Guys on Matt’s Radar

[quote="SJU1512" post=280691][quote="MJDinkins" post=280671][quote="Mean Gene" post=280667][quote="MJDinkins" post=280666][quote="Paultzman" post=280658]One recruiter approach in face of rebuilding s program, as Happy noted, is astounding to me. For a team desperately in need of a grad transfer big, I was disappointed Chris was not present at Femi’s unofficial visit Sunday. Perhaps there was a reason and we still may have fanned on him, but a sense of urgency should be front and center.[/quote]

Maybe, he was at a city gym taking in a HS kid workout. He has keys to gymnasiums, right? Or, he could've possibly been trying to call a custodial employee to get in, but wasn't able to reach him.[/quote]

I just don't understand this staff at all. Are Chris and Mitch that arrogant to think that kids will just want to come here based on their Hall of Fame status? Do they really care about winning? We are literally one good grad transfer away from a very good team and these guys can't do a little work on the recruiting trail? I don't blame Matt at all. It's not practical to put everything on him recruiting wise. I will say it again, If these guys don't really want to put in the time and effort needed and perform ALL the duties and responsibilities that come along with running a program then just leave.[/quote]

I do believe he didn't know what the job entailed as a whole and the work that needed to be put in to bring the program back. Being that the program was slightly down, it was going to take a bit more initiative to get things moving in the necessary direction.

No stones should be left unturned and all 4 coaches or at the least three should have been out busting their tails trying to get this thing rectified.

There could be some form of subconscious arrogance from Mullin and Richmond. They may feel their credentials should be enough to warrant kids to want to play for St. John's. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. Frankly, those two should be the ones out there grinding more than the other coaches, as they're the faces of the program (IMO), and could use their respective basketball careers to lure kids to the basketball program.[/quote]

This is really well said MJD. I obviously have no idea what Mullin's thinking was or is or how hard he is or isn't working. But I think you almost always have a concern with a former great player, any sport, that post-playing career goes on to be a pro or college coach, that they might not have a complete understanding of how much goes into the job, or the total sense of urgency to succeed, vs. a coach whose career is on the line with the job. The sleep on the couch in the office 4 nights in a row, roundtrip Dallas same day just to see one kid play, around the clock type stuff that is not required or determinative, but is often associated with great coaches.

That's not to say that a marginal player or non-player has a greater chance of having these qualities or succeeding as a coach. But this profile is more frequently involved in coaching as a career, as opposed to an elective, which can at a minimum motivate the sense of urgency.

In any event the key point is that no matter who you are or what your background being a high-major college hoops coach is a challenging, near 24/7/365 grind as there's almost always someone trying to outwork you. There are very few HCs who can take their foot off the gas if they wanted, because the infrastructure is in place for their program to run downhill. But most of them probably don't anyway, which is likely a big part of why their program is in the place it is in the first place. They want to win the Natty every year.

SJU is probably a harder job than many of those, not only a don't take your foot off the gas job, but a go way above and beyond job in order to really build a sustainable winning program. That said, with the right staff and approach - and at the money apparently spent the right staff should be able to be secured if this isn't it - I am at a loss why this program couldn't experience the moderate success (even though it would be major improvement for SJU) that a Marquette or a Providence have the last 5-10 years. I don't think it's quite as complex as SJU has made it seem for some time now.[/quote]

Gotta stop using the same blueprint as the Knicks.
 
I’m hoping Matt’s radar has better results than the Americans at Pearl Harbor because all I get right now is disheartening text messsages and IM’s
 
Mjmaherjr wrote: I’m hoping Matt’s radar has better results than the Americans at Pearl Harbor because all I get right now is disheartening text messsages and IM’s

I am going to reserve judgment until late May because who knows, we could get a serviceable grad transfer, one or two decent sit-out transfers, a Shamorie return and no more transfer outs. Bottom line, it is now or never for this staff and I wish them the best.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=280749]Mjmaherjr wrote: I’m hoping Matt’s radar has better results than the Americans at Pearl Harbor because all I get right now is disheartening text messsages and IM’s

I am going to reserve judgment until late May because who knows, we could get a serviceable grad transfer, one or two decent sit-out transfers, a Shamorie return and no more transfer outs. Bottom line, it is now or never for this staff and I wish them the best.[/quote] very fair point. I’m looking at it as a few months ago I was hoping to only lose Yakwe and potentially Trimble but was expecting to add a grad big man. Now we lose Owens and haven’t gotten that grad big man yet. It’s now or never. If Matt gets 2 bigs I’m fine with it if not I’m going to be real upset. I’m hating relying on this grad transfer game. i was hoping that in the beginning it would be to supplement a roster and now it seems like we need it to recruit to field a team practically. And the not going all out to Meet Femi even on unofficial by entire staff when you are desperate for big man is very disappointing
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=280749]Mjmaherjr wrote: I’m hoping Matt’s radar has better results than the Americans at Pearl Harbor because all I get right now is disheartening text messsages and IM’s

I am going to reserve judgment until late May because who knows, we could get a serviceable grad transfer, one or two decent sit-out transfers, a Shamorie return and no more transfer outs. Bottom line, it is now or never for this staff and I wish them the best.[/quote]

Agree I wish them the best too. We can still get a transfer or two...though I'm understandably very nervous since we saw the same movie last year. I think what's most concerning is how everyone is running away from us. That's a sign that there's a major flaw in the program. Imagine walking into a room full of girls and most of them go sprinting for the hills. Then you ask someone, "what's wrong with them?" when the problem is really you all along. There are clear deficits we have that are keeping recruits away. We can offer unlimited playing time to any solid big and we aren't able to get any yet. That speaks volumes.

