D'Angelo Harrison

[lawmanfan]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like. In final judgement, the one department I don't think he'll be maligned in is getting through to the players. Harrison might be a tough nut to crack, but I have little doubt that Lavin will get Harrison on the same page and producing like we all know Harrison can. If X's and O's isn't Lavin's strength, recruiting and player management is. There's not don't that Lavin loves Harrison and vice versa. I believe we'll see a better Harrison and in all likelihood Harrison will end up either coaching some day or broadcasting with Lavin as a long term mentor. Bottom line is that Lavin's player's love playing for him, but more than that seem to gravitate back regardless. It's a testament to people that care regardless of baskeball.

One man's "maligned" is another's "fairly characterized."

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like.


I wonder if there is a way for Harrison to go to Europe with the team?
I assume not but that would really serve a purpose getting on read on the "new and improved" D'Angelo Harrison!

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like.


I wonder if there is a way for Harrison to go to Europe with the team?
I assume not but that would really serve a purpose getting on read on the "new and improved" D'Angelo Harrison!

Im sure D'lo will go on the Euro trip.

 

[qcredman]

I for one commend Lavin for taking a hard line with Harrison.

From what we saw and know it was the right thing to do at the time regardless of what the future holds for this young man.

 

[SJU1512]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like.


I wonder if there is a way for Harrison to go to Europe with the team?
I assume not but that would really serve a purpose getting on read on the "new and improved" D'Angelo Harrison!

Im sure D'lo will go on the Euro trip.

Obviously the coaching staff will have the best sense for what's warranted by that time, but on the face of the situation it would seem pretty harsh to hold him out of the Euro trip if he continues to have a strong spring and summer. If a message like that still needs to be delivered a few months from now that's probably not a good sign in the first place. In addition to missing out on the experience, with as crowded as our roster looks to be and all of the new pieces being brought into the fold, it would be nice to have the full projected roster get as much court time together as possible to maximize the basketball side of the trip.

 

[JackofVirginia]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

 

[austour]

Hey, I went to PJHS. Where were you coaching and when?

 

[firestorm]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like.


I wonder if there is a way for Harrison to go to Europe with the team?
I assume not but that would really serve a purpose getting on read on the "new and improved" D'Angelo Harrison!

Im sure D'lo will go on the Euro trip.

Obviously the coaching staff will have the best sense for what's warranted by that time, but on the face of the situation it would seem pretty harsh to hold him out of the Euro trip if he continues to have a strong spring and summer. If a message like that still needs to be delivered a few months from now that's probably not a good sign in the first place. In addition to missing out on the experience, with as crowded as our roster looks to be and all of the new pieces being brought into the fold, it would be nice to have the full projected roster get as much court time together as possible to maximize the basketball side of the trip.

I would guess that Lavin gives D'lo the opportunity to travel to Europe. It benefits our team for the upcoming season and it's the chance to showcase D'lo's skills someplace where he might cash a paycheck a year or two down the road. Given Lav's history of taking care of his players, I can't imagine he doesn't let D'lo travel.

 

[JackofVirginia]

Hey, I went to PJHS. Where were you coaching and when?

Check you messages.

 

[beast of the east]

Hey, I went to PJHS. Where were you coaching and when?

Check you messages.

Is it that much of a secret? Either you were that good, or ... just kidding. I'm curious also, having followed LI basketball for a while. Nice story Jack. I do believe that the right coaches teach discipline and values also. My daughter's HS JV coach use to read sections of Bill Bradley's "Values of the Game" book. When coached by the right people, basketball can teach a lot of values. Unfortunately though, as John Wooden liked to say, "Sports doesn't build character, it reveals it." PM me, too.

 

[logen]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

I appreciate your story and as a former coach have had similiar experiences. I also sincerely hope Harrison does "get it" because I know a student involved in the day to day of the basketball team and he has told me from day 1 that Harrison is good people. Having said that, he has had many more than one "wave like don't bother me" incident. Like I said hopefully he gets it but there comes a time when there are just too many "second chances". I do believe he will play at SJU next year and I wish him all the best.

