2019-20

I’m done with lamenting the state of our program.
The reasons are many and it is what it is, but a week has passed and all we hear are rumblings.
So, when can we expect some news about the Staff, if Matt stays or goes, and news about the first player departures?
At least then we’ll have some grist to complain about!
Lol.
 
Lots of selective outrage on here. On the totem pole of annoying things I'd say having blatant double-standards based on the poster and not their content is much more annoying than occasionally repeating yourself. The scroll button is there for a reason. We all want the best for the team, but there's no need to jump on people personally. Only aggravates things. If you have a personal issue, PM.
 
[quote="Moose" post=335104][quote="Knight" post=335102]A lot of back and forth going on, but little about next season. Coaches, recruiting, players, schedule, facilities, etc. Why so much animosity? Rhetorically posed.[/quote]

Talking about next season = animosity.

Pretty simple equation[/quote]

100%. It pisses people off the way Mullin has attempted to put together a coaching staff. It isn’t the record. It’s the way we lost our top recruiter and placed Richmond in his place. It’s about how he, Bobby G and the old guard refused to replace a very highly paid recruiting assistant. It’s about how they refused to hire an AD because Mullin wasn’t going to answer to one. They hired a figurehead who had no power and was fired because of his ineptitude as well. It’s because the Big East had to FORCE SJU to hire a real AD like Cragg for a chance at success because they didn’t want to deal with SJU witnhiu. It’s about have nobody on the road recruiting except Matt and putting all those eggs in one basket. It’s about zero coaching experience on the staff and the implosion on the court for most of Mullin’s tenure that left pundits shaking their heads about what we were trying to do out there. There’s a ton more that can’t just be glossed over just because we tried to schedule the easiest OOC known to man and lucked out with the NET as well as a weak Big East this season. I’m pissed and all us die hard s should be about what had transpired over the past 4 years. This ncaa appearance this year was fool’s gold based on a cupcake schedule.
 
For the pro mullin people on this board. I understand the argument.

But you keep bringing up this upward trajectory thing. We’ve won more games every season.

Okay so we won 23 this year. What are the chances we win 24 or more next year. Anyone wanna put money on it?

I’m pretty damn confident that mullin will never surpass 23 wins
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=335149][quote="Moose" post=335104][quote="Knight" post=335102]A lot of back and forth going on, but little about next season. Coaches, recruiting, players, schedule, facilities, etc. Why so much animosity? Rhetorically posed.[/quote]

Talking about next season = animosity.

Pretty simple equation[/quote]

100%. It pisses people off the way Mullin has attempted to put together a coaching staff. It isn’t the record. It’s the way we lost our top recruiter and placed Richmond in his place. It’s about how he, Bobby G and the old guard refused to replace a very highly paid recruiting assistant. It’s about how they refused to hire an AD because Mullin wasn’t going to answer to one. They hired a figurehead who had no power and was fired because of his ineptitude as well. It’s because the Big East had to FORCE SJU to hire a real AD like Cragg for a chance at success because they didn’t want to deal with SJU witnhiu. It’s about have nobody on the road recruiting except Matt and putting all those eggs in one basket. It’s about zero coaching experience on the staff and the implosion on the court for most of Mullin’s tenure that left pundits shaking their heads about what we were trying to do out there. There’s a ton more that can’t just be glossed over just because we tried to schedule the easiest OOC known to man and lucked out with the NET as well as a weak Big East this season. I’m pissed and all us die hard s should be about what had transpired over the past 4 years. This ncaa appearance this year was fool’s gold based on a cupcake schedule.[/quote]


I think Goff was fired for other reasons beside ineptitude :)
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=335151][quote="MCNPA" post=335149][quote="Moose" post=335104][quote="Knight" post=335102]A lot of back and forth going on, but little about next season. Coaches, recruiting, players, schedule, facilities, etc. Why so much animosity? Rhetorically posed.[/quote]

Talking about next season = animosity.

