Agree on Wilcher having a PG learning curve, keeper but tough position to master in short order.
Boston College, Sun., Dec. 10, 4:30p, ESPNU
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IDK, every year I see a lot of freshmen (including point guards) on teams around the country who are good contributors. I don't know why at StJ, we historically have trouble integrating freshmen. In this day of NIL and free transfers, that is a recipe for losing highly ranked kids who then go elsewhere and immediately thrive (most recent, Storr).
We lost because we gave up what seemed like 10 or more uncontested layups. Some were BC guards breaking ahead of the field on our guards, others when there was zero help when our defenders got beaten and a bc player had a wide open path to the basket. It was just beyond belief bad defense, and Jaeden Zackery killed us again and again with what appeared to be all layups. Zero help most of the time. Zero. Lots of tape to watch. Getting besten time and time again inexcusable.
Soriano getting "only" 12 shots is the result of becoming a disciplined player. Gone are the 12 foot jump hooks taken because thats what the defense gave him as he was unable to get better position. Gone are forced midrange jumpers. His 8-12 opens thing up for other players who must simply put the ball in the basket. He's letting the game come to him, is playing with a controlled fury, and may just be playing himself into the nba draft.
Wilcher will get better, no doubt. But in a cameo role he has not shown enough to displace more experienced players. To me, he doesn't appear to have the countenance of a point, but who does anymore?
All in all, the biggest problems are on defense. Unless individuals staying playing better D, Pitino may shuffle the deck to play the best defenders more.
It only took three losses for a number of fans to be critical of Pitino recruiting or coaching. I thought the honeymoon would last at least thru
Christmas. Either some fans are really really smart or really really dumb. I know I'm in the dumb group, because I'm content to watch this play out and see how this team develops.
On the other hands, every single coach since Coach C has failed and we've tried just about everything. Failing with a top 5 coach of all time? In a lot of ways it would just fit, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Soriano getting "only" 12 shots is the result of becoming a disciplined player. Gone are the 12 foot jump hooks taken because thats what the defense gave him as he was unable to get better position. Gone are forced midrange jumpers. His 8-12 opens thing up for other players who must simply put the ball in the basket. He's letting the game come to him, is playing with a controlled fury, and may just be playing himself into the nba draft.
Wilcher will get better, no doubt. But in a cameo role he has not shown enough to displace more experienced players. To me, he doesn't appear to have the countenance of a point, but who does anymore?
All in all, the biggest problems are on defense. Unless individuals staying playing better D, Pitino may shuffle the deck to play the best defenders more.
It only took three losses for a number of fans to be critical of Pitino recruiting or coaching. I thought the honeymoon would last at least thru
Christmas. Either some fans are really really smart or really really dumb. I know I'm in the dumb group, because I'm content to watch this play out and see how this team develops.On the other hands, every single coach since Coach C has failed and we've tried just about everything. Failing with a top 5 coach of all time? In a lot of ways it would just fit, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Johnnies_24
Well-known member
Excellent post. My thoughts exactly except I think people are throwing dirt on this team prematurely. I predicted we would go 8-3 out of conference & 12-8 in the BE. Still believe we can reach those goals. Right now this team is learning how to play together & how to win games at the same time. Plus losing our most talented player for a month has hurt us as well. IMO, this team has yet to reach its ceiling.
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I never felt Wilcher was a pure PG, rather a combo guard. Elliot Cadeau doing well at Carolina is a pure PG and maybe he scared off Wilcher there.
In any event Wilcher must realize his best spot professionally is PG and will work hard to develop into one. Some posters and maybe Rick feel he is further along than me for PG role and I respect that.
Larry Wright
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Not a super athlete or pure shooter
Highly regarded HS player
Not doing this as any kind of put down, but if not a true point how was he so highly ranked.
Again don’t follow HS basketball so just asking.
Nothing ground-breaking here... but kids who develop early - skill/physique/size- will earn those lofty rankings as Freshmen /sophmores... i think they even Rank 6th graders on some sites...
Wilcher was top10 (?)- early on in his HS career- and then fell to around 30s.... kids catch up. When i was playing HS- we played against Derrick Caracter (Pitino recruit) at the former St.Pats... bigger and more skilled than anyone we faced... think he ended up transferring from Lville to UTEP.
It’s libel if anything
Wilcher has been terrible the last two games. The answer is to share the ball and play through Soriano.
Jenkins can’t dribble the air out of the ball and also take 13 shots a game. That is a team killer.
How has he taken 21 more shots than an All Big East center who is shooting 68%?! We are 325th on the country in free throw attempts WITH Soriano. Jenkins has only taken a free throw in 3 games and only 9 on the entire season, with most of those coming from teams trying to foul in the last minute of close wins.
He doesn’t make anyone better with the exception of Soriano. I’ve never seen a team get less drive and kicks in my life.
Luis has to cure all these ills. He can create from the wing, he can draw contact and fouls, and he and Taylor can drive and kick.
We were up 52-42 with 14:55 left and Soriano was scoring at will and flexing on them. We could have won by 15-20 if we played through him, but he only got 1 more FG attempt to Jekins’ 4. How? Soriano was 8-12 and 4-4 from the line.
He’s a + athlete with great size for the position. His potential is built into his ranking. I posted this summer that there was a noticeable difference between him and Caddeau while working out together. Caddeau has a tight, low handle.
Wilcher was very loose with it and too much space in pick and roll. I’d like to see him teamed up with another combo…which is why I see Glover at the 3.
Wilcher is by far our most physically talented defender but he’s clueless on positioning, switching, etc. and he’s not to a point where he can just react.
