I'm assuming LJ is the only starter returning next year. Is our best 3 point shooter Caraher? I don't know that any of our guards will be three point shooters. I want to be optimistic, but can't see them better than this years' which is saying very little. You would hope those who have eligibility would come back to improve their games, but I think what you saw, unfortunately, this year is their ceiling under this staff. Totally bummed at this point.
Any reason for optimism next year?
- Thread starter Red Drum
- Start date
frankingeneral
Member
[quote="Jeff Smith" post=330695]I'm assuming LJ is the only starter returning next year. Is our best 3 point shooter Caraher? I don't know that any of our guards will be three point shooters. I want to be optimistic, but can't see them better than this years' which is saying very little. You would hope those who have eligibility would come back to improve their games, but I think what you saw, unfortunately, this year is their ceiling under this staff. Totally bummed at this point.[/quote]
Why does everyone seem to think Simon is leaving? For starters, he'd have to graduate. He's used his red shirt year, and has only 1 more season of eligibility left, so he can't go somewhere and sit out, he can only transfer as a grad transfer to retain that last year of eligibility. I don't think he goes pro. He might go to Europe after he graduates. But he seems like a smart kid, with a good head on his shoulders, and I think he'd see out his education one way or another.
That said, even with Simon staying, losing Ponds, Clark & probably Heron will be brutal. We will have more depth across the lineup, but unless Mack turns out to be an absolute stud (certainly a possibility) or someone else steps up big time (Williams/Trimble/Carraher most likely candidates), the talent level will be way down. The upside is that we shouldn't have the holes we have this year in the front court with Steere and 6'10" Manuel shoring us up. Steere's gotten a lot of positive talk around these parts, but I think Manuel is no joke either. He's the kind of big man we haven't had in some time. Big body. Strong kid. Goes up hard. Can block shots But also has a decent shooting stroke for mid-range and even 3 pointers.
Why does everyone seem to think Simon is leaving? For starters, he'd have to graduate. He's used his red shirt year, and has only 1 more season of eligibility left, so he can't go somewhere and sit out, he can only transfer as a grad transfer to retain that last year of eligibility. I don't think he goes pro. He might go to Europe after he graduates. But he seems like a smart kid, with a good head on his shoulders, and I think he'd see out his education one way or another.
That said, even with Simon staying, losing Ponds, Clark & probably Heron will be brutal. We will have more depth across the lineup, but unless Mack turns out to be an absolute stud (certainly a possibility) or someone else steps up big time (Williams/Trimble/Carraher most likely candidates), the talent level will be way down. The upside is that we shouldn't have the holes we have this year in the front court with Steere and 6'10" Manuel shoring us up. Steere's gotten a lot of positive talk around these parts, but I think Manuel is no joke either. He's the kind of big man we haven't had in some time. Big body. Strong kid. Goes up hard. Can block shots But also has a decent shooting stroke for mid-range and even 3 pointers.
JohnnyFever
Active member
I think we finish in the basement or very close to it. Who are we going to be better than? PC is huge and only getting better with lots of young guys plus Cooley is great. Xavier is already becoming a force and they just got a new HC. SHU loses Powell but gains a lot and brings a lot back. DePaul loses some studs but they have a top 25 class coming. Butler will only improve. Marquette might be even better. Nova will be better. G'Town will likely be better.
This might be our only gasp of relevance for the next 4-5 years sorry to say. Strictly from watching the scrimmage at the tip off, Caraher looked like he was in slow motion against even our bench guys. Really good kid and maybe he can score inside for us, but can't expect much from him IMO. Keita is gone so don't include him. We will need all the bigs we can get. Roberts may not be ready until his JR or SR year. He needs to add a lot of strength and weight.
This might be our only gasp of relevance for the next 4-5 years sorry to say. Strictly from watching the scrimmage at the tip off, Caraher looked like he was in slow motion against even our bench guys. Really good kid and maybe he can score inside for us, but can't expect much from him IMO. Keita is gone so don't include him. We will need all the bigs we can get. Roberts may not be ready until his JR or SR year. He needs to add a lot of strength and weight.
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beast of the east
Active member
Makes no sense to have a thread like this after playing by far our worst second half of the season. Even the most optimistic fans are down, so this only brings out the worst possible scenarios. Don't see it as therapeutic, and likely just feeding into our worst prognostications.
