After 2 games....

W

we are sju

Active member
Here is the highly anticipated WASJU team review after the first two games. Remember this review will not reflect my true feeling 2 months from now or possibly 2 games from now. I am adding this disclaimer so that no one can throw this back in my face later on if Marcus Lovett turns into Nurideen Lindsey.

Sima-Not much has changed from last year. Still shows glimpses on offense but very raw.

Yakwe-Needs to develop an elbow jumper. Only 2 games but don't like the minutes he has played so far. He is a force on boards and blocking shots. Scoring down low going to be a huge issue for us and he can get some on put backs. If he does not average around 10 and 8 it will be extremely hard for us to make an NIT run.

Owens-Athletic and has a nice touch. Like him even if Chris Jones would still have been better this year. Don't like the long john t-shirt look underneath his uniform

Ahmed-the one player I do not have a handle on yet. I do know that those bull rushes iinto the lane won't work in the BE. Will get blocked and or get him in foul trouble. Need him to be the third best player. Reserving judgement on him.

Ponds-Love everything about him other than his size and weight. Def can be the backup PG when Lovett sits as well. Going to take his lumps but will be a good to great 4 year player for us.

Lovett-My only worry is he pulls a Omar Cook at end of year. After 2 games Lovett has already joined the illustrious WASJU favorite Johnny club. Former members include all time greats David Russell, Walter Berry, Chris Mullin and Larry Wright.
Welcome aboard Marcus!

Mussini-He def looks more relaxed and comfortable than last year. I expect some rough patches against good teams but I think he will be able to fill role of 3 point specialist off the bench that we have never had.

Ellison-he looks more comfortable as well but I question his shot making ability. Will need to have a really good year to keep Simon from stealing his role next year.

German Fred Lyson--just 2 games and I am hoping he will show the ability at 6-9 to knockdown thee point shots, but looks real slow and unathletic.

Amar--Chris Jones would have been a real nice piece this year.

Williams-Chris Jones would have been a real nice piece this year.

Mullin- looks more involved. Small criticism of the rotating starting lineup. I sense this will be an ongoing thing which is fine as long as Ponds, Yakwe and especially Lovett are exempt from it going forward.
 
I agree with most of your comments
It's easy to get excited after 2 games but it's hard to get a true reading given the opponents
I think we should really reserve judgment until after the Bahamas Tournament
We'll get a much more accurate feel for this team after we play those 3 games
 
obviously we all love what we have seen from Ponds/LoVett/Moose so far. Im actually pleasantly surprised by Owens. Looks more athletic and aggressive than I thought he would be. Yakwe is Yakwe, love his game.....his shot will develop. Sima has flashes of greatness, needs to put it all together ( only a soph). Ellison looks much improved and also seems to be a leader out on the court which I like. Ali has bulked up and brings what he brings....aggressiveness. Im good with that. Bashir and RF are still question marks. Bashir definitely has game and once he gets used to the pace and feels comfortable with guys he will win games for us. Im not worried the least bit about Bashir. As far as RF goes, I wouldn't classify him as Fred Lyson just yet. He's coming into a new school, new country, new team with a new system....take it easy fellas. The kid has tools and might just develop his college game a little slower. Luckily for us we have a deep bench to do so. Remember , he's a freshman. He too will be fine. I foresee a mid season breakout for Bashir and RF, mark it down! Lets not forget the coaching, I think the coaches have been switching guys in and out at the perfect moments so far. So far the season has been really fun to watch and Im feeling good moving forward and shocking some teams.....but lets take one game at a time.....next up Minnesota!!! GO JOHNNIES!!!!!!!
 
Defense seems to be lagging behind offense. Steals and blocks based on pure athletic ability, but trouble closing out and stopping penetration. Basic stuff not being executed. Lovett is special, really special. I like the play so far from Owens. I might have been expecting a little more out of the box from Ahmed. Feel like we're going to see RF come into his own over the course of the season. Mussini's game and role looks great, I think he will have a lot of fun playing this year. Maybe too early to see improvement from Sima and Yakwe, two games haven't exactly shown that anything changed with them from last year. With the depth and size on the bench, I think C Jones is in a better place for PT at UNLV.
 
I totally agree with the thought that the defense is well behind the offense. Think we are late in covering threes on a regular basis. Also think the guards and SF are getting beat off the dribble way too often If SP and ML are not getting steal, opposing team is going in for layups.

Let us see our rebounding totals against teams with size. Main thing that I will pay attention to in regard to the Minnesota game.

I think RF has potential but is a little overwhelmed at this point. I do think that the coaching stuff ultimately is going to go to an 8 man rotation for which RF is looking from the outside.

