DePaul, Sat. Jan. 6, 2p, YES (FOX) /Radio 570AM or 970AM

[Class of 72]

I said it last week. We don’t have Big East level players except for Ponds and LoVett. Ponds is in a serious slump and making bad decisions like everyone else. Mullen hasn’t been great and they seem to need better, more focused practice planning but Mullin is not the problem right now

So if we are and will be the last place team in the Big East in year three....even behind DePaul. ...in a 10 team conference it must be Lavin's fault.
So DePaul and Providence and Georgetown have Big East level players and we don't. It's Lavins fault.
Let's just make believe that Lavin didn't coach his teams to 4 winning seasons with 2 NITs and 2 NCAA invitations.
Let's make believe he didn't accomplish that in the old Big East that included not only Villanova, Georgetown and Providence but also Syracuse, Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCONN, Notre Dame and Louisville.

Let's make believe Lavin left the roster with only 3 players instead of the new staff releasing Lavin recruits and decommittments from 2 three star and one 4 star recruit leaving the new staff to begin re-recruiting as they did with Lovett.
If they need better and more focused practices it must be Ron Linfont's fault since he was a carry-over from the previous staff.
Let's make believe Kassoum Yakwe was not a 4 star player his senior year on par with Jesse Govan and rated higher than Matt Ryan of Notre Dame. Let's forget he was a very promising freshman who has declined every year under this staff.
Let's make believe the rest of the team is not composed of 3, 4 and one 5 star players who, by any rational standard, should not be dead last in a 10 team conference.
It is the players.

I’m struggling to grasp your argument. Are you actually disputing that Lavin left the cupboard bare?

Brandon Sampson was a nice recruit, but there was no guarantee he would have ultimately signed a LOI here Had Lavin stayed. And Sampson is hardly a game changer. He’s putting up very modest numbers at LSU. I’d much rather have Ponds — no comparison.


In reading your posts, one can’t help but think you have a bit of an agenda and that you were waiting for the program to struggle under Mullin this year so you could gleefully proclaim “I told you so, I told you so . . .”

Boo you are good and thoughtful poster. When you say "In reading your posts, one can’t help but think you have a bit of an agenda and that you were waiting for the program to struggle under Mullin this year so you could gleefully proclaim “I told you so, I told you so . . .”, I can't help but think you are missing the point of my critiques. While I enjoy being sarcastic when discussing the game of basketball I hate for my team to lose ANY game. I don't give a flying fck who is coach I want them to win. I may be a bit delusional in that regard but I never hope to lose any games. Ergo my only agenda is winning.

Now, to answer your questions :
Early in Lavin's final year as coach I was criticized by some, especially a couple of mods, for speculating that he would be terminated because of his inability to sign quality players early. Even though Chris Obekpa was coming back to anchor the 5 spot it was important for Lav to lock down Isiah Briscoe. We all know how that ended up with Slice basically living down the block to close the deal late for Kentucky. Other targets that "may have materialized" included Kassoum Yakwe, Brandon Sampson, Marcus Lovett, Mussini and a couple of other guards who were coming and released by the current staff. Factor in Christian Jones, Felix Balamou and Amar Alibegovic and I hardly think Lavin would have had an empty roster. I have no doubt they would have fared better than Mullin's disastrous first year, mediocre second and unfortunate third. But it is all speculation now and we are faced with the reality of what is happening given the hiring of an unqualified coach (certainly for $2 mill), inexperienced assistants and the usual bad luck that plagues this program. I don’t spend my hard earned money to gleefully proclaim “I told you so". Unlike some long distance arbitrators here I attend the games and root for our athletes to WIN. That I attend some women's games and all the soccer games should tell you I am no Marco Baldi hoping we actually lose our games to say "I told you so".
Finally, in Lavin's final year, a few of the folks who chastised me for foreseeing the end of Lavinwood became virulent anti Lavin critics (you know who you are) and I never said to them "I told you so" for being a day late and a dollar short. Just as Lavin wasn't untouchable neither are the current novices reading "basketball for dummies" for a few million $ per year. Sports and sports forums are full of critiques and critics. If that bothers some they should look for another pastime.

Finally, as far as talent and development go, we should all be proud that most of Lav's players ended up playing the game they love for a paycheck. Even the despised Chris Obekpa is playing in the top division in Turkey. I hope few of Mullin's players do the same.