 

[MCNPA]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like. In final judgement, the one department I don't think he'll be maligned in is getting through to the players. Harrison might be a tough nut to crack, but I have little doubt that Lavin will get Harrison on the same page and producing like we all know Harrison can. If X's and O's isn't Lavin's strength, recruiting and player management is. There's not don't that Lavin loves Harrison and vice versa. I believe we'll see a better Harrison and in all likelihood Harrison will end up either coaching some day or broadcasting with Lavin as a long term mentor. Bottom line is that Lavin's player's love playing for him, but more than that seem to gravitate back regardless. It's a testament to people that care regardless of baskeball.

One man's "maligned" is another's "fairly characterized."

Lavin has missed the NCAA's twice in his entire coaching career. 3 times if you consider the season he was derailed by cancer and wasn't on the sideline. I'd argue that we likely were an NCAA team is year if Lavin didn't make the tough decision to bench Harrison. We didn't excel this season because we couldn't shoot, not X's and O's. Maybe you hate statistics, but 5 Sweet 16's, one Elite 8 and the NCAA tourney almost every year of his tenure doesn't go hand-in-hand with that characterization. Talent doesn't just assemble itself and advance to the Sweet 16. Look at UK this season. The only tangible data we have to evaluate proficiency is his coaching record which is quite good. We have a SJU team next year that looks on paper like they can go a few rounds deep. Not sure why people think his X's and O's are that bad with zero data to back up that characterization.

 

[ras]

If Lavin has the success here he had w UCLA ,we would be singing his praise. AT UCLA he gets fired. He also had bad luck at UCLA ,injuries tourny time. In 2011 ,12 we had Dunlap and this year we had no PG and problems w Harrison and injuries so I cant really gauge Lavins XO abiliy. From whot Ive seen Im not overly impressed. Next year however, we will have a full, balanced roster and we will really be able to judge Lavins coaching ability,which I hope is verygood. If so we will go far.

 

[SJU1512]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like. In final judgement, the one department I don't think he'll be maligned in is getting through to the players. Harrison might be a tough nut to crack, but I have little doubt that Lavin will get Harrison on the same page and producing like we all know Harrison can. If X's and O's isn't Lavin's strength, recruiting and player management is. There's not don't that Lavin loves Harrison and vice versa. I believe we'll see a better Harrison and in all likelihood Harrison will end up either coaching some day or broadcasting with Lavin as a long term mentor. Bottom line is that Lavin's player's love playing for him, but more than that seem to gravitate back regardless. It's a testament to people that care regardless of baskeball.

One man's "maligned" is another's "fairly characterized."

Lavin has missed the NCAA's twice in his entire coaching career. 3 times if you consider the season he was derailed by cancer and wasn't on the sideline. I'd argue that we likely were an NCAA team is year if Lavin didn't make the tough decision to bench Harrison. We didn't excel this season because we couldn't shoot, not X's and O's. Maybe you hate statistics, but 5 Sweet 16's, one Elite 8 and the NCAA tourney almost every year of his tenure doesn't go hand-in-hand with that characterization. Talent doesn't just assemble itself and advance to the Sweet 16. Look at UK this season. The only tangible data we have to evaluate proficiency is his coaching record which is quite good. We have a SJU team next year that looks on paper like they can go a few rounds deep. Not sure why people think his X's and O's are that bad with zero data to back up that characterization.

Some are of that opinion because there are appraisal tools besides ultimate result data to assess coaches, namely watching the games. Certainly I do not disagree with you that Lavin's record speaks for itself. What the root cause of that success has been (talent, X/O, program management/motivation), however, is open for debate. Quite frankly I don't really care what the cause is as long as he has that success here, which I fully believe he is on his way to doing, which is why I continue to be thrilled he is our coach.

That said if we are purely talking about his X's and O's ability, coaches shouldn't be evaluated based upon total team performance alone; they should be evaluated relative to the talent they are coaching. I've heard people say in response to criticisms of Giants' OC Tom Gilbride, "his team finishes in the Top 10 in total offense virtually every year." So? Did he have the type of talent that they should have been Top 5 or even Top 3? If so then he underperformed. Conversely, an OC that gets middle-of-the-pack production from a bottom-feeding roster is overperforming (and outperforming Gilbride as a coach), even though his team performance is worse than Gilbride's.

