and 13th man on your predecessor's squad and then evaluate the rest.
Ha! You are not in thin ice unless your high school English teacher is a member here.
