Let' Get off the Ledge

[SJU14]

It's not as if we lost to the NJIT's of the world, we lost to 3 ranked teams! All of which you can say we're not good match ups for us. Inasmuch as I thought we would be 2-1 right now, there is plenty of schedule left to salvage the season. I do believe that Lavin needs to utilize at minimum an 8 man rotation. Let's see what the bench can contribute! He may be pleasantly surprised! Frankly he does not have a choice! Go Johnnies!

Finally, a rational thread. Since when is a season over after 3 losses? That NIT thread is utter BS anti-coach nonsense. We have the talent to win, regardless who is sitting on the bench in a suit screaming out things that the players can barely even hear or react to. Coaching does not win or lose games, in the end it's the guys on the court. Yeah this was a step backwards but it's far from over.

If coaching doesn't win or lose games, then why have them? Why pay them $2 million a year to not have an effect on the game played?

They're part of the equation to winning, but solely, no they do not win or lose games unless extraordinary circumstances alas Marty Mornhinweg's timeout.

I do not agree with Lavin's style of coaching and cannot fathom his timeout usage, but in the end, the players on the court are the one's who put the ball in the bucket and defend their own. Coaches only go so far.

DLo was playing the 5 at the late stages of the Nova game against Ochefu. That's about 7 inches and many pounds given up to a center. He then scored about 6 points quickly to put us away. Coaches make subs. Coaches leave our guys in there with 4 fouls.

I do agree that players ultimately decide the game, but coaches have a huge say in how that is done.

 

[doodyny33]

It's not as if we lost to the NJIT's of the world, we lost to 3 ranked teams! All of which you can say we're not good match ups for us. Inasmuch as I thought we would be 2-1 right now, there is plenty of schedule left to salvage the season. I do believe that Lavin needs to utilize at minimum an 8 man rotation. Let's see what the bench can contribute! He may be pleasantly surprised! Frankly he does not have a choice! Go Johnnies!

For the first 2 years of these kids college careers, Lavin used the "we are the youngest team in the conference" excuse every chance he got. Can't turn around now while all of them are juniors and seniors and say that these are just bad matchups.

 

[Ray Morgan]

Everyone will get off the ledge after the first Big East win. Considering the 0 and 5 start last year, you can't expect people to feel comfortable when we start 0 and 3 with 2 double digit losses and a home loss to a team that 15th ranked teams are supposed to beat, even with the 6th man out.

 

[ras]

Everyone will get off the ledge after the first Big East win. Considering the 0 and 5 start last year, you can't expect people to feel comfortable when we start 0 and 3 with 2 double digit losses and a home loss to a team that 15th ranked teams are supposed to beat, even with the 6th man out.

Nobody is going to get off the ledge if our first win comes after an 0-5 start. Now if we can beat Providence that's another story.

 

[terrificboss]

Everyone will get off the ledge after the first Big East win. Considering the 0 and 5 start last year, you can't expect people to feel comfortable when we start 0 and 3 with 2 double digit losses and a home loss to a team that 15th ranked teams are supposed to beat, even with the 6th man out.

God Bless your optimism, we have 6 guys and no height. We have lost 2 BE home games.
Even Depaul is doing well (3-0 in league). I hope we win 6 league games.

 

[ras]

It's not as if we lost to the NJIT's of the world, we lost to 3 ranked teams! All of which you can say we're not good match ups for us. Inasmuch as I thought we would be 2-1 right now, there is plenty of schedule left to salvage the season. I do believe that Lavin needs to utilize at minimum an 8 man rotation. Let's see what the bench can contribute! He may be pleasantly surprised! Frankly he does not have a choice! Go Johnnies!

Finally, a rational thread. Since when is a season over after 3 losses? That NIT thread is utter BS anti-coach nonsense. We have the talent to win, regardless who is sitting on the bench in a suit screaming out things that the players can barely even hear or react to. Coaching does not win or lose games, in the end it's the guys on the court. Yeah this was a step backwards but it's far from over.

If coaching doesn't win or lose games, then why have them? Why pay them $2 million a year to not have an effect on the game played?

They're part of the equation to winning, but solely, no they do not win or lose games unless extraordinary circumstances alas Marty Mornhinweg's timeout.

I do not agree with Lavin's style of coaching and cannot fathom his timeout usage, but in the end, the players on the court are the one's who put the ball in the bucket and defend their own. Coaches only go so far.

