Around the Big East 18/19

Eh, 7th place isn't surprising to see (assuming no Heron). Isn't the first prediction to project us in the 7-10 range, and won't be the last.

We always over hype the team. I am just as guilty as most on here for thinking next year will be a breakout year. That said, I can understand the skepticism from outsiders. I think we'll finish better than seventh, but I've been wrong far more often than correct when it comes to the Johnnies.
 
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I get the skepticism about where the team finishes next season—given a series of poor seasons and underperforming most of the past 20 years—but this roster is solid w/o Heron and competitive for the top tier of the BEC with him.
I also think that many of us are under-estimating Figueroa.
He was an elite JUCO player as a freshman at that level and made 1st Team AA Juco—following a stellar HS career and was ranked high 4* out of high school.
Hardy and Brownlee may have adjusted their first year in the BE, but both were solid first year BEC players: Hardy avgd 10.5 p/g and Brownlee 14.5 pts / game.
I think Figgy will do well next season, logging major minutes (usguard) and be a major contributor to our success.
I know it’s difficult to get used to, but maybe we should.
Let’s go Johnnies.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=289353]Johnnyfan wrote:

I don't think it is ungrounded to say we will be top 6 w/o Heron and top 4 with him. I agree Trimble is an average bench player - as 7th or 8th man on the tream w/wo Heron that is exactly what we project him to be - not exactly a team w/o depth. Also agree that JC transfers often have an adjustment period (see Hardy, Brownlee & Bashir) but this is not really the case with D1 transfers like Dixon & Keita (see Simon & Clark). Even with conservative expectations for Figueroa, Dixon & Keita, this team will be BE competitive IMO.[/quote]

Hardy was terrific at the outset. Norm just didn’t play him enough. Same with Brownlee. I went to the Villanova game Hardy’s junior year. He has like 18 points in the first half. He couldn’t miss and we were up big. Norm took him out to start the second half for the first 5-6 minutes and he wasn’t the same. We got blown out!
 
Chicago Days wrote: I get the skepticism about where the team finishes next season—given a series of poor seasons and underperforming most of the past 20 years—but this roster is solid w/o Heron and competitive for the top tier of the BEC with him.
I also think that many of us are under-estimating Figueroa.
He was an elite JUCO player as a freshman at that level and made 1st Team AA Juco—following a stellar HS career and was ranked high 4* out of high school.
Hardy and Brownlee may have adjusted their first year in the BE, but both were solid first year BEC players: Hardy avgd 10.5 p/g and Brownlee 14.5 pts / game.
I think Figgy will do well next season, logging major minutes (usguard) and be a major contributor to our success.
I know it’s difficult to get used to, but maybe we should.
Let’s go Johnnies.


Chicago, Brownlee played 18.6 mpg and averaged 6.8 ppg his first year and 30.2 mpg and 12.3 ppg. his second year and improved 3 point percentage from 21% to 34%; Hardy played 22.2 mpg and averaged 10.5 ppg his first year and 34.2 and 18.3 ppg his second year and improved FT % from 71% to 85%. While a large part of that improvement may be due to coaching change from Roberts to Lavin as suggested by Boo Harvey, the numbers are striking. Ahmed clearly had trouble adjusting his game from JUCO all American to BE play as well.
Doesn't mean Figgy won't be a star from day 1 and I hope he is. I also can't wait for season to begin and even before that to hear from our insiders how the new guys are looking in practice playing against the vets.
 
[quote="Boo Harvey" post=289361][quote="NCJohnnie" post=289353]Johnnyfan wrote:

I don't think it is ungrounded to say we will be top 6 w/o Heron and top 4 with him. I agree Trimble is an average bench player - as 7th or 8th man on the tream w/wo Heron that is exactly what we project him to be - not exactly a team w/o depth. Also agree that JC transfers often have an adjustment period (see Hardy, Brownlee & Bashir) but this is not really the case with D1 transfers like Dixon & Keita (see Simon & Clark). Even with conservative expectations for Figueroa, Dixon & Keita, this team will be BE competitive IMO.[/quote]

Hardy was terrific at the outset. Norm just didn’t play him enough. Same with Brownlee. I went to the Villanova game Hardy’s junior year. He has like 18 points in the first half. He couldn’t miss and we were up big. Norm took him out to start the second half for the first 5-6 minutes and he wasn’t the same. We got blown out![/quote]

