Casual Hoya picks SJU 6th

[Ray Morgan]

I find nothing objectionable about Casual Hoya's analysis. He is just presenting the stats as they were. Last season's team was frequently out-rebounded, took too many poor shots at the end of the shot clock, and didn't close out on threes. The stats in certain areas, especially threes, was an abomination.
The good news is that three, maybe four pieces have been added. Combine that with more depth and experience, and things can change for the better in a hurry. First is Sanchez. Unlike most newcomers, he is a very experienced player with a diverse skill set. Rysheed is an enormous addition. He brings a skill set that was lacking here for a long time. Gift's return is also big. A wide body who adds what was missing-muscle. I'm not sold on Hooper just yet. Hitting threes while alone on a court is like a boxer hitting the heavy bag. Seen plenty of boxers look great in the gym, then get blown out when someone hits them back. if Hooper hits some threes, then it's all gravy.
The key is that Coach filled the holes that needed filling. This is an athletic, experienced and talented group, playing in a weakened Big East. Maybe there are a few bumps early, but no one will want to play them come January on. I'm not an optimist, just a realist. The pieces are there.

 

[redmannorth]

Unfortunately there is far too much truth in the article.
The biggest challenges I see this season are:
1. Playing time, we have guys who are used to playing 25 plus minutes a game who will get little burn this season.
2. New coach for the 3rd season in a row, assuming Whitesell does a great deal of the coaching.
Those two factors are not a recipe for success.
The simple solution as I see it is that a minimum of 2 players need to be redshirted in order to attempt to keep everyone happy. I would redshirt Phil Green and Christian Jones and Lavin's job will become that much easier this season and down the road.

 

[Ray Morgan]

Unfortunately there is far too much truth in the article.
The biggest challenges I see this season are:
1. Playing time, we have guys who are used to playing 25 plus minutes a game who will get little burn this season.
2. New coach for the 3rd season in a row, assuming Whitesell does a great deal of the coaching.
Those two factors are not a recipe for success.
The simple solution as I see it is that a minimum of 2 players need to be redshirted in order to attempt to keep everyone happy. I would redshirt Phil Green and Christian Jones and Lavin's job will become that much easier this season and down the road.

The article pointed out last year's deficiencies. Those were addressed. If you won just half your games, having guys that played 25 minutes a game forced to sit is a good thing. Phil IV will get 15 minutes easy. That's enough for him. Jones and Bourgault may be the odd men out. The bulk of the minutes go to Sampson, Harrison, Obekpa, Pointer and Sanchez. Still plenty to go around to the guys that give it up in practice and play well off the bench. I would be extremely surprised is this team doesn't have a very good year, including a 4th seed or something close to that.

 

[ras]

Unfortunately there is far too much truth in the article.
The biggest challenges I see this season are:
1. Playing time, we have guys who are used to playing 25 plus minutes a game who will get little burn this season.
2. New coach for the 3rd season in a row, assuming Whitesell does a great deal of the coaching.
Those two factors are not a recipe for success.
The simple solution as I see it is that a minimum of 2 players need to be redshirted in order to attempt to keep everyone happy. I would redshirt Phil Green and Christian Jones and Lavin's job will become that much easier this season and down the road.

The article pointed out last year's deficiencies. Those were addressed. If you won just half your games, having guys that played 25 minutes a game forced to sit is a good thing. Phil IV will get 15 minutes easy. That's enough for him. Jones and Bourgault may be the odd men out. The bulk of the minutes go to Sampson, Harrison, Obekpa, Pointer and Sanchez. Still plenty to go around to the guys that give it up in practice and play well off the bench. I would be extremely surprised is this team doesn't have a very good year, including a 4th seed or something close to that.

We have more depth and new players. On paper we should be much improved.- -*but to make the statement such as difficiencies like shot selection
,defending the 3, and coaching have been rectified can only be said during the season. The addition of Whitesell seems like a good one. I am optimistic,but time will tell. ---IMO- --the verdict is still out on -Lavins in game coaching skills. This year we have the pieces and ---we --will see how he does.

 

[MainMan]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

 

[Moose]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

 

[MainMan]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You're right. I thought they'd beat DePaul.

 

[beast of the east]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You've gotta have heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start
You've gotta have hope
Mustn't sit around and mope
Nothin's half as bad as it may appear
Wait'll next year and hope
When your luck is battin' zero
Get your chin up off the floor
Mister you can be a hero
You can open any door, there's nothin' to it but to do it
You've gotta have heart
Miles 'n miles n' miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart
First you've gotta have heart

[ROCKY]
A great slugger we haven't got

[SMOKEY]
A great pitcher we haven't got

[VERNON]
A great ball club we haven't got

[ROCKY, SMOKEY & VERNON]
What've we got?

