Around the Big East 18/19

Virtually no Quinerly in game. A minute or so in first half, and that was it.

[quote="Mike Zaun" post=316793]Nova just has so many weapons. They get new ones, they struggle slightly, but you see them clearly get better and better as the year goes on. Every guy on that team will hit open 3's routinely. They just play so under control and calm. I notice that we rush much more than they do on fast breaks. They still get out quick but they know exactly what they want to do with the ball after crossing half court. From what I've seen it doesn't look like we know until we get to the rim and too often it's all iron. Something else I notice is that when Nova players set picks, they actually get contact and slow the defense down. When we set picks the players go right around us.

Nova will be up 10 on you in the blink of an eye. Player development there is unmatched and a thing of beauty. By the way, why can't we ever get the type of player like McDermott? 3 star kid #287 nationally can shoot lights out and has a bit of height. Not the most athletic but still quick enough to hang in there.https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2015/sean-mcdermott-65971[/quote]
 
[quote="Sju grad 13" post=316801]My goodness Jay Wright is an excellent coach.[/quote]

Even if it means he whoops us for years to come, I'd love to see him stay in the Big East for another 20 years. He is so good for the conference.
 
[quote="Sju grad 13" post=316801]My goodness Jay Wright is an excellent coach.[/quote]

What do you mean? It's obviously all the players ;)
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=316792]Butler btw is 1 & 4 on road, completely different team away from Hinkle. They need this one at home & have a shot.[/quote]

If you watch the second half, two things are obvious about Villanova:

1)This is clearly the least talented team over the last 6 Jay has had but
2)They are so well drilled and do not ever panic. Butler is up 44-43 and Nova goes on a 12-0 run and go up 11 and never really threatened after that. No Cole Swider and Quinerly still being babied into the rotation and they just keep winning.

The difference against Butler is striking in terms of how Nova played and SJU. SJU allows a 6 point game to turn into a 22 point deficit in a span of 3-4 minutes. They panic, their upper-classmen just don't seem to have the same poise as Nova. They don't have any significant bench talent to turn for to change the momentum. They don't have a post player like Eric Paschell to pound the glass or go down low to get an easy basket.

This is why I am not as optimisitc as others about SJU in the near future unless the recruiting picks up significantly. The goal from the day Mullin was hired was to compete for BE titles. That is Nova's goal and that absolutely should be SJU's. If you agree with that, and I do, then I am not convinced we are closer if at all then where SJU was when Lavin was fired and Mullin was hired. This is clearly Nova's worst team in 6 years and Mullin's best in 4 years and Nova is still clearly better. I mean you have posters "hoping" for a 10-8 season. That's fine but that is NOT the goal. The goal is to compete with Nova. The goal was not after 4 years maybe SJU can be equal to Lavin's last 2 years. And next year I see the gap widening again.
 
[quote="fordham96" post=316807][quote="Paultzman" post=316792]Butler btw is 1 & 4 on road, completely different team away from Hinkle. They need this one at home & have a shot.[/quote]

If you watch the second half, two things are obvious about Villanova:

1)This is clearly the least talented team over the last 6 Jay has had but
2)They are so well drilled and do not ever panic. Butler is up 44-43 and Nova goes on a 12-0 run and go up 11 and never really threatened after that. No Cole Swider and Quinerly still being babied into the rotation and they just keep winning.

The difference against Butler is striking in terms of how Nova played and SJU. SJU allows a 6 point game to turn into a 22 point deficit in a span of 3-4 minutes. They panic, their upper-classmen just don't seem to have the same poise as Nova. They don't have any significant bench talent to turn for to change the momentum. They don't have a post player like Eric Paschell to pound the glass or go down low to get an easy basket.