DLo was playing the 5 at the late stages of the Nova game against Ochefu. That's about 7 inches and many pounds given up to a center. He then scored about 6 points quickly to put us away. Coaches make subs. Coaches leave our guys in there with 4 fouls.

I do agree that players ultimately decide the game, but coaches have a huge say in how that is done.

That was on Lavin. Had to play JDR to prevent a field day under the boards. Could have gone Brancj,Jorden, Greene, DLO,JDR. At the end.

 

[southernjohnny2]

The problem remains the same as all season. Against Nova Sheed played horrible in the zone, gave lanes to be driven on and missed all sorts of rotations. Sheed has been horrible shooting, turning the ball over, driving into crowds, walking, shooting terrible from the charity stripe. We get a decent game out of him we wouldn't of been blown out by Nova! We need Jordan to start acting like a kid going to the NBA. He should live in the gym

 

[doodyny33]

It's not as if we lost to the NJIT's of the world, we lost to 3 ranked teams! All of which you can say we're not good match ups for us. Inasmuch as I thought we would be 2-1 right now, there is plenty of schedule left to salvage the season. I do believe that Lavin needs to utilize at minimum an 8 man rotation. Let's see what the bench can contribute! He may be pleasantly surprised! Frankly he does not have a choice! Go Johnnies!

Finally, a rational thread. Since when is a season over after 3 losses? That NIT thread is utter BS anti-coach nonsense. We have the talent to win, regardless who is sitting on the bench in a suit screaming out things that the players can barely even hear or react to. Coaching does not win or lose games, in the end it's the guys on the court. Yeah this was a step backwards but it's far from over.

See, this is where I disagree. Nobody can argue how good D'Angelo, Sir Dom, and CO have played this year. Phil is still a hot and cold type of player, but he's our best outside threat. Branch is a high energy guy, but a fringe starter at best. And Jordan is a special talent who seems destined to keep getting in his own way.

Past that, they don't have much at all. Balamou? Plays hard, but gives you nothing offensively. Jones? Looks the part, but let's not pretend he came in highly rated. 1 star player from nowhere. JDR? Average 2 ppg at FIU. Just about sums it up. Alibegovic? A random recruit that nobody even heard of before St. John's announced he was coming here. People are saying to give PT to Stewart and Henderson who are walk-ons. I'm sorry, but what about that group shouts "talent to win"? I'm not meaning to knock the players, but let's be honest with ourselves. Outside of the starting lineup, this team is just not very good.

 

[bk8664]

As much as I want to pull my hair out over the last three losses, and even get even more frustrated at the lack of depth/rotation, I think we all have to simply be patient and wait this whole thing out.

I actually think the team plays pretty decent defense (until the last two games), and the offense comes and goes. However, as much we all throw fits that the team seemingly aimlessly passes the ball around perimeter on offense, I think the team does get its fair share of open shots. The ball does move around enough to find the open man - to give us hope. It's certainly not great, but it's not bad either.

The problem is that our offense; the ball movement - while it's ok - it's coupled with players who aren't good shooters (other than Harrison). That's why we are so frustrated with our offense.

So, we're hit and miss on offensive ball movement, and we couple that with hit and miss shot-making. It's a frustrating combination. If our team shot the ball better, we'd be less frustrated.

As far as Lavin goes, if he brings in good recruits, I think he should be extended. He'd have proven, yet again, he can recruit, and I think the play on the court has proven acceptable. Presumably Lavin would learn from his mistakes and build to not have a short bench, and also build in more shooters.

Lavin can't be blind to the situation he's put himself in this year. He should be reveling in his recruiting glory right now, and instead he's scratching and clawing to keep the whole ship headed in the right direction.

I doubt he'll be lazy and allow this keep on happening.

I'm afraid of a complete re-build, with a new coach. I doubt we can bring in anyone better. (On the other hand, the unknown is always seemingly scary and I understand the counter-argument that the program may have to take risks to find a more acceptable and workable coach)

While many posters say that next year is an automatic re-build, I'm not so sure. As much as I appreciate our histrionics as fans as the next guy, I think our best option, as fans, is just have to chill out and be patient for a few months and see how it all goes.

We just have to wait and see how we do the rest of the year playing wise and recruiting wise and then make the decision. Until then, all this conjecture is a useless exercise. If Lavin blows it, then he's gone. If he pulls it together, then he stays. Pretty simple stuff.