@Creighton, Tue., Dec. 31, 4p, PEACOCK

[MugCostanza]

Strikes me that Pitino, once again (this year), is panicking less than people on the board. But also basically throws RJ under the bus for not running the play in the huddle and then messing up the follow up attempt as well.

I’m not sure if panicking is the right word but for me it’s about finally breaking through and having that special season by SJU standards.

We aren’t Duke, we aren’t Kansas. We are St John’s and we luckboxed our way into getting Rick freaking Pitino as our coach. He’s 72 and guys from his generation are dropping like flies because of what the game has become. Our window is extremely short and there’s no guarantee he’ll be around even next year. When he’s gone it’s more likely than not we return to being a middling Big East team where making the tournament as an 8/9 seed and losing in the first round would be considered a success.

This isn’t the NBA where individual games in an 82 game marathon don’t really matter. Every game in college is of huge importance. If we win that @Creighton game last year we almost definitely make the tournament. We’ve now already lost the very winnable Baylor and @Creighton games this year and who knows what that’ll cost us down the line

 

[CBA69]

Wilcher was awful.

I agree 100%. He's got a nice shot when he is open but he panics in traffic and I don't trust his handle. In short, his decisions are questionable.

 

[classof2010]

We’re 3 baskets away from being undefeated and I was negative after the Georgia game got called out by Dave. Hopefully this team uses this as motivation and I’d like to see Brady come back healthy as a sharpshooter. I’ll be in the building Saturday LFG!

 

[Jack Williams]

Carmine has this all figured out. We are cursed and are never going to be good again. Don't know why I bother following this team as we know the outcome year after year, but we'll never learn....

Probably true but nothing gets me more excited in sports than a St. John’s gameday. Oh well

 

[guinness77]

Obviously RP is very good HC, but even as a long suffering fan I don’t panic or lose my objectivity re strengths and weaknesses of the team. In this three point era it is clear we don’t have consistent perimeter shooters, which makes us relatively easy to prepare for and a handicap.

Early in season LMF expressed concern about roster construction challenges, which I now agree with. I am also irritated by some guys with big reputations not playing smart, be it taking forced shots, rushing things, or getting frustrated if not scoring.

Spot on post, as usual.

I tend to have my “uppity” moments during games. Supporting the Johnnies, Isles, Jets, Mets and Tottenham is an exercise in futility, plus I’m almost 48 now…once the game’s over, it’s over. I’m not letting sports affect my mood anymore and I’ve been pretty solid about that for like 10 years now. Either that or I’m just apathetic to all the crushing losses I’ve become accustomed to, LOL.

 

[NCJohnnie]

Probably true but nothing gets me more excited in sports than a St. John’s gameday. Oh well

True for me as well. But it gets harder and harder to convince my family members/friends who like basketball but are not St. John's fanatics that they should believe me when I tell them "this is our year".

 

[nettles]

That would be opening Pandora’s Box for sure. They’d be analyzing the crap out of every buzzer beater for the rest of time. And, you’d be hard pressed not to find some kind of contact every single time.

You never want to be in a position where the ref’s call, or no call, decides the game.

 

[nettles]

You never want to be in a position where the ref’s call, or no call, decides the game.

 

[ADORAZ]

In most sports I absolutely hate losing games like this by one, would rather get blown out, but in college basketball it's obviously much better to lose by a point as opposed to losing by 30 and destroying your metrics. The team has been competitive at the end of every single game this season.

That being said this was still a very frustrating loss and we need to do better than winning just 25% of the 50-50 games. If we keep blowing the close games at a similar rate we won't be a Tournament team, but I highly doubt that will be the case. One step forward with PC, one step backwards tonight. Looking forward to a strong rebound vs. Butler.

 

[bamafan]

Live by the 3, die by it. We ain't getting ranked anytime soon.

Maybe we won’t have to hear the cries of not being ranked for a while. This team doesn’t deserve to be ranked. Never win the big one.

