There is a big difference between being critical and negative about what you see on the court and giving up on a season or not rooting for your team. I watch every SJU game whether in person, on TV or on the computer. The only ones I don't see are away games not available on any media. I root my tail off but that doesn't mean I am not going to comment on what I see. There is very little I like about this team, whether you talk coaching, effort, playing together as a team, etc. but I always root for them and always hope the next game is the game they "get it." I very rarely if ever discuss record, in fact, I agree with you that our record, taken out of context, is not unreasonable. But I look at and post to quality of play, coaching strategies, effort, playing together. And IMO this team falls far short in all those areas regardless of record.
Fired up for Villanova
- Thread starter southernjohnny2
- Start date
There is a big difference between being critical and negative about what you see on the court and giving up on a season or not rooting for your team. I watch every SJU game whether in person, on TV or on the computer. The only ones I don't see are away games not available on any media. I root my tail off but that doesn't mean I am not going to comment on what I see. There is very little I like about this team, whether you talk coaching, effort, playing together as a team, etc. but I always root for them and always hope the next game is the game they "get it." I very rarely if ever discuss record, in fact, I agree with you that our record, taken out of context, is not unreasonable. But I look at and post to quality of play, coaching strategies, effort, playing together. And IMO this team falls far short in all those areas regardless of record.
southernjohnny2
Member
people why are we blaming Lavin?? He had a huge recruiting class in a bad year. We have a bunch of top 100 kids from a weak class. That being said, some on here are guilty of saying this kid is going to the NBA, or that kid is going to the NBA. The truth is none of these kids are going to the NBA..These kids read their own print.Announcers were saying Sanchez will be playing in the big league, I am sure he got wind of that..I dont blame Lavin for starting Walk ons..Are you watching the same games I am watching..Sanchez not moving on offense, Jakarr not moving without the ball..Who sets a good screen? Too many of these kids believe the hype, instead of the team..This could be a very good team, if they started to play like a team..Who besides Harrison dives for balls?? Who is concerned with spacing on the floor? on defense who is really focused besides Dom?? When you dont have shooters you still can win the lions share of games, but you have to focus on defense, getting the 50/50 balls, and creating opportunities...I think this team will finally gel against Villanova..Once they accept they are not lottery picks, and I know the GT game showed allot of them, they will buy in to what Lavin is selling them..
beast of the east
Active member
So let's get this straight. Guys are in an uproar because we opened the season 0-2. But to be fair, we will have been underdogs in our first three Big East contests. The team may not be that good, but those signs were evident when we were struggling to beat Monmouth. There is enough talent for the team to come together, but there has been no consistency.
beast of the east
Active member
I don't think you've been unreasonable. I don't think a website like this is to only be positive about performance. I do think that maybe those people who are going berserk now may also be the ones who were proclaiming us a top 20 team or better, and honestly, I didn't see it. We are a talent laden team that hasn't put it together for a stretch of games yet. If/when we do, we will see what we've only seen glimpse of. Until then, expect more of the same. Saturday though, was an aberration. They simply sucked end to end vs. Georgetown, and you can throw out the late surge to cut the lead to 20. I was among the most vocal when guys said we had 6 NBA players on the roster - I said it remains to be seen if we have one.
beast of the east
Active member
We were picked for what, 5th in conference? Maybe the expectations on here were just not the same as what others thought of us. I think by all means we should be able to play a very competitive game on Saturday. Whether we are good enough to win, I don't know. I do know that another performance like last Saturday would be underperforming and an embarrassment. I also know that in no way should Lavin start a walk on and Felix if he wants to win.
Moose
Well-known member
The problem is there are people talking out both sides of their you know what. We hear about these great recruits. These Top 25, Top 10, Top 3 recruiting classes. We hear about the best shooter since whoever, the best PG since whoever, were young and these growing pains will make us better next year. Then we are picked 5th by the pundits and we get a flip flop and all of a sudden we are 'unproven', 'have to prove ourselves', 'will be good come February'. Nobody can even accurately say if expectations are high or low because the coach and the talking heads internally go back and forth.
beast of the east
Active member
I don't read any of Lavin's tweets or listen to interviews any more, because when I have I never feel I learn anything worth a dime. So that's one opinion, I'd discount right away. I think you have to observe and make up your own mind. I will be in the row behind you again on Saturday, so you know that worked out well the last time I did.
While the schedule gets easier after Sat, if STJ plans on making the Ncaa they need to win this game at home. Enough of the weird starting line ups and shuffling guys in and out. It looks pathetic. It's clear Jordan is our Pg- play him 30 if he can stay out of foul trouble, and let Branch see the other 10 at the point. Play Harrison 30 plus at the 2 and let Greene see the other mins there. Dom at the 3 for 30-- let Hooper/Felix/Marco split the other 10, and play Sampson and Obepka up front and rotate in Sanchez and GG. Why are the line up and subs so complicated, rotation should be in place. That being said STJ wins Sat!