Pretty simple equation[/quote]

100%. It pisses people off the way Mullin has attempted to put together a coaching staff. It isn’t the record. It’s the way we lost our top recruiter and placed Richmond in his place. It’s about how he, Bobby G and the old guard refused to replace a very highly paid recruiting assistant. It’s about how they refused to hire an AD because Mullin wasn’t going to answer to one. They hired a figurehead who had no power and was fired because of his ineptitude as well. It’s because the Big East had to FORCE SJU to hire a real AD like Cragg for a chance at success because they didn’t want to deal with SJU witnhiu. It’s about have nobody on the road recruiting except Matt and putting all those eggs in one basket. It’s about zero coaching experience on the staff and the implosion on the court for most of Mullin’s tenure that left pundits shaking their heads about what we were trying to do out there. There’s a ton more that can’t just be glossed over just because we tried to schedule the easiest OOC known to man and lucked out with the NET as well as a weak Big East this season. I’m pissed and all us die hard s should be about what had transpired over the past 4 years. This ncaa appearance this year was fool’s gold based on a cupcake schedule.[/quote]


I think Goff was fired for other reasons beside ineptitude :)[/quote]

I thought he resigned.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=335150]For the pro mullin people on this board. I understand the argument.

But you keep bringing up this upward trajectory thing. We’ve won more games every season.

Okay so we won 23 this year. What are the chances we win 24 or more next year. Anyone wanna put money on it?

I’m pretty damn confident that mullin will never surpass 23 wins[/quote]

It was actually 21 wins this season. But I get your point, nonetheless. I doubt you see us surpassing 21 wins next season as well.
 
The other problem is you will have trouble getting a good assistant coach here because from the outside view this is a sinking ship. If you are coming here it may only be for one year and then you are left looking for another job. So unless unemployed why would you leave.
That is why I do not blame Matt A for taking this job because he will have job security whereas if he stays out of loyalty he may have to take a job he does not want to take next year in order to get paid.
When you have two years left on a contract it is either a good time to extend or fire. We did the same thing with lavin if we were going to fire him it should have been done a year earlier. If mullin comes back we will possibly be decent next year with a full roster but following that it will be real bad.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=335149][quote="Moose" post=335104][quote="Knight" post=335102]A lot of back and forth going on, but little about next season. Coaches, recruiting, players, schedule, facilities, etc. Why so much animosity? Rhetorically posed.[/quote]

Talking about next season = animosity.

Pretty simple equation[/quote]

100%. It pisses people off the way Mullin has attempted to put together a coaching staff. It isn’t the record. It’s the way we lost our top recruiter and placed Richmond in his place. It’s about how he, Bobby G and the old guard refused to replace a very highly paid recruiting assistant. It’s about how they refused to hire an AD because Mullin wasn’t going to answer to one. They hired a figurehead who had no power and was fired because of his ineptitude as well. It’s because the Big East had to FORCE SJU to hire a real AD like Cragg for a chance at success because they didn’t want to deal with SJU witnhiu. It’s about have nobody on the road recruiting except Matt and putting all those eggs in one basket. It’s about zero coaching experience on the staff and the implosion on the court for most of Mullin’s tenure that left pundits shaking their heads about what we were trying to do out there. There’s a ton more that can’t just be glossed over just because we tried to schedule the easiest OOC known to man and lucked out with the NET as well as a weak Big East this season. I’m pissed and all us die hard s should be about what had transpired over the past 4 years. This ncaa appearance this year was fool’s gold based on a cupcake schedule.[/quote]

This. The OOC schedule (by GSJ) really made me lose faith in the staff. We were completely bailed out by going 12-1 OOC, but had we lost one or two of those nail bitters it would've almost certainly cost him his job. In the end it worked out for us, but any schedule that requires going undefeated (with one loss @ Duke) is mind boggling.

Fact is we completely collapsed two years in a row. Yes, we made the play in game but it was still a collapse and will have major repercussions going forward. This was not a one game fluke but rather the new normal. We simply are not on an upwards trajectory. As Jack said, barring a miracle this staff won't win 21 games again.
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=335160]The other problem is you will have trouble getting a good assistant coach here because from the outside view this is a sinking ship. If you are coming here it may only be for one year and then you are left looking for another job. So unless unemployed why would you leave.
That is why I do not blame Matt A for taking this job because he will have job security whereas if he stays out of loyalty he may have to take a job he does not want to take next year in order to get paid.
When you have two years left on a contract it is either a good time to extend or fire. We did the same thing with lavin if we were going to fire him it should have been done a year earlier. If mullin comes back we will possibly be decent next year with a full roster but following that it will be real bad.[/quote]

Funny, Manhattan, I agree with everything but your last sentence.
Mullin returns but we’ll be much worse and will not surpass 21 wins under Mullin’s tenure ever.
 
