Anderson - is he really the guy ?

[Ray Morgan]

I try not to get too negative on here and take this stuff game to game, but since we aren't playing games I needed to vent. I haven't posted since prior to the Pitt game.

I've been a fan for only 9 years (which is less time than most here), but I will say this is the lowest point the program has been during my time as a fan. At least during Mullin years 1-2 and Lavin years 2-3 we had some solid recruiting classes incoming and we could excuse those teams for having empty cupboards to deal with.

Then years 4/5 rolled around and despite us (barely) making the NCAA Tournament most fans weren't happy with the direction of the program and we were able to start with new coaches. We are now in year 3 and I doubt this team is going anywhere. Same for next year's team with the #60 incoming class and Champ leaving.

What's so bad about the current situation is the extension, which I thought was odd at the time. Under normal circumstances we could at least say "hey, we suck but he'll be gone by the end of next year if we don't improve". Are fans really expected to wait 5 years or whatever for our next coach? Is the contract really as bad as it seems, with no way out?

Anyway, I'd love to think about our next coach but it's way too early to even dream about that. I've been critical of CMA's mediocre recruiting for years and unfortunately it's panning out exactly as I expected it to. I'll continue to support the program and hope for a miraculous turnaround, but my enthusiasm is plummeting and I can't fully support them in donations and I won't drag my friends to a mediocre product without a future.

Normally I'd come up with something positive to say to offset the negativity, but right now I've got nothing.


Adam, thank you for sticking with the program after 9 years of mediocrity.  We need newer fans. Many of us posters have been watching St. John's basketball for a long time.  While not consistently great,  the long time fans never had to witness what has been going on here for a number of years. 

I also understand your frustration over the recruiting.   I expected that CMAs work ethic, and that of his staff,  would yield better recruiting results than the Mullin years.  I'm disappointed, but not shocked.  His difficulty in getting top 100 talent has been a common theme. How Lavin pulled in 5 or 6 high level talents was a real anomaly for the program. However, he could not sustain it, and  was heading in  the wrong direction at the end. I hope you stay a fan for a long time.   One of the highlights of my year, every year, is waiting for that first St. John's game of each season.  I'm going through withdrawals now, even though I'm no longer thinking the NCAA invite will happen.  As much as we all gripe, the team still needs our support, as they are going through a lot of adversity right now.



 

 

[BrooklynRed]

Sorry but every time I see the topic caption, I think I am going to see Adrian Monk solve a crime.

I have not noticed any discussion of Covid affecting CMA's coaching/recruiting.  College basketball in these past 2 years has been more challenging then any we have experienced.  Any thoughts as how this could impact the evaluation of CMA to this point in time?

 

[Alumni Hall]

Monte is correct.

Don't talk about conference champs, final fours etc. if you realize the infrastructure is not there to legitimately do so and there is little to nothing on immediate horizon to make significant change to help you achieve it. 

No offense to the Fencing team, who wins, and other teams doing well,  but that's not what Cragg & Anderson were brought here for. Cragg was hired in Fall 2018..  3+ years ago. Read the press release of Cragg's 5 yr contract extension from this past April. 

Nice start, cultural change for sure,, but since 2018 has there been transformational change in infrastructure or performance at speeds we should expect or just still trying to play catch up? Master plans on paper are useless if not driving them and the University support ($) to do so. Rather not hear about Covid as excuse. Every program had same cards dealt. Are we set up for success and change on the rebound, or will still be last out if the gates?


https://redstormsports.com/news/202...s-announces-contract-extension-for-mike-cragg




 

There was nothing in that link that talked about conference championships, final fours, or transformational change through facilities. I've never heard anyone at St. John's say they were committing to building new state-of-the-art facilities. Donations and ticket prices are for what all schools use donations and ticket revenue. We don't get nearly enough in donations to build all-new facilities. People here should be more realistic. If the University is going to spend the money to build new facilities, it will be a massive endeavor that will take time. The planning alone and the preparation needed just to make the decision to move ahead with it will take time. I'm all for it but I don't expect it to happen overnight.

