Jordan Status?

[Mean Gene]

A few thoughts:

• We're spending a lot of time parsing the words of some college athletes. I don't think they've given their statements as much thought as the good folks on this board. Kids do dumb things. Kids say dumb things. I suspect we care more than some of them do.

• Wouldn't be surprised to see Jordan start. Lavin is a pragmatist when he needs to be. Remember when a skinny and overmatched Polee started every game in his freshmen season? If that's what it takes to get Jordan back, Lavin will do it.

• Don't care much for the way Jordan has carried himself so far. Kind of felt the same way about Harrison his first couple seasons. Today, Harrison has moved onto my all-time favorites list. I'm not betting on Jordan doing the same, but I'm not writing him off either.

• I understand all the reasons some want to see Lavin chased out of town, but for my money our program is in better shape now than it was five years ago. I thought we'd be further ahead than we are, but we are not the joke we were at the end of Norm's reign.

Anyhow, a win tomorrow against Nova and we can go back to debating how long Lavin's extension should be. (I kid, I kid...)

No, we are not the joke we were at the end of Norm's reign right now (this year). But, after this year when everyone leaves and with no new recruits signed we will be far worse off next year than when Norm left.

Excuse me, one recruit signed.

 

[MarkRedman]

I like Lavin as an ESPN analyst much more than I like him as the coach at my alma mater

 

[Class of 72]

Lavin's desperation is quite sad.

If Sheed missed practices and team functions, he should be suspended. Period.

Doesn't matter if it was the Duke game up next.

Indefinite leave of absence is not a suspension.

You guys talking about Sheed starting is amazing. He shouldn't even be playing.

Well, one thing is certain, he has not practiced in 5 days and is likely not game ready anyway. The week before he missed almost a week of practice with the "flu". This whole saga is insulting to the fan base and the university. Lavin makes himself out to be out of touch with his own players with his cryptic responses to media inquiries. What is so disturbing in this case is the constant references to "family" and the lack of clarity over something as clear cut as a grandmother's passing. Players being informed via text message, misleading tweets, retraction of tweets, and just plain misinformation puts a bad light on the program as a whole. How do you compete for the few remaining recruits with this baggage?

 

[Chris7]

All the old schoolers on here are great. However, if you want a competitive D1 team, look around, this is peanuts to some of the things that occur. Nearly every program today has a story like this. It's the state of NCAA basketball. So don't ride the high horse when we are up and act like this was not a problem while we were winning, RJ certainly had his problems while we were winning too.

 

[beast of the east]

Lavin's desperation is quite sad.

If Sheed missed practices and team functions, he should be suspended. Period.

Doesn't matter if it was the Duke game up next.

Indefinite leave of absence is not a suspension.

You guys talking about Sheed starting is amazing. He shouldn't even be playing.

Well, one thing is certain, he has not practiced in 5 days and is likely not game ready anyway. The week before he missed almost a week of practice with the "flu". This whole saga is insulting to the fan base and the university. Lavin makes himself out to be out of touch with his own players with his cryptic responses to media inquiries. What is so disturbing in this case is the constant references to "family" and the lack of clarity over something as clear cut as a grandmother's passing. Players being informed via text message, misleading tweets, retraction of tweets, and just plain misinformation puts a bad light on the program as a whole. How do you compete for the few remaining recruits with this baggage?

For some reason it seems that when certain guys are returning from injury or anything else that kept them off the court, they are often surprisingly good the first game back.. Maybe it's just when they happen to play us that first game.

 

[Queens Quiet Skies]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

 

[usguard]

Lavin's desperation is quite sad.

If Sheed missed practices and team functions, he should be suspended. Period.

Doesn't matter if it was the Duke game up next.

Indefinite leave of absence is not a suspension.

You guys talking about Sheed starting is amazing. He shouldn't even be playing.

