I think Storr was very overrated by many on this board. He could shoot when open, no question about that, but in my mind did little else. Was athletic but didn’t really use it to any extent because IMO, he didn’t play especially hard. I don’t mean he dogged it but I don’t ever remember once thinking there’s a player that gets after it. It was no surprise to me that he was gone as soon as he heard that defense was what was going to earn playing time under Pitino. Whether Taylor is better remains to be seen because like everyone else new, I have never seen him play that I remember.
2023-24 Roster
- Thread starter Jack Williams
- Start date
Predicting 17-20 wins at St. John’s in his fist year year is not some ridiculous indictment on RP’s coaching ability. In fact It seems pretty reasonable.
Stevep502
Well-known member
Pitino has filled roster exactly as he needed to do.
it has some disappointed that he hasn’t brought in ALL top 100 kids.
He had 9-10 roster spots to fill. no top kid was going to come
4 weeks ago looking at the empty roster.
He’s signed on strong upperclass players many of who could be rotation
players on a top 20 team, but if starters, are better than our 22/23.
Now the team looks much more attractive for a top 25 level player
to commit to. He now has the luxury to only take a difference
maker w last 2-3 scholly’s. i bet & hope he saves 1-2 for ’24
it has some disappointed that he hasn’t brought in ALL top 100 kids.
He had 9-10 roster spots to fill. no top kid was going to come
4 weeks ago looking at the empty roster.
He’s signed on strong upperclass players many of who could be rotation
players on a top 20 team, but if starters, are better than our 22/23.
Now the team looks much more attractive for a top 25 level player
to commit to. He now has the luxury to only take a difference
maker w last 2-3 scholly’s. i bet & hope he saves 1-2 for ’24
Jay Wrights success was based largely on being a great FT shooting team!
I agree!
Larry Wright
Well-known member
You know what this is set up for.
Those who believe Pitino walks on water will immediately jump ship and go the other way.
This happens here with every new coach.Now it is ramped up tenfold because we do actually have a great coach.
Things go bad and everyone turns.
Unless a big upgrade is coming 17-20 wins in the BE would be a really good job.
LW don't think you meant that 17-20 wins would be in the BE - that would be more than a really good job lol!
Sometimes Marillac’s
assertions are out to lunch and sometimes where he goes for lunch is out of food. 
Can we have any Hope? I was with Anderson til the Xavier game. That’s when I jumped ship. Better days are ahead whether you want to admit or not.
guinness77
Well-known member
Lol
Why respond to me? What am I missing here?
to me, the bar was set pretty high this year with a new coach (jerome Tang) taking over a completely revamped roster (that was not finalized until July) at Kansas State in arguably the most difficult conference in the country, that made a nice run in the tournament this year. So it would seem that we have to achieve more than 16-20 wins and at least make the tournament for the season to be a success with a HOF at the helm now.
I don’t think anyone thinks Pitino and staff should have ALL top 100 kids this year. I don’t think anyone thinks Pitino has lost his recruiting touch. I do think a few are surprised that we don’t have any too 100 kids yet. Things could change though.
guinness77
Well-known member
Holy crap!! A reasonable post.
I thought those had gone the way of the dodo.
I’m gonna go scrutinize YouTube videos of some player I never heard of and over-analyze his stats now because I heard Pitino is recruiting him. Excuse me
In his zeal to make a point he sometimes can overstate the facts or embellish on what really occurred...LOLSometimes Marillac’s
But I do like the idea that he "inherited an NBA PG" at Providence as if what Donovan was some future NBA stud no matter who took over for PC.
But bottom line is what he did at PC in just 2 years and then what he did at Kentucky in 9 years was nothing short of amazing.
His big mistake was leaving UK for the Celtics. He did it as he said later because they threw an unbelievable sum of money at him (I believe he became the highest paid coach in the NBA ahead of people like Phil Jackson and Pat Riley).
If you look at his last 3 years at Kentucky and the first year he left under Tubby:
94-95: 28-5/14-2 No. 1 seed lose in Regional Final to North Carolina
95-96: 34-2/16-0 No. 1 seed National Champs
96-97: 35-5/13-3 No. 1 seed lose National Championship game in OT to Arizona
97-98: 35-4/14-2 Wins National Championship-This one under Tubby
So his last 3 years they go Final 8, Win it all, Lose in OT in NC game all 3 years he is a number 1 seed and they win 95 games in 3 years and 43-5 in conference play and then he leaves a stacked roster and Tubby wins the NC in his first year with that team. So that 4 years stretch: Final 8, NC, Runner Up, NC.
Again if he stays at Kentucky he would still be there coaching imho and would own most coaching records.
I agree and pleased of late RP is building solid foundation. Many expected blockbuster year one for Rick, but that is tough. I think he will end this cycle well with nice mix of experience and some younger talent. I do think 2024 is critical recruiting year though.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
As far as recruiting goes, if NIL is as big an obstacle as it looks to be, how does that get better for us down the road?
Cannot do it with Repole alone. IMHO, need to get Wall Street involved to make a difference.
I defended someone who was told to get lost by another poster for predicating 17 wins. 16-20 wins is a reasonable range for the first season barring a huge addition like Dingle. I think that would put us on the right side of the bubble and probably move the totals win range up to to 20-23 or so. I don’t know what is unreasonable about that.
In his first season at new programs Pitino won 17 games at Boston university, 17 at Providence, 14 at Kentucky, and 18 at Iona. None of those teams were machines, but they did have some good individual players with various levels of experience. Judging a coach on his first year seems kind of silly to begin with and Pitino has proven he can leave a program in better shape than when he found it.
I don’t think it’s taking away from Pitino to point out that he inherited guys who went on to play in the NBA on those teams. I’m not sure how many times I have to say that he is the greatest coach of this era and can develop talent as well as anyone.
Let’s manage expectations the first year is really all I’m saying. How will this roster hold up to scrutiny in 20 years when it’s discussed? No former top 100 players. No top 25 transfers is usually not a great indicator — even for a Wizard. The flip side of that is the experience level is literally the highest we’ve ever had.
In his first season at new programs Pitino won 17 games at Boston university, 17 at Providence, 14 at Kentucky, and 18 at Iona. None of those teams were machines, but they did have some good individual players with various levels of experience. Judging a coach on his first year seems kind of silly to begin with and Pitino has proven he can leave a program in better shape than when he found it.
I don’t think it’s taking away from Pitino to point out that he inherited guys who went on to play in the NBA on those teams. I’m not sure how many times I have to say that he is the greatest coach of this era and can develop talent as well as anyone.
Let’s manage expectations the first year is really all I’m saying. How will this roster hold up to scrutiny in 20 years when it’s discussed? No former top 100 players. No top 25 transfers is usually not a great indicator — even for a Wizard. The flip side of that is the experience level is literally the highest we’ve ever had.
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how dare you make a rational statement...get lost
Larry Wright
Well-known member
As of now IMO the only players that are givens are Soriano and Alleyne. Every other kid is a question mark. That does not mean that Jenkins or Taylor can’t be or won’t be good. Just means we only have 2 proven BE players.