Adios Tariq

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[quote="JohnnyFan" post=279257][quote="Beast of the East" post=279256]Phil Booth's dad (who played at Coppin State) sounds like the perfect basketball parent. Jay Wright on what Booth's dad told him before he enrolled: "When he comes to you, you got him 4 years. You're not going to hear from me. We'll be at the games, but he's yours."[/quote]

Love the old school attitude. Players should take note of Villanova right now. They share the ball and play unselfishly in all situations. And, here is the biggest thing, there are multiple players being evaluated by NBA scouts. Heck, last night, Mikal Bridges who is generally accepted to be a lottery pick, had just 10 points. NBA scouts don't read box scores, they evaluate skills. No need to constantly be "the man".[/quote]

Watching the tourney his year has been a real pleasure. It's great to see guys playing for the pure love of the game and the love and respect of their teammates and coaches. Until we have a team full of players that put team and winning first, the majority of the SJU headlines will be about suspect injuries, the tweets of disgruntled parents, and each player's individual, instead of team, goals.
 
Now that this thread is no longer about Tariq I will add my thoughts about the last five seasons.

I had grown dissatisfied with Lavin during his third year as I felt on the recruiting front that he had made a big splash early but seemed to be tailing off and I wasn't sure that he could get the remaining four star kids to have a big year(in my mind that was to win a game in the NCAA's) before we had to rebuild either with him or another coach. That dissatisfaction gradually got more intense and started to become anger which is a negative emotion and showed in my posts which were often ridiculed particularly by Dinkins and Marillac which bothered me because I thought I was just giving my opinion but I realize now that they could see the sarcasm(anger) for what it is worth. When we decided to hire Mullin I was all for it. First because I loved Mullin as a player as he was one of the main reasons that I have stayed a fan for so long even after most of my fellow fans had long packed it in, but secondly I was hoping that we could make a big splash in recruiting similar to what Lavin did early on. I had no expectations for his first year but I had and although I doubt Lavin would have done much that is probably irrelevant. I was thrilled when we signed Ponds because I truly believed that was the start of a strong recruiting period. Unfortunately I was wrong.Year 2 was a major improvement over year 1 as Lovett exceeded my expectations and believed year 3 would get us close or in the NCAA's

The loss of Lovett really hurt our chances last year and was a real disappointment even though the four transfers along with Ponds(Owens, Clark and Simon and Ahmed) played some good games and generally hung tough. We have picked up two more transfers that I believe will help in Dixon and Keita but have a very average at best recruiting class and are losing Tariq. I haven't given up on Mullin just yet and do believe we can make the NCAA's next year if we can add a couple of decent big men but certainly wouldn't want to wager much on either. As I look forward I have little confidence that we will land a recruiting class for next season that is much better then this years but I will hold out hope. If we don't and we lose either Ponds or Simon after next season then I believe we will likely be worse in 19-20 then will be in 18-19. At that point if he sticks it out Mullin will have been here five years and if we don't make the NCAA's the next couple of years, the program will not be in a better place then it has been over the last 20 years. In a best case scenerio where we do make the NCAA's the next two years we have a small chance to keep the momentum going. I won't delve deep into my thoughts on the staff's in game coaching right now but overall I think it is average at best.

I don't think much choice but to hang in there and hope for the best over the next two seasons. After two more years I am pretty sure that anyone who is rational will know where we stand and if there is any reason for much optimism going forward.
 
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[quote="Andrew" post=279264]Now that this thread is no longer about Tariq I will add my thoughts about the last five seasons.