Well, one thing is certain, he has not practiced in 5 days and is likely not game ready anyway. The week before he missed almost a week of practice with the "flu". This whole saga is insulting to the fan base and the university. Lavin makes himself out to be out of touch with his own players with his cryptic responses to media inquiries. What is so disturbing in this case is the constant references to "family" and the lack of clarity over something as clear cut as a grandmother's passing. Players being informed via text message, misleading tweets, retraction of tweets, and just plain misinformation puts a bad light on the program as a whole. How do you compete for the few remaining recruits with this baggage?

For some reason it seems that when certain guys are returning from injury or anything else that kept them off the court, they are often surprisingly good the first game back.. Maybe it's just when they happen to play us that first game.

When you are Rasheed age and have his talent you are always game ready % days ia nothing

 

[monte]

Lavin's desperation is quite sad.

If Sheed missed practices and team functions, he should be suspended. Period.

Doesn't matter if it was the Duke game up next.

Indefinite leave of absence is not a suspension.

You guys talking about Sheed starting is amazing. He shouldn't even be playing.

It has been a long time since st johns has been on the map, a lot of it is due to the poor coaches we had (Norm), lazy coaches (Jarvis) , the Keita incident and the way Harrington decided to treat the basketball program after Pittsburgh.. This is our chance to get back on the map. Most of these kids are seniors and this is their last opportunity. Therefore, I let the Jordan play without suspension, the team wants him back, the team needs him, the fan base needs him, st johns needs to win and make a mark this year. There are no tomorrows. This program has been in a rut much too long

Not sure what any of the above has to do with anything.

Lavin was benching players 2 years ago for not shaving.

He dug this hole for himself. No one else.

And now since he wants a contract extension, a trip to Maui and more trips to Italy, anything goes?

Every player on that team is away from friends, family, girlfriends, sick relatives, etc. Every single one of them.

Some of you are so desperate for a win you sound like you've lost your minds.

Lavin stood in front of the media and told everyone D'Lo had to "earn his way back on the team."

Sheed hits the Pennsylvania Turnpike whenever he wants to and he gets the red carpet rolled out for him?

This is absurd.

And all for what when next year Sheed is playing overseas and Lavin's back in the booth?

I lost my mind a long time ago following this team, but the fact of the matter is that by all accounts Sheed has been pulling these antics since he got here, and been getting away with it. IMO now is not the time for Lavin to show tough love and//or try to prove a point. IMO that ship has sailed. And Sheed is not D'lo. Two different kids, two different situations, two different times. He needs to let Sheed come back not for us, but for D'lo, Dom and PG IV who had a legitimate chance to finish their careers here on a hit note. If they are willing to take Jordan back, then I'm fine with it.

 

[monte]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

"half his family murdered"? I know his Aunt was killed and that was horrendous, but unless you know something that the rest of us don't you should not grossly exaggerate , especially about such a serious matter.

 

[monte]

A few thoughts:

• We're spending a lot of time parsing the words of some college athletes. I don't think they've given their statements as much thought as the good folks on this board. Kids do dumb things. Kids say dumb things. I suspect we care more than some of them do.

• Wouldn't be surprised to see Jordan start. Lavin is a pragmatist when he needs to be. Remember when a skinny and overmatched Polee started every game in his freshmen season? If that's what it takes to get Jordan back, Lavin will do it.

• Don't care much for the way Jordan has carried himself so far. Kind of felt the same way about Harrison his first couple seasons. Today, Harrison has moved onto my all-time favorites list. I'm not betting on Jordan doing the same, but I'm not writing him off either.

• I understand all the reasons some want to see Lavin chased out of town, but for my money our program is in better shape now than it was five years ago. I thought we'd be further ahead than we are, but we are not the joke we were at the end of Norm's reign.

Anyhow, a win tomorrow against Nova and we can go back to debating how long Lavin's extension should be. (I kid, I kid...)

No, we are not the joke we were at the end of Norm's reign right now (this year). But, after this year when everyone leaves and with no new recruits signed we will be far worse off next year than when Norm left.