 

[boo haarvey]

I said it last week. We don’t have Big East level players except for Ponds and LoVett. Ponds is in a serious slump and making bad decisions like everyone else. Mullen hasn’t been great and they seem to need better, more focused practice planning but Mullin is not the problem right now

So if we are and will be the last place team in the Big East in year three....even behind DePaul. ...in a 10 team conference it must be Lavin's fault.
So DePaul and Providence and Georgetown have Big East level players and we don't. It's Lavins fault.
Let's just make believe that Lavin didn't coach his teams to 4 winning seasons with 2 NITs and 2 NCAA invitations.
Let's make believe he didn't accomplish that in the old Big East that included not only Villanova, Georgetown and Providence but also Syracuse, Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia, UCONN, Notre Dame and Louisville.

Let's make believe Lavin left the roster with only 3 players instead of the new staff releasing Lavin recruits and decommittments from 2 three star and one 4 star recruit leaving the new staff to begin re-recruiting as they did with Lovett.
If they need better and more focused practices it must be Ron Linfont's fault since he was a carry-over from the previous staff.
Let's make believe Kassoum Yakwe was not a 4 star player his senior year on par with Jesse Govan and rated higher than Matt Ryan of Notre Dame. Let's forget he was a very promising freshman who has declined every year under this staff.
Let's make believe the rest of the team is not composed of 3, 4 and one 5 star players who, by any rational standard, should not be dead last in a 10 team conference.
It is the players.

I’m struggling to grasp your argument. Are you actually disputing that Lavin left the cupboard bare?

Brandon Sampson was a nice recruit, but there was no guarantee he would have ultimately signed a LOI here Had Lavin stayed. And Sampson is hardly a game changer. He’s putting up very modest numbers at LSU. I’d much rather have Ponds — no comparison.


In reading your posts, one can’t help but think you have a bit of an agenda and that you were waiting for the program to struggle under Mullin this year so you could gleefully proclaim “I told you so, I told you so . . .”

Boo you are good and thoughtful poster. When you say "In reading your posts, one can’t help but think you have a bit of an agenda and that you were waiting for the program to struggle under Mullin this year so you could gleefully proclaim “I told you so, I told you so . . .”, I can't help but think you are missing the point of my critiques. While I enjoy being sarcastic when discussing the game of basketball I hate for my team to lose ANY game. I don't give a flying fck who is coach I want them to win. I may be a bit delusional in that regard but I never hope to lose any games. Ergo my only agenda is winning.

Now, to answer your questions :
Early in Lavin's final year as coach I was criticized by some, especially a couple of mods, for speculating that he would be terminated because of his inability to sign quality players early. Even though Chris Obekpa was coming back to anchor the 5 spot it was important for Lav to lock down Isiah Briscoe. We all know how that ended up with Slice basically living down the block to close the deal late for Kentucky. Other targets that "may have materialized" included Kassoum Yakwe, Brandon Sampson, Marcus Lovett, Mussini and a couple of other guards who were coming and released by the current staff. Factor in Christian Jones, Felix Balamou and Amar Alibegovic and I hardly think Lavin would have had an empty roster. I have no doubt they would have fared better than Mullin's disastrous first year, mediocre second and unfortunate third. But it is all speculation now and we are faced with the reality of what is happening given the hiring of an unqualified coach (certainly for $2 mill), inexperienced assistants and the usual bad luck that plagues this program. I don’t spend my hard earned money to gleefully proclaim “I told you so". Unlike some long distance arbitrators here I attend the games and root for our athletes to WIN. That I attend some women's games and all the soccer games should tell you I am no Marco Baldi hoping we actually lose our games to say "I told you so".
Finally, in Lavin's final year, a few of the folks who chastised me for foreseeing the end of Lavinwood became virulent anti Lavin critics (you know who you are) and I never said to them "I told you so" for being a day late and a dollar short. Just as Lavin wasn't untouchable neither are the current novices reading "basketball for dummies" for a few million $ per year. Sports and sports forums are full of critiques and critics. If that bothers some they should look for another pastime.

Finally, as far as talent and development go, we should all be proud that most of Lav's players ended up playing the game they love for a paycheck. Even the dispised Chris Obekpa is playing in the top division in Turkey. I hope few of Mullin's players do the same.

Fair points ‘72. I’m not sure i agree with everything you just wrote, but I do agree with a good amount of what you say . I also agree that it was unfair of me to accuse you of having an agenda. One thing we can all agree on is that we’re very frustrated with the current progress of the program, or lack thereof.

After we lost the DePaul game, my first thought was that another year of losing is going to have an effect on the psyche of the players and create fissures. Just reading the infighting on this fan board, one can imagine what’s going on in the minds of the 19 to 20 year olds on the team who have dedicated their lives to basketball.

For our kids who seem to be dedicated and hardworking, I wish this team success this year.

 

[usguard]

How many think this yrs record will be like yr 1?