We would call that NORMal
 
I think most JUCO have a big adjustment and I think it is tougher for the guys who were stars at the JUCO level based upon superior athletic gifts. Once they get to the Div I level they are not the first one down the floor any more or the highest leaper. But dealing with that is also mental. Whenever I hear about big time JUCO scorers I am reserved about that translating. Even if they are spot shooters that doesn't mean they will be able to get their shot off at the next level. The things that I liked hearing about Figueroa is that A) he was a high Div I prospect before going JUCO (like some guys in our past e.g. Michael Porter McDAA ->Juco->St John's and Harvey wasn't as high ranked but ended up being an all time great for us); B )he is a team player and good passer that elevates his team. So he's got the smarts and chemistry to go along with his natural gifts and works with the team rather than a juggernaut. Hopefully that all translates to less adjustment and I think it will.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=289362]Chicago Days wrote: I get the skepticism about where the team finishes next season—given a series of poor seasons and underperforming most of the past 20 years—but this roster is solid w/o Heron and competitive for the top tier of the BEC with him.
I also think that many of us are under-estimating Figueroa.
He was an elite JUCO player as a freshman at that level and made 1st Team AA Juco—following a stellar HS career and was ranked high 4* out of high school.
Hardy and Brownlee may have adjusted their first year in the BE, but both were solid first year BEC players: Hardy avgd 10.5 p/g and Brownlee 14.5 pts / game.
I think Figgy will do well next season, logging major minutes (usguard) and be a major contributor to our success.
I know it’s difficult to get used to, but maybe we should.
Let’s go Johnnies.


Chicago, Brownlee played 18.6 mpg and averaged 6.8 ppg his first year and 30.2 mpg and 12.3 ppg. his second year and improved 3 point percentage from 21% to 34%; Hardy played 22.2 mpg and averaged 10.5 ppg his first year and 34.2 and 18.3 ppg his second year and improved FT % from 71% to 85%. While a large part of that improvement may be due to coaching change from Roberts to Lavin as suggested by Boo Harvey, the numbers are striking. Ahmed clearly had trouble adjusting his game from JUCO all American to BE play as well.
Doesn't mean Figgy won't be a star from day 1 and I hope he is. I also can't wait for season to begin and even before that to hear from our insiders how the new guys are looking in practice playing against the vets.[/quote]

Ooops NCJohnnie! I copied Brownlee's stats per '40 minutes'! Sorry about that!
I do think Figgy will be a positive 'surprise'.
Lets go Johnnies.
 
Per Rothstein
10 Big East Impact Freshmen:

Jahvon Quinerly, Villanova
Cole Swider, Villanova
Brandon Slater, Villanova
Joey Hauser, Marquette
David Duke, Providence
A.J. Reaves, Providence
Marcus Zegarowski, Creighton
James Akinjo, Georgetown
Josh LeBlanc, Georgetown
Anthony Nelson, SHU
 
Big East Preseason First Team:

Markus Howard, Marquette
Shamorie Ponds, St. John's
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Eric Paschall, Villanova
Jessie Govan, Georgetown

Big East Preseason Sleeper:

Seton Hall

Big East Preseason Player of the Year:

Shamorie Ponds, St. John's

Per Rothstein
 
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Per Rothstein
Big East Offseason Power Rankings:

1. Villanova
2. Marquette
3. St. John's
4. Xavier
5. Georgetown
6. Seton Hall
7. Providence
8. Creighton
9. Butler
10. DePaul
 
More Rothstein
5 Under-The-Radar Big East Transfers:

LJ Figueroa, St. John’s (JUCO)
Connor Cashaw, Creighton
Damien Jefferson, Creighton
Femi Olujobi, DePaul
Zach Hankins, Xavier

10 Impact Big East Transfers:

Joe Cremo, Villanova
Joseph Chartouny, Marquette
Ed Morrow, Marquette
Mikey Dixon, St. John’s
Sedee Keita, St. John’s
Quincy McKnight, Seton Hall
Taurean Thompson, Seton Hall
Jalen Coleman-Lands, DePaul
Jordan Tucker, Butler
Ryan Welage, Xavier

Heron will be added if eligible
 
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Paultzman wrote: Per Rothstein
Big East Offseason Power Rankings:

1. Villanova
2. Marquette
3. St. John's
4. Xavier
5. Georgetown
6. Seton Hall
7. Providence
8. Creighton
9. Butler
10. DePaul

Interesting. Assume the SJU ranking is with MH playing. IMHO, Butler & PC too low and Xavier & Gtown a bit too high.
 
Wow, since Heron isn't listed as impact transfer, guess that means SJU ranking of #3 is w/o him?
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=289560]Wow, since Heron isn't listed as impact transfer, guess that means SJU ranking of #3 is w/o him?[/quote]
Without Heron, I am more comfortable with middle of pack ranking. With him, considering the BE has lost a lot of good players, three or four seems fair. Wild card to me is how well staff performs with this talented, perimeter oriented team.
 
Paultzman wrote:

NCJohnnie wrote: Wow, since Heron isn't listed as impact transfer, guess that means SJU ranking of #3 is w/o him?
Without Heron, I am more comfortable with middle of pack ranking. With him, considering the BE has lost a lot of good players, three or four seems fair. Wild card to me is how well staff performs with this talented, perimeter oriented team.

Totally agree Paultz; 3/4 ranking justified with MH playing.
 
Rothstein;
5 Under-The-Radar Big East Freshmen:

Sam Froling, Creighton
Brendan Bailey, Marquette
Josh Roberts, St. John’s
Greg Williams, St. John’s
Saddiq Bey, Villanova
 
Jon Rothstein who is regarded as one of the more knowlegable college basketball predictors and certainly one of the hardest workers has a much more favorable outlook for this SJU team than almost all of the Redmen. com posters.
 
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