The question for Lavin is did he have the talent such that at least one of those Sweet 16s was Final 4 material...or was he taking talent that had no business being in the Sweet 16 farther than they should have gone in the first place? The Sweet 16 appearances themselves are not informative on their own so much as what Lavin did to get them there vs. what he didn't do to get them further. Same can be said for this past season.

My guess is it's somewhere in the middle. He's an elite recruiter and program manager which drives his success, and a so-so in game coach enough that it doesn't get in the way too much of the talent he's assembled and the way he's able to relate to and motivate them. Point being, he certainly leaves something to be desired in the X/O category that can't be explained through his UCLA teams' success 10 years ago. Rotation, timeout usage, some guys having all the rope they need while others get pulled after one mistake, and most importantly whatever it was we were doing when we had the ball this year (don't think it's proper to refer to that as offense). As you mentioned we shot the ball terribly, but were also 202nd in the country in assists (12 per game for the whole team!). That's a severe deficiency in sharing the basketball. No doubt you have to make shots to record assists, but that's a two way street. You have to move and share the ball to get better looks and make more shots. The former is largely on the players, but the latter is on the staff/system. If we couldn't get out in transition our "offense" was stagnant if not non-existant, and in either event ineffective and boring to watch. That's why some people feel his X/O's are not strong.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Lavin has been maligned as a poor X's and O's guy and the like. In final judgement, the one department I don't think he'll be maligned in is getting through to the players. Harrison might be a tough nut to crack, but I have little doubt that Lavin will get Harrison on the same page and producing like we all know Harrison can. If X's and O's isn't Lavin's strength, recruiting and player management is. There's not don't that Lavin loves Harrison and vice versa. I believe we'll see a better Harrison and in all likelihood Harrison will end up either coaching some day or broadcasting with Lavin as a long term mentor. Bottom line is that Lavin's player's love playing for him, but more than that seem to gravitate back regardless. It's a testament to people that care regardless of baskeball.

One man's "maligned" is another's "fairly characterized."

Lavin has missed the NCAA's twice in his entire coaching career. 3 times if you consider the season he was derailed by cancer and wasn't on the sideline. I'd argue that we likely were an NCAA team is year if Lavin didn't make the tough decision to bench Harrison. We didn't excel this season because we couldn't shoot, not X's and O's. Maybe you hate statistics, but 5 Sweet 16's, one Elite 8 and the NCAA tourney almost every year of his tenure doesn't go hand-in-hand with that characterization. Talent doesn't just assemble itself and advance to the Sweet 16. Look at UK this season. The only tangible data we have to evaluate proficiency is his coaching record which is quite good. We have a SJU team next year that looks on paper like they can go a few rounds deep. Not sure why people think his X's and O's are that bad with zero data to back up that characterization.

Some are of that opinion because there are appraisal tools besides ultimate result data to assess coaches, namely watching the games. Certainly I do not disagree with you that Lavin's record speaks for itself. What the root cause of that success has been (talent, X/O, program management/motivation), however, is open for debate. Quite frankly I don't really care what the cause is as long as he has that success here, which I fully believe he is on his way to doing, which is why I continue to be thrilled he is our coach.

That said if we are purely talking about his X's and O's ability, coaches shouldn't be evaluated based upon total team performance alone; they should be evaluated relative to the talent they are coaching. I've heard people say in response to criticisms of Giants' OC Tom Gilbride, "his team finishes in the Top 10 in total offense virtually every year." So? Did he have the type of talent that they should have been Top 5 or even Top 3? If so then he underperformed. Conversely, an OC that gets middle-of-the-pack production from a bottom-feeding roster is overperforming (and outperforming Gilbride as a coach), even though his team performance is worse than Gilbride's.

The question for Lavin is did he have the talent such that at least one of those Sweet 16s was Final 4 material...or was he taking talent that had no business being in the Sweet 16 farther than they should have gone in the first place? The Sweet 16 appearances themselves are not informative on their own so much as what Lavin did to get them there vs. what he didn't do to get them further. Same can be said for this past season.