I had grown dissatisfied with Lavin during his third year as I felt on the recruiting front that he had made a big splash early but seemed to be tailing off and I wasn't sure that he could get the remaining four star kids to have a big year(in my mind that was to win a game in the NCAA's) before we had to rebuild either with him or another coach. That dissatisfaction gradually got more intense and started to become anger which is a negative emotion and showed in my posts which were often ridiculed particularly by Dinkins and Marillac which bothered me because I thought I was just giving my opinion but I realize now that they could see the sarcasm(anger) for what it is worth. When we decided to hire Mullin I was all for it. First because I loved Mullin as a player as he was one of the main reasons that I have stayed a fan for so long even after most of my fellow fans had long packed it in, but secondly I was hoping that we could make a big splash in recruiting similar to what Lavin did early on. I had no expectations for his first year but I had and although I doubt Lavin would have done much that is probably irrelevant. I was thrilled when we signed Ponds because I truly believed that was the start of a strong recruiting period. Unfortunately I was wrong.Year 2 was a major improvement over year 1 as Lovett exceeded my expectations and believed year 3 would get us close or in the NCAA's

The loss of Lovett really hurt our chances last year and was a real disappointment even though the four transfers along with Ponds(Owens, Clark and Simon and Ahmed) played some good games and generally hung tough. We have picked up two more transfers that I believe will help in Dixon and Keita but have a very average at best recruiting class and are losing Tariq. I haven't given up on Mullin just yet and do believe we can make the NCAA's next year if we can add a couple of decent big men but certainly wouldn't want to wager much on either. As I look forward I have little confidence that we will land a recruiting class for next season that is much better then this years but I will hold out hope. If we don't and we lose either Ponds or Simon after next season then I believe we will likely be worse in 19-20 then will be in 18-19. At that point if he sticks it out Mullin will have been here five years and if we don't make the NCAA's the next couple of years, the program will not be in a better place then it has been over the last 20 years. In a best case scenerio where we do make the NCAA's the next two years we have a small chance to keep the momentum going. I won't delve deep into my thoughts on the staff's in game coaching right now but overall I think it is average at best.

I don't think much choice but to hang in there and hope for the best over the next two seasons. After two more years I am pretty sure that anyone who is rational will know where we stand and if there is any reason for much optimism going forward.[/quote] Excellent well thought out personal post and very reasonable thoughts for the last 2 coaches
 
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Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=279274]Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .[/quote]
Why in the world would Custer come here? Not happening
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=279278][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=279274]Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .[/quote]
Why in the world would Custer come here? Not happening[/quote]

Maybe Marvin can tweet him about how cool it is to play for section 114.
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=279232] What I can't understand by only a half dozen or so fans here is the utter disdain for a former coach that was responsible for restoring some pride in a moribund program.  Those detractors cherry pick from a disgruntled UCLA  blogger ' comments made a dozen years ago to the Rasheed Jordan tragedy to the weed testing of Obekpa to tarnish what coach Lavin really accomplished.  What preceded him was a team of low achievers who never won anything. 

My redmen.com buddies here like to point to Mullin's teams marginal progress as if it is impressive compared to the Lavin years.

In 2010-11,  we saw a return to national prominence by posting a 21-12 record, marking St. John’s most wins since the 2002-03 season, with six top 25 victories, four over Top 10 opponents and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. In 2013, we returned to the postseason once again with a NIT appearance and first-round victory and a 20-win season in 2014 landed St. John’s another postseason NIT Berth. In 2015, we went to the NCAA Tournament again.

Tony Chiles was Lavin's Matt Abdelmassih who aided Lav in the signing of the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class in 2011, the No. 8 class in 2012 and the top recruit of the Lavin Era in Philadelphia’s Rysheed Jordan in 2013.

Those few fans that constantly knock Lavin are the same "fans" that knock fans for objective comments about Mullin.  Go figure!  They are content in spending almost $4 million annually for the most inexperienced staff in college basketball, with three straight last place finishes. 

This staff better show better recruiting soon because even the Mullin loyalists will turn on him in a New York minute if we keep focusing on 2 star sit out transfers to replenish the departing players.[/quote]
Amen!
 
[quote="redken" post=279288][quote="Class of 72" post=279232] What I can't understand by only a half dozen or so fans here is the utter disdain for a former coach that was responsible for restoring some pride in a moribund program.  Those detractors cherry pick from a disgruntled UCLA  blogger ' comments made a dozen years ago to the Rasheed Jordan tragedy to the weed testing of Obekpa to tarnish what coach Lavin really accomplished.  What preceded him was a team of low achievers who never won anything. 