Overnight? LOL They have been talking about it since the mid 80's when Laskowski (?) was SID.
laskowski was asst AD in charge of red sports in the mid 80’s. SIDS were Bill Esposito, Katha Quinn and Frank Racinello.
 

 

[bamafan]

Thanks AJ couldn't remember his position but remember reading his quotes in Newsday about looking into a new on campus arena. 

 

[Alumni Hall]

So as facilities go:
Before Covid hit our country, Cragg had an outside big time athletic facility planning company come to campus. They did extensive site visits, each and every room in Carnesecca and Taffner, and every athletic field. Committee’s were set up with coaches and athletic staff members from each area. They interviewed EVERY coach, support staff and administration members, asking for needs and wish lists. 
After about 18 months they made a formal presentation to the University with design plans, artist conceptions, cost analysis. This included making an athletics dedicated area with moving softball to the law school parking lot. Upgrades to all outdoor athletic fields to include locker rooms and sports medicine rooms at EACH field. Lacrosse and track teams would get a new stand alone building where the tennis courts are now. No more porta potties for the athletes at Softball and Kaiser like they have now. Fencing was getting a dedicated practice facility. Carnesecca was getting a complete makeover, not one room would have stayed the same. Taffner was getting a redo with updated and enlarged locker rooms, sports medicine, and coaches offices. The goal was to get all of the outdoor sport athletes OUT of Carnesecca to reduce traffic there. All teams that play outside would get new team rooms and coaches offices at their facility. In Carnesecca would be built a volleyball facility, referee and visiting team areas, updated weight room, sports medicine and equipment rooms as well as updated ticket office and academic area. In this makeover, several other University facilities needed to be flipped. Softball was headed to law school area and the present softball field would become either a new dorm or additional parking. The parking lot by Belson would have been taken over for new athletic fields. The area where the Lapchick statue is would be built a new basketball facility for either WBB or MBB with new enlarged team rooms and coaches offices on 2nd floor. Whichever team team moved there, their present facilities would be taken over by the other team. This outside company gave Cragg several building and renovation options depending on needs.
The cost of this project was huge…the whole project was brought by Cragg to the Board along with costs. From what I was told, there was a favorable response from the Board but obviously the costs were concerning to many. Then Covid came and ……keep your faith in Mike Cragg. He is a pro and knows when to delegate/seek outside help from the best in the country. He has our athletes interests for success, both athletically and academics as his priority. He genuinely cares about our athletes in all of our sports. But he also knows that he needs a major corporate sponsor to make this happen, like Barnabas Health System gave to Rutgers.

 

[mjmaherjr]

So as facilities go:
Before Covid hit our country, Cragg had an outside big time athletic facility planning company come to campus. They did extensive site visits, each and every room in Carnesecca and Taffner, and every athletic field. Committee’s were set up with coaches and athletic staff members from each area. They interviewed EVERY coach, support staff and administration members, asking for needs and wish lists. 
After about 18 months they made a formal presentation to the University with design plans, artist conceptions, cost analysis. This included making an athletics dedicated area with moving softball to the law school parking lot. Upgrades to all outdoor athletic fields to include locker rooms and sports medicine rooms at EACH field. Lacrosse and track teams would get a new stand alone building where the tennis courts are now. No more porta potties for the athletes at Softball and Kaiser like they have now. Fencing was getting a dedicated practice facility. Carnesecca was getting a complete makeover, not one room would have stayed the same. Taffner was getting a redo with updated and enlarged locker rooms, sports medicine, and coaches offices. The goal was to get all of the outdoor sport athletes OUT of Carnesecca to reduce traffic there. All teams that play outside would get new team rooms and coaches offices at their facility. In Carnesecca would be built a volleyball facility, referee and visiting team areas, updated weight room, sports medicine and equipment rooms as well as updated ticket office and academic area. In this makeover, several other University facilities needed to be flipped. Softball was headed to law school area and the present softball field would become either a new dorm or additional parking. The parking lot by Belson would have been taken over for new athletic fields. The area where the Lapchick statue is would be built a new basketball facility for either WBB or MBB with new enlarged team rooms and coaches offices on 2nd floor. Whichever team team moved there, their present facilities would be taken over by the other team. This outside company gave Cragg several building and renovation options depending on needs.
The cost of this project was huge…the whole project was brought by Cragg to the Board along with costs. From what I was told, there was a favorable response from the Board but obviously the costs were concerning to many. Then Covid came and ……keep your faith in Mike Cragg. He is a pro and knows when to delegate/seek outside help from the best in the country. He has our athletes interests for success, both athletically and academics as his priority. He genuinely cares about our athletes in all of our sports. But he also knows that he needs a major corporate sponsor to make this happen, like Barnabas Health System gave to Rutgers.

