LJ in Transfer Portal?

After 22 pages of posts , we learn this : 1. LJ leaving will
Not be a loss 2. LJ leaving will be a loss . 3. LJ is at fault 4. LJ is not at fault . 5 Salnave went to DePaul due to LJ staying 6. Salnave went to DePaul for who knows why ? At the bottom line , he’s gone and all the opinions won’t matter . He was a very good a Player for 2 years and highly regarded by opponents , Coaches , etc His Numbers will be missed regardless of Cole, Posh or anyone stepping up . While a lot of blame is posted on LJ , isn’t it possible that Coach wasn’t in touch with the situation as much as he could have been or should have been ? I doubt he and LJ communicated daily . Sometimes making Assumptions isn’t good strategy . LJ ‘s game wasn’t a fit for Anderson . Neither was Herron’s for that matter . If looking for blame here , there is likely evidence on both sides , to justify each position .
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=388290]After 22 pages of posts , we learn this : 1. LJ leaving will
Not be a loss 2. LJ leaving will be a loss . 3. LJ is at fault 4. LJ is not at fault . 5 Salnave went to DePaul due to LJ staying 6. Salnave went to DePaul for who knows why ? At the bottom line , he’s gone and all the opinions won’t matter . He was a very good a Player for 2 years and highly regarded by opponents , Coaches , etc His Numbers will be missed regardless of Cole, Posh or anyone stepping up . While a lot of blame is posted on LJ , isn’t it possible that Coach wasn’t in touch with the situation as much as he could have been or should have been ? I doubt he and LJ communicated daily . Sometimes making Assumptions isn’t good strategy . LJ ‘s game wasn’t a fit for Anderson . Neither was Herron’s for that matter . If looking for blame here , there is likely evidence on both sides , to justify each position .[/quote]

I truly doubt it. If the staff knew or felt LJ was going to transfer and that was a significant option, they’d have grabbed somebody with his ship. From all I’ve heard staff was blindsided by the transfer option.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=388284][quote="Mike Zaun" post=388244]Jack, you can be realistic. It's ok...really. There's being optimistic and just being ridiculous. Implying losing LJ our leading scorer and one of the only guys who can hope to make a 3 or a big play consistently is not a big loss is ridiculous. Some people want to act happy about our chances no matter what it seems. The 1927 Yankees lose Babe Ruth...no biggie! Obviously LJ is nowhere near that comparison but my point is that sometimes it's ok to admit things are bad when they are. You can't just always repress things and pretend they don't matter because they are unfortunate. Venting is natural in humans. No reason to cover your ears and yell I can't hear you lalalala. This just immediately took us out of any tourney consideration for yet another season. Excuse me if that annoys me.

LJ was no superstar, but he was a very important piece. He had a knack for heady plays in key moments. He may have regressed a bit this past season since he was not as efficient, but he was still our best all around player. Capable defender, can at worst keep you honest from 3 and at best be red hot from 3 at least a handful of games. So yes he probably now makes next year at best a repeat of this previous year instead of a season with real NCAA hope. That doesn't even annoy you a little as a big SJ fan? As Joe Biden would say....come on man. It's also the way LJ left clearly tampered with by other programs and on top of all that we lost out on 2 guys we could've had as replacements because he waited. We will see how CMA fares and he's still doing well in my book, but I hope this isn't just going to be more of the same 1 step forward 2 steps back we're all way too used to.[/quote]

Once again Zaun’s perspective is the realistic one and the opposing one isn’t. Glad we cleared that up.

My point is this, Zaun, neither of us know exactly what the impact will be on the team yet. You’ve already decided what’s gonna happen, I was just showing you not everyone thought as highly of LJ as you did.

In my opinion, with LJ we were a fringe NCAA team. Without him, we are still a fringe NCAA team.

Your guess and my guess is as good as any. So stop the Nostradamus act where you have it all figured out. You don’t have a DeLorean or a sports almanac you’re just emotional and I get it

We have no idea which players take a step forward or back next year. We have no idea what exactly we are going to get from our freshman either. We don’t know what McGriff brings.

There’s so many variables here with our team, that I think throwing our arms up and giving up because we lost a guy who did some good things and also had some glaring flaws, to me it’s not realistic at all, it’s just prematurely looking at the glass as half empty.

“This just immediately took us out of any tourney consideration for yet another season. Excuse me if that annoys me.”

And the beat goes on and on and on! Let’s go sju !! Prove the doubters wrong![/quote]

As, Section 3 mentioned one day (paraphrased), "I've never seen someone savor being on the ledge" in response to Zaun a few months ago.

He doesn't get it, and I'm not gonna berate him for not "getting it." He's emotional, views things as black and white (no grey area) and has a pessimistic view about most things. I get it! I certainly don't agree with it but I understand.