JohnnyFever
Active member
[quote="Beast of the East" post=330712]Makes no sense to have a thread like this after playing by far our worst second half of the season. Even the most optimistic fans are down, so this only brings out the worst possible scenarios. Don't see it as therapeutic, and likely just feeding into our worst prognostications.[/quote]
You can't expect only compliments especially when they fly in the face of reality. Notice those who ask questions and realize the bleak outlook never demand that the other side stop giving their perspective.
You can't expect only compliments especially when they fly in the face of reality. Notice those who ask questions and realize the bleak outlook never demand that the other side stop giving their perspective.
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Storm Tracker
Well-known member
[quote="mattc" post=330717]Silly time to start this thread IMO.[/quote]
is it, though?
is it, though?
JohnnyFever
Active member
I'm happy we're likely in the tourney, however I think many of us realize the big picture here. You can simultaneously root like hell for our team in the tourney and also be gravely concerned for our outlook beyond this season which is completely justified.
Just sick of the:
"wait until _____"
"let's ask these questions after _____"
"not a good time"
"how dare you ask this after ____"
Let's be real, we aren't making a tourney run. At best we make it and win our first game...this is clear as day. By our standards that would be a success, however objectively it would warrant a sarcastic clap. So it's not too early to ask this stuff IMO. If it was year 1 then ok.
I hope others also see through this stuff...it's a trick question because there will never be a "good time" to ask these questions in the eyes of some. I say have at it.
Just sick of the:
"wait until _____"
"let's ask these questions after _____"
"not a good time"
"how dare you ask this after ____"
Let's be real, we aren't making a tourney run. At best we make it and win our first game...this is clear as day. By our standards that would be a success, however objectively it would warrant a sarcastic clap. So it's not too early to ask this stuff IMO. If it was year 1 then ok.
I hope others also see through this stuff...it's a trick question because there will never be a "good time" to ask these questions in the eyes of some. I say have at it.
Maybe it's the trauma from last night but I agree with Zaun at the moment. Even if we make the tournament and get out of Dayton I am starting to feel a little deja vu to Lavin's last season. I don't think the kitchen will be as bare as it was Mullin's first year but it sure doesn't look stocked. Not optimistic at the moment,
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Never too early to ask. There is a whole section about recruiting and a thread about next year's schedule. Sometimes when a team loses a ball dominant player they exceed expectations the next year. UVA made the Final Four after Ralph Sampson left. Our 99 team exceeded expectations once Lopez and Hamilton left. That said, to paraphrase, " Barkley and Artest are not walking through that door".
ManhattAn1
Active member
A lot of unknowns for next year with player movement.
As of now I am looking at what is coming in and i see a 9th or 10th place finish. We do not have the coaching in place to boost that up. For example, Seton Hall not the greatest team but Willard did a great job. Providence played at 7pm and came back 12 noon next day and at least fought and kept it close. We have not seen that as of yet out of our staff to get best out of team when things not going well. NYC wants a fighter instead our teams just roll up and hide in a shell
As of now I am looking at what is coming in and i see a 9th or 10th place finish. We do not have the coaching in place to boost that up. For example, Seton Hall not the greatest team but Willard did a great job. Providence played at 7pm and came back 12 noon next day and at least fought and kept it close. We have not seen that as of yet out of our staff to get best out of team when things not going well. NYC wants a fighter instead our teams just roll up and hide in a shell
Our current team is so flawed, why wouldn’t we be better next year?
Clark doesn’t rebound. No big man backup could be worse than Keita. We can’t be smaller. We can’t be less deep.
Our defense and rebounding should be much better if nothing else.
The potential grad transfer market is very nice this year and we have some connections to good players. Nico Carvacho went to Sunrise Christian like Trimble and Clark and he averaged 16 pts and 13 boards at 6’11 240.
AJ Harris is a former Ohio State PG that was ranked #93 in the RSCI and currently starting for 28-4 New Mexico St. He was a teammate of LJ’s at New Mexico St. for a semester.
Clark doesn’t rebound. No big man backup could be worse than Keita. We can’t be smaller. We can’t be less deep.
Our defense and rebounding should be much better if nothing else.
The potential grad transfer market is very nice this year and we have some connections to good players. Nico Carvacho went to Sunrise Christian like Trimble and Clark and he averaged 16 pts and 13 boards at 6’11 240.
AJ Harris is a former Ohio State PG that was ranked #93 in the RSCI and currently starting for 28-4 New Mexico St. He was a teammate of LJ’s at New Mexico St. for a semester.
[quote="Marillac" post=330737]Our current team is so flawed, why wouldn’t we be better next year?