Well this was certainly the most complete and detailed inside scoop I've read in a while. Wow nice job and thanks with all the details. Didnt know they were thinking anything this extensive the cost for all this had to be monstrous

 

[RedStormNC]

Thank you AJH !!!

Really appreciate you sharing your insight.

 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

After 3 seasons we shouldn’t  be saying let’s see how it pans out.We should have seen some big positives and we are not playing well. If we only win 4-5 games in confr things will have to change ,as you say let’s wait and see

 

Fans here need to stop calling for another coaching change. One of our biggest problems has been the coaching turnover. Norm was given plenty of time and didn't show enough, but we probably dumped Lavin too soon, Mullin was a mistake hire from the beginning, and now we have a good, well-established coach with a good staff who has done well in an absolutely crazy time. We need stability with the coaching and I don't see any glaring reason to make another coaching change at this time. Sure, we haven't risen to the top of the BE or recruiting ranks, but we have been respectable on both fronts given the inherent limitations of our facilities and poor history (20 year now). We need to support Cragg and Anderson and build this program up step by step.

 

[beast of the east]

After 3 seasons we shouldn’t  be saying let’s see how it pans out.We should have seen some big positives and we are not playing well. If we only win 4-5 games in confr things will have to change ,as you say let’s wait and see


 

Fans here need to stop calling for another coaching change. One of our biggest problems has been the coaching turnover. Norm was given plenty of time and didn't show enough, but we probably dumped Lavin too soon, Mullin was a mistake hire from the beginning, and now we have a good, well-established coach with a good staff who has done well in an absolutely crazy time. We need stability with the coaching and I don't see any glaring reason to make another coaching change at this time. Sure, we haven't risen to the top of the BE or recruiting ranks, but we have been respectable on both fronts given the inherent limitations of our facilities and poor history (20 year now). We need to support Cragg and Anderson and build this program up step by step.

Mullin's tenure will be litigated on here forever.   I was ecstatic at his hire, but in the end agreed that he just wasn't a naturally good coach.   Still and all, I believe he suffered from having 3 AD's in his 4 years here, and received no meaningful direction that he may have benefitted from.    Here are some correctable errors:

1. Slice hire.   I don't know who signed off on this, but if it is Joe Oliva, then he is a total idiot for permitting a guaranteed six year deal with no buyouts.   It was dumb to offer that, and even dumber that the university would go along with it.   I don't care if he is a Calipari level recruiter (he is not) or Calipari himself, but guaranteeing more than 1 year in case of separation was idiotic for an assistant.

2. Mitch hire - He may be a nice guy, he may have been good advising players in practice, but he was a zero on the bench, and a coach with zero experience should not have been allowed to hire an assistant with zero experience.

3. Matt A's departure - as soon as Hoiberg got hired by Nebraska, Mullin should have moved swiftly and boldly.   He should have either have gone to AD, sacrificed some of his own salary to make Matt an offer he couldn't refuse, or identified TWO top notch recruiters to replace Matt and Mitch.