This is why I am not as optimisitc as others about SJU in the near future unless the recruiting picks up significantly. The goal from the day Mullin was hired was to compete for BE titles. That is Nova's goal and that absolutely should be SJU's. If you agree with that, and I do, then I am not convinced we are closer if at all then where SJU was when Lavin was fired and Mullin was hired. This is clearly Nova's worst team in 6 years and Mullin's best in 4 years and Nova is still clearly better. I mean you have posters "hoping" for a 10-8 season. That's fine but that is NOT the goal. The goal is to compete with Nova. The goal was not after 4 years maybe SJU can be equal to Lavin's last 2 years. And next year I see the gap widening again.[/quote]

Totally agree...the difference between us and Nova is striking. Just the demeanor of the team is amazing. Villanova players truly play as a complete team running like a strong engine on 93 octane. They don't get tired and they don't go into any major lulls because of their bench. When we give Ponds a breather, the opponent can easily go on a run. When Nova subs out, they pick up right where they left off and didn't lose an inch. All players know what their roles are and play within them. They have tons of guys who can shoot and drive equally well. They finish their bunnies. They don't beat themselves, they make you beat them. In the last 7 minutes of close SJ games, it's difficult to watch because we panic. In the last 7 for Nova, they just glide through the game playing with high basketball IQ and take what you give them. Always under control and much easier to watch. They have the killer instinct late and though it may be a 5 pt game for a while, in the end they almost always deal the KO blow and go up 10 or 12 to seal the game. They are the gold standard.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=316812][quote="fordham96" post=316807][quote="Paultzman" post=316792]Butler btw is 1 & 4 on road, completely different team away from Hinkle. They need this one at home & have a shot.[/quote]

If you watch the second half, two things are obvious about Villanova:

1)This is clearly the least talented team over the last 6 Jay has had but
2)They are so well drilled and do not ever panic. Butler is up 44-43 and Nova goes on a 12-0 run and go up 11 and never really threatened after that. No Cole Swider and Quinerly still being babied into the rotation and they just keep winning.

The difference against Butler is striking in terms of how Nova played and SJU. SJU allows a 6 point game to turn into a 22 point deficit in a span of 3-4 minutes. They panic, their upper-classmen just don't seem to have the same poise as Nova. They don't have any significant bench talent to turn for to change the momentum. They don't have a post player like Eric Paschell to pound the glass or go down low to get an easy basket.

This is why I am not as optimisitc as others about SJU in the near future unless the recruiting picks up significantly. The goal from the day Mullin was hired was to compete for BE titles. That is Nova's goal and that absolutely should be SJU's. If you agree with that, and I do, then I am not convinced we are closer if at all then where SJU was when Lavin was fired and Mullin was hired. This is clearly Nova's worst team in 6 years and Mullin's best in 4 years and Nova is still clearly better. I mean you have posters "hoping" for a 10-8 season. That's fine but that is NOT the goal. The goal is to compete with Nova. The goal was not after 4 years maybe SJU can be equal to Lavin's last 2 years. And next year I see the gap widening again.[/quote]

Totally agree...the difference between us and Nova is striking. Just the demeanor of the team is amazing. Villanova players truly play as a complete team running like a strong engine on 93 octane. They don't get tired and they don't go into any major lulls because of their bench. When we give Ponds a breather, the opponent can easily go on a run. When Nova subs out, they pick up right where they left off and didn't lose an inch. All players know what their roles are and play within them. They have tons of guys who can shoot and drive equally well. They finish their bunnies. They don't beat themselves, they make you beat them. In the last 7 minutes of close SJ games, it's difficult to watch because we panic. In the last 7 for Nova, they just glide through the game playing with high basketball IQ and take what you give them. Always under control and much easier to watch. They have the killer instinct late and though it may be a 5 pt game for a while, in the end they almost always deal the KO blow and go up 10 or 12 to seal the game. They are the gold standard.[/quote]

Mike, we handed the game to Villanova in the final 2 minutes because we forced everything. In a one minute stretch Simon missed 3 shots and committed 2 fouls. The Nova bench also was a big factor. Wright performed no coaching wizardry over Mully in that game.
 
Nova 43% from 3, 49% from the field, almost 90% from the line. Only 8 turnovers, only 12 personal fouls, 9 offensive rebounds. You can't get much better than that, and you can't do it without very good players.
 
Wednesday, January 23rd:

6:30 PM - Providence at Xavier - FS1
8:30 PM - Depaul at Marquette - FS1

The league is off on Thursday.
 
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[quote="Class of 72" post=316826][quote="Mike Zaun" post=316812][quote="fordham96" post=316807][quote="Paultzman" post=316792]Butler btw is 1 & 4 on road, completely different team away from Hinkle. They need this one at home & have a shot.[/quote]

If you watch the second half, two things are obvious about Villanova:

1)This is clearly the least talented team over the last 6 Jay has had but
2)They are so well drilled and do not ever panic. Butler is up 44-43 and Nova goes on a 12-0 run and go up 11 and never really threatened after that. No Cole Swider and Quinerly still being babied into the rotation and they just keep winning.