Clark doesn’t rebound. No big man backup could be worse than Keita. We can’t be smaller. We can’t be less deep.
Our defense and rebounding should be much better if nothing else.
The potential grad transfer market is very nice this year and we have some connections to good players. Nico Carvacho went to Sunrise Christian like Trimble and Clark and he averaged 16 pts and 13 boards at 6’11 240.
AJ Harris is a former Ohio State PG that was ranked #93 in the RSCI and currently starting for 28-4 New Mexico St. He was a teammate of LJ’s at New Mexico St. for a semester.[/quote]
I could bring back all the various posts you made before and during this year about this team and its players that totally contradict what you are writing now that evidently you are now disavowing.
But I just think you are beyond parody at this point.
Clark doesn’t rebound. No big man backup could be worse than Keita. We can’t be smaller. We can’t be less deep.
Our defense and rebounding should be much better if nothing else.
The potential grad transfer market is very nice this year and we have some connections to good players. Nico Carvacho went to Sunrise Christian like Trimble and Clark and he averaged 16 pts and 13 boards at 6’11 240.
AJ Harris is a former Ohio State PG that was ranked #93 in the RSCI and currently starting for 28-4 New Mexico St. He was a teammate of LJ’s at New Mexico St. for a semester.[/quote]
I could bring back all the various posts you made before and during this year about this team and its players that totally contradict what you are writing now that evidently you are now disavowing.
But I just think you are beyond parody at this point.
Perhaps next year the team's talents and Mullin's style of coaching will be a better match. SJU is a team of primarily slashers ( Ponds , Simon , LJ , Williams ) with Heron and Clark having the ability to get to the rim and make outside shots.
Mullin's coaching philosophy seems to be if you have a three point shot take it even if only six or seven seconds on the shot clock have elapsed. Don't think about working the ball in for a better shot, take the open three. This philosophy just didn't work with this group. They went the whole season never getting the opponent in foul trouble nor getting to the foul line.
If LJ , Simon and Williams are playing major minutes next year Mullin better have some outside shooters available or he better stop being so stubborn and coach his team based on their abilities and not the Warriors.
Mullin's coaching philosophy seems to be if you have a three point shot take it even if only six or seven seconds on the shot clock have elapsed. Don't think about working the ball in for a better shot, take the open three. This philosophy just didn't work with this group. They went the whole season never getting the opponent in foul trouble nor getting to the foul line.
If LJ , Simon and Williams are playing major minutes next year Mullin better have some outside shooters available or he better stop being so stubborn and coach his team based on their abilities and not the Warriors.
[quote="SJUNC" post=330732]Never too early to ask. There is a whole section about recruiting and a thread about next year's schedule. Sometimes when a team loses a ball dominant player they exceed expectations the next year. UVA made the Final Four after Ralph Sampson left. Our 99 team exceeded expectations once Lopez and Hamilton left. That said, to paraphrase, " Barkley and Artest are not walking through that door".[/quote]
What you is true SJUNC. I'm picking on Ponds or anything. When healthy he is a great college player but he is a ball dominant player as you say and is not really a true point guard and distributor. He looks at times like he is forcing himself to be a distributor and it hurts his game.
Cameron Mack is the second rated Junior college player and a true pass first PG who distributes the ball. If you have guys like Figgy, Heron (if he stays) and Eli Wright (highly ranked out of High school) on the wings with Steere ,Manual and an improved Roberts inside with Mack feeding them the ball in good position for the wings to shoot and the bigs to go to the basket then why can't we be better? Also, this team to me has no heart and doesn't show up at times. If a few of these new guys coming have the heart of lion attitude that will give us the chance to be better right off the bat. Who knows, I'm just assuming.
What you is true SJUNC. I'm picking on Ponds or anything. When healthy he is a great college player but he is a ball dominant player as you say and is not really a true point guard and distributor. He looks at times like he is forcing himself to be a distributor and it hurts his game.
Cameron Mack is the second rated Junior college player and a true pass first PG who distributes the ball. If you have guys like Figgy, Heron (if he stays) and Eli Wright (highly ranked out of High school) on the wings with Steere ,Manual and an improved Roberts inside with Mack feeding them the ball in good position for the wings to shoot and the bigs to go to the basket then why can't we be better? Also, this team to me has no heart and doesn't show up at times. If a few of these new guys coming have the heart of lion attitude that will give us the chance to be better right off the bat. Who knows, I'm just assuming.