For all the doom and gloom around here...

[STJClass_2013]

The next 4 games will define where this team will go. Last nights victory showed we are capable of beating some quality teams(especially when playing man to man defense!). While inconsistency has marred the season, mostly due to free throws, we still have a chance to salvage a nice season. There is no better time to do so than the next 2 weeks.

4 games in that span, all of which are very winnable. 2 games against DePaul, 1 vs Rutgers, 1 vs Seton Hall. In order to make up for some unsavory losses from 2012 like UNCA, we need to be opportunistic here. A 4-0 stretch would put us at 14-7 (6-3). To me that flips the entire season on its head.

On paper we are better than all 4 of our foes, and can really make a statement by getting one back from Rutgers. Here's to hoping the team finds a consistent run of form in them and starts climbing the BE ladder.

I said the same thing after the Cincy game, with RU, G-Town, and ND coming this could be when we turn the corner, and we lose to RU and G-Town so I won`t go there this time.
I want to see what we do at DePaul (why can`t we beat DePaul? What because we`re young? I say BS to that crap, no excuses just go to DePaul and play the same as last night, it shouldn`t be that hard to do), then go to the RAC and win there. They beat us in our house so lets return the favor.
That`s what pisses me off, just because they`re young they can`t play the same way as they did @ cincy and last night vs. ND? Nah I`m not hearing that. That`s just an excuse to play like garbage in some games.

Hey grow up and become big boys, and want it and bring it hard every game, the time for excuses is over plain and simple. I`m sick and tired of hearing oh next year, next year, next year it gets old. Lets f`ing do something this year and forget next year. Excuse my language but I`m just fed up with hearing about next year
ok I`m done with my rant lol

Just watch the season. DePaul is the next game and I would like to see a W. I hope the team I forced cause if they play like they did last night, I think we will be in good shape.

 

[jrhoops1949]

We will get better in fits and starts even without Sanchez. We will get much much better and even dangerous with him.

Sanchez is fast becoming a mythecal figure like Keyser Soze. No one has actually seen him play and he will never play for us but his reputation is increasing by leaps and bounds. By the time our granchildren are posting on these sites they will be convinced that Sanchez was the greatest player in the history of the program despite never actually playing.

He really should get a nite at the Carn. Really. The kids been roughed up.

 

[SJUISBACK]

SJUISBACK are you really Joe3 in disguise ; )

Losing is always frustrating but playing hard and wanting it don't always guarantee wins, like Lou Carnesecca once said, "the other guys are trying too"

Yeah I know all about the other team trying and all that stuff. Now with that said after beating #20 ND you don`t think that we could beat DePaul if we play the same way as we did last night? Why, because we`ll be on the road? Well if that`s the case then we shouldn`t won at #14 Cincy, correct?

I say it`s all a mentality. Look at UK last year, yeah I know I`ll hear oh but they had the #1 class, but then again they were a young team, I thought young team aren`t suppose to be great no matter how talented you are? We all know Anthony won the NC at Syracuse when he was a freshman, but he was just a freshman so how was he so good? Oh let me guess, if your an elite player then your mature, but if your not elite then you`re not mature right? Or the players talent level makes up for being immature?

I`ll say it right now. If we can beat Cincy on the road then I see no reason why we can`t beat DePaul. As for RU, yeah we aren`t that good to expect a win vs. them but then again are they that good that they should sweep us?

When will we turn that corner?

 

[NYCRedmen]

SJUISBACK are you really Joe3 in disguise ; )

Losing is always frustrating but playing hard and wanting it don't always guarantee wins, like Lou Carnesecca once said, "the other guys are trying too"

Yeah I know all about the other team trying and all that stuff. Now with that said after beating #20 ND you don`t think that we could beat DePaul if we play the same way as we did last night? Why, because we`ll be on the road? Well if that`s the case then we shouldn`t won at #14 Cincy, correct?

I say it`s all a mentality. Look at UK last year, yeah I know I`ll hear oh but they had the #1 class, but then again they were a young team, I thought young team aren`t suppose to be great no matter how talented you are? We all know Anthony won the NC at Syracuse when he was a freshman, but he was just a freshman so how was he so good? Oh let me guess, if your an elite player then your mature, but if your not elite then you`re not mature right? Or the players talent level makes up for being immature?

I`ll say it right now. If we can beat Cincy on the road then I see no reason why we can`t beat DePaul. As for RU, yeah we aren`t that good to expect a win vs. them but then again are they that good that they should sweep us?

When will we turn that corner?

Beating Cincy on the road does not mean we automatically will beat DePaul, have you ever played competitive sports? Ever heard the saying "that's why they play the game" What about Cincinnati maybe having an off night when we beat them, same with ND last night? My point is that one game does not dictate the outcome of another game. I can't believe anyone here doesn't grasp that concept. Should we beat DePaul, if you ask me, yes. But this silly idea that we can't lose to them simply b/c we beat someone else on the road is just laughable.

