Anderson - is he really the guy ?

[boo haarvey]

Outgoing:  Champ, Mathis, Smith, Coburn
Incoming:  Storr, King, Traore

Based on production this year, I have to assume that Wheeler replaces most of Champ's production.

I expect Pinzon to be a more productive offensive player than Mathis (though not as good a defender)

Smith and Coburn were not major contributors, hopefully Storr and King will provide more than they did.

I have no thoughts on Traore, but if he's your 5th big then that's fine.

I do expect further progress from Soriano, Stanley and Nyiwe.

Adding an impact transfer would be hugely helpful.  And if there are departures (which you have to assume is a strong possibility from any program these days) then the burden will be on the staff not just to find replacements but to find upgrades.

And I already agreed to buy you dinner, all we're debating is the bar tab.  Which of course may be more than the food...

I like Wheeler but if you think he’s going to replace Champagnie’s production I think you’re setting yourself up for major disappointment.
 

 

[stjohnnie75]

Outgoing:  Champ, Mathis, Smith, Coburn
Incoming:  Storr, King, Traore

Based on production this year, I have to assume that Wheeler replaces most of Champ's production.

I expect Pinzon to be a more productive offensive player than Mathis (though not as good a defender)

Smith and Coburn were not major contributors, hopefully Storr and King will provide more than they did.

I have no thoughts on Traore, but if he's your 5th big then that's fine.

I do expect further progress from Soriano, Stanley and Nyiwe.

Adding an impact transfer would be hugely helpful.  And if there are departures (which you have to assume is a strong possibility from any program these days) then the burden will be on the staff not just to find replacements but to find upgrades.

And I already agreed to buy you dinner, all we're debating is the bar tab.  Which of course may be more than the food...

I like Wheeler but if you think he’s going to replace Champagnie’s production I think you’re setting yourself up for major disappointment.

 

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

 

[stjohnnie75]

Did MA secure another winning season yet? Or does he need one more win? 

 

[L J S A]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

 

[RedStormNC]

Did MA secure another winning season yet? Or does he need one more win? 

Right now, he's 16-13 overall and 8-10 in conf. Even with two losses, in final reg season game and opening BET loss, he'd still have winning record overall. and .500 in conf.

 

[ctstorm]

Did MA secure another winning season yet? Or does he need one more win? 

Right now, he's 16-13 overall and 8-10 in conf. Even with two losses in final reg season game and opening BET lose, he's still have winning record overall and in conf would be at .500

NM

 

[ctstorm]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

And who replaces Wheeler's production if he becomes Champ?

 

[paultzman]

As season winds down, obviously a huge March activity for Mike is re-recruiting Posh,Wheeler and other core guys, while adding some new and talented, needle moving pieces. No BE rivals will be standing still, so staff really has to meet this challenge to avoid further regression. Repeating anything close to last year’s exodus would be a gut punch. Am sure Anderson knows that and as a seasoned, competitive guy hopefully will meet this challenge. In the short term, perhaps winning a few more games will help the big picture a bit.

 

[Mullins Revenge]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

And who replaces Wheeler's production if he becomes Champ?

Storr

 

[MakingPlays]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

And who replaces Wheeler's production if he becomes Champ?

There's a few possibilities, AJ Storr comes in as a top 100 recruit, 6'6 Wing player, really athletic, good slasher, decent shooting. Also, wouldn't surprise me if Pinzon has a break out year, you can just see the confidence in his game when he's on the floor.  Wusu is also certainly capable of scoring more, was 3rd leading scorer for a good portion of this season.

If all eligible players return the lineup probably looks similar to this starting off next year...

Posh / Pinzon 
Mathis / King
Storr / Wusu
Wheeler / Stanley / Drissa
Soriano / Nyiwe

The big things in the off-season as Paultz mentioned is making sure Posh and Wheeler return.  Posh I don't see much concern for, but you never know, and Wheeler although he has another year of eligibility, he's an older player he may be ready to just start a pro career, but the fact he didn't start on senior night was a good sign IMO, either means he's playing another year or a decision hasn't been made yet, because I think if he informed CMA he was done he would have gave him a proper last home game starting.

Also, I think the transfer market will be important again.  The team badly needs another 3 point shooter.  The team is only returning 1 proven shooter in Wheeler.   The Jaquan Sanders decommit really hurts looking at the projected roster, he would have filled a very important role, he has the size and he's one of the best shooters in 2022 class.  You need guys that can knockdown shots.





 

 

[Mullins Revenge]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

And who replaces Wheeler's production if he becomes Champ?

There's a few possibilities, AJ Storr comes in as a top 100 recruit, 6'6 Wing player, really athletic, good slasher, decent shooting. Also, wouldn't surprise me if Pinzon has a break out year, you can just see the confidence in his game when he's on the floor.  Wusu is also certainly capable of scoring more, was 3rd leading scorer for a good portion of this season.

If all eligible players return the lineup probably looks similar to this starting off next year...

Posh / Pinzon 
Mathis / King
Storr / Wusu
Wheeler / Stanley / Drissa
Soriano / Nyiwe

The big things in the off-season as Paultz mentioned is making sure Posh and Wheeler return.  Posh I don't see much concern for, but you never know, and Wheeler although he has another year of eligibility, he's an older player he may be ready to just start a pro career, but the fact he didn't start on senior night was a good sign IMO, either means he's playing another year or a decision hasn't been made yet, because I think if he informed CMA he was done he would have gave him a proper last home game starting.

Also, I think the transfer market will be important again.  The team badly needs another 3 point shooter.  The team is only returning 1 proven shooter in Wheeler.   The Jaquan Sanders decommit really hurts looking at the projected roster, he would have filled a very important role, he has the size and he's one of the best shooters in 2022 class.  You need guys that can knockdown shots.