[quote="L J S A" post=335116][quote="Enright" post=335115] I have not seen any mention of Cragg by Mullin since his hire. I'm sure Mullin feels he doesn't need the help and if Cragg demands a change in staff Mullin will just ignore them.[/quote]

Well, there was that one article where Mullin was asked about Cragg and he made a weird face.[/quote]

Maybe he has no respect for Cragg, I could see him having a god like complex: "wtf are you to tell me anything."

I seen it for years. Have some balls and get rid of him. Eat the 2 damn years on his contract.
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=335160]The other problem is you will have trouble getting a good assistant coach here because from the outside view this is a sinking ship. If you are coming here it may only be for one year and then you are left looking for another job. So unless unemployed why would you leave.
That is why I do not blame Matt A for taking this job because he will have job security whereas if he stays out of loyalty he may have to take a job he does not want to take next year in order to get paid.
When you have two years left on a contract it is either a good time to extend or fire. We did the same thing with lavin if we were going to fire him it should have been done a year earlier. If mullin comes back we will possibly be decent next year with a full roster but following that it will be real bad.[/quote]

A good Asst Coach could right the ship. If we get a few excellent recruits this year and we add some to our 20-21 pipeline, we do not have to fire CM in a year and in fact, the new Asst could eventually move in to the HC if/when CM gets tired of this. Firing coaches every four years has got us to where we are today.

It is easy to look at the contrarian view as that has been the road SJ has traveled lately. I am dreaming of adding a solid recruiter and x&o coach that can move us into a more organized system. Look at Xavier after Chris Mack left. They did not sink. We have some good pieces. We just have to continue to build around it and not tear it down. We are at a crossroad. We just need to choose the right direction.
 
[quote="Redmen88" post=335174] ... A good Asst Coach could right the ship. If we get a few excellent recruits this year and we add some to our 20-21 pipeline, we do not have to fire CM in a year and in fact, the new Asst could eventually move in to the HC if/when CM gets tired of this. Firing coaches every four years has got us to where we are today. ... [/quote]
And what are the chances of our getting those "few excellent recruits," and then adding some more to our "20-21 pipeline" with CM as our coach? After all, he's the one they'll have to play for, not the recruiter. Sadly, the one 5-star player from the 2020 class who did verbal to us has reneged on that commitment. Also, I didn't know we had a "pipeline" for the 2021 class, or for any class ... and any pipeline we ever had has been sorely clogged up in recent years.
 
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[quote="redken" post=335177][quote="Redmen88" post=335174] ... A good Asst Coach could right the ship. If we get a few excellent recruits this year and we add some to our 20-21 pipeline, we do not have to fire CM in a year and in fact, the new Asst could eventually move in to the HC if/when CM gets tired of this. Firing coaches every four years has got us to where we are today. ... [/quote]
And what are the chances of our getting those "few excellent recruits," and then adding some more to our "20-21 pipeline" with CM as our coach? After all, he's the one they'll have to play for, not the recruiter. Sadly, the one 5-star player from the 2020 class who did verbal to us has reneged on that commitment. Also, I didn't know we had a "pipeline" for the 2021 class, or for any class ... and any pipeline we ever had has been sorely clogged up in recent years.[/quote]

Did Nate Tabor renege and I missed it or are you just referring to what people have said are rumblings they've heard?
 
[quote="MJDinkins" post=335158][quote="Jack Williams" post=335150]For the pro mullin people on this board. I understand the argument.

But you keep bringing up this upward trajectory thing. We’ve won more games every season.

Okay so we won 23 this year. What are the chances we win 24 or more next year. Anyone wanna put money on it?

I’m pretty damn confident that mullin will never surpass 23 wins[/quote]

It was actually 21 wins this season. But I get your point, nonetheless. I doubt you see us surpassing 21 wins next season as well.[/quote]

The problem for fans is not one poster here has expressed any confidence for next year. I tried to be optimistic for this season and was somewhat satisfied with 21 wins. The complete disappearance of Clark and Heron with the underperforming of Ponds left me flummoxed. The ineptitude of Keita and departure of Dixon left me with doubts about Matt's eye for talent. How many programs are going into next season with silence on the recruiting trail, coaches in limbo, assistant coaches dominating discussion and no commitments from impact recruits when you lose the backbone of your roster.
Fordham used the term "dysfunctional" and the term unpredictable is just as appropriate. I gave it a full 4 years with hope for a big 5th year for Mullin. Hardly anyone here sees that happening so I will remain more of a casual fan rather than waste time with unpredictability.
Something has to give soon and hopefully not a complete rebuild as some project.
 