4.  If he did the above, and was able to articulate to administration that he was now free of some of the personal issues that dominated his time during his tenure to date, and he was now free to pound the pavement recruiting with his enhanced staff.

Lavin, for his part, also did not answer to an AD during his time here.   Mullin didn't answer to Goff, and Monasch was gone the summer of his hiring.   Instead he answered to someone who knows far less about basketball than that person believes he does, who then acquiesced to the errors Mullin made in forming his staff.    If we had a real AD from Lavin's time here, our basketball situation would have been in much better shape. 
 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

After 3 seasons we shouldn’t  be saying let’s see how it pans out.We should have seen some big positives and we are not playing well. If we only win 4-5 games in confr things will have to change ,as you say let’s wait and see




 

Fans here need to stop calling for another coaching change. One of our biggest problems has been the coaching turnover. Norm was given plenty of time and didn't show enough, but we probably dumped Lavin too soon, Mullin was a mistake hire from the beginning, and now we have a good, well-established coach with a good staff who has done well in an absolutely crazy time. We need stability with the coaching and I don't see any glaring reason to make another coaching change at this time. Sure, we haven't risen to the top of the BE or recruiting ranks, but we have been respectable on both fronts given the inherent limitations of our facilities and poor history (20 year now). We need to support Cragg and Anderson and build this program up step by step.

Mullin's tenure will be litigated on here forever.   I was ecstatic at his hire, but in the end agreed that he just wasn't a naturally good coach.   Still and all, I believe he suffered from having 3 AD's in his 4 years here, and received no meaningful direction that he may have benefitted from.    Here are some correctable errors:

1. Slice hire.   I don't know who signed off on this, but if it is Joe Oliva, then he is a total idiot for permitting a guaranteed six year deal with no buyouts.   It was dumb to offer that, and even dumber that the university would go along with it.   I don't care if he is a Calipari level recruiter (he is not) or Calipari himself, but guaranteeing more than 1 year in case of separation was idiotic for an assistant.

2. Mitch hire - He may be a nice guy, he may have been good advising players in practice, but he was a zero on the bench, and a coach with zero experience should not have been allowed to hire an assistant with zero experience.

3. Matt A's departure - as soon as Hoiberg got hired by Nebraska, Mullin should have moved swiftly and boldly.   He should have either have gone to AD, sacrificed some of his own salary to make Matt an offer he couldn't refuse, or identified TWO top notch recruiters to replace Matt and Mitch.

4.  If he did the above, and was able to articulate to administration that he was now free of some of the personal issues that dominated his time during his tenure to date, and he was now free to pound the pavement recruiting with his enhanced staff.

Lavin, for his part, also did not answer to an AD during his time here.   Mullin didn't answer to Goff, and Monasch was gone the summer of his hiring.   Instead he answered to someone who knows far less about basketball than that person believes he does, who then acquiesced to the errors Mullin made in forming his staff.    If we had a real AD from Lavin's time here, our basketball situation would have been in much better shape. 


 

1- You seem to believe that the AD had any authority to override Mullin. There was no permitting or not permitting. Mullin is an SJU legend and there is no way he would have taken that kind of order from the school.
2- See 1 above.
3- You expected Mullin to give up some of his salary?? Lol
4- Mullin never was and never will be a good head college coach. This was a disaster hire. He had zero coaching experience of any kind at any level. He had zero experience with the college recruiting process. He had zero experience in putting together and managing a coaching staff.

It was a ridiculous mistake and we had to move on quickly from it. For the first time since before Norm we now have a person who is an experienced successful college head basketball coach as our head coach (arguable with respect to Lavin who was more broadcaster than coach before coming here), and we should hope he will be here for a good number of years.

