Imran out for the season.

Not sure how much of an impact Pitino was looking for from Imran. Wish the kid luck in getting healthy to continue his career wherever that might be.

Of course, it is a not so subtle reminder of how, no matter how talented this team is, we still have to deal with the many obstacles that remain to actually being successful. Just have to keep our fingers crossed.
 
paultzman said:
So hard to predict who returns & doesn’t in this college hoops era
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Maybe the biggest change that I won't get used to is the explosion of one year players and the perfluence of rosters.

Just two years ago we had freshmen in Wilcher and Brady who became fast friends who openly rooted for each other and teammates. They both professed that they would learn and grow and become team leaders in a couple of years. Then everything changed and both are gone, as are most players who had remaining eligibility.

Rick's ability to adapt and thrive in this new era and at his age. As a coach I compare him to JImmy Connors as a player, still with immense fire, passion, and drive. It's easier to sell and expect PHD players when you are one as coach.

We joke all the time about the public perception of Slick Rick. When you get to know him just a little as a person, he is more direct and honest in conversation than the predecessors I've met over the years. With each day that he is here, he is improbably coming closer to filling the giant shoes of coach Carnesecca than anyone over the past 30 years. Way beyond wins and losses, Rick cares about everything St. Johns, and one can hope he stays close to this program and university the rest of his life. IMO he is finally home.

Right now, year to year, Rick is the closest to a constant, with even the players who stay having to be re-signed every year.
 
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Beasts of the East said:
Maybe the biggest change that I won't get used to is the explosion of one year players and the perfluence of rosters.

Just two years ago we had freshmen in Wilcher and Brady who became fast friends who openly rooted for each other and teammates. They both professed that they would learn and grow and become team leaders in a couple of years. Then everything changed and both are gone, as are most players who had remaining eligibility.

Rick's ability to adapt and thrive in this new era and at his age. As a coach I compare him to JImmy Connors as a player, still with immense fire, passion, and drive. It's easier to sell and expect PHD players when you are one as coach.

We joke all the time about the public perception of Slick Rick. When you get to know him just a little as a person, he is more direct and honest in conversation than the predecessors I've met over the years. With each day that he is here, he is improbably coming closer to filling the giant shoes of coach Carnesecca than anyone over the past 30 years. Way beyond wins and losses, Rick cares about everything St. Johns, and one can hope he stays close to this program and university the rest of his life. IMO he is finally home.

Right now, year to year, Rick is the closest to a constant, with even the players who stay having to be re-signed every year.
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Absolutely. My hope is that when he is ready to give up the grind that he still wants to be involved as our basketball czar.
 
Re the future, continue the recent success and when he finally steps down, the HC job will be much more appealing. All the national attention we’ve garnered, NIL competitiveness, improved facilities, super scheduling and NYC/MSG will be positives in any HC search.

Enjoy the ride and don’t fret. SJU fans (me included) tend to be naturally gun shy and think we will be a house of cards once Rick exits. I go with optimism based on above. Of course it is impossible to clone Rick, but I really believe selling the program to quality candidates will be easier than anticipated.
 
paultzman said:
Re the future, continue the recent success and when he finally steps down, the HC job will be much more appealing. All the national attention we’ve garnered, NIL competitiveness, improved facilities, super scheduling and NYC/MSG will be positives in any HC search.

Enjoy the ride and don’t fret. SJU fans (me included) tend to be naturally gun shy and think we will be a house of cards once Rick exits. I go with optimism based on above. Of course it is impossible to clone Rick, but I really believe selling the program to quality candidates will be easier than anticipated.
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Agreed we don’t want to repeat history.
 
paultzman said:
Re the future, continue the recent success and when he finally steps down, the HC job will be much more appealing. All the national attention we’ve garnered, NIL competitiveness, improved facilities, super scheduling and NYC/MSG will be positives in any HC search.

Enjoy the ride and don’t fret. SJU fans (me included) tend to be naturally gun shy and think we will be a house of cards once Rick exits. I go with optimism based on above. Of course it is impossible to clone Rick, but I really believe selling the program to quality candidates will be easier than anticipated.
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I think the next guy needs to 1) Keep Matt; 2) Have Repole like him.
 
The next guy could be another Pitino, native New Yorker who would keep Rick involved and likely Repole, too.
 
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