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[quote="Class of 72" post=335181][quote="MJDinkins" post=335158][quote="Jack Williams" post=335150]For the pro mullin people on this board. I understand the argument.

But you keep bringing up this upward trajectory thing. We’ve won more games every season.

Okay so we won 23 this year. What are the chances we win 24 or more next year. Anyone wanna put money on it?

I’m pretty damn confident that mullin will never surpass 23 wins[/quote]

It was actually 21 wins this season. But I get your point, nonetheless. I doubt you see us surpassing 21 wins next season as well.[/quote]

The problem for fans is not one poster here has expressed any confidence for next year. I tried to be optimistic for this season and was somewhat satisfied with 21 wins. The complete disappearance of Clark and Heron with the underperforming of Ponds left me flummoxed. The ineptitude of Keita and departure of Dixon left me with doubts about Matt's eye for talent. How many programs are going into next season with silence on the recruiting trail, coaches in limbo, assistant coaches dominating discussion and no commitments from impact recruits when you lose the backbone of your roster.
Fordham used the term "dysfunctional" and the term unpredictable is just as appropriate. I gave it a full 4 years with hope for a big 5th year for Mullin. Hardly anyone here sees that happening so I will remain more of a casual fan rather than waste time with unpredictability.
Something has to give soon and hopefully not a complete rebuild as some project.[/quote]

It’s quite obvious to most fans who understand the game that Matt doesn’t have an eye for talent. When you add a sign and sit transfer that has to be a sure thing. It’s a minimum of a two year investment. That can’t go to talent like Keita and Dixon. Simon/Clark is the absolute floor. More appropriate would be a guy like Kira Lewis. Speaking of whom...why not add one of the Alabama coaches to ensure Lewis? They also have two decent eligible grad transfers. Maybe Avery Johnson himself?
 
If Mullin returns, then I think it'd be in his best interests to pull a Willard and hire ACs who would guarantee certain five star recruits. If Lavin hired Tiny then he'd still be our coach today. Does PA have a relative who wants an AC gig? Really, this is the route he should take especially if Matt walks.

Probably too late in the recruiting year to get a top 10 class like Hall did, but should be considered. Willard 100% turned around perception in just a couple years.
 
[quote="Adam" post=335203]If Mullin returns, then I think it'd be in his best interests to pull a Willard and hire ACs who would guarantee certain five star recruits. If Lavin hired Tiny then he'd still be our coach today. Does PA have a relative who wants an AC gig? Really, this is the route he should take especially if Matt walks.

Probably too late in the recruiting year to get a top 10 class like Hall did, but should be considered. Willard 100% turned around perception in just a couple years.[/quote]

Difference is Willard has some coaching chops. Mullin rolls the balls out.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=335204][quote="Adam" post=335203]If Mullin returns, then I think it'd be in his best interests to pull a Willard and hire ACs who would guarantee certain five star recruits. If Lavin hired Tiny then he'd still be our coach today. Does PA have a relative who wants an AC gig? Really, this is the route he should take especially if Matt walks.

Probably too late in the recruiting year to get a top 10 class like Hall did, but should be considered. Willard 100% turned around perception in just a couple years.[/quote]

Difference is Willard has some coaching chops. Mullin rolls the balls out.[/quote]

Perhaps, I personally think Mullin should walk, but I'm expecting him to return. Assuming he returns, I feel he should go this route for 3 reasons:

1. What already established coach would come to SJU under the current circumstances? They might be let go within a year. Any AC brought on would have risk anyways.
2. Top recruits are the quickest possible solution to turning perception around. Mullin is running very low on time and this could turnaround his career.
3. A handler/high school coach/etc would likely agree to an AC position despite possibly a short tenure. Most will never get a high major D1 opportunity.

The more I think about it, the more I think he should go this route. That becomes almost mandatory if we lose a large chunk of our roster. Unfortunately, I think he's too stubborn to go this route.
 
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If Mullin changes his staff the 2 most important things to get would be a recruiter and a knowledgeable,competent coach.
 
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