 

If Mathis starts next year it wouldnt even be worth playing the season. You cant start a pg and a shooting guard who cant shoot.  It would be best for St Johns if Mathis is not on this roster next year.

 

[kranmars]

Making Plays, great post.
The only question I have is can Anderson create plays to get a shooter a few open shots. 

Finding a shooter will always be a primary goal. But even the great shooters like a few open ones to get a feel of things. Anderson has not been successful doing that.

By the way, not singling you out. Just did not want to quote another post. Trying to limit the scrolling.

 

[lawmanfan]

Agree with Roamer and Duke that Anderson has a tendency to put lineups on the floor in big spots that lack offensive balance.  As Section 9 suggested, it's likely that in those situations he leans on guys he trusts, and those guys tend to be defenders.  He did it again last night but got away with it, and he also didn't stay with it very long before he subbed in more offensive-minded players, so maybe that's progress.

In the bigger picture the issue is that at the moment he just doesn't have enough well-rounded players to save him from himself.  If Mathis had an offensive game other than putting his head down and going to the rim, if Posh was willing to shoot a couple of 3s a game, if Champagnie was more willing to assert himself, if Wusu wasn't (unfortunately) in a funk for the last half-dozen games, if Smith or Coburn could play consistent defense, then this would be less of an issue.  But when the pieces you have don't have well-rounded skill sets, you lean on the guys you trust, and those guys tend to be defenders, it hurts you offensively.

I'm hoping that some lineup tweaks next season, the new additions, and continued development from the returnees will help.

 

[paultzman]

Agree with Roamer and Duke that Anderson has a tendency to put lineups on the floor in big spots that lack offensive balance.  As Section 9 suggested, it's likely that in those situations he leans on guys he trusts, and those guys tend to be defenders.  He did it again last night but got away with it, and he also didn't stay with it very long before he subbed in more offensive-minded players, so maybe that's progress.

In the bigger picture the issue is that at the moment he just doesn't have enough well-rounded players to save him from himself.  If Mathis had an offensive game other than putting his head down and going to the rim, if Posh was willing to shoot a couple of 3s a game, if Champagnie was more willing to assert himself, if Wusu wasn't (unfortunately) in a funk for the last half-dozen games, if Smith or Coburn could play consistent defense, then this would be less of an issue.  But when the pieces you have don't have well-rounded skill sets, you lean on the guys you trust, and those guys tend to be defenders, it hurts you offensively.

I'm hoping that some lineup tweaks next season, the new additions, and continued development from the returnees will help.

Excellent post 

 

[RedmanMike]

So after watching most of the games this season in my opinion the criticism I have with CMA is that he uses the wrong line ups a lot of the times which has costed us games.  I get he isn't on the floor shooting the ball but his line ups to me seem out of wack. 

He doesnt seem to understand how important spacing is on the offensive side of the ball.  When you have a pg that cant shoot, you are already behind the 8 ball in regards to spacing.  When you compound that by playing Wusu and Mathis for major minutes, its crippling to the offense.

This is 100% correct.  Our offense looks so much better when we space the floor properly, even when we don't have our best shooters on the floor and some combination of Posh, Wusu, Mathis are playing together.  Often times we end up with one side of the floor overloaded and multiple people in the lane.  Last night I saw a couple of times when Soriano basically did a handoff in the middle of the lane.  That's how bunched up we were.

On the other hand, when the floor is spaced, and Wheeler or Mathis has the ball on the wing - then we penetrate and make things happen and look good.  Both of those guys are great at getting to the rim - and Wheeler is especially dangerous because he can also shoot it from deep.  Mathis doesn't always finish at the rim, of course, which is maddening...
 

 

[paultzman]

To me if Storr can replicate Julian’s Frosh numbers, about 10 points a game in 25 minues per outing while shooting 45% I would be ecstatic. Btw he really is an athletic player who probably improved with his current prep grad program, but be aware he was known as a slasher type guy, so any thoughts of a dead on shooter warrants seeing him in next level competition imo. Glad we recruited him and just suggest we stay grounded with him as you should with most first year guys.

 

[stjohnnie75]

Do you think Wheeler could average 16-17 ppg next year? I think it’s possible. Champagnie is averaging 19 ppg, so I do think Wheeler could get close to that mark.

He's around 13.9 since turning the corner, so I can see 16-17 presuming he eliminates all the early season stinkers next season. But I'm a happy poster if he's at 15 and improves his rebounding numbers if he returns next season.

And who replaces Wheeler's production if he becomes Champ?

Great question. Maybe a few guys step up like Pinzon, Soriano and Wusu to average an extra basket or two. Maybe a new transfer coming in.

But what I really hope is that the defense is a ton better next year so that we don’t have to average 80 ppg and still not win games.

 

[Knight]

Are there any JC players we’re targeting?

 

[IDRAFT]

Honestly it makes no sense to speculate on what any team in college basketball will look like next year. All players are potential one and done now.

I know that’s no fun, especially when a team is basically eliminated from the current season. But that’s where we are now in college basketball.

Who is going to make up Champagnies production? Who knows? In about four months we can speculate.

 

[beast of the east]

Honestly it makes no sense to speculate on what any team in college basketball will look like next year. All players are potential one and done now.

I know that’s no fun, especially when a team is basically eliminated from the current season. But that’s where we are now in college basketball.

Who is going to make up Champagnies production? Who knows? In about four months we can speculate.

I agree.   Right now it makes no practical sense to speculate what might be.

A few years ago we speculated that the kid from Germany, Freudenberg, was going to be the next Detlef Shrempf before he played a minute for us.   He turned out to be not ready for D1 basketball.  Mustapha Heron was going to be a first team Big East player, and that never materialized.    I never get too excited or too deflated because you just never know how good someone is until you start playing games.