Bashir will thrive once I gets comfortable with his teammates and the D1 game pace.
 
With the depth and size on the bench, I think C Jones is in a better place for PT at UNLV.
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Couldn't be at a much better place, got 35 minutes in their first game. I'm sure it was mentioned somewhere else while I was away for the weekend but he did get 20 and 13 however they lost to South Alabama. Must not be a very good runnin rebels team, must miss Obekpa. ;)
 
I agree with most of your comments
It's easy to get excited after 2 games but it's hard to get a true reading given the opponents
I think we should really reserve judgment until after the Bahamas Tournament
We'll get a much more accurate feel for this team after we play those 3 games
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I'm not excited, SJU just did what they were supposed to vs. lesser team.

To me it starts Friday. I want this game real bad. The front court will have to show something here.

Want to be big time? Then we need a full team effort.
 
Upcoming games will obviously lend more focus to strengths, needs & rotations.
 
Upcoming games will obviously lend more focus to strengths, needs & rotations.
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Best player coming off the bench and rotating starting lineup almost Lavinesque ;)
I think Mullin took that looking uninvolved criticism to heart. Rumor has it he is going to show Sima how to shoot free throws during a timeout and is busy trying to come up with stupid nicknames for his players.

BTW this is a joke (Well if he ever doesn't start Lovett again not so much). Don't want to get in trouble with the Mullin gestapo :)
 
I doubt we'll see the same lineup experiments by any stretch. Am I mistaken or at one point in the 2nd half was Bashir at the 5?
 
Coming off last year, I think we did more than was expected. We blew out a week team and won easily against a slightly more gritty one. UCONN lost twice and Penn State lost to Albany so you can't take anything for granted. I think the road game against Minnesota will be quite difficult but it would be a terrific game to win.
 
I doubt we'll see the same lineup experiments by any stretch. Am I mistaken or at one point in the 2nd half was Bashir at the 5?
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There was a minute or two in the 2nd half when he went real small. I think it was Ponds/Lovett/Muss/Ellison and either Bashir or Yakwe.
 
1. Ponds and Lovett are a legitimate BE starting backcourt. Ponds is electric, and he should be here for awhile since he's too small to play in the NBA. Ditto Lovett. Their height may be a small disadvantage in the BE, but they will basically be fine and fun to watch. Great chemistry on the court already.

2. Mussini can now play a role where he should excel, playing 15-20 minutes off the bench and hitting spot-up 3s. Far too much was asked of him last year. Large role player, will be a nice contributor. Ellison should be a smaller role player as a swing man.

3. Hopefully out of our group of bigs 3 players will emerge. Let's count Yakwe as one, so that leaves two more out of the following prospects:
- Sima - had hoped for more from him this year, so far he looks like less but it's a small sample so fingers crossed
- Owens - too thin, but really effective in the press/trap game due to length and athleticism. No sign of any more game than that yet, though. Mullin seems to like him, so maybe there's something there.
- Ahmed - Good size, strength, and athleticism, but not ready for high D1 play yet. Hopefully he will adjust fast.
- Freudenberg - do not expect much this year.
- Alibegovic - no comment.

Overall, the backcourt is playing at a different speed and level than the bigs. Hopefully the bigs will catch up sooner rather than later. Otherwise the backcourt has enough game to win 21 games, the bigs have enough game to win 13, and that means as a group they land at around 17.

4. The defense is woeful, except that the press and trap looked good (against not much competition). Three words apply to everyone on the team: STOP THE DAMN BALL (ok that's four, but it is enormously frustrating watching defenders as turnstiles). Ponds will collect a lot of steals, he has very fast hands. But we have to stop the ball and play better team D or we are going to give up a ton of points.
 
I love Lovett and Ponds.. I know its 2 games but from what I saw, the bulk size of Binghamton had them muscling in pretty easily. Bashir its way too early. Mussini is still so slow on defense. Its like we have to rely on the block shot all the time and this is going to leave our rebounding open. Still, watching our guards with ball movement is awesome. And Sima has to be careful of those ticky tack fouls away from the basket with the press.
 
1. Ponds and Lovett are a legitimate BE starting backcourt. Ponds is electric, and he should be here for awhile since he's too small to play in the NBA. Ditto Lovett. Their height may be a small disadvantage in the BE, but they will basically be fine and fun to watch. Great chemistry on the court already.

2. Mussini can now play a role where he should excel, playing 15-20 minutes off the bench and hitting spot-up 3s. Far too much was asked of him last year. Large role player, will be a nice contributor. Ellison should be a smaller role player as a swing man.