The difference against Butler is striking in terms of how Nova played and SJU. SJU allows a 6 point game to turn into a 22 point deficit in a span of 3-4 minutes. They panic, their upper-classmen just don't seem to have the same poise as Nova. They don't have any significant bench talent to turn for to change the momentum. They don't have a post player like Eric Paschell to pound the glass or go down low to get an easy basket.

This is why I am not as optimisitc as others about SJU in the near future unless the recruiting picks up significantly. The goal from the day Mullin was hired was to compete for BE titles. That is Nova's goal and that absolutely should be SJU's. If you agree with that, and I do, then I am not convinced we are closer if at all then where SJU was when Lavin was fired and Mullin was hired. This is clearly Nova's worst team in 6 years and Mullin's best in 4 years and Nova is still clearly better. I mean you have posters "hoping" for a 10-8 season. That's fine but that is NOT the goal. The goal is to compete with Nova. The goal was not after 4 years maybe SJU can be equal to Lavin's last 2 years. And next year I see the gap widening again.[/quote]

Totally agree...the difference between us and Nova is striking. Just the demeanor of the team is amazing. Villanova players truly play as a complete team running like a strong engine on 93 octane. They don't get tired and they don't go into any major lulls because of their bench. When we give Ponds a breather, the opponent can easily go on a run. When Nova subs out, they pick up right where they left off and didn't lose an inch. All players know what their roles are and play within them. They have tons of guys who can shoot and drive equally well. They finish their bunnies. They don't beat themselves, they make you beat them. In the last 7 minutes of close SJ games, it's difficult to watch because we panic. In the last 7 for Nova, they just glide through the game playing with high basketball IQ and take what you give them. Always under control and much easier to watch. They have the killer instinct late and though it may be a 5 pt game for a while, in the end they almost always deal the KO blow and go up 10 or 12 to seal the game. They are the gold standard.[/quote]

Mike, we handed the game to Villanova in the final 2 minutes because we forced everything. In a one minute stretch Simon missed 3 shots and committed 2 fouls. The Nova bench also was a big factor. Wright performed no coaching wizardry over Mully in that game.[/quote]

The wizardry was his player development. He has his kids playing smart, under composure, with chemistry. The bench is also because of Wright. He also teaches them how to close out games which is why they're 6-0. They haven't blown the wheels off teams, they just know how to play winning basketball in the closing moments. He just seems to recruit different types of players and may not get the most athletic guys but gets very high basketball IQ kids who put the name on the front before the name on the back of their jerseys.
 
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Wright obviously has better recruiting choices & can be more selective than most. Winning championships drives that to a great degree.

That said, one quality of Wright led teams is they always improve in season and he integrates new players incrementally, but effectively. By season’s end freshmen are well positioned for solid contributions the following year, thus keeping program base strong and experienced. Imo, that also precludes mass exodus of players transferring.
 
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Wright also redshirts people who are very highly rated coming out of high school. Players like Mikal Bridges and DiVincenzo. He somehow gets them to buy into his vision. Most programs, you tell a top 100 recruit you are redshirting them, they’d bail out immediately. He gets players to stick around and it pays off
 
And just think... if Jarvis had gone to the Wizards after his second season at SJU (Jordan wanted to hire him but they couldn't agree on a contract), Jay Wright would be our coach right now.
 
[quote="RedmanMike" post=316852]And just think... if Jarvis had gone to the Wizards after his second season at SJU (Jordan wanted to hire him but they couldn't agree on a contract), Jay Wright would be our coach right now.[/quote]

I do remember that.

And a year later in 2001 Jay had all but agreed to head to Rutgers to replace Bannon and Villanova decided to part ways with Lappas and at the last minute went after Jay and the rest is history.
 
I understand asking to be Nova is a lot, but it's not a lot to ask to be Marquette, Butler, Seton Hall, PC, Creighton, etc. Someone else pointed out the silliness of seeing a 10-8 record as the holy grail of sorts when that would be seen as a down year for several Big East teams. Would not be acceptable for Marquette or Nova at this juncture.
 