Excuse me, one recruit signed.

Norm also left us with one 3 star recruit, so as of now its a tie.

 

[gregbodkin]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

 

[beast of the east]

Slap in the face to the guys who want to be here if he starts him.

Are you ever truly happy? I mean, like even on the day of your first communion, or when you got that shiny red bicycle one Christmas long ago. Upset that he left, upset that he came back, upset that he might start. Damnit, this is a reason to celebrate. Read Paultzman's version of the Prodigal son. He's back, and I'm happy, worts and all.

 

[monte]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Kudos to you Greg, thats an awful lot to deal with at a young age and to overcome.

 

[paultzman]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Remarkable Greg. You just put things in perspective for me. Give SJU's favorite mascot a hug for me man!

 

[Chris7]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Very true. Hopefully, his manning up takes place on the court, as we pummel Villanofun tomorrow AT DA GARDEN!!!!

 

[monte]

Slap in the face to the guys who want to be here if he starts him.

Normally I would agree with you, and part of me still does, I just think that if its a matter of swapping out Jordan and Branch, assuming Branch and the rest of the guys are OK with it, l say let it go. I will likely not impact either player's MPG anyway.

 

[gregbodkin]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Kudos to you Greg, thats an awful lot to deal with at a young age and to overcome.

Thank you and Paultzman but I didn't reveal that for any sympathy or kudos. ALL of us have crosses to bear. It is all about how we respond that makes us better people. When my wife was diagnosed with cancer and was only given a 15 percent chance of living, we had a 5 minute crying jag, and then we bucked up and she said " Let's beat this thing." and we did. She is one tough girl and I am the luckiest man alive to still have her now. The only reason she survived was because of her character. She never felt sorry for herself. She just kept thinking that she was going to beat it and she did. She made 5 years last year. Your attitude makes you who you are and the better attitude you have, the easier it is to deal with the harder things in life.

 

[usguard]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Very true. Hopefully, his manning up takes place on the court, as we pummel Villanofun tomorrow AT DA GARDEN!!!!

Truly sorry about the heartache what you have gone through

 

[TonyinFairfield]

He's a 19 year old kid, half his family murdered in a horrible neighborhood - he has a right to have some coping issues.

I'll be rooting for him for the rest of the year.

I was badly burned in a fire and nearly died when I was very young. I lost my mother when I was young. I also lost my sister at a young age. We all go through trials in life and it is not about everyone coddling us to get through it is about how you "man up" and deal with the circumstances. Sheed needs to "man up".

Kudos to you Greg, thats an awful lot to deal with at a young age and to overcome.

Thank you and Paultzman but I didn't reveal that for any sympathy or kudos. ALL of us have crosses to bear. It is all about how we respond that makes us better people. When my wife was diagnosed with cancer and was only given a 15 percent chance of living, we had a 5 minute crying jag, and then we bucked up and she said " Let's beat this thing." and we did. She is one tough girl and I am the luckiest man alive to still have her now. The only reason she survived was because of her character. She never felt sorry for herself. She just kept thinking that she was going to beat it and she did. She made 5 years last year. Your attitude makes you who you are and the better attitude you have, the easier it is to deal with the harder things in life.

Greg, while I agree we all have crosses to bear, you seem to have had more than your share to carry.

Glad to hear you're wife is in good health. You really have put this all in perspective.

God bless you and your family.

 

[Moose]

Slap in the face to the guys who want to be here if he starts him.

Are you ever truly happy? I mean, like even on the day of your first communion, or when you got that shiny red bicycle one Christmas long ago. Upset that he left, upset that he came back, upset that he might start. Damnit, this is a reason to celebrate. Read Paultzman's version of the Prodigal son. He's back, and I'm happy, worts and all.

Are you kidding me? Am I happy? Are you serious? Yeah I must be unhappy by making a comment that its a slap in the face to kids who actually shows up if Jordan miraculously starts tomorrow.

Carry on living in Pollyanna. Send me a postcard