Nova got a kid from Fordham to be a monster. Xavier just got one of the top bigs in D2 basketball. Why can't we get creative? Go take a ride to Suffolk Community for god's sake.
 
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Mjmaherjr wrote: very fair point. I’m looking at it as a few months ago I was hoping to only lose Yakwe and potentially Trimble but was expecting to add a grad big man. Now we lose Owens and haven’t gotten that grad big man yet. It’s now or never. If Matt gets 2 bigs I’m fine with it if not I’m going to be real upset. I’m hating relying on this grad transfer game. i was hoping that in the beginning it would be to supplement a roster and now it seems like we need it to recruit to field a team practically. And the not going all out to Meet Femi even on unofficial by entire staff when you are desperate for big man is very disappointing.

I agree things are not looking great. Recruiting strategy is questionable. I just can't bail on these guys yet. There were some good signs last year and the alternative is grim. I am crossing my fingers that we will be good enough next year for it to make sense for me to fly up for BE tournament. What else do Johnnie fans do, but continue to hope despite evidence to the contrary?
 
Auburn grad transfer Desean Murray has heard from Memphis, Clemson, Maryland, St. John's and Western Kentucky.

Averaged 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds this past season.
Jeff Borzello
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=280784]Auburn grad transfer Desean Murray has heard from Memphis, Clemson, Maryland, St. John's and Western Kentucky.

Averaged 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds this past season.
Jeff Borzello[/quote]

6’3” forward Oh my
 
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[quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=280788]How is a 6'3" power forward even possible in the SEC? I'm genuinely confused. He did manage 6.7 boards.[/quote]

As others have mentioned, it was anomaly but Roosevelt Jones (6'4") average 6 rebounds a game. He was a unique player, but I guess he is also evidence of the possibility.

Paging Marcellus Earlington.......
 
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Goodman
Robert Morris sophomore Dachon Burke (17.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) told ESPN he has already heard from St. John’s, Wichita State, Miami, Nevada and St. Bonaventure. Just got his release yesterday.

We will get a visit & suspect two other teams will too.
 
[quote="Spocky Ramone" post=280727][quote="Paultzman" post=280724][quote="fordham96" post=280688]https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/984100637444050944

Burke gets his release...[/quote]

Good transfer prospect who will attract attention. Sense SJ will get in the mix[/quote]

Your new avatar makes me trimble with fear[/quote]

The only changes Trimble should be making right now are in diet and exercise. That will be a priority staff is already impressing on him this summer. If he dropped 30 lbs, could be a major factor next season. They say he is an incredible athlete who just needs to lose weight to break through
 
Burke is from East Orange, NJ I believe. If you have to go transfer route, take Burke, since Robert Morris has history of losing kids to high majors who don’t disappoint. Take a flyer on Caraher, who has 3 years left & can shoot. If he originally was good enough once for Holtmann at Butler, who are we to be choosy. :)

Then, of more importance, find that elusive grad transfer big to widen the ledge some guys are standing on. I have given up on two bigs who can play immediately. One competent guy along with Keita, Clark, Roberts will have to do on the interior. Net of Keita breaking his ankle in Midnight Madness dunk contest, SJ could be very competitive and dare I say “Dance”
 
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[quote="JohnnyFan" post=280791][quote="Windy City Johnny Fan" post=280788]How is a 6'3" power forward even possible in the SEC? I'm genuinely confused. He did manage 6.7 boards.[/quote]

As others have mentioned, it was anomaly but Roosevelt Jones (6'4") average 6 rebounds a game. He was a unique player, but I guess he is also evidence of the possibility.

Paging Marcellus Earlington.......[/quote]
Charles Barkley -- who has stated he's 6'4" and not the listed 6'6" -- averaged 9.6 rebounds at Auburn ... and then averaged 11.7 in the NBA.
 
Beast of the East wrote: the only changes Trimble should be making right now are in diet and exercise. That will be a priority staff is already impressing on him this summer. If he dropped 30 lbs, could be a major factor next season. They say he is an incredible athlete who just needs to lose weight to break through

Agree. I hope he stays both for continuity purposes and because I think he can be a solid contributor over time if he slims down. Even next year, it's likely we will usually have 3 guards on the court (counting Simon as a guard) and whether he winds up being 4th or 5th guard, there will be minutes available, particularly against a zone.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=280785][quote="Paultzman" post=280784]Auburn grad transfer Desean Murray has heard from Memphis, Clemson, Maryland, St. John's and Western Kentucky.

Averaged 10.1 points, 6.7 rebounds this past season.
Jeff Borzello[/quote]

6’3” forward Oh my[/quote]

At this point I'm OK with it if Clark is OK with being a PF most of the time. Murray's stats in a major conference were good enough to make me overlook the height issue.

* Whoops, didn't realize he was listed as a PF. If he has any SF skills at all rotate him and Marv.
 
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