It’s disappointing 9 games in compared to other freshmen guards in the conference and others we’ve had here recently like Ponds and Lovett.
Johnnies_24
Well-known member
Pitino lit a fire under Soriano from day one and he has responded. He is playing like a pro. Hopefully a few of his teammates pick up the slack.We lost because we gave up what seemed like 10 or more uncontested layups. Some were BC guards breaking ahead of the field on our guards, others when there was zero help when our defenders got beaten and a bc player had a wide open path to the basket. It was just beyond belief bad defense, and Jaeden Zackery killed us again and again with what appeared to be all layups. Zero help most of the time. Zero. Lots of tape to watch. Getting besten time and time again inexcusable.
Soriano getting "only" 12 shots is the result of becoming a disciplined player. Gone are the 12 foot jump hooks taken because thats what the defense gave him as he was unable to get better position. Gone are forced midrange jumpers. His 8-12 opens thing up for other players who must simply put the ball in the basket. He's letting the game come to him, is playing with a controlled fury, and may just be playing himself into the nba draft.
Wilcher will get better, no doubt. But in a cameo role he has not shown enough to displace more experienced players. To me, he doesn't appear to have the countenance of a point, but who does anymore?
All in all, the biggest problems are on defense. Unless individuals staying playing better D, Pitino may shuffle the deck to play the best defenders more.
It only took three losses for a number of fans to be critical of Pitino recruiting or coaching. I thought the honeymoon would last at least thru
On the other hands, every single coach since Coach C has failed and we've tried just about everything. Failing with a top 5 coach of all time? In a lot of ways it would just fit, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Soriano and Taylor play with discipline. If everyone else played like them we would be in a much better position. I’d like to seeWe lost because we gave up what seemed like 10 or more uncontested layups. Some were BC guards breaking ahead of the field on our guards, others when there was zero help when our defenders got beaten and a bc player had a wide open path to the basket. It was just beyond belief bad defense, and Jaeden Zackery killed us again and again with what appeared to be all layups. Zero help most of the time. Zero. Lots of tape to watch. Getting besten time and time again inexcusable.
Soriano getting "only" 12 shots is the result of becoming a disciplined player. Gone are the 12 foot jump hooks taken because thats what the defense gave him as he was unable to get better position. Gone are forced midrange jumpers. His 8-12 opens thing up for other players who must simply put the ball in the basket. He's letting the game come to him, is playing with a controlled fury, and may just be playing himself into the nba draft.
Wilcher will get better, no doubt. But in a cameo role he has not shown enough to displace more experienced players. To me, he doesn't appear to have the countenance of a point, but who does anymore?
All in all, the biggest problems are on defense. Unless individuals staying playing better D, Pitino may shuffle the deck to play the best defenders more.
It only took three losses for a number of fans to be critical of Pitino recruiting or coaching. I thought the honeymoon would last at least thru
On the other hands, every single coach since Coach C has failed and we've tried just about everything. Failing with a top 5 coach of all time? In a lot of ways it would just fit, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Alleyne-Taylor-Luis-Ledlum-Soriano in January. Slow down the pace for this year only. Bring in Jenkins for energy.
I wouldn't bet against it either.We lost because we gave up what seemed like 10 or more uncontested layups. Some were BC guards breaking ahead of the field on our guards, others when there was zero help when our defenders got beaten and a bc player had a wide open path to the basket. It was just beyond belief bad defense, and Jaeden Zackery killed us again and again with what appeared to be all layups. Zero help most of the time. Zero. Lots of tape to watch. Getting besten time and time again inexcusable.
Soriano getting "only" 12 shots is the result of becoming a disciplined player. Gone are the 12 foot jump hooks taken because thats what the defense gave him as he was unable to get better position. Gone are forced midrange jumpers. His 8-12 opens thing up for other players who must simply put the ball in the basket. He's letting the game come to him, is playing with a controlled fury, and may just be playing himself into the nba draft.
Wilcher will get better, no doubt. But in a cameo role he has not shown enough to displace more experienced players. To me, he doesn't appear to have the countenance of a point, but who does anymore?
All in all, the biggest problems are on defense. Unless individuals staying playing better D, Pitino may shuffle the deck to play the best defenders more.
It only took three losses for a number of fans to be critical of Pitino recruiting or coaching. I thought the honeymoon would last at least thru
On the other hands, every single coach since Coach C has failed and we've tried just about everything. Failing with a top 5 coach of all time? In a lot of ways it would just fit, but I wouldn't bet on that.
Larry Wright
Well-known member
If Rick can’t get us a tournament win while here it will never happen again.
I fully believe that.
carmineabbatiello
Well-known member
I also feel trepidation that the curse, jinx, sucktitude may be so entrenched that even a hall of fame coach can't fix it.
Agree with your statement..... But do you really think Pitino won't get us an NCAA Tourney win while he is here?
Larry Wright
Well-known member
At this point not sure.
Seen stranger things and I said when got hired that Pitino might have met his match with the stink that is ST John’s basketball.
I do know the longer our “drought” goes on, they may want to rename arena Mike Jarvis arena.
I have faith that in 2024 that Rick will deal with the Speed and Quickness issue with both,New Recruits and Portal Transfers .
Larry Wright
Well-known member
All the while replacing our far and away best player?
Of course . If memory serves me , Pitino has always valued speed and Quickness over height . Soriano has been a luxury for him this season .
But , he’s made Joel into a potential NBA player by getting him into Pro shape .
Pitino will find a more than suitable BE caliber big man somewhere . No doubts there
Larry Wright
Well-known member
You take the world’s greatest surfer and put a tsunami in front of him what is going to happen? Look at what happened to Patrick Swayze at the end of Point Break.
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