3. Hopefully out of our group of bigs 3 players will emerge. Let's count Yakwe as one, so that leaves two more out of the following prospects:
- Sima - had hoped for more from him this year, so far he looks like less but it's a small sample so fingers crossed
- Owens - too thin, but really effective in the press/trap game due to length and athleticism. No sign of any more game than that yet, though. Mullin seems to like him, so maybe there's something there.
- Ahmed - Good size, strength, and athleticism, but not ready for high D1 play yet. Hopefully he will adjust fast.
- Freudenberg - do not expect much this year.
- Alibegovic - no comment.

Overall, the backcourt is playing at a different speed and level than the bigs. Hopefully the bigs will catch up sooner rather than later. Otherwise the backcourt has enough game to win 21 games, the bigs have enough game to win 13, and that means as a group they land at around 17.

4. The defense is woeful, except that the press and trap looked good (against not much competition). Three words apply to everyone on the team: STOP THE DAMN BALL (ok that's four, but it is enormously frustrating watching defenders as turnstiles). Ponds will collect a lot of steals, he has very fast hands. But we have to stop the ball and play better team D or we are going to give up a ton of points.
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Welcome back man!! Commentary on the defense is spot on.
 
Our guards are our strength. Hard to believe it's a freshman back court. The first real test will be at Minnesota, as they have guards that go 6'2, 6'5 and 6'8. Amir Coffey, a freshman, will get a lot of minutes at the guard spot. Can Ponds defend a guy that tall? Will Ellison get entrusted to guard their bigger guards? They also have a lot of legit size in the front court. Every game this season is a measuring stick. I won't start worrying about wins and losses unless we get in a position for the big dance or even the little one. And I'm not worried about Freudenberg. He is going to have some big games and make some key 3 pointers.
 
I doubt we'll see the same lineup experiments by any stretch. Am I mistaken or at one point in the 2nd half was Bashir at the 5?
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I just don't see a Lovett/Ponds/Mussini lineup being productive against better competition. One other side note which I believe WASJU mentioned.. Mullin def looked more involved. St. Jean looked like he was waiting for Mullin's input before putting in the play. We really need to have that. And for Maher's sake, KEEP OFF THE TABLE!.
 
1. Ponds and Lovett are a legitimate BE starting backcourt. Ponds is electric, and he should be here for awhile since he's too small to play in the NBA. Ditto Lovett. Their height may be a small disadvantage in the BE, but they will basically be fine and fun to watch. Great chemistry on the court already.

2. Mussini can now play a role where he should excel, playing 15-20 minutes off the bench and hitting spot-up 3s. Far too much was asked of him last year. Large role player, will be a nice contributor. Ellison should be a smaller role player as a swing man.

3. Hopefully out of our group of bigs 3 players will emerge. Let's count Yakwe as one, so that leaves two more out of the following prospects:
- Sima - had hoped for more from him this year, so far he looks like less but it's a small sample so fingers crossed
- Owens - too thin, but really effective in the press/trap game due to length and athleticism. No sign of any more game than that yet, though. Mullin seems to like him, so maybe there's something there.
- Ahmed - Good size, strength, and athleticism, but not ready for high D1 play yet. Hopefully he will adjust fast.
- Freudenberg - do not expect much this year.
- Alibegovic - no comment.

Overall, the backcourt is playing at a different speed and level than the bigs. Hopefully the bigs will catch up sooner rather than later. Otherwise the backcourt has enough game to win 21 games, the bigs have enough game to win 13, and that means as a group they land at around 17.

4. The defense is woeful, except that the press and trap looked good (against not much competition). Three words apply to everyone on the team: STOP THE DAMN BALL (ok that's four, but it is enormously frustrating watching defenders as turnstiles). Ponds will collect a lot of steals, he has very fast hands. But we have to stop the ball and play better team D or we are going to give up a ton of points.
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post more my friend
 
I doubt we'll see the same lineup experiments by any stretch. Am I mistaken or at one point in the 2nd half was Bashir at the 5?
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I just don't see a Lovett/Ponds/Mussini lineup being productive against better competition. One other side note which I believe WASJU mentioned.. Mullin def looked more involved. St. Jean looked like he was waiting for Mullin's input before putting in the play. We really need to have that. And for Maher's sake, KEEP OFF THE TABLE!.
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I might be mistaken but the remark when we went small was about two bigs on the court. No mention of Bashir.
 
I doubt we'll see the same lineup experiments by any stretch. Am I mistaken or at one point in the 2nd half was Bashir at the 5?
Click to expand...

There was a minute or two in the 2nd half when he went real small. I think it was Ponds/Lovett/Muss/Ellison and either Bashir or Yakwe.
Click to expand...

At one point, it was those 4 guards and Richard F. on the court. There was no interior defense and no rebounding for a couple of minutes. It didn't last long.
 
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