Amar Has Returned

[redmannorth]

BTW, am I the only one who think Yakwe will be more than able to hold his own size wise in the front court? Seems everyone is mentioning him along with sima and owens as rail thin but I think hes got quality size and will only add more. We will need him to be more productive from 5 feet and in this year.

Yakwe obviously has tremendous upside & to me will be a major player this season. I also expect Sima, if he can avoid injury, to show a lot of improvement. Another key for Sima is to get some quality relief, enabling him to stay fresh. He got worn out last year. Bigs take a little time, but this tandem will be among the best interior duos in the BE very soon. Hopefully Owens can be a nice complementary piece in that equation. I just don't think he commands more time than Sima & Yakwe, as some do. We'll see.

Lastly, with infusion of speedy guards, both guys will benefit immensely. They really run the court well.

Spot on post that describes what will occur with the players named. If Bashir and Richard can perform admirably at the 3 we have a very nice starting 5. Looking forward to next season.

 

[we are sju]

Taser not coming and Amar returning is really not a big deal. But this was mismanaged and the perception is not great. Obviously Mullin thought he could get an upgrade at talent and both Amar -(rightfully so) and Jones-(not so much) were deemed expendable. I don't have an issue with that thinking but the fact that they couldn't get an upgrade-for whatever reason and Amar was asked to come back is a little worrisome. I thought we would be moving on from that level of talent to bigger and better things.

Secondly even if the Amar spot is going to get limited minutes, those minutes would have been better served to someone like Jones instead. Even if this is a bottom of the roster move, it was mishandled!

 

[fuchsia]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

 

[we are sju]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

 

[logen]

Forget who stays or goes.. The most important returning factor is this coaching staff who need just as much improvement as any player on this team.

I know you know your stuff but there is no coaching staff anywhere in any sport anytime that is more important than having players. Wooden, Knight, Coach K, Jay Wright name whoever you want they could not and do/did not win with less than very talented players. They also did not win until they gained at least some reasonable amount of time to build a program and get those level players.

 

[beast of the east]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

 

[we are sju]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

I am sure a lot of people would desire to sleep with Scarlett Johanson. It doesn't mean they get to

 

[Chris7]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game

Exactly, and this is a big to do for many on here? A player who will get 5 mins per game, if even. Really is the off-season.

 

[paultzman]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Amar was the preference obviously over Jones. I hear Jones would have come back if asked first. Why Amar was the clear choice, who knows. Hopefully he can be a positive next season in very limited role.

 

[we are sju]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Amar was the preference obviously over Jones. I hear Jones would have come back if asked first. Why Amar was the clear choice, who knows. Hopefully he can be a positive next season in very limited role.

+

Jones is clearly better and would only take up one year. Plus added some strength. If staff had choice and chose Amar even if for only 5 minutes a game.....they chose poorly

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Ah yes if only his great play didnt put us in a chance to be in a chance to win, then he wouldn't have had the chance to blow the teams chances. :silly:

 

[paultzman]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Amar was the preference obviously over Jones. I hear Jones would have come back if asked first. Why Amar was the clear choice, who knows. Hopefully he can be a positive next season in very limited role.

+

Jones is clearly better and would only take up one year. Plus added some strength. If staff had choice and chose Amar even if for only 5 minutes a game.....they chose poorly

Can't argue with that.

 

[L J S A]

I have to imagine the staff figured Freudenberg and Ahmed can shift to PF in a pinch, and went with Alibegovic over Jones for height and effort reasons. But neither Jones nor AA will mean a thing if Owens comes to play.

 

[MarkRedman]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Amar was the preference obviously over Jones. I hear Jones would have come back if asked first. Why Amar was the clear choice, who knows. Hopefully he can be a positive next season in very limited role.

+

Jones is clearly better and would only take up one year. Plus added some strength. If staff had choice and chose Amar even if for only 5 minutes a game.....they chose poorly

I agree 100% and couldn't have said it any better

 

[GardenCity62]

If at all possible AA should do everything he can to graduate next year. If his game doesn't show marked improvement next season having immediate eligibity would make him a decent transfer prospect for some mid major next spring and SJU would have the scholarship.

 

[beast of the east]

Don't know if Amar or CJ's weaknesses in a ball movement offense are more problematic. Suspect Amar has bigger up side and if he learns to bang down low can fill a niche in Mullin system.

We are talking 5 to 10 mins a game here but would have been nice to have a guy, Taser or CJ on the roster that has lifted a weight once

I know a lot of you guys liked CJ, and he did show some improvement. To me at least, even in his finest moment in the BET, with the game on the line CJ turned the ball on 2 consecutive very late possessions that destroyed any chance of winning.

Not sure what factored into the decision, but I suspect Amar's desire to return was one reason he is back.