My redmen.com buddies here like to point to Mullin's teams marginal progress as if it is impressive compared to the Lavin years.

In 2010-11,  we saw a return to national prominence by posting a 21-12 record, marking St. John’s most wins since the 2002-03 season, with six top 25 victories, four over Top 10 opponents and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002. In 2013, we returned to the postseason once again with a NIT appearance and first-round victory and a 20-win season in 2014 landed St. John’s another postseason NIT Berth. In 2015, we went to the NCAA Tournament again.

Tony Chiles was Lavin's Matt Abdelmassih who aided Lav in the signing of the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class in 2011, the No. 8 class in 2012 and the top recruit of the Lavin Era in Philadelphia’s Rysheed Jordan in 2013.

Those few fans that constantly knock Lavin are the same "fans" that knock fans for objective comments about Mullin.  Go figure!  They are content in spending almost $4 million annually for the most inexperienced staff in college basketball, with three straight last place finishes. 

This staff better show better recruiting soon because even the Mullin loyalists will turn on him in a New York minute if we keep focusing on 2 star sit out transfers to replenish the departing players.[/quote]
Amen![/quote]


[URL][URL]https://www.rumbleinthegarden.com/...recruiting/.../steve-lavin-recruiting-scrambles-l..[/URL][/URL]

Above is a link to what I believe to be a very fair recap on Steve Lavin's tenure and recruiting results at St. John's. Lemme try to take a 'middle ground'--always a treacherous path in a dichotomous world!
Rabid fans are the least patient sub-species on the planet.
Lavin was or hoped to begin the 2015-16 season with a roster of Felix, Amar. Chrisitan, Adonis (ineligible), LoVett (ineligible), Mussini, Keith Thomas (falsified Ts), Brandon Samspon, Papagiannis (Euro pros), Samir Doughty, Sammy Barnes-Thompkins, Cheick Diallo (Kansas), Rysheed Jordan, Chris Obekpa.
So 11 guys on the roster--two of whom were ineligible, and two whom were disgruntled and no likely 'retainee' or incoming recruit with 'high-end' credentials except Brandon Sampson, who ultimately proved disappointing (elsewhere).
2015-16 looked bleak even if Coach K was our coach.
So, I applauded Chris Mullin coming here--and while i do not blame him for 2015-16 and believe most of our recruiting woes has been due to our losing and roster upheaval (some his fault / some not)--I am irked by his seemingly lazy (casual?) and unfocused recruiting 'strategy'.
And I'm totally flummoxed why and how we can let the Slice debacle hamper our recruiting staff to this point!
I agree that Mully has one more year to show that he can turn it around--and that means relevancy again in the BEC and at least 1 win in the NCAA Tournament..
 
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[quote="Ray Morgan" post=279258][quote="JohnnyFan" post=279257][quote="Beast of the East" post=279256]Phil Booth's dad (who played at Coppin State) sounds like the perfect basketball parent. Jay Wright on what Booth's dad told him before he enrolled: "When he comes to you, you got him 4 years. You're not going to hear from me. We'll be at the games, but he's yours."[/quote]




Love the old school attitude. Players should take note of Villanova right now. They share the ball and play unselfishly in all situations. And, here is the biggest thing, there are multiple players being evaluated by NBA scouts. Heck, last night, Mikal Bridges who is generally accepted to be a lottery pick, had just 10 points. NBA scouts don't read box scores, they evaluate skills. No need to constantly be "the man".[/quote]

Watching the tourney his year has been a real pleasure. It's great to see guys playing for the pure love of the game and the love and respect of their teammates and coaches. Until we have a team full of players that put team and winning first, the majority of the SJU headlines will be about suspect injuries, the tweets of disgruntled parents, and each player's individual, instead of team, goals.[/quote]




Exactly, Bridges let the game come to him taking only 8 shots. Pretty impressive when you think about the upcoming NBA draft. But then again that's what winning programs are all about.
 