My guess is it's somewhere in the middle. He's an elite recruiter and program manager which drives his success, and a so-so in game coach enough that it doesn't get in the way too much of the talent he's assembled and the way he's able to relate to and motivate them. Point being, he certainly leaves something to be desired in the X/O category that can't be explained through his UCLA teams' success 10 years ago. Rotation, timeout usage, some guys having all the rope they need while others get pulled after one mistake, and most importantly whatever it was we were doing when we had the ball this year (don't think it's proper to refer to that as offense). As you mentioned we shot the ball terribly, but were also 202nd in the country in assists (12 per game for the whole team!). That's a severe deficiency in sharing the basketball. No doubt you have to make shots to record assists, but that's a two way street. You have to move and share the ball to get better looks and make more shots. The former is largely on the players, but the latter is on the staff/system. If we couldn't get out in transition our "offense" was stagnant if not non-existant, and in either event ineffective and boring to watch. That's why some people feel his X/O's are not strong.

Wow great post SJU1512

 

[JackofVirginia]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

BTW, I forgot to mention that this same young man graduated from Oswego College and returned to our high school as a teacher. In fact at one of our administrator's retirement he came to my table and bought me a drink saying," He owed me." Makes it all worth while.

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

BTW, I forgot to mention that this same young man graduated from Oswego College and returned to our high school as a teacher. In fact at one of our administrator's retirement he came to my table and bought me a drink saying," He owed me." Makes it all worth while.

SUNY oswego? Im finishing up my last semester there right now.

 

[Redfaced]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

I believe that PJ is a pretty nice area, not the tough neighborhoods of inner city Chicago, New York etc. and perhaps the player didn't have a sibling doing time in jail etc. Discipline does not always work wonders, if it did, many of our jails would not be over crowded. It is hard to predict what a young man will do who has as much turmoil in his life as DLo. If he is in fact trying to get himself in order great, but sometimes, that is not always in ones control. I don't think that the example you gave is a great analogy as a person's emotional development comes greatly into play here.

 

[Jack Williams]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

I believe that PJ is a pretty nice area, not the tough neighborhoods of inner city Chicago, New York etc. and perhaps the player didn't have a sibling doing time in jail etc. Discipline does not always work wonders, if it did, many of our jails would not be over crowded. It is hard to predict what a young man will do who has as much turmoil in his life as DLo. If he is in fact trying to get himself in order great, but sometimes, that is not always in ones control. I don't think that the example you gave is a great analogy as a person's emotional development comes greatly into play here.

His analogy does work, because Harrison came back to Lavin some time after the suspension and said he wants back in. He went to the awards with Lavin, and was interviewed. He said he might not even start next year, but regardless he is excited. He has taken the nessecary steps to prove he is ready to return. As I have said before, who knows how he will act in a game, only time will tell. But you cant still think bringing DLo back is the wrong decision, most kids in college basketball leave when they face any adversity from their coach. Give DLo some credit for sticking around, and stop denying that he derserves to comeback.

 

[Redfaced]

Let's not put the cart before the horse and welcome back DLo until he does make the changes he needs to make to play with the team. I am not going to buy into that he is trying to change and taking the necessary steps to change, we went through that at least three times already. I will be glad to accept him back with full support when the change is nade. What everyone seems to forget is that he is the one who let down the team, the coaches and yes the fan base down with his behavior, yet people are willing to overlook everything cause he has star potential?

Perhaps one of the reasons that DLo did as poorly as he did prior to his suspension was the unrealistic expectations that he and our fan base put on him. He, at his best, is a good player but perhaps not a great player, yet people on this site have been saying he is NBA bound or some time when none of the NBA scouts see it. He may have been one of the better players on a mediocre team but what oes that count for?

I have to believe that coach will have him on a short leash so as not to have a negative impact on Jordan and the rest of the team. If he can truly come back a changed individual, great. Great for him, the fan base and the success of the program, but based on his track record, I am not going to hold my breadth.

I also don't see how you can see if he has made any kind of change until he is put under fire in a real pressure situation which he will not get in the summer or during the summer trip.

Well I'm glad to see that you're not going to hold your breadth. I'm not quite sure what that would look like.

He's a 20 year old who is still developing as a person. I think Lavin genuinely places an importance on the personal maturity of his players. Your skepticism on his changes may be well deserved, but serves no purpose for us a SJU fans. We should all be behind DLo and the changes it sounds like he wants to make, which would be good for him and the team. We all know him as the hot and cold player whose attitude would match his performance. If he is able to stabilize his attitude on the court, and not let it affect his play, there is no telling how good, and consistent, he can be. I'm rooting for DLo on a personal and team level.