Ah yes if only his great play didnt put us in a chance to be in a chance to win, then he wouldn't have had the chance to blow the teams chances. :silly:

Respect that point, but in basketball to me at least, guys earn respect by performing well in the clutch, and earn disrespect by playing poorly as the game winds down - often the difference between winning basketball and losing - the hallmark of our ranked teams in the heyday were sluggish performances for 30-25 minutes, and pour it on at the end. It's why for me at least, it's hard to draw bright spots on a dismal season since we failed in nearly every close game to play well when it counted.

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

Forget who stays or goes.. The most important returning factor is this coaching staff who need just as much improvement as any player on this team.

I know you know your stuff but there is no coaching staff anywhere in any sport anytime that is more important than having players. Wooden, Knight, Coach K, Jay Wright name whoever you want they could not and do/did not win with less than very talented players. They also did not win until they gained at least some reasonable amount of time to build a program and get those level players.

Absolutely Logen and
No coach would have progressed IMVHO
more from April 2015-to the present than CM & Co who really did the impossible coming from nowhere with no one, no how.

We can nitpick, disagree, argue fine points until the wildcats (all of them Villanova, KY, Kansas State, Arizona...) come home...
But no one can dispute the fact we are moving in a nice direction...very nice

 

[beast of the east]

Forget who stays or goes.. The most important returning factor is this coaching staff who need just as much improvement as any player on this team.

I know you know your stuff but there is no coaching staff anywhere in any sport anytime that is more important than having players. Wooden, Knight, Coach K, Jay Wright name whoever you want they could not and do/did not win with less than very talented players. They also did not win until they gained at least some reasonable amount of time to build a program and get those level players.

Absolutely Logen and
No coach would have progressed IMVHO
more from April 2015-to the present than CM & Co who really did the impossible coming from nowhere with no one, no how.

We can nitpick, disagree, argue fine points until the wildcats (all of them Villanova, KY, Kansas State, Arizona...) come home...
But no one can dispute the fact we are moving in a nice direction...very nice

I appreciate your positive attitude and comments all the time.

I think our staff did a fine job filling the roster with some talent for 2016-17 t, and quickly filled spots on a barren roster for 2015-16. But besides that, is there anything else that you thought that Mullin achieved that was the impossible? Using that yardstick, Lavin did the impossible also recruiting the first 12 months by recruiting into the top 100. Yet not many would say he did the impossible.

Not to belabor the point, but even on poor teams that don't have a chance of winning, you can see a change over the course of a season in better defense, better ball movement on offense, emergence of who the go to guys are, etc. You can not win a single game more than a talent-less team that doesn't exhibit any of that, but you can see they are better coached.

Of course, analyzing that is subjective, and many here feel that because the roster was thin, and expectations low, that the coaching staff did the best that could be done with that roster. I disagree, even if I think a great coach couldn't have squeezed out much more.

 

[Happy]

Forget who stays or goes.. The most important returning factor is this coaching staff who need just as much improvement as any player on this team.

I know you know your stuff but there is no coaching staff anywhere in any sport anytime that is more important than having players. Wooden, Knight, Coach K, Jay Wright name whoever you want they could not and do/did not win with less than very talented players. They also did not win until they gained at least some reasonable amount of time to build a program and get those level players.

I never said that a coach was more important than a player nor do i think that is the case.. However those people you refer to in your post are and were great coaches and ours is a great player in a suit as of now. My point was that if there is any one place for emphasis on improvement then it should be with the coaching staff and not with the way a returning bench player ( Amar) spends his summer improving.

 

[Red.Fans]

Not to belabor the point, but even on poor teams that don't have a chance of winning, you can see a change over the course of a season in better defense, better ball movement on offense, emergence of who the go to guys are, etc. You can not win a single game more than a talent-less team that doesn't exhibit any of that, but you can see they are better coached.

Of course, analyzing that is subjective, and many here feel that because the roster was thin, and expectations low, that the coaching staff did the best that could be done with that roster. I disagree, even if I think a great coach couldn't have squeezed out much more.

The problem with this logic is that you can progress every position, improve ball movement etc when you have a serviceable point guard. Pretty easy read to coach against that squad. Pressure the ball and you win. Final Four - Syracuse sat in a zone and lost.

We didn't have one player with any history or skill at being the primary ball handler and no one really with any mid-high Div I level ball handling skills. We had a hodgpodge of 2s and 3s that were either slow of foot, turnover prone or undersized or both or all of the above by committee trying to get the ball up the court each attempt being an adventure. You really cannot develop much when you are turning the ball over at a ridiculous rate and without some definitive ball handlers you are going to turn the ball over. Add to the mix that freshman were doing the majority of the ball handling and that in itself - even for experienced point guards and your turnovers are probably +25% on any team.

We'll have 3 or 4 guys this season with good to high level ball skills. Will make a huge difference for everything.