Lavin Commentary Rutgers Game

[monte]

I also thought he looked good tonight and thought his smile was because he was happy we won.

LETS GIVE LAV CREDIT He kept the program progressing and he is a nice person

Please for the love of God

LETS LEAVE GOD OUT OF THIS

Why? It's a thread about Satan.

Goodness. Give the guy a break. The Lavin era is over. He's a decent guy. Let's not call him satan.

It was a joke. (sort of)

But I will say this. Last night, seeing Felix Balamou, two emotions keep running through my mind: (1) shocked --in a good way --that he that kind of tenaciousness and rebounding ability against D1 talent and (2) incredibly sad/angered that Lavin pissed away a year of his eligibility, just so he could let Rysheed Jordan and Jakarr Sampson know who's boss. Not the act of a "decent" guy.

Obviously that move sucked. That's why I didn't say he was a good guy or a great guy. He's just a decent guy. Classy on camera, well spoken, the seniors that just graduated loved him, he's nice to the fans. Not a bright basketball coach, which showed when he cost Felix and year of eligibility (and showed when with the way our teams played over the years), but as a person he seems ok.

I don't know how else to word it. I was for him getting fired. I wanted him gone. But I'm not gonna bash the dude personally. I basically grew up watching that Harrison through the years. I was 14 when they arrived. I worship those guys. And they don't have a bad thing to say about Lavin as a man, so I'm not gonna bash him either

Its not a question of Lavin necessarily. Its jut there are some who still put him on a godly pedestal and for the life of me I can't figure out how blind they are to what he was doing here. I can live without ever saying another word about him but when I see some of the praise he gets it infuriates me.

Couldn't agree more Moose. Its almost as though the Lavin supporters can't' admit they were wrong so they have to keeping repeating their assertion of what a great guy he is, how he elevated the program, how the kids loved him, etc. And putting aside his assignment for Fox sports for a moment, he couldn't have found a more conspicuous location in CA to stand for the entire second half....and with a yellow tie on no less. Although there were 2 really attractive young ladies sitting right below him so maybe that had something to do with it. I''m not a shrink (although I could probably use one), but IMO the guy was clearly craving attention. He looked pathetic at best and sociopathic at worst.

 

[sirvoo]

I think all of our eyes will open RE: how much impact a coach has in college bball. In the NBA they have none. In college they are everything. If this staff had Lav's roster the previous four years, I'm convinced we would've been in the tournament 3 times and made a run. So expect the same in the next 4 years when this roster really starts coming together next season. With Lav in a jumpsuit last night, we lose that game by 19.

Yeah Popovich really has no impact?? Might be the best coach in any sport

big outlier. the reason why he is the best is because almost every other coach is getting run over by his players

 

[we are sju]

I think all of our eyes will open RE: how much impact a coach has in college bball. In the NBA they have none. In college they are everything. If this staff had Lav's roster the previous four years, I'm convinced we would've been in the tournament 3 times and made a run. So expect the same in the next 4 years when this roster really starts coming together next season. With Lav in a jumpsuit last night, we lose that game by 19.

Yeah Popovich really has no impact?? Might be the best coach in any sport

big outlier. the reason why he is the best is because almost every other coach is getting run over by his players

Fair enough, but I would add there are maybe 4 or 5 coaches that positively impact an NBA team and like 10 that negatively impact them. The rest are probably interchangeable

 

[beast of the east]

I also thought he looked good tonight and thought his smile was because he was happy we won.

LETS GIVE LAV CREDIT He kept the program progressing and he is a nice person

Please for the love of God

LETS LEAVE GOD OUT OF THIS

Why? It's a thread about Satan.

Goodness. Give the guy a break. The Lavin era is over. He's a decent guy. Let's not call him satan.

It was a joke. (sort of)

But I will say this. Last night, seeing Felix Balamou, two emotions keep running through my mind: (1) shocked --in a good way --that he that kind of tenaciousness and rebounding ability against D1 talent and (2) incredibly sad/angered that Lavin pissed away a year of his eligibility, just so he could let Rysheed Jordan and Jakarr Sampson know who's boss. Not the act of a "decent" guy.

Obviously that move sucked. That's why I didn't say he was a good guy or a great guy. He's just a decent guy. Classy on camera, well spoken, the seniors that just graduated loved him, he's nice to the fans. Not a bright basketball coach, which showed when he cost Felix and year of eligibility (and showed when with the way our teams played over the years), but as a person he seems ok.