 

[paultzman]

Am pretty good at deciphering “Rick speak” but several times recently he spoke about lack of executing game plans, not paying attention to scouting reports and not running plays he called in huddle. Does that speak to guys not listening, being boneheaded or something else?

 

[NCJohnnie]

Am pretty good at deciphering “Rick speak” but several times recently he spoke about lack of executing game plans, not paying attention to scouting reports and not running plays he called in huddle. Does that speak to guys not listening, being boneheaded or something else?

Hard to say, but sounds to me like a team he does not think is easy to coach. We are 45% through the regular season schedule and at this point only Zuby has consistently exceeded expectations imho.

 

[mkras99]

Hosed? 2 threads just for that? The better team really did win.

Yes, hosed. Was a foul at end. But I’m happy that you’re happy.

 

[Demo]

Not happening...

What not hitting 10 in a row?

 

[JohnnyFan]

Two thoughts regarding the final play:

1. You cannot expect to get that call, at moment, on the road. If the shoe was on the other foot, we would be screaming...."let them play".

2. At the same time, despite what Rick wanted, driving hard to the basket when your team is in the bonus is typically not a bad decision.

 

[tom in salem]

Yes, hosed. Was a foul at end. But I’m happy that you’re happy.

Learn how to lose dude.

 

[paultzman]

As Rick buys “Dial a Shooter” app.

 

[JohnnyFan]

I'll be in the minority here, but I am not overly concerned about the shooting. I think the poor shooting has a lot to do with the shots we are taking and, in some cases, not taking.

Deivon Smith
He is shooting 44% from three and only took one tonight.

Aaron Scott
Is shooting the three well this year when he is able to set himself. Not good off the dribble, which is the type of threes he has been taking over the past few games. Believe it or not, he is shooting 40% from three on the year. Problem is that he is shooting 16% over the past four games. This speaks to the type of threes he is taking.

Sim Wilcher
He is shooting 40% from three. We need to create shot opportunities for him. He also needs to be set.

Jaiden Glover
I think the current shooting woes have the door wide open for Glover to grab more minutes. I believe he will contribute more as the season goes on.

Brady Dunlap
It remains to be seen how much he can give us this season. But, when criticing the roster build, I think it's worth considering the vision was probably having Dunlap take 3-4 threes per game.

*Luis and Kadary should kill teams with the mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket.

 

[tom in salem]

We’re 3 baskets away from being undefeated and I was negative after the Georgia game got called out by Dave. Hopefully this team uses this as motivation and I’d like to see Brady come back healthy as a sharpshooter. I’ll be in the building Saturday LFG!

Beat Providence at the buzzer. 4 baskets away from 4 losses. Things even out.

 

[paultzman]

I'll be in the minority here, but I am not overly concerned about the shooting. I think the poor shooting has a lot to do with the shots we are taking and, in some cases, not taking.

Deivon Smith
He is shooting 44% from three and only took one tonight.

Aaron Scott
Is shooting the three well this year when he is able to set himself. Not good off the dribble, which is the type of threes he has been taking over the past few games. Believe it or not, he is shooting 40% from three on the year. Problem is that he is shooting 16% over the past four games. This speaks to the type of threes he is taking.

Sim Wilcher
He is shooting 40% from three. We need to create shot opportunities for him. He also needs to be set.

Jaiden Glover
I think the current shooting woes have the door wide open for Glover to grab more minutes. I believe he will contribute more as the season goes on.

Brady Dunlap
It remains to be seen how much he can give us this season. But, when criticing the roster build, I think it's worth considering the vision was probably having Dunlap take 3-4 threes per game.

*Luis and Kadary should kill teams with the mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket.

Always respect your opinion and posts, but here’s two “shooters” we depend on;

R.J. Luis and Aaron Scott are a combined 9 for 57 from three point range (15.8%) in #SJUBB's last 8 games.