 

[guru]

I still can't believe Lav either woke up a
Or had keady is in his ear and switched to straight man.... Man takes alot of guessing out of basketball but they need some knowledge on defending the pick and roll!!! I say we would have 3 more wins is we played straight man!!

 

[SJUISBACK]

SJUISBACK are you really Joe3 in disguise ; )

Losing is always frustrating but playing hard and wanting it don't always guarantee wins, like Lou Carnesecca once said, "the other guys are trying too"

Yeah I know all about the other team trying and all that stuff. Now with that said after beating #20 ND you don`t think that we could beat DePaul if we play the same way as we did last night? Why, because we`ll be on the road? Well if that`s the case then we shouldn`t won at #14 Cincy, correct?

Beating Cincy on the road does not mean we automatically will beat DePaul, have you ever played competitive sports? Ever heard the saying "that's why they play the game" What about Cincinnati maybe having an off night when we beat them, same with ND last night? My point is that one game does not dictate the outcome of another game. I can't believe anyone here doesn't grasp that concept. Should we beat DePaul, if you ask me, yes. But this silly idea that we can't lose to them simply b/c we beat someone else on the road is just laughable.

I never said that we cannot lose? We 2-1 vs. ranked teams and 0-2 vs. none ranked team and DePaul isn`t ranked, I`d be an idiot to say that with this team because I don`t know what we`ll get from them game to game. I`ll ask the same question though. After beating #20 ND you don`t think that we could beat DePaul if we play the same way as we did last night?
I certainly do. Yeah I know different game but so what, If we play the exactly same damn game then yes we SHOULD win. Now watch DePaul play their best game of the season on Saturday lol

 

[austour]

Speaking of best game of the season, ESPN says STJ's was the game against South Carolina. Anyone know what this new BPI stat/ranking/index is that they are featuring on their schedule page? Is it a new ESPN made up stat like their QBR or whatever that was called? They give a BPI value to each game but also have a BPI ranking. FWIW in their BPS St Johns is #100 while in the RPI right now STJ is #66.

 

[beast of the east]

Honestly,

I think if you want to see a finished product, go to an art museum. Stay out of art class if you don't want to see some works in progress.

Become a fan of a professional team. If you feel you love college bball, root for a program that is running on all cylinders right now and can reload very quickly, like a Duke or Kentucky or Kansas. Even among the elite, North Carolina, Indiana, UCLA, and others have had their dog days..

And if you enjoy sports where there are participation awards, you can follow cyo intramurals.

Being frustrated when your team plays poorly is an inherent part of fandom. Get over it. And stop setting up a false dichotomy. You can enjoy the team and its successes and still voice criticism of poor decisions you perceive.

Don't minimize what was expressed after the two losses to Rutgers and Gtown as simple "fan frustration". It was way beyond this, criticizing everything from Lavin's ability to evluate talent, to his ability to bring in the right kind of players, to his ability to properly balance a team. This of course attacked his core proven ability (recruiting), Some went so far as to compare his coaching ability to Norm Roberts, simultaneously giving credit to Robert for receruiting the 2010-2011 team, and to Dunlap for turning them into winners.

You recruit HS kids, and then you teach them to play. When they are +++ talent like Harkless, they produce right away and go to the NBA one-and-done. When they are +talent, they have to be taught, groomed, and honestly, not all will become high D1 producers. It's a numbers game, and teaching game, and maturity game.

Actually, to your CYO comments, if you want to see winning basketball, there are some parishes that win year in and out, like St. Francis DeSales in Rockaway. Check them out some time. You might become a fan if you want to see sure fire winning.

 

[fan5577]

I still can't believe Lav either woke up a
Or had keady is in his ear and switched to straight man.... Man takes alot of guessing out of basketball but they need some knowledge on defending the pick and roll!!! I say we would have 3 more wins is we played straight man!!

we have 3 more wins if we hit free throws!

 

[dee]

I still can't believe Lav either woke up a
Or had keady is in his ear and switched to straight man.... Man takes alot of guessing out of basketball but they need some knowledge on defending the pick and roll!!! I say we would have 3 more wins is we played straight man!!

we have 3 more wins if we hit free throws!

Right but we didnt and that is what counts

 

[bobre45]

I still can't believe Lav either woke up a
Or had keady is in his ear and switched to straight man.... Man takes alot of guessing out of basketball but they need some knowledge on defending the pick and roll!!! I say we would have 3 more wins is we played straight man!!

we have 3 more wins if we hit free throws!

Right but we didnt and that is what counts

Yeah they say you are what your record says you are but with this team I don't know.