I don't know how else to word it. I was for him getting fired. I wanted him gone. But I'm not gonna bash the dude personally. I basically grew up watching that Harrison through the years. I was 14 when they arrived. I worship those guys. And they don't have a bad thing to say about Lavin as a man, so I'm not gonna bash him either

Its not a question of Lavin necessarily. Its jut there are some who still put him on a godly pedestal and for the life of me I can't figure out how blind they are to what he was doing here. I can live without ever saying another word about him but when I see some of the praise he gets it infuriates me.

Couldn't agree more Moose. Its almost as though the Lavin supporters can't' admit they were wrong so they have to keeping repeating their assertion of what a great guy he is, how he elevated the program, how the kids loved him, etc. And putting aside his assignment for Fox sports for a moment, he couldn't have found a more conspicuous location in CA to stand for the entire second half....and with a yellow tie on no less. Although there were 2 really attractive young ladies sitting right below him so maybe that had something to do with it. I''m not a shrink (although I could probably use one), but IMO the guy was clearly craving attention. He looked pathetic at best and sociopathic at worst.

How many total Lavin supporters are there on here? I don't think more than a small handful thought he was the long term answer and most were ambivalent as to whether he shoudl stay or go. The survey conducted on here at the conclusion of last season showed an overwhelming number wanting him retained, but when he wasn't the overwhelming number of people were pleased with the choice of Mullin, and most of the rest have hopped on board.

 

[monte]

Norm

Rats. I would have bet a testicle when I hit the send button that you were going to interrupt my fascinating conversation with good old SJU with another of your fresh takes on Norm's Queen's College record. Had I, I'd now have an extra testicle. And you never know when one of those is going to come in handy.

Yup. Bottom line, Lavin, if we wants will get hired again as a head coach. Roberts will not.

Norm might, but not at this level I don't believe. Lavin will, because he did just enough here to peak someone's interest. And because he's got name recognition. However I have no doubt that the end result will be just the same as it was at UCLA and here. It he were smart, and I don't believe that he is, he'll stay in the booth.

 

[monte]

I also thought he looked good tonight and thought his smile was because he was happy we won.

LETS GIVE LAV CREDIT He kept the program progressing and he is a nice person

Please for the love of God

LETS LEAVE GOD OUT OF THIS

Why? It's a thread about Satan.

Goodness. Give the guy a break. The Lavin era is over. He's a decent guy. Let's not call him satan.

It was a joke. (sort of)

But I will say this. Last night, seeing Felix Balamou, two emotions keep running through my mind: (1) shocked --in a good way --that he that kind of tenaciousness and rebounding ability against D1 talent and (2) incredibly sad/angered that Lavin pissed away a year of his eligibility, just so he could let Rysheed Jordan and Jakarr Sampson know who's boss. Not the act of a "decent" guy.

Obviously that move sucked. That's why I didn't say he was a good guy or a great guy. He's just a decent guy. Classy on camera, well spoken, the seniors that just graduated loved him, he's nice to the fans. Not a bright basketball coach, which showed when he cost Felix and year of eligibility (and showed when with the way our teams played over the years), but as a person he seems ok.

I don't know how else to word it. I was for him getting fired. I wanted him gone. But I'm not gonna bash the dude personally. I basically grew up watching that Harrison through the years. I was 14 when they arrived. I worship those guys. And they don't have a bad thing to say about Lavin as a man, so I'm not gonna bash him either

Its not a question of Lavin necessarily. Its jut there are some who still put him on a godly pedestal and for the life of me I can't figure out how blind they are to what he was doing here. I can live without ever saying another word about him but when I see some of the praise he gets it infuriates me.

Couldn't agree more Moose. Its almost as though the Lavin supporters can't' admit they were wrong so they have to keeping repeating their assertion of what a great guy he is, how he elevated the program, how the kids loved him, etc. And putting aside his assignment for Fox sports for a moment, he couldn't have found a more conspicuous location in CA to stand for the entire second half....and with a yellow tie on no less. Although there were 2 really attractive young ladies sitting right below him so maybe that had something to do with it. I''m not a shrink (although I could probably use one), but IMO the guy was clearly craving attention. He looked pathetic at best and sociopathic at worst.

How many total Lavin supporters are there on here? I don't think more than a small handful thought he was the long term answer and most were ambivalent as to whether he shoudl stay or go. The survey conducted on here at the conclusion of last season showed an overwhelming number wanting him retained, but when he wasn't the overwhelming number of people were pleased with the choice of Mullin, and most of the rest have hopped on board.

Agree not many, and on most being pleased with Mullin hire.

