Life Preserver or a Miracle

RedStormNC

RedStormNC

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
This program needs a life preserver or a miracle....a huge one....maybe both.

Unfortunately, don't see either happening. At best, program is destined for eternal mediocrity.

Need saviors with cash, savior with coaching, recruiting, media relations chops.

Nothing more, nothing less.
 
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Obviously the program isn't is in a good place right now and hasn't been for a while. That said, all you need is one good coaching hire to get back on track. the Lavin and Mullin years both proved that this program can still reel in talent. Both of them were on the precipice but couldn't quite elevate us to that next level.

- Rutgers was an unmitigated disaster before Pikiell and he's got them as a legit second weekend contender no
- Between 1993 until when Sampson was hired in 2014 Houston only made it to the tournament one time. They are a national championship contender now
- Alabama went through a 13 year stretch where they only made the tournament twice, 9 seeds both times, they hire Oats and are national championship contenders
- Virginia went 14 years with one tournament win and then hired Bennett and won a National Championship and are an elite program now
- Auburn went tourney-less for 11 straight years before hiring Bruce Pearl

Just to name a few. I know we don't have the money or resources as some of those schools listed above nor do I think somebody will take us to national championship level like some of those guys did, but in college basketball you just need one good coaching hire to turn things around. There's no reason SJU can't enjoy the even relatively mild success like Providence, Seton Hall, Xavier etc have been experiencing over a sustained period
 
It won't be a miracle because God only helps those who help themselves and as for a life preserver this program doesn't deserve one and besides they have already drowned.
 
Makes me want to listen to the replay of the Repole / Francesca interview going scorched earth.

Someone with connections to him or his people, needs to reach out.. He and Shanley need a series of sit downs and hammer out a plan that works for both.
 
In his first 2 full seasons of recruiting, Lavin brought in at least 5 high school players with 4 star ratings and a 5 star. He brought in a 6th that didn't qualify. It didn't help that the best of the bunch left after a season, and that 3 others had personal issues that reduced their overall productivity. Still, he showed it can be done.

Can it be done at a school like St. John's on the up and up? Call me jaded, but I believe that you need an edge to get the 4 star and up recruits. The 5 stars are mostly out of the question. It seems like NIL can give a program that hesitates to get down into the muck with the other programs a means of lawfully (or close to it) finding that edge. The other factors that draw talent, including the chance to play in the NCAA tourney, or becasue the program sends players to the NBA, or because of the facilities, does not exist here. So the school better find another way. Or find a coach who knows how to play the recruiting game with a little dirt under his fingernails, yet still distance himself from it getting back to him.
 
I have no idea how NIL works... but when you have a Billionaire alum that was* into the Program... whose latest success Body Armor is a sports drink (not sure if he has any ties to it anymore)... one can't help but see an obvious sponsorship opportunity...

I know his name has been thrown around, but he's our most advertised successful alum.... whatever needs to be done to get him back in the fold - do it lol.

Fun fact: Repole used to work reception at the Community House in Forest Hills. He wasn't my generation but my brother would always be bringing back this weird drink Vitamin Water that he was always handing out of the trunk of his car to guys in the gym lol
 
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