The goal was never to simply be 10-8. The goal was certainly never to endure 3 bad rebuilding years just so we could enjoy a "10-8" season where they may get into the NCAA's. The goal was to compete at the highest level in the BE. The goal was to compete with Nova both on and off the court. Chris Mullin did not come back to SJU so he can say, "Hey in 4 years I was able to finish ahead of Providence one time."

That is why you fire coach who went 10-8 two years in a row but who did not seemingly have a plan to get much better. You fire him because that is NOT good enough.

And I applaud that type of forward thinking. Read Mike Vaccaro's piece in the NY Post after the BE loss to Xavier last year. Makes it clear, SJU should not only strive to be on that level with Nova (and lesser extent Xavier at least last year before Mack left) there is no reason they shouldn't be.

https://nypost.com/2018/03/08/its-desperately-time-for-st-johns-to-be-great-again/

You could see how January wore on him, and you could see how February revitalized him, and you can see how there are seeds in place for this program to go where it needs to go, to someday stand astride Xavier and Villanova. If it can happen in Cincinnati, if it can happen in Philadelphia, of course it can happen here.

More to the point, given where those two have set the bar, it should happen here.
 
The reason Lavin was fired was also because when he did make the tourney, his teams fell on their face immediately to the point where it was practically an automatic win for whatever opponent we drew. This is true for the NIT, NCAA's, and BET. I think he got something like 1 or 2 wins in all of those tournaments COMBINED in his 5 years with some extremely talented teams. Under him, we would have to scratch and claw our way to barely make the tourney and then we'd do nothing once we were in it. Our offense was poor under his teams but our defense was solid. He also could not develop our high recruits who were still raw late into their careers here. There should be no excuses for why we can't compete for Big East titles with rosters like this with so much experience. I really feel like Ponds can go on a Kemba like run if we can just make the tourney. Once you make it, anything can happen. It shouldn't be this hard making the tournament routinely. We just make it look very hard.
 
[quote="fordham96" post=316864]The goal was never to simply be 10-8. The goal was certainly never to endure 3 bad rebuilding years just so we could enjoy a "10-8" season where they may get into the NCAA's. The goal was to compete at the highest level in the BE. The goal was to compete with Nova both on and off the court. [/quote]

The goals of our fan base are as detached from reality as any program in the country.

Not happy with 10-8 in year 4? Lololololol look at the past 20 years!!!! We haven't won a tournament game in a season that started this millennium and we want to complain about a potential 10-8, 22+ win team!!!!!

If we don't cannibalize ourselves yet again and make recruiting impossible with incessant negativity, we are set up to be good for a few years with a few additions.
 
I would sign up for 10-8 right now. That, with a Big East tournament win or 2, puts us in the dance. Probably helps with recruits on the fence. Also is a huge turnaround from 4 and 14. One of the biggest one season turnarounds in conference history I would guess.

Watching the conference games, I am impressed with every team. Plenty of stars. Each team has one guy that can beat you an any given night. In years past, maybe one guy per team could hit the 3. Now, each team has 2 or 3 legit 3 point threats. Anything above 500 is an achievement in this league. It's a shame someone will have to finish last, because every team is giving their all every game.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=316793]Nova will be up 10 on you in the blink of an eye. Player development there is unmatched and a thing of beauty. Nova will beat you and also take advantage of an opponent's mistakes. So under control and smooth. Interchangeable parts and there's never a lull or a big run they let up. By the way, why can't we ever get the type of player like McDermott? 3 star kid #287 nationally can shoot lights out and has a bit of height. Not the most athletic but still quick enough to hang in there.https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2015/sean-mcdermott-65971[/quote]

Nova can attract a different level of player than we can, and be much more selective because of the success they've had. Jay Wright is an elite coach, and has a great eye for talent and how a player will perform in his system. If you want to compare Wright with Mullin, well, just about every coach in the country to lose that comparison.

Now I would compare some of our guys who have benefitted from Pond's exceptional play so far. I can say that Clark is a much better player with Ponds on the floor. I believe he had 6 straight games with 16 or more, and when allowed to square up is a deadly outside shooter. Put him on the miserable team Mullin got handed in year one, and he probably would not perform as well. I also think that with Ponds running the show, LJ and Simon have shown off a high wire act and even wide open threes that wouldn't happen otherwise.

Nova attracts great players which make others around them better. We certainly need to sustain the influx of talent, and more of it, to be a stronger competitor in the Big East.
 
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