In a perfect world, he gets his act together, turns himself around and becomes a hero, leading the team to the promised land, the sweet 16 or beyond. But if you were to look back at last season, how many chances did he get? How many times was he benched early in the game for one infraction or another? How many times were others disciplined for an infraction of some sorts, perhaps once? If the young man comes back and does well, that's great as it will lead to many good things. However, if he gets through most of te season and then has issues again, what are the implications for the team as a whole? As a St. Johns fan, I am more concerned with the big picture. We have all seen this past year what happened to a team that was so dependent in their star that when he left the team, the results were not pretty. And don't kid yourself, coach Lavin will be under a great deal of scrutiny by the rest of the team as to how he deals with DLo, not an easy thing for him as well. He is in the midst of getting this program to another level and does not need the negative distraction of a difficult personality.

Let me reiterate, if DLo comes back and makes the attitudinal changes necessary to benefit the program, and himself then awesome. I will be right there with everyone jumping out of my seat as we kick the Syracuses of the world collective asses. But if it doesn't work out then the harm it may cause could undermine the entire season and perhaps, beyond.

You've made it known that you do not like D'Angelo Harrison. But you said it yourself the kid has to be in a game situation to know if he really has changed completely. The kid has said and done all the right things. What is Lavin supposed to do? He said as soon as the suspension happened DLo would have to work hard to get back on the team. He has been seen in the gym everyday working hard, he has said the right things to the media, and has obviously had discussions with Lav behind the scenes that lead Lavin to believe he can return to the team soon. Again as you said, we wont really know if he has changed until he is back on the court in a game situation, but for right now how can't you welcome him back to the team, what else mist je do in your eyes?

In terms of not liking DLo, that is not quite an accurate statement. I neither like nor dislike him as I don't know him on a personal level. What I didn't like was his behavior and attitude that added to a difficult end to the season. I give Lavin allot of credit here, I don't know if I would give the young man another chance and have to possibly deal with his antics all over again, especially in such a promising year ahead. Then again, I don't know the young man as well as coach Lavin does. And you are right, at this point he has done and said all the right things to get back in the oach's good graces so great for him and the fan base, so far. Let's hope that a Leopard can ,in this case, change his spots.

I had an incident in my first year in coaching varsity basketball. We were scrimmaging Port Jefferson H.S.at the time. I had signaled for our center to go back in the game when he gives me a wave like don't bother me. He was a very mature looking young man, strong as an ox throwing the shot put on the track team. Because of his success and maturity he was a popular athlete. I told him to leave the bench and not return to the team. Everyone from the principal and student body were in shock, our best player gone. Discipline works wonders, especially for the team. Three weeks later he apologized for his stupid behavior asking to return. He was given a chance and was a perfect citizen, in fact he became a leader on the team. No reason Harrison doesn't do the same. And why not?

I believe that PJ is a pretty nice area, not the tough neighborhoods of inner city Chicago, New York etc. and perhaps the player didn't have a sibling doing time in jail etc. Discipline does not always work wonders, if it did, many of our jails would not be over crowded. It is hard to predict what a young man will do who has as much turmoil in his life as DLo. If he is in fact trying to get himself in order great, but sometimes, that is not always in ones control. I don't think that the example you gave is a great analogy as a person's emotional development comes greatly into play here.

His analogy does work, because Harrison came back to Lavin some time after the suspension and said he wants back in. He went to the awards with Lavin, and was interviewed. He said he might not even start next year, but regardless he is excited. He has taken the nessecary steps to prove he is ready to return. As I have said before, who knows how he will act in a game, only time will tell. But you cant still think bringing DLo back is the wrong decision, most kids in college basketball leave when they face any adversity from their coach. Give DLo some credit for sticking around, and stop denying that he derserves to comeback.

I don't know if he has taken the right steps or has just said all the right things and neither do you. Does he deserve to come back? That's up to the coach. He certainly does not have the right to come back as his attitude and behavior forfeited that right. It's all in the coaches hands now.