 

[Class of 72]

How many think this yrs record will be like yr 1?

Bite your tongue!
Our record in year one should have been better except we had a 24 year old kid directing the team.

 

[bamafan]

How many think this yrs record will be like yr 1?

Bite your tongue!
Our record in year one should have been better except we had a 24 year old kid directing the team.

So now we have a 26 year old kid directing the team. What's your point?

 

[Class of 72]

How many think this yrs record will be like yr 1?

Bite your tongue!
Our record in year one should have been better except we had a 24 year old kid directing the team.

So now we have a 26 year old kid directing the team. What's your point?

Bam, I may have his age wrong but yes, seeing the kid drawing up plays while Mullin looked over his shoulders still gives me hives!

 

[Delaware]

On this site there's a lot of really good observations about this team and it's performance (or lack thereof), backed up by some startling statistics and really poor play. Why can't our Head Coach and his staff see the same and make corrections?

 

[redfan259999888]

On this site there's a lot of really good observations about this team and it's performance (or lack thereof), backed up by some startling statistics and really poor play. Why can't our Head Coach and his staff see the same and make corrections?

Hell Delaware, out head coach thinks a kid who shoots 3-20, 8-29 is a shooter.
We all know the kid isn't but the hof'er thinks the kids is.
Something is very wrong there. Sorry to keep harping on that quote, but it's mind bogging to me.

 

[Class of 72]

I just read in Newsday that the big east teams are shooting 3 pt shots at 48 per cent against us. Even with lousy defense teams over a four game period shouldn't be able to accomplish that. Hopefully that figure goes down starting Tues.

It will go down but only because Ewing will push the ball inside and drive to get our matadors in foul trouble. I am hoping Mullin or someone on this staff shakes things up a bit and surprises us with something different. Again, if our top six don't bring it and the bench keep playing the invisible men then I hope no recruits are in the house.

 

[Class of 72]

On this site there's a lot of really good observations about this team and it's performance (or lack thereof), backed up by some startling statistics and really poor play. Why can't our Head Coach and his staff see the same and make corrections?

Hell Delaware, out head coach thinks a kid who shoots 3-20, 8-29 is a shooter.
We all know the kid isn't but the hof'er thinks the kids is.
Something is very wrong there. Sorry to keep harping on that quote, but it's mind bogging to me.

Amar is a shooter and has a shooter's mentality. I have no doubt his % is much better in practices. The shots just aren't falling in games. Two players that chose to leave would have mitigated the necessity to utilize Amar who is the last man on the bench. They are Ellison and Darien Williams. Both would have gotten minutes and we would have had a decent bench. Even the Sima departure in retrospect was ignorant on his part as he would get as many minutes as his current team. The departure of Sid Wilson was a head scratcher. The departure of Slice was a head scratcher. The lack of depth (and staff) is clearly on the coach who we hope can do a better job of retaining talent in the future (next year) because any more decommittments or transfers means the kids that remain get cheated out of playing with a complete team. It's great that Matt generates interest in some good 3 and 4 star recruits but it is up to the coach to show them they will be better off staying. This year we are paying the price for those untimely departures.

 

[Knight]

As far as coaching goes, this year's team has generally played better defense than last year's team. Hopefully, the coaches will re-examine the team's performance and what they can do to be better prepared for the remainder of the season.
On defense we have got to get better position to get some rebounds, defend the 3, prefect and use the Zone more frequently.
On offense, take more selective shots, get more guys down low, learn to set picks, and crash the boards and come up with some o-rebounds.
Also got to learn how to use timeouts. Can't believe we ended the last game and had 2 TOs remaining.

 

[Class of 72]

As far as coaching goes, this year's team has generally played better defense than last year's team. Hopefully, the coaches will re-examine the team's performance and what they can do to be better prepared for the remainder of the season.
On defense we have got to get better position to get some rebounds, defend the 3, prefect and use the Zone more frequently.
On offense, take more selective shots, get more guys down low, learn to set picks, and crash the boards and come up with some o-rebounds.
Also got to learn how to use timeouts. Can't believe we ended the last game and had 2 TOs remaining.

Are you saying Mullin standing by the scorers' table looking dumbfounded doesn't send a message to his players on the floor? Just kidding but it is the assistants' job to remind the coach about fouls on players and time outs.

 

[bamafan]

As far as coaching goes, this year's team has generally played better defense than last year's team. Hopefully, the coaches will re-examine the team's performance and what they can do to be better prepared for the remainder of the season.
On defense we have got to get better position to get some rebounds, defend the 3, prefect and use the Zone more frequently.
On offense, take more selective shots, get more guys down low, learn to set picks, and crash the boards and come up with some o-rebounds.
Also got to learn how to use timeouts. Can't believe we ended the last game and had 2 TOs remaining.

