Fear and Loathing on redmen.com

[redfazed]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Mussini would not, in a million years, be seeing more than garbage time at Gonzaga. (Unless someone was injured.)

 

[monte]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

It may be moot, because it appears that staff is recruiting over him. With Simon, LoVett or USF kid, Ellison and Ponds, he would be fifth wheel, no? Still want that dinner though.

Yeah, but we may have to go Mexican. lol. Assuming no one leaves, we have same 4 guards + Simon. USF kid likely isn't coming unless Lovett or Ponds(God forbid!) leaves. Therefore same 5 man back court, same make-up with or without USF kid. Ellison and/or Simon can swing some of the time. Plenty of PT for all of them IMO.

 

[we are sju]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

 

[monte]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

I can't speak for anyone else, but extra helpings of pasta have definitely helped me grow at least 6". I've gone a 32" to a 38" in no time.

 

[monte]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

If a kid like this can be a productive high D1 player, so can Mussini:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brady-heslip-1.html

 

[we are sju]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

If a kid like this can be a productive high D1 player, so can Mussini:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brady-heslip-1.html

The other problem with Mussini is ST John's two best players are also little guards. He comes in for one of the two best players and is counted on to score and other teams know they have to pay attention to him. Heslip complimented those Baylor teams. Since Mussini coming in means one of our two best players have to sit it is not ideal.

 

[1and1sju]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

It may be moot, because it appears that staff is recruiting over him. With Simon, LoVett or USF kid, Ellison and Ponds, he would be fifth wheel, no? Still want that dinner though.

Yeah, but we may have to go Mexican. lol. Assuming no one leaves, we have same 4 guards + Simon. USF kid likely isn't coming unless Lovett or Ponds(God forbid!) leaves. Therefore same 5 man back court, same make-up with or without USF kid. Ellison and/or Simon can swing some of the time. Plenty of PT for all of them IMO.

Simon is a starter imo. Not a 5th wheel.
Somebody needs to lose minutes.

 

[monte]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

It may be moot, because it appears that staff is recruiting over him. With Simon, LoVett or USF kid, Ellison and Ponds, he would be fifth wheel, no? Still want that dinner though.

Yeah, but we may have to go Mexican. lol. Assuming no one leaves, we have same 4 guards + Simon. USF kid likely isn't coming unless Lovett or Ponds(God forbid!) leaves. Therefore same 5 man back court, same make-up with or without USF kid. Ellison and/or Simon can swing some of the time. Plenty of PT for all of them IMO.

Simon is a starter imo. Not a 5th wheel.
Somebody needs to lose minutes.

Wasn't suggesting Simon was a spare part. He'll get his minutes I expect. When I said "swing", I meant between the 2,3 and sometimes even 4 spots(to spell Ahmed, and when we go really small).

 

[monte]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

If a kid like this can be a productive high D1 player, so can Mussini:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brady-heslip-1.html

The other problem with Mussini is ST John's two best players are also little guards. He comes in for one of the two best players and is counted on to score and other teams know they have to pay attention to him. Heslip complimented those Baylor teams. Since Mussini coming in means one of our two best players have to sit it is not ideal.

Agree, which is why I said that maybe this isn't the right team for him. Without and inside offensive presence, teams can key on our guards. Lovett and Ponds can create for themselves. Muss can't. Tough situation for him, but still not ready abandon hope.

 

[we are sju]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Those Gonzaga small white kids who could shoot also were point guards. That is the problem, if he could play the point then yes he would be a fine college player. He played so poorly at the point last season that he is currently 4th on the depth chart there behind even Ellison. The other option would be if he could somehow grow 3 or 4 inches. Maybe that thing they used to stretch William Wallace could work.

If a kid like this can be a productive high D1 player, so can Mussini:

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/brady-heslip-1.html

The other problem with Mussini is ST John's two best players are also little guards. He comes in for one of the two best players and is counted on to score and other teams know they have to pay attention to him. Heslip complimented those Baylor teams. Since Mussini coming in means one of our two best players have to sit it is not ideal.

Agree, which is why I said that maybe this isn't the right team for him. Without and inside offensive presence, teams can key on our guards. Lovett and Ponds can create for themselves. Muss can't. Tough situation for him, but still not ready abandon hope.

I agree with that. If Mussini was on a good athletic team with a solid front court and normal sized guards he could def play the Heslip role.

 

[Andrew]

I have been very hard on Mussini since he showed up. I was shocked by how bad a ball handler he was last year even for an off guard and of course he often struggles on defense. That doesn't mean I don't wish he was available. He can get hot every once in a while and on a team that has only three players that can score consistently, we can use all the help we can get. I think the number of minutes he should play will vary greatly by game.

 

[Section3]

BTW did anyone see during first couple minutes there was a loose ball and for some reason Ellison jumped over it instead of reaching down and picking it up? Was very confused by it. Like he thought it was a bomb or something.

