EXHIB (POST GAME) Queens, Wed. Oct. 30, 7p, ESPN-3, TuneIn

I like what I saw coaching-wise. The offense spreads the floor well and creates space well. Early in the year our man defense looks good at this juncture overall. Sure there were lapses and mistakes that are to be expected but overall kids know were to be on the court and have good body positioning. I also like how we believe in rebounding again.

Roberts really impressed me with his improvement. Looks like we found our starting PF, although likely to play center until Steere available. He made huge strides and likely one of those guys that will continue to get better under Anderson. Earlington, Caraher etc all look solid. Coming along and serviceable.

Overall we are really just short on roster talent and depth this year and it will continue to be that way. Really need to get Dunn out there to have another scorer and a lead guard who can get things moving. Will be a tough year for us but I think we will compete hard and be competitive in a lot of games. Lack of talent will be difficult to overcome at times.
 
Watched most of game without sound but will go back and watch it again tonight probably.

One thing that stood out is all of the new guys are willing and able to catch and pass the ball. May seem insignificant to most but it has not always been the case. Sears and Champaigne both look comfortable making decision in the high post and don’t seem nervous or jumpy and both capable of putting the ball down. Caraher looked to move it quickly and Rutherford especially made quick decisions with the basketball. Ball movement last night for a team playing for the first time together with a new coach was definitely something to build on.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=361359]I like what I saw coaching-wise. The offense spreads the floor well and creates space well. Early in the year our man defense looks good at this juncture overall. Sure there were lapses and mistakes that are to be expected but overall kids know were to be on the court and have good body positioning. I also like how we believe in rebounding again.

Roberts really impressed me with his improvement. Looks like we found our starting PF, although likely to play center until Steere available. He made huge strides and likely one of those guys that will continue to get better under Anderson. Earlington, Caraher etc all look solid. Coming along and serviceable.

Overall we are really just short on roster talent and depth this year and it will continue to be that way. Really need to get Dunn out there to have another scorer and a lead guard who can get things moving. Will be a tough year for us but I think we will compete hard and be competitive in a lot of games. Lack of talent will be difficult to overcome at times.[/quote]
Well said & realistic. Keep working, whatever the flaws, and build the foundation.
 
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I also liked what I saw from the team. They looked well conditioned, moved the ball effectively, played defense, having a nine man rotation, and worked their buts off. Obviously playing Queens College, a DII school, should be no great challenge, but it was nice to see that they weren't just playing streetball on the court, actually following a system and blowing a team out. I remember last year watching the beginning of the season and thinking that too many teams that should be inferior to us were giving the team a run for their money and then having to keep all our starters in the entire game.

I think one concern would be getting consistent scoring from players other than LJ and Heron once they see teams that can challenge them offensive and defensively.
 
Still can't get over how good Bovell was. There's always those sleeper kids who could start for us but somehow end up at much lower programs. He also scored 12 or 13 at FDU another D1 school, but he could really light it up from 3. The kid also has springs for legs.
 
If either LJ or Heron has a bad game going to be really hard to be competitive in any game.
I think after this season people will have a better appreciation for how good Ponds was.
Like how people seemed to like Harrison better after he was gone.

Going to be rough year just hope people understand that going in. Hopefully we can win 12 to 15 and maybe get a nice upset along the way.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=361364]Still can't get over how good Bovell was. There's always those sleeper kids who could start for us but somehow end up at much lower programs. He also scored 12 or 13 at FDU another D1 school, but he could really light it up from 3. The kid also has springs for legs.[/quote]

Let's not get crazy. He shot 24% from 3 point last year. He had a nice game yesterday but wouldn't sniff the floor if he played here. He was the best player on a team that lost by nearly 40 points.
 
Just MHO but while I appreciate Ponds coming here at a tough time and what he did, I think for Fig and Heron, it will be addition by subtraction. The overall team will struggle as you pointed out but with those 2 unfettered I think they will be pretty competitive most nights even if the record does not reflect that in the end. Transitional building year no doubt.

[quote="we are sju" post=361365]
I think after this season people will have a better appreciation for how good Ponds was.
[/quote]
 
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Overall I would agree that after LJ and Heron there is a big drop off. But we knew that. Despite that, we won by close to 40. A year ago our exhibition game went down to the wire. So there is that too. Roberts looked good, but like any non D1 school Queens College has no big men who can play at all. It will be interesting next Wednesday to see how he does against a D1 school. Some muscle has been added for sure, that is nice to see.

Team played hard and there was no nonsense. No passes off the backboard for missed slams, no behind the pack passes into the stands. This team is not uber talented but certainly seems to be all business. For year one that's all you can ask for, and now my Captain Obvious statement.

Recruiting will be, as always, the key. This team would be another 7 win squad without Heron and LJ. SJU can't expect a team of high level guys but you can't win in the Big East with a team of role players. Can this staff recruit Top 100 guys to SJU from time-to-time? Until they shown they can it remains a question, and fans can only hope.
 
Also couldn't help but wonder how this team would be if Simon had stayed. Not knocking him for leaving, but he would have made a very big difference.
 