[ALL]
We've got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start

[ROCKY, SMOKEY, LINVILLE]
We've got hope
We don't sit around and mope
Not a solitary sob do wwe heave
Mister, 'cause we've got hope

[ROCKY]
We're so happy that we're hummin'

[ALL]
Hmm-hmm-hmm

[VAN BUREN]
That's the hearty thing to do

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[SMOKEY]
'Cause we know our ship will come in

[ALL]
Hmm-hmm-hmm

[ROCKY]
So it's ten years overdue

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo
We've got heart
Miles 'n miles 'n miles o' heart

[VERNON]
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course

[BOYS]
Butt keep that old horse before the cart

[VAN BUREN]
So what the hecks the use of cryin'?

[SMOKEY]
Why should we curse?

[ROCKY]
We've gotta get better, 'cause we can't get worse!

[ALL]
And to add to it, we've got heart
We've got heart
We've got heart

We've got heart
All you really need is heart
When the odds are sayin' you'll never win
That's when the grin should start

[SMOKEY]
We're so happy that we're laughin'

[ALL]
Ha ha ha

[VAN BUREN]
That's the hearty thing to do

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[VERNON]
So we ain't been autographin'

[ALL]
Ha ha ha

[ROCKY]
'Cept to sign an I.O.U.

[ALL]
Hoo-hoo-hoo

[ALL]
We've got heart
Miles 'n miles n' miles of heart
Oh, it's fine to be a genius of course
But keep that old horse
Before the cart

[SMOKEY]
Who minds those pop bottles flyin'?

[VERNON]
The hisses and the boos

[VAN BUREN]
The team has been consistent

[ROCKY]
Yeah, we always lose

[THREE BOYS]
But we're laughin' cause... We've got heart

[ALL FOUR BOYS]
We've got heart... We've got heart

 

[Moose]

Another pop culture post that totally goes over my head

 

[Moose]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You're right. I thought they'd beat DePaul.

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

 

[MainMan]

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

You still couldn't afford Masiello. Have you seen that guy's suits?

 

[beast of the east]

Another pop culture post that totally goes over my head

It should. It was from the Broadway play and subsequent movie called Damn Yankees - 1955 originally.

Something about the perennial losing Washington Senators and a deal with the devil to bring them a superstar to beat the Yankees, perennial champions. The hero's name coincidentally was Hardy.

 

[Moose]

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

You still couldn't afford Masiello. Have you seen that guy's suits?

He has been known to wear a velour suit on the sidelines. Those I can afford.

 

[salty dog]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You're right. I thought they'd beat DePaul.

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

Moose, Lavin was your man. You can't ditch him now.
Has it gotten that bad?

 

[Moose]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You're right. I thought they'd beat DePaul.

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

Moose, Lavin was your man. You can't ditch him now.
Has it gotten that bad?

Yes. People ripped me with staying with Norm for 4 years. I think 4 is a more than reasonable amount of time to see if something is working or not. With Lavin I'm jumping slightly under 4 because I'm not blind and I can see the writing on the wall

 

[salty dog]

A lot of unfounded optimism on this board.

This is still a team that played some of the ugliest basketball I have ever seen (and yes, I've been around this program for the last 20 years).

We add four players to the rotation - a freshman guard in Jordan who though talented may or may not be a PG - a jack-of-all-trades, master of none in Sanchez - Gift who is the equivalent of Ty Grant when Ty Grant was a sophomore - and Hooper who needs to play in a halfway competent offense to do what he does best.

Despite the addition of Whitesell (sic), we will get pasted early by Wisconsin and Syracuse and probably have a morale-draining loss to a mid-major by Christmas. Then we'll pick it up and play decent in the Big East. There's a chance we turn the corner then a la 2011, but I don't see it.

Don't you just hate it when some posters gratuitously pat themselves on the back - especially when things are going bad.

I mean, c'mon.

I do.

Did you expect the team to start Big East 0-4 at the beginning of the season. Me thinks thats a resounding no.

You're right. I thought they'd beat DePaul.

Man I gotta follow your picks. I'll be rich and can buy out the coach.

Moose, Lavin was your man. You can't ditch him now.
Has it gotten that bad?

Yes. People ripped me with staying with Norm for 4 years. I think 4 is a more than reasonable amount of time to see if something is working or not. With Lavin I'm jumping slightly under 4 because I'm not blind and I can see the writing on the wall

Wow, that is serious. I'm not with you yet. I believe something will come together. Hopefully sooner than later.