Right thru his legs. He acts, at times, like he is in a pickup game. He shows potential but is too nonchalant at times.

 

[fun]

Notwithstanding my obvious bias, let me just go on record as saying that if Mussini sticks around, IMO there's a productive roll on this team for him over the next couple of years. Yes he'll always have challenges defensively, so the staff will have to figure out how to use him accordingly, but the kid is only half way in to his sophomore year and will continue to grow as a player. He's got court smarts and obviously can shoot, plus he's a spirited and unselfish kid who by all accounts is a good teammate and representative of the school. Plenty of high D1 teams have kids with similar skills sets and limitations, and figure out how to find useful rolls for them. Lets not push him out the door so quickly.

Good kid, good attitude, no doubt. But the one thing he brings to the table--potentially having a hot night as a shooter--wasn't needed in either of our last 2 victories. The question in my mind is: Is he the biggest liability we have on the defensive end? I think he is, and I don't think there is a lot he/coaching staff can do about it.

Kid Lewis on Butler sure seemed like a defensive liability to me, but somehow his coach figured out how to work around that. Gonzaga consistently seems to have kids like Mussini. Having defenders behind you, and teammates who know how and when to help, is certainly a plus. Mussini has neither of those right now. Maybe this is the wrong team for his skills and limitations. But unlike others on here, I still think that he can play at this level.

Other than that he's Italian is there a reason that the staff should work out a special plan so that Missini can contribute? He does one thing well. Lots of other players do two and even three things well. Why don't we get one of those and skip the special plan stuff.

 

[Red.Fans]

BTW did anyone see during first couple minutes there was a loose ball and for some reason Ellison jumped over it instead of reaching down and picking it up? Was very confused by it. Like he thought it was a bomb or something.

Right thru his legs. He acts, at times, like he is in a pickup game. He shows potential but is too nonchalant at times.

Several of our guys are too nonchalant at times. Lovett dumped a pass on Ponds like he was dropping a rotten apple a couple of feet away from him. An alert defender would have run away with it. Maturity/Discipline.

Not sure what that was with Ellison. Maybe he thought the defender had touched it but it was definitely a brain fart.

 

[Red.Fans]

Other than that he's Italian is there a reason that the staff should work out a special plan so that Missini can contribute? He does one thing well. Lots of other players do two and even three things well. Why don't we get one of those and skip the special plan stuff.

You gloss over the Italian part like it is not important.

 

[Section3]

Back to Mussini. I think one of the reasons we, as an avid fan base, latch onto guys like Mussini and others is the fact that it had been so long since we had anyone who could knock down 3s. So, when recruits come along that show any signs that they may fill the void we "adopt" them and hope beyond hope that they live up to the potential.

That said, seems like a good kid and has definitely had his moments - good and bad.

 

[fun]

Other than that he's Italian is there a reason that the staff should work out a special plan so that Missini can contribute? He does one thing well. Lots of other players do two and even three things well. Why don't we get one of those and skip the special plan stuff.

You gloss over the Italian part like it is not important.

On the distaff side I'm a Tamburrino out of a Gragnano mare so I understand the importance of that and consequently have applied myself to making a wonderful gravy. Or as you Philistines call it, sauce. However, some things are more important than blood.

 

[fun]

Back to Mussini. I think one of the reasons we, as an avid fan base, latch onto guys like Mussini and others is the fact that it had been so long since we had anyone who could knock down 3s. So, when recruits come along that show any signs that they may fill the void we "adopt" them and hope beyond hope that they live up to the potential.

That said, seems like a good kid and has definitely had his moments - good and bad.

I agree that he seems like a good kid and I wish him no harm and think he should get the same opportunity that similar player - eg Heath Orvis and Liam Beasty - got. But I think that the reason that we adopt him is that we identify with him: like most of us he's slow, white and not very good at basketball.

 

[Class of 72]

Back to Mussini. I think one of the reasons we, as an avid fan base, latch onto guys like Mussini and others is the fact that it had been so long since we had anyone who could knock down 3s. So, when recruits come along that show any signs that they may fill the void we "adopt" them and hope beyond hope that they live up to the potential.

That said, seems like a good kid and has definitely had his moments - good and bad.

I agree that he seems like a good kid and I wish him no harm and think he should get the same opportunity that similar player - eg Heath Orvis and Liam Beasty - got. But I think that the reason that we adopt him is that we identify with him: like most of us he's slow, white and not very good at basketball.

You mentioned two iconic players whose jerseys should be hanging in the Lobby of Carnesecca Arena not for their basketball skills but for two of the greatest "names" ever to don a St. John's uniform.

 

[redfan99d]

Mussini chose us when we were in the complete toilet. Kid could of went somewhere else (most kids would off) . I don't remember him dogging it last year when we getting our doors blown off. He continued to compete.

Sure he has his limitations. But he can shoot, can't argue that. But he seems to like St. John's and represents us well.