You might be alone because I'm on the fence about going
Fair point on his drivel. We went from a loudmouth coach who rubbed people the wrong way, to a mute in Norm, to rambler who speaks only in cliches and comparisons.
I think the problem is that some other coaches recruit talent that they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Our coach gets the talent first and then tries to cut off the pieces of the puzzle to make them fit. I'm not being critical. If it works it will be a heck of a team. If it doesn't, then you have one messy puzzle!
I think the problem is that some other coaches recruit talent that they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Our coach gets the talent first and then tries to cut off the pieces of the puzzle to make them fit. I'm not being critical. If it works it will be a heck of a team. If it doesn't, then you have one messy puzzle![/quote]
We desperately needed a real point guard heading into this season. So Lavin went out and got not just a PG, but a top rated one. Major kudos to him on that.
But now, we're 14 games in, and Lavin's still messing around with Balamou, Greene, Branch --even Dom has been trying to act like a PG at times. If this team fails this year, it will on the gross underuse of Jordan, IMO.
We desperately needed a real point guard heading into this season. So Lavin went out and got not just a PG, but a top rated one. Major kudos to him on that.
But now, we're 14 games in, and Lavin's still messing around with Balamou, Greene, Branch --even Dom has been trying to act like a PG at times. If this team fails this year, it will on the gross underuse of Jordan, IMO.
redstorm80
Well-known member
Imagine after everything that happened this week if we win this game
Moose
Well-known member
Means nothing in the grand scheme of things right now. Prove its not an abberation and go out and win next two BE games and then you are 3-2. Then maybe people jumped the gun. But this team whether it be this year or the last 3 years has shown nothing in terms of reliability that they would win the next two BE games after Nova which should be wins.
beast of the east
Active member
You might be alone because I'm on the fence about going
Fair point on his drivel. We went from a loudmouth coach who rubbed people the wrong way, to a mute in Norm, to rambler who speaks only in cliches and comparisons.
I think the problem is that some other coaches recruit talent that they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Our coach gets the talent first and then tries to cut off the pieces of the puzzle to make them fit. I'm not being critical. If it works it will be a heck of a team. If it doesn't, then you have one messy puzzle!
After more than a dozen games, who would you have passed on? Just curious
redstorm80
Well-known member
I agree with you, being 1-2 is nothing to celebrate but a win sure would be nice
I agree, he's no phenom at this point. But from what I've seen, he's already head and shoulders about Branch and Greene--don't get me started on Balamou.
If Lavin started him consistently--which he seems hell-bent on not doing--then he'd get some the confidence and experience boost he needs.
I agree. I can accept losing on Saturday, I cannot accept losing while not playing our absolute best possible rotation for 40 minutes. I'd like to be able to sit in my seat and root hard for a win against a top 10 team and not worry about why we are doing crazy stuff with the roation.
I don't doubt that there is a reason the staff has done what they've done with the lineup (especially Saturday), but this is a huge conference game at Madison Square Garden on January 11. By this point either the players in question are not meeting their obligations and they don't dress, or they are meeting their obligations and will dress and the minutes will be distributed solely based upon who gives us the best chance to win. Then we can live with whatever the results may be. We are too far into the season to be in this middle ground of sending messages with playing time, we have to move forward with whoever is on board and place 100% of the focus on getting better as a basketball team and winning games.
If history is any indiciation the venue should help facilitate this process. Lavin's teams have been much better at the Garden during his tenure. Moreover this particular team is 8/28 (28.5%) in terms of impressive halves played this season (2nd halves Wisco, Bucknell, GT, and Cuse; full games Fordham and USF), but they are 3/4 (75%) at the Garden. In the Fordham and Cuse games we have looked like a different team than most of the rest of the season so hopefully that trend continues.
I feel that this game is the most critical of the Lavin era. Win and 1 and 2 with the most difficult part of the sked behind is not bad.
Lose but play a competive game and if Lavin's prediction of improvement til mid Feb holds all is not lost.
Play another Geo fiasco means a 4 or 5 league win season and worse than that a depressing outlook for next year. Can any jr college player(s) or hardship transfer be brought in to provide some offense next year.
Lose but play a competive game and if Lavin's prediction of improvement til mid Feb holds all is not lost.
Play another Geo fiasco means a 4 or 5 league win season and worse than that a depressing outlook for next year. Can any jr college player(s) or hardship transfer be brought in to provide some offense next year.