We would also look a ton different with Dunn and Steere and would have a pretty solid starting lineup with a true big guy and another scoring lead guard. Not Ponds for sure, but without those two, we are without two starting caliber guys. It is apparent. Let’s all cross our fingers we get Dunn through and playing. Add Steere before Big East play starts and we might be ok. That’s a lot of ifs, but the team would look a lot different with those two guys. Our other guys will benefit with court time in the interim though.
 
[quote="IDRAFT" post=361368]Overall I would agree that after LJ and Heron there is a big drop off. But we knew that. Despite that, we won by close to 40. A year ago our exhibition game went down to the wire. So there is that too. Roberts looked good, but like any non D1 school Queens College has no big men who can play at all. It will be interesting next Wednesday to see how he does against a D1 school. Some muscle has been added for sure, that is nice to see.

Team played hard and there was no nonsense. No passes off the backboard for missed slams, no behind the pack passes into the stands. This team is not uber talented but certainly seems to be all business. For year one that's all you can ask for, and now my Captain Obvious statement.

Recruiting will be, as always, the key. This team would be another 7 win squad without Heron and LJ. SJU can't expect a team of high level guys but you can't win in the Big East with a team of role players. Can this staff recruit Top 100 guys to SJU from time-to-time? Until they shown they can it remains a question, and fans can only hope.[/quote]

Going with January 10
First post by someone that says "I understand this is a transition or rebuilding year and Mullin stunk and Lavin was lazy and program has still not recovered from Jarvis....but not sure Anderson knows what he is doing and a real coach would have won us 5 more games...."
 
This is not even the rebuilding year.... next year when we lose Heron and likely LJ with a bunch of new guys is gonna be the real rebuilding year. No choice to be patient and hope that Anderson lands a significant talent for the last spot in 2020 class and hopefully has a huge 21’ class.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=361377]This is not even the rebuilding year.... next year when we lose Heron and likely LJ with a bunch of new guys is gonna be the real rebuilding year. No choice to be patient and hope that Anderson lands a significant talent for the last spot in 2020 class and hopefully has a huge 21’ class.[/quote]

I think Anderson can win w/o a huge recruiting class or even one big recruit. Since Louie left program constantly waiting on one big recruit or class. Finally have a coach that actually has a system and can recruit to fit that system. Going to take a few years so people won't be happy of course. If given ample time I think Anderson can build something sustainable though. Just my opinion.
 
Pretty good first game effort by most. Looking forward to seeing the team develop as they learn and execute CMA's program.
 
[quote="SJU61982" post=361375]Post game press conference (I think Howie Kussoy was the only media member there - the media presence was as small as the crowd. Crowd might have been the lowest I've ever seen, outside of a few games played during, or in the aftermath of, a snowstorm).

https://redstormsports.com/watch/?Archive=2221&type=Live[/quote]

Both Mustapha and LJ are great ambassadors of our program
I love LJ's final comment, calling our system "organized chaos"
Great description - we're going to have a lunch pail mentality during CMA's tenure
 
[quote="we are sju" post=361379][quote="MCNPA" post=361377]This is not even the rebuilding year.... next year when we lose Heron and likely LJ with a bunch of new guys is gonna be the real rebuilding year. No choice to be patient and hope that Anderson lands a significant talent for the last spot in 2020 class and hopefully has a huge 21’ class.[/quote]

I think Anderson can win w/o a huge recruiting class or even one big recruit. Since Louie left program constantly waiting on one big recruit or class. Finally have a coach that actually has a system and can recruit to fit that system. Going to take a few years so people won't be happy of course. If given ample time I think Anderson can build something sustainable though. Just my opinion.[/quote]
Winning is one thing; winning big -- regularly competing for a BE title -- is something else. Aside from good coaching (which it looks like we have), it requires talent and depth.
 
Happy with the TEAM play. Expect CMA to continue not having a losing season.

LJ and Heron were terrific. Heron had 5 steals. Knowing they cannot continue that 3 point barrage we need others to step up.

Point guard looked solid. They defended well. Concerned Williams took only one shot.

Last years freshman bigs put back to back double digit points. Perhaps this is where additional scoring is coming.

Just looks promising after Dunn and Steere are inserted into the lineup.
 
[quote="redken" post=361389][quote="we are sju" post=361379][quote="MCNPA" post=361377]This is not even the rebuilding year.... next year when we lose Heron and likely LJ with a bunch of new guys is gonna be the real rebuilding year. No choice to be patient and hope that Anderson lands a significant talent for the last spot in 2020 class and hopefully has a huge 21’ class.[/quote]

I think Anderson can win w/o a huge recruiting class or even one big recruit. Since Louie left program constantly waiting on one big recruit or class. Finally have a coach that actually has a system and can recruit to fit that system. Going to take a few years so people won't be happy of course. If given ample time I think Anderson can build something sustainable though. Just my opinion.[/quote]
Winning is one thing; winning big -- regularly competing for a BE title -- is something else. Aside from good coaching (which it looks like we have), it requires talent and depth.[/quote]

Yeah that won't happen. Never really has except for couple outlier years in program history.
Winning 20 every year and competing for tourney bid every year. That should be our goal.
We Are St. John's!
 
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