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The girl on Miss. St. Womens team playing on mat champ game right now is Teaira Mccowan

Is 6'7" and 238 lbs.

Avg 18.7 pts & 13.5 rebounds.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=279274]Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .[/quote]

So what you're saying is that they should improve enough to get out of last place in the conference. I agree with you. I would hope, but not expect, that they could get to .500 in conference and 20 wins overall. But is that really good enough in 4 years? That's my problem, and I understand it is my problem and doesn't have to be yours. Also any comparison to elite 8 teams, past or present, and next year's squad is silly given where the program is and what it's adding. What I will say is that no matter how negatively I feel right now I know that on October 15, 2018 hope will spring eternal even in this bitter old cynic's body and mind.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=279300]The girl on Miss. St. Womens team playing on mat champ game right now is Teaira Mccowan

Is 6'7" and 238 lbs.

Avg 18.7 pts & 13.5 rebounds.[/quote]

Is she a grad transfer?:lol:
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=279278][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=279274]Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .[/quote]
Why in the world would Custer come here? Not happening[/quote]

I think there’s a better chance of Sister Jean coming here. In fact, I’d almost prefer that. ;)
 
[quote="Tonyinfairfield " post=279335][quote="Paultzman" post=279278][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=279274]Ponds , Simon and Clarke give us a pretty good nucleus fir next Season . They are now thoroughly BE Seasoned players and I think it took a while for Simon and Clarke to rub off the rust and see first hand the BE is a very physical league . The Big 10 is physical but, nkt like the BE . PAC 12 is soft inside . Adding Dixon makes it a 3 Guard , 1 SF and a Big Guy . It’s very possible that a 3 Guard lineup can work if Dixon has any Shooting abilities . Fast and quick is not a bad strategy . Simon is a match up nightmare for most opponents . Clarke got more aggressive as the season wore on and he has a excellent touch from the Corner especially. Ponds , of course is our potential BE POY and the straw that stirs the drink as Brunson does for Nova . If Keita can provide some muscle underneath , grab some rebounds and play a little D , it will improve our greatest weakness this year . No inside game . The NCAA playoffs have shown Veteran teams of 3-4 year players can do well and that Transfers and 5 th Year players are the new dynamic in College B.B. . Paschall is a transfer and Spellman a Red Shirt freshman . Creighton , Marquette and Xavier have benefitted from the 5 th year Player as well . Even DePaul had Struss and Macin . Loyola has Custer , who has a 5 th year of eligibility remaining . Would he get enough PT here to play a 4 Guard line Up with Clarke ? Nova played 4 guards in the Foye , Reynolds era I think and it had success . Would Custer come here ? Ask Matt who must know him .[/quote]
Why in the world would Custer come here? Not happening[/quote]

I think you mean :cheer: George Armstrong Custer...(West Point Class of 1861 - graduated last, wow, like us in the BE )???
 
[quote="Sherman, Sheridan & Grant" post=279340]
I think you mean :cheer: George Armstrong Custer...(West Point Class of 1861 - graduated last, wow, like us in the BE )???[/quote]

If Custer walked away from all the frenzy of the past few weeks to come here, he would deserve for it to be his last stand.
 
There s a fatal error on page 16 of the guys on matts radar thread.
Every where else looks good except that page.

Sorry for posting it here but couldn't do a new topic
 
[quote="oldschool Redmen" post=279364]There s a fatal error on page 16 of the guys on matts radar thread.
Every where else looks good except that page.

Sorry for posting it here but couldn't do a new topic[/quote] fatal error and recruiting oh the irony. lol
 
Re possibility of Owens’ return Braziller tweeted;
“They haven't been ruled it out, but it's seems unlikely”
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=279479]Re possibility of Owens’ return Braziller tweeted;
“They haven't been ruled it out, but it's seems unlikely”[/quote]

We will miss his shot blocking and much improved shooting but we also know he is no Mo Wagner. That kid from Michigan was everywhere and Michigan actually used him as a focal point in their offense. Kid had both an inside and outside game and was a threat both with his back to the basket and facing up.
 
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