 

[beast of the east]

After 3 seasons we shouldn’t  be saying let’s see how it pans out.We should have seen some big positives and we are not playing well. If we only win 4-5 games in confr things will have to change ,as you say let’s wait and see





 

Fans here need to stop calling for another coaching change. One of our biggest problems has been the coaching turnover. Norm was given plenty of time and didn't show enough, but we probably dumped Lavin too soon, Mullin was a mistake hire from the beginning, and now we have a good, well-established coach with a good staff who has done well in an absolutely crazy time. We need stability with the coaching and I don't see any glaring reason to make another coaching change at this time. Sure, we haven't risen to the top of the BE or recruiting ranks, but we have been respectable on both fronts given the inherent limitations of our facilities and poor history (20 year now). We need to support Cragg and Anderson and build this program up step by step.

Mullin's tenure will be litigated on here forever.   I was ecstatic at his hire, but in the end agreed that he just wasn't a naturally good coach.   Still and all, I believe he suffered from having 3 AD's in his 4 years here, and received no meaningful direction that he may have benefitted from.    Here are some correctable errors:

1. Slice hire.   I don't know who signed off on this, but if it is Joe Oliva, then he is a total idiot for permitting a guaranteed six year deal with no buyouts.   It was dumb to offer that, and even dumber that the university would go along with it.   I don't care if he is a Calipari level recruiter (he is not) or Calipari himself, but guaranteeing more than 1 year in case of separation was idiotic for an assistant.

2. Mitch hire - He may be a nice guy, he may have been good advising players in practice, but he was a zero on the bench, and a coach with zero experience should not have been allowed to hire an assistant with zero experience.

3. Matt A's departure - as soon as Hoiberg got hired by Nebraska, Mullin should have moved swiftly and boldly.   He should have either have gone to AD, sacrificed some of his own salary to make Matt an offer he couldn't refuse, or identified TWO top notch recruiters to replace Matt and Mitch.

4.  If he did the above, and was able to articulate to administration that he was now free of some of the personal issues that dominated his time during his tenure to date, and he was now free to pound the pavement recruiting with his enhanced staff.

Lavin, for his part, also did not answer to an AD during his time here.   Mullin didn't answer to Goff, and Monasch was gone the summer of his hiring.   Instead he answered to someone who knows far less about basketball than that person believes he does, who then acquiesced to the errors Mullin made in forming his staff.    If we had a real AD from Lavin's time here, our basketball situation would have been in much better shape. 



 

1- You seem to believe that the AD had any authority to override Mullin. There was no permitting or not permitting. Mullin is an SJU legend and there is no way he would taken that kind of order from the school.
2- See 1 above.
3- You expected Mullin to give up some of his salary?? Lol
4- Mullin never was and never will be a good head college coach. This was a disaster hire. He had zero coaching experience of any kind at any level. He had zero experience with the college recruiting process. He had zero experience in putting together and managing a coaching staff.

It was a ridiculous mistake and we had to move on quickly from it. For the first time since before Norm we now have a person who is an experienced successful college head basketball coach as our head coach (arguable with respect to Lavin who was more broadcaster than coach before coming here), and we should hope he will be here for a good number of years.

1- You seem to believe that the AD had any authority to override Mullin. There was no permitting or not permitting. Mullin is an SJU legend and there is no way he would taken that kind of order from the school.   It was not Mullin's fault for advocating a 6 year guaranteed deal - it was the school's fault for going along with it.   Mullin didn't sign the contract with Slice.  A real AD would not have gone along with it.
2- See 1 above.   See 1 above
3- You expected Mullin to give up some of his salary?? Lol   In this conversation, you know nothing.   Mullin left SJU with $4 million plus owed to him and would not take a penny of what was rightfully owed in his own guaranteed deal.
4- Mullin never was and never will be a good head college coach. This was a disaster hire. He had zero coaching experience of any kind at any level. He had zero experience with the college recruiting process. He had zero experience in putting together and managing a coaching staff.    A number of head coaches have had success with zero experience - some at the NBA level.   This was the risk associated with the hire and all were aware of that risk.   You can learn to be a good coach, but some guys just don't have that natural ability.   In terms of recruiting, Mullin, more than most head coaches, was a highly recruited player, so I wouldn't call that zero.    I would say Matt was a good hire, GSJ was a good hire, and both have futures in basketball.   Slice was a disaster because his contract made him bulletproof.  Mitch was a giant mistake.

