2016-2017 Season Thread

ESPN says we have the 7th toughest schedule in D1...

7. St. John's Red Storm
Toughest games: at Villanova (Feb. 4), vs Villanova (Jan. 14), at Syracuse (Dec. 21)

After finishing last season 8-24, Chris Mullin and the Red Storm have a difficult path to improve on that record. With teams such as Georgetown and Creighton expected to improve this season, the Big East has the third-highest average BPI of any conference. St. John's doesn't get to play itself, by far the lowest-ranked team in the league. Add in nonconference games against Michigan State and potentially a number of other top-tier programs in the Battle 4 Atlantis, and St. John's has the Big East's toughest overall schedule.
 
Key Questions: (all will be hard to get a fix on, if we assume Bethune Cookman will be a bit under-manned today):

1) Can Ahmed be an efficient scorer, as he'll most likely be our leading scorer?
2) Are Ponds and Freud physically ready for Div I play? Both have skills but will they be overwhelmed by legit D1 opponent programs?
3) Lovett: Can he keep the silly turnovers down? Can he learn to not get not hard to catch passes to our big guys - who frankly looked surprised to see the ball coming their way in the exhibition?
4) Mussini and Ellison progress? Ability to score at the rim? Improved shot from Ellison? Will Mussini be able to move off the ball and get open to receive a pass to shoot the killer three?
5) Yakwe and Sima - so much potential - can they begin to harness it? Free throw shooting absolutely must improve from both if we can even attempt to get to mid-teens types of wins. They'll both play too much for them to shoot terribly from the free throw line.
6) Owens and Ali B - potential big men contributors to the rotation. Whatcha got? Rebounding from Owens? Better D from Ali?
7) Darien Williams - We have no idea what he can do? Play good D? hustle guy? We very unsure.
8 ) Staff - is this going to be a push it up and chuck up a bad shot on offensive team? Or will coaches insist on smart passing and open shots? Defense: Can defensive rebounding and boxing out be finally taught at our program? Will our small guards be able to defend the perimeter? I'm pretty sure we'll be a top 10 team in the country in blocked shots, but is that fool's gold?
9) Over-all three point shooting: Will anyone be a high-level three point shooter in game play?

That's what I have. Good luck to the team. I'm off to the game.
 
1) I think he'll be our third leading scorer. Hopefully that's a good thing and not a bad thing if I happen to be correct.
2) I think the strength aspect is (slightly) overrated; I'm always more concerned about endurance over the course of hopefully 35 games or so.
 
Dickie V gave Lovett and Ponds a positive shout-out on ESPN. It was in the context of discussing how Mich St. play St. John's next week.
 
I noticed Binghamton hosts Delaware State in December. You would think Delaware State should win that by 20. Pretty sure it goes the other way. That's how bad we played last night.
 
1/3rd of the season is in the books.
The team is shooting 41.2% from three point line, which is good for #17 in the country. That is a massive surprise to the upside. Mullin and Richmond have to be given credit for that.

This represents a massive improvement from last year, when the team finished 32.6% for #274th in the country.

In my opinion the staff have done a great job in addressing the three-point ball, which is probably the single most important thing on the offensive side. Free-throw shooting has also notably improved (albeit because of different guys shooting from the FT line). Passing, at least for the last few games has improved - hopefully that continues.

Clearly, defense needs to improve, along with muscle/height/ along with one or two reliable post moves - to be a complete team.... Hopefully next year.
 
1/3rd of the season is in the books.
The team is shooting 41.2% from three point line, which is good for #17 in the country. That is a massive surprise to the upside. Mullin and Richmond have to be given credit for that.

This represents a massive improvement from last year, when the team finished 32.6% for #274th in the country.

In my opinion the staff have done a great job in addressing the three-point ball, which is probably the single most important thing on the offensive side. Free-throw shooting has also notably improved (albeit because of different guys shooting from the FT line). Passing, at least for the last few games has improved - hopefully that continues.

Clearly, defense needs to improve, along with muscle/height/ along with one or two reliable post moves - to be a complete team.... Hopefully next year.
Click to expand...

Through 10 games, we have made 105 3-pointers as a team. The school record for a season is 226, set in our Elite 8 season of 1998-99. We should have that record obliterated by the end of the season.
 
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