 

[beast of the east]

Norm

Rats. I would have bet a testicle when I hit the send button that you were going to interrupt my fascinating conversation with good old SJU with another of your fresh takes on Norm's Queen's College record. Had I, I'd now have an extra testicle. And you never know when one of those is going to come in handy.

Yup. Bottom line, Lavin, if we wants will get hired again as a head coach. Roberts will not.

Norm might, but not at this level I don't believe. Lavin will, because he did just enough here to peak someone's interest. And because he's got name recognition. However I have no doubt that the end result will be just the same as it was at UCLA and here. It he were smart, and I don't believe that he is, he'll stay in the booth.

The dilemma for Lavin is that he would likely only take a job that would pay him what he makes as an announcer or more. Anyone paying him that much would want consistently better results than he is capable of. If a program is happy with a bid every 3 years or so, they will hire Lavin, Once they taste that, and the program goes nowhere, they will fire him. End of story.

 

[redfazed]

On a somewhat related note: does anyone know what happened to Rico Hines? I know Tony Chiles ended up at Fordham.

 

[monte]

I give more defense to Norm for the simple reason that at that point in time in the wake of the Jarvis disaster, we needed a good guy. It was a transition. Big names were not exactly lining up and they took a chance on a guy with a good coaching pedigree who was and still is considered one of the better recruiters. Lavin there is zero excuse for the last 3 years of his recruiting and leaving the 15-16 season completely in the lurch. Objectively speaking, No way to explain it and no way to excuse it and in some real ways, St John's did him a favor by firing him.

Sure he is a good schmoozer and is exceptional about getting people to like him, but doesn't seem like he put in an honest effort for the job he accepted and using one of his words, it seems to me that the local coaches gave him open arms to start which is rare and in return he snubbed them. That is no way to be an "Ambassador"

Firing him and bringing in a clearly better coach or Chris Mullin(who I do think will be better, but even if it turns out he sucks, he is Chris Mullin)makes sense. Judging Lavin after fact he gets a what C, C plus maybe. My only point with him is I think the disdain after the fact is not warranted. Norm and Jarvis maybe even Mahoney I get. With Lavin seems unnecessary

False praise after the fact is not warranted either, Why would you think that Mahoney deserves disdain? Like Norm, he should have never gotten the job. Although at least with Mahoney it was a natural progression. By the way, Mahoney is a genuine class act.

 

[fun]

Norm

Rats. I would have bet a testicle when I hit the send button that you were going to interrupt my fascinating conversation with good old SJU with another of your fresh takes on Norm's Queen's College record. Had I, I'd now have an extra testicle. And you never know when one of those is going to come in handy.

Yup. Bottom line, Lavin, if we wants will get hired again as a head coach. Roberts will not.

Bottom line is, who cares. Your post was not even vaguely relevant or responsive to anything I said. First I was talking about Norm being something of a nice fellow, and then later after you interrupted about what an interminable bore you are: the only way I can get through most of your posts is to envision you in a dopey Shriner's fez harumphing your way through an after dinner speech to a bunch of drunk conventioneers. Otherwise I have to slap my own face to stay awake.

 

[salty dog]

Glad to hear that there appeared to be no evident ill will and that those in attendance treated him well.

Does anyone know whether Lavin spoke to any of his old players (Amar, Christian, Felix) or Mussini who he originally attempted to recruit. I would think Mullin would be more than okay with that.

Why pray tell would Felix have any interest in talking to Lavin?
He lost a year of eligibility because that former coach had a vision one night and entered him into the starting lineup in the middle of his redshirt season.
Then, this fall either Lavin or one of his former staff members called the NCAA to question Felix's high school academics.

There's no reason to drag a good man through the mud, but Lavin wasn't a good man!
He was and is a shyster.

This is mud slinging garbage

 

[we are sju]

I give more defense to Norm for the simple reason that at that point in time in the wake of the Jarvis disaster, we needed a good guy. It was a transition. Big names were not exactly lining up and they took a chance on a guy with a good coaching pedigree who was and still is considered one of the better recruiters. Lavin there is zero excuse for the last 3 years of his recruiting and leaving the 15-16 season completely in the lurch. Objectively speaking, No way to explain it and no way to excuse it and in some real ways, St John's did him a favor by firing him.

Sure he is a good schmoozer and is exceptional about getting people to like him, but doesn't seem like he put in an honest effort for the job he accepted and using one of his words, it seems to me that the local coaches gave him open arms to start which is rare and in return he snubbed them. That is no way to be an "Ambassador"

Firing him and bringing in a clearly better coach or Chris Mullin(who I do think will be better, but even if it turns out he sucks, he is Chris Mullin)makes sense. Judging Lavin after fact he gets a what C, C plus maybe. My only point with him is I think the disdain after the fact is not warranted. Norm and Jarvis maybe even Mahoney I get. With Lavin seems unnecessary

False praise after the fact is not warranted either, Why would you think that Mahoney deserves disdain? Like Norm, he should have never gotten the job. Although at least with Mahoney it was a natural progression. By the way, Mahoney is a genuine class act.