Still for all of that, we got a play in bid to the NCAAs in year for.  Lavin with his own players got there in his 5th season, and Norm never got there in 6.   So you call it a disaster, but his lack of success is in line with the previous 2 coaches, and may actually be better than what Anderson achieves in 4 seasons here.

 

 

[usguard]

Think Pitino would have taken it if we offered,but that’s another discussion with several factors involved. Iona gave him a shot perhaps we could of should of . Like sugar plums dancing in brain ,see us now  winning BE  and advancing in the NCAA with Pitino lol
so for us that are old timing is ticking. To wait 5 yrs for a really good team  Top 10 caliber  is tough all of us old guys health stand the test of time
 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

 

1- You seem to believe that the AD had any authority to override Mullin. There was no permitting or not permitting. Mullin is an SJU legend and there is no way he would taken that kind of order from the school.   It was not Mullin's fault for advocating a 6 year guaranteed deal - it was the school's fault for going along with it.   Mullin didn't sign the contract with Slice.  A real AD would not have gone along with it.
2- See 1 above.   See 1 above
3- You expected Mullin to give up some of his salary?? Lol   In this conversation, you know nothing.   Mullin left SJU with $4 million plus owed to him and would not take a penny of what was rightfully owed in his own guaranteed deal.
4- Mullin never was and never will be a good head college coach. This was a disaster hire. He had zero coaching experience of any kind at any level. He had zero experience with the college recruiting process. He had zero experience in putting together and managing a coaching staff.    A number of head coaches have had success with zero experience - some at the NBA level.   This was the risk associated with the hire and all were aware of that risk.   You can learn to be a good coach, but some guys just don't have that natural ability.   In terms of recruiting, Mullin, more than most head coaches, was a highly recruited player, so I wouldn't call that zero.    I would say Matt was a good hire, GSJ was a good hire, and both have futures in basketball.   Slice was a disaster because his contract made him bulletproof.  Mitch was a giant mistake.

Still for all of that, we got a play in bid to the NCAAs in year for.  Lavin with his own players got there in his 5th season, and Norm never got there in 6.   So you call it a disaster, but his lack of success is in line with the previous 2 coaches, and may actually be better than what Anderson achieves in 4 seasons here.



 

1 and 2- Nope. The AD had no ability to override Mullin. If Oliva did as you presume he could have, Mullin would have just said no thanks, get lost.
3- What do you think was happening in those weeks before it was announced Mullin was gone? He was trying to negotiate a buyout and he walked away when it was apparent it was either go away respectfully or go away with a messy reputation-wrecking fight and possibly litigation.
4- What college major program head coach had short-term success with zero prior coaching experience? Please name them.
Getting a play-in bid is nothing. And don't forget that he had nothing coming in for the next season. The fact that he didn't do better than the prior failed coaches isn't anything notable.

 

[beast of the east]

 

1- You seem to believe that the AD had any authority to override Mullin. There was no permitting or not permitting. Mullin is an SJU legend and there is no way he would taken that kind of order from the school.   It was not Mullin's fault for advocating a 6 year guaranteed deal - it was the school's fault for going along with it.   Mullin didn't sign the contract with Slice.  A real AD would not have gone along with it.
2- See 1 above.   See 1 above
3- You expected Mullin to give up some of his salary?? Lol   In this conversation, you know nothing.   Mullin left SJU with $4 million plus owed to him and would not take a penny of what was rightfully owed in his own guaranteed deal.
4- Mullin never was and never will be a good head college coach. This was a disaster hire. He had zero coaching experience of any kind at any level. He had zero experience with the college recruiting process. He had zero experience in putting together and managing a coaching staff.    A number of head coaches have had success with zero experience - some at the NBA level.   This was the risk associated with the hire and all were aware of that risk.   You can learn to be a good coach, but some guys just don't have that natural ability.   In terms of recruiting, Mullin, more than most head coaches, was a highly recruited player, so I wouldn't call that zero.    I would say Matt was a good hire, GSJ was a good hire, and both have futures in basketball.   Slice was a disaster because his contract made him bulletproof.  Mitch was a giant mistake.

