I agree Chicago days . It is unbelievable that so many posters here are actually showing such deep rooted hate for Chris Mullin , the greatest player in the history of the school and a John Wooden Award winner plus Dream Teamer, 1984 and 1992 and HOF player . Perhaps it is reflective of our Society that so many people just love to complain about everything ., not just Basketball . Many of the most negative posters are , no pun intended, Johnny come latelies . And , with all due respect to the Eagles .. Another segment of the most outrageous Negative comments come from some who touted the hiring of Mullin as the best news in 20years or since FH single handedly destroyed our Program . Amazing how many here have so violently turned in a Season that has disappointed us all but, that has valid reasons for its rapid decline . But, so many here , don’t want to evaluate the losses in a proper context . It doesn’t take a Rocket scientist to connect the dots as to the fall off the cliff that has happened . Lovett , a proven 14 ppg Scorer and pre season BE second teamer , stopped playing in early December . Do we really know why he quit , except for a Injury that the team’s Medical staff proclaimed as day to day and presumably , would heal in a reasonable time ? Most Astute basketball analysts , including 1 BE Coach , have been quoted as saying St John’s built this Years team on a 3 Guard Offense . Ponds, Lovett and Simon. Ponds and Lovett being counted on for 40 or more points a game as a duo . Simon capable of , perhaps 10 more a game as a combo guard . Over the summer, in pre season practice and in non conference games, where we were 10-2 and competitive, these 3 were the core of the team strategy and it worked ! Lovett’s injury threw the whole 3 Guard System out the window . Owens became a starter , not the catalyst off the bench , a role he was well suited for . Simon , not the offensive player that Lovett was , was forced out of his role into becoming a scoring threat he is not naturally suited for . He is a slasher , get to the Rim , lock down defender but, a less than average shooter , below average free throw shooter and not meant to be the focus of our offense . All that changed with Lovett out . Ponds too, has been taken out of his role as a tandem with Lovett, whereby he was now thrust into being our main go to offensive player . A Coaching move that Mullin had no choice into assigning him. But, in doing so , it allowed BE opponents to assign their best defender to Ponds . Players like Martin , Baldwin, Bridges, etc who are a lot bigger , stronger and who often got double team help in trying to shut down Shamorie . Much of Ponds game is drive to the hoop , draw fouls , stop for the pull up jumper and shoot the long range 3 . Without Lovett to defend , Ponds has had to try and be 2 players and it has taken its toll on him , physically and mentally too . To me , he looks like he is playing hurt and has been for some time . It has adversely affected his results and , as a result the team. How come the Arm
Chair Coaches don’t see this ? It is so easily seen . Instead , it is all Mullin ‘s fault ! Mullin did this but, didn’t do that ! How come we can’t beat these deeper and often better balanced BE teams with a depleted roster . It must be that Mullin can’t come up with the additional 14 points a game we lost when Lovett went down . How awful Mullin is for not Coaching Clark into being a better rebounder , go to the Rim inside player and a better defender of opponents inside players ? I guess the dissenters think Mullin should be able to make Clark into the type player that Izzo couldn’t do ? ??. Ahmed , is the same type but, less effective player than he was last year . Owens ? Nice offensive game , good shooter from15 feet , blocks shots well but, fouls a lot and now thinks he should be the focal point of the offense from 3 point range ? Plus , he can’t defend most other BE Post players who are stronger and tougher . So, those of you who have quit on Mullin, on this team and the school , continue your non stop BS about parts of the game you don’t understand and wail like the cry babies you have turned into .. oh, and for those intent on allocating Mullin’s first year 1-17 BE Record as being his responsibility , consider this .. Chis wasn’t named Coach until near April, well after the recruiting period . He was lucky to be able to even field a roster after what Lavin left him , which was nothing ! So , to be fair, you can’t throw that Years Record on Chris ... Unless you are among the Prime Time whiners . Lastly , would Villanova be 20-1 without Brunson ? How about Xavier without Machura ? Or , Providence without Bullock? Marquette without Howard ? Butler without Martin ? Seton hall without Carrington ? Think about it !