Are you saying Mullin standing by the scorers' table looking dumbfounded doesn't send a message to his players on the floor? Just kidding but it is the assistants' job to remind the coach about fouls on players and time outs.

Assistants job to keep track of how many times out are left or when we are out of them it is the head coaches job to know when to use them and call them. Geesh can we expect Mullin to do anything?

 

[bamafan]

As far as coaching goes, this year's team has generally played better defense than last year's team. Hopefully, the coaches will re-examine the team's performance and what they can do to be better prepared for the remainder of the season.
On defense we have got to get better position to get some rebounds, defend the 3, prefect and use the Zone more frequently.
On offense, take more selective shots, get more guys down low, learn to set picks, and crash the boards and come up with some o-rebounds.
Also got to learn how to use timeouts. Can't believe we ended the last game and had 2 TOs remaining.

You're not asking for too much now are you? They have had the off season and practice since September and haven't done it yet do you really expect them to have an epiphany and be able to accomplish all that in the next 8 weeks?

 

[salty dog]

72. you're right sometimes you have to spoon feed these posters here. Clamoring that Lavin left nothing but not thinking about it like you. Good chance the Rysheed Jordan's life would have been different also had Lavin finished his contract. Meanwhile Holtman replaced Matta at OSU because he had no recruits and the roster was bare. Yet I look and they just knocked off Number 1 and have good recruits coming in. It can be done quite quickly with a competent staff.

 

[usguard]

Yes, really disappointed in them, The school puts out big pay checks and rec'd bad results. When do you thing jobs will be in impacted for poor results.In business you would have been gone after yr one but contacts make us more tolerant.It always comes down to $$$.Perhaps we should have just kept SLICE AND LETS HIM PICK HIS STAFF.RESULTS PROB WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.The product we have recd is one that you really can not blame posters for their negativity,frustration .But we will Bitch and complain and still support the team with hope for a better next yr. Just hope it happens soon a lot of us are getting old and sure would like to see a very good team during our lifetime.

 

[fun]

Rysheed Jordan's life would have been different also had Lavin finished his contract.

Not to mention all the starving people he could have fed when he multiplied the loaves and fishes.

Meanwhile Holtman replaced Matta at OSU because he had no recruits and the roster was bare. Yet I look and they just knocked off Number 1 and have good recruits coming in. It can be done quite quickly with a competent staff.

According to OSU and Matta, Matta retired for health reasons, having had multiple surgeries during his tenure there. Perhaps you know differently and Thad Matta is a liar. Anyhoo, over his last three years at OSU Matta recruited three five star recruits and seven four star recruits, three of whom are still on the roster, averaging between them 70 minutes per game.

 

[salty dog]

Meanwhile Holtman replaced Matta at OSU because he had no recruits and the roster was bare. Yet I look and they just knocked off Number 1 and have good recruits coming in. It can be done quite quickly with a competent staff.

FUN wrote

According to OSU and Matta, Matta retired for health reasons, having had multiple surgeries during his tenure there. Perhaps you know differently and Thad Matta is a liar. Anyhoo, over his last three years at OSU Matta recruited three five star recruits and seven four star recruits, three of whom are still on the roster, averaging between them 70 minutes per game.


Well that differs with the AD's account of the complete disappointment in the current recruiting. PR reports for his dismissal like PR reports for Fran Frachilla's departure are simply misleading.

 

[fuchsia]

Owens going outside for shots as opposed to slashing or alley oop offense probably makes it easier for opposing defenses to out rebound us and harder for Ahmed and Clark to get good offensive rebounding position.

 

[SJU61982]

Meanwhile Holtman replaced Matta at OSU because he had no recruits and the roster was bare. Yet I look and they just knocked off Number 1 and have good recruits coming in. It can be done quite quickly with a competent staff.

FUN wrote

According to OSU and Matta, Matta retired for health reasons, having had multiple surgeries during his tenure there. Perhaps you know differently and Thad Matta is a liar. Anyhoo, over his last three years at OSU Matta recruited three five star recruits and seven four star recruits, three of whom are still on the roster, averaging between them 70 minutes per game.


Well that differs with the AD's account of the complete disappointment in the current recruiting. PR reports for his dismissal like PR reports for Fran Frachilla's departure are simply misleading.

I believe that Holtmann brought two top 100 recruits that were originally going to Butler, with him to OSU.

So yes, Matta's recruiting was poor, and Holtmann has a decent team in year one at OSU. Both are true.