Still for all of that, we got a play in bid to the NCAAs in year for.  Lavin with his own players got there in his 5th season, and Norm never got there in 6.   So you call it a disaster, but his lack of success is in line with the previous 2 coaches, and may actually be better than what Anderson achieves in 4 seasons here.





 

1 and 2- Nope. The AD had no ability to override Mullin. If Oliva did as you presume he could have, Mullin would have just said no thanks, get lost.
3- What do you think was happening in those weeks before it was announced Mullin was gone? He was trying to negotiate a buyout and he walked away when it was apparent it was either go away respectfully or go away with a messy reputation-wrecking fight and possibly litigation.
4- What college major program head coach had short-term success with zero prior coaching experience? Please name them.
Getting a play-in bid is nothing. And don't forget that he had nothing coming in for the next season. The fact that he didn't do better than the prior failed coaches isn't anything notable.

I'm not going to regurgitate what I posted already.   You are entitled to your opinions.   Oliva is an attorney, not an AD.   It's sort of like you advising me on me expertise as a named supervisor when you have zero experience in that.  Oliva put himself in a place where he had no business being.  

You can speculate that Mullin was trying to come away with cash as part of his separation, but unless you know someone closer to the situation, I can tell you with some degree of confidence that you are dead wrong on that.  Mullin told Gempeshaw that he would not accept any salary money owed if he wasn't working here.   

I really don't understand that we consider ourselves part of the St. John's community on here and some folks act with such vitriol towards Mullin, who by all accounts is a decent person who simply failed to be a successful coach here.   I can accept that he wasn't a good coach, but some posters have just said horrible things about him that are patently untrue.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

One of the factors that we mention frequently about the Lavin , Mullin and Anderson years but , don’t see the pattern is we just don’t get the high level recruits that many of our BE opponents do . Lavin had that 1 enormous Recruiting year but , then kind of hit a wall . Getting Jordan and Obepka helped but , both proved unreliable for various reasons .   Mullin landed Ponds , and got Simon and Clark to transfer here plus Owens , Figgy etc .  Lovett stayed a while but , wasn’t here long enough to impact the team .    CMA did well with Posh and Champ .  Wusu is a nice addition but , not a program changer , so far .     CMA transfers are ok , no Super stars .   Next year ?  We don’t know yet how we will fare for next years Recruits .  Obviously we will need some or one impact player .   The point of all this is the reality of kids not especially knocking down the doors to play here .  And , that transcends who the Coach is . It’s a problem beyond just CMA . 

 

[jr49]

Sorry but every time I see the topic caption, I think I am going to see Adrian Monk solve a crime.

I have not noticed any discussion of Covid affecting CMA's coaching/recruiting.  College basketball in these past 2 years has been more challenging then any we have experienced.  Any thoughts as how this could impact the evaluation 

 

[redmannorth]

After 3 seasons we shouldn’t  be saying let’s see how it pans out.We should have seen some big positives and we are not playing well. If we only win 4-5 games in confr things will have to change ,as you say let’s wait and see



 

Fans here need to stop calling for another coaching change. One of our biggest problems has been the coaching turnover. Norm was given plenty of time and didn't show enough, but we probably dumped Lavin too soon, Mullin was a mistake hire from the beginning, and now we have a good, well-established coach with a good staff who has done well in an absolutely crazy time. We need stability with the coaching and I don't see any glaring reason to make another coaching change at this time. Sure, we haven't risen to the top of the BE or recruiting ranks, but we have been respectable on both fronts given the inherent limitations of our facilities and poor history (20 year now). We need to support Cragg and Anderson and build this program up step by step.