That is my point, Lavin gets a MEH. Only praise he deserves is he was way better than guy he replaced. My point is the hatred from some on here seems misguided

Mahoney was a waaaaaay better recruiter than Norm, but almost as bad a coach. Outside of the David Cain year his teams might have been the most disorganized teams in the history of basketball.

 

[beast of the east]

Norm

Rats. I would have bet a testicle when I hit the send button that you were going to interrupt my fascinating conversation with good old SJU with another of your fresh takes on Norm's Queen's College record. Had I, I'd now have an extra testicle. And you never know when one of those is going to come in handy.

Yup. Bottom line, Lavin, if we wants will get hired again as a head coach. Roberts will not.

Bottom line is, who cares. Your post was not even vaguely relevant or responsive to anything I said. First I was talking about Norm being something of a nice fellow, and then later after you interrupted about what an interminable bore you are: the only way I can get through most of your posts is to envision you in a dopey Shriner's fez harumphing your way through an after dinner speech to a bunch of drunk conventioneers. Otherwise I have to slap my own face to stay awake.

I like you better when you are either back on your meds or not in a dark place from a wrecked personal life. Honestly, though, you are getting much better, and at least you have the capability to read. As for your BEB garbage, I don't click there. Which is just fine with me. Have a great weekend.

 

[mjmaherjr]

Awful human being?
That is way beyond harsh. He did and does a lot for kids with cancer. Ton of people came up to him last night he signed autographs took pictures. Sounds like a real terrible guy.

And Rabinowitz - grow up, you go to games and act like a 2 year old behind the bench. More in life than college basketball suggest you get out more.

For an awful human being the majority of the board wanted him back. Guess that means the majority of the board is awful human beings or at least awful human being sympathizers

Lavin is a good guy. Always nice and will make time for anyone. If he was an awful guy he wouldn't have any friends

 

[we are sju]

If SJU ever decides to go back to the nice route for a coach, I vote instead they just hire a hot chick. How much more bearable would it have been if instead of Norm they just hired Scarlett Johanson or Beyonce or someone like that. Would have won about as many games and games would have been much more plaeasurable

 

[Lester]

Not Beyoncé.

 

[TobinGrad]

I think the personal hatred by some (Fun, Desco) goes a bit too far. And you all know I hated Lavin as a coach. But my dislike for him was his ineptitude in the area of X & Os (cofounding ineptitude considering his uncommon pedigree-- hall of fame father, early disciple of Keady, close to the greatest ever when at UCLA).
All knew his bad rep in this area when he was hired and it was clear to me by his 3rd season he could only attain mediocrity, even though I briefly had hope for Whitesells influence.

But making the guy into a villian on a personal level because he sucks at his job goes too far. Its the one aspect of Bruin criticism that I always thought was over the top and silly, even though we should have heeded their warnings about the other stuff

 

[beast of the east]

If SJU ever decides to go back to the nice route for a coach, I vote instead they just hire a hot chick. How much more bearable would it have been if instead of Norm they just hired Scarlett Johanson or Beyonce or someone like that. Would have won about as many games and games would have been much more plaeasurable

You are aware that the kind of hot chick who could coach basketball would likely not give guys a second look.

 

[fun]

I think the personal hatred by some (Fun, Desco) goes a bit too far. And you all know I hated Lavin as a coach. But my dislike for him was his ineptitude in the area of X & Os (cofounding ineptitude considering his uncommon pedigree-- hall of fame father, early disciple of Keady, close to the greatest ever when at UCLA).
All knew his bad rep in this area when he was hired and it was clear to me by his 3rd season he could only attain mediocrity, even though I briefly had hope for Whitesells influence.

But making the guy into a villian on a personal level because he sucks at his job goes too far. Its the one aspect of Bruin criticism that I always thought was over the top and silly, even though we should have heeded their warnings about the other stuff

I don't hate Lavin because he was bad a bad coach. I hold him n contempt because he was an awful human being.

Question: Is it okay to hate Norm because he was a bad coach? Because a lot of people do, and I don't recall you castigating them.

 

[MainMan]

Thief! Thief! He took our precious.
And we hates him. We hates him that Lavinses!
Nasty Lavinses! Nasty, nasty, Lavinses!