Mullin's tenure will be litigated on here forever.   I was ecstatic at his hire, but in the end agreed that he just wasn't a naturally good coach.   Still and all, I believe he suffered from having 3 AD's in his 4 years here, and received no meaningful direction that he may have benefitted from.    Here are some correctable errors:

1. Slice hire.   I don't know who signed off on this, but if it is Joe Oliva, then he is a total idiot for permitting a guaranteed six year deal with no buyouts.   It was dumb to offer that, and even dumber that the university would go along with it.   I don't care if he is a Calipari level recruiter (he is not) or Calipari himself, but guaranteeing more than 1 year in case of separation was idiotic for an assistant.

2. Mitch hire - He may be a nice guy, he may have been good advising players in practice, but he was a zero on the bench, and a coach with zero experience should not have been allowed to hire an assistant with zero experience.

3. Matt A's departure - as soon as Hoiberg got hired by Nebraska, Mullin should have moved swiftly and boldly.   He should have either have gone to AD, sacrificed some of his own salary to make Matt an offer he couldn't refuse, or identified TWO top notch recruiters to replace Matt and Mitch.

4.  If he did the above, and was able to articulate to administration that he was now free of some of the personal issues that dominated his time during his tenure to date, and he was now free to pound the pavement recruiting with his enhanced staff.

Lavin, for his part, also did not answer to an AD during his time here.   Mullin didn't answer to Goff, and Monasch was gone the summer of his hiring.   Instead he answered to someone who knows far less about basketball than that person believes he does, who then acquiesced to the errors Mullin made in forming his staff.    If we had a real AD from Lavin's time here, our basketball situation would have been in much better shape. 

 

Excellent post Beast. Mullin suffered from no proper AD which was not his fault at all, and from whomever signing off on Slicés guaranteed 6 year contract, that in and of itself was an unmitigated disaster. No proper AD, businessman or lawyer would ever agree to that. The downside was just too large and in our case it haunted us for 5 years. Mitch too was a big mistake as you pointed out. He was the last assistant Mullin needed. Matt was left all alone with the recruiting duties which is too much for anyone at a major program. A real AD would have also told Mullin he has to work 12 months a year and to be on campus during the summer and hold daily workouts. Had that occurred Tariq Owens never leaves and we are a much better team Mullins last year and not having this discussion today. 
by the way , the Slice issue never would have occurred with a real AD who would have sat them down together and soothed each of their bruised egos. 
the trials and tribulations of an SJU Bball fan. 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

 

Excellent post Beast. Mullin suffered from no proper AD which was not his fault at all, and from whomever signing off on Slicés guaranteed 6 year contract, that in and of itself was an unmitigated disaster. No proper AD, businessman or lawyer would ever agree to that. The downside was just too large and in our case it haunted us for 5 years. Mitch too was a big mistake as you pointed out. He was the last assistant Mullin needed. Matt was left all alone with the recruiting duties which is too much for anyone at a major program. A real AD would have also told Mullin he has to work 12 months a year and to be on campus during the summer and hold daily workouts. Had that occurred Tariq Owens never leaves and we are a much better team Mullins last year and not having this discussion today. 
by the way , the Slice issue never would have occurred with a real AD who would have sat them down together and soothed each of their bruised egos. 
the trials and tribulations of an SJU Bball fan. 

Sure, it's the AD's fault that Mullin didn't work hard and wasn't here in summer. SMH ...

 

[BrooklynRed]

As to Chris Mullin, I enjoyed him as a player and I admired him as a person when he got his life straightened out.  When he came in I was glad to welcome him home.  When his wife acquiesced to their daughter's wishes to go back to California, I felt that took a lot out of Chris and then his brother's cancer and death seasled the deal as Chris was always about family.  To the nay sayers, I have one word--JARVIS.

 

[Roamer]

Mullin experiment was a disaster.  Hind sight is 20-20 but would have been better off with Lavin staying.