I'll also add that he looks and hunts for validation of his views, and once someone or anyone remotely agrees then his point is immediately reality when more times than not it's only an opinion.

Here's the thing: No one has any idea how this team will perform. Sure, I was hoping Figueroa would return and potentially strengthen our chances for a solid season which leads to an NCAA Tournament bid. But who's to say that still won't transpire....

There's several variables and question marks (question marks doesn't always or necessarily mean something bad or negative) to this team that we don't have any idea what the season has in store.

We have a rather decent core returning (ie, Champagnie, Dunn, Earlington, Williams) and a few new pieces joining the fray, and because those recruits doesn't receive your approval doesn't mean they aren't solid ball players. I'm definitely sold on Cole and Alexander. I may be cautiously optimistic with the rest of our class but I'm sold on the former two.

Can we at least give Anderson till the 2021 class before we continue to mention or diss his recruiting at every turn? Being pessimistic doesn't make you a realist. It makes you a pessimist.
 
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I still think not having LJ most likely bumps us down a spot or two in the standings but I agree it doesn't come anywhere close to blowing up our season (fingers crossed we have one)

One interesting thing is with Figueroa being gone, the only remaining players left from the Mullin era are the trio of Williams, Earlington and Roberts (as well as Caraher who was a sit-out Mullin's last season) Those three guys all made leaps of varying degrees last season. After being overlooked by Mullin, they saw that this is a system where hard work and dedication are rewarded with playing time and results. There's a track record of that now which means they're more likely to have faith that hard-work and dedication will be rewarded once again. I trust those three guys WAY more than I ever thought I would 2 seasons ago. They're all upper classmen who have been here the longest now. I've gotta believe that the unquestioned top dog leaving will give them more of a sense of ownership over this team. I have no idea what Robert's health situation is but I have a feeling Williams (if healthy for an entire season...fingers crossed) and Earlington with added confidence will find a way to surprise us again.
 
Hey, at least the team FG% will jump up 5-7%. :whistle: [ol]
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News broke 2-3 weeks ago that LJ was pulling out of the draft and returning to school. I don’t recall anyone here saying “He’s not that good and it makes no difference for the team’s outlook.”

So when it’s convenient to knock someone because they may be unethical or a little sly in their actions, let’s try to not get it twisted with their ability on the court which is where it matters most.

He pulled a fast one and dicked us over through some back channels most likely. Not the first time it’s happened and it won’t be the last. Can’t pretend like it isn’t a big blow to next season though.

Even if we still are going to have a successful year it’s impossible to say he would not have been a big time contributor if still around. With all that said this is a total bullshit move and using Covid for a hardship waiver should be immediately shot down. Make his ass sit out a year he’ll be like 27 before he suits up again!
 
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It's better than 50-50 we'll miss LJ, but maybe not by much. The team played well after losing Heron and that was in the heat of the season.
Not being panglossian about this, but we've got a good recruiting class coming in--headlined by Posh, Vince, Arnaldo--and a solid core in Rasheem, Greg W, Chanp, The Earl, a rehabbing JR, and a hungry J. McGriff. And maybe we get a solid late transfer?
I expect CMA and Staff to weld a solid core together and be very competitive.
Let's hope we have a season.
If we do, I think we may surprise.
We shall see.
 
[quote="Moose" post=388276]If Vince Cole can come close to 14ppg and 37% shooting from 3 yes it's all much ado about nothing.[/quote]

You know Cole is smiling, knowing that LJ is leaving. He doesn't have to wait to make SJU his bball team (though Champ and others will have a say or 2 about that, love competition)
It's the same game as in Jucu, though alittle faster, you adjust and you shine.

There's a reason that they called Cole when LJ entered the portal. Though they could have called the other as well.

A for LJ, I'm good with him going. Watching him last year, his facial expressions showed me he would throw it at the hoop and when he'd miss that he didn't care. I could be wrong, but that's just how it seemed to me.
 
Look his game needed a lot of work the shots he took 5 feet in back of the 3pt line you had to scratch just my opinion Cole is a better play .Thought was he did was a bit underhanded making us lose out on a recruit There was A reason why there was no interest in him at the next level
That said wish him good luck
 
I think the biggest concerns next year will be most likely more poor shooting and possibly only Cole, Champ or both having chance to have a decent 3 PT %. The other is our size once again. Moore will disrupt shots at 6'11 or 6'10 but hope he doesn't get pushed around. Toro is a role player and not sure how he transitions to a higher level...also not that big. I'm most excited about Champ/Earlington/GW's development and to see what Cole and Posh can do. We will have to really be able to get to the hoop and draw fouls next year to make up for our lack in 3 pt shooting. Earlington showed flashes late last season of maybe developing a fairly regular shot so let's hope that continues. I think we have an identical type year as this past year with a poor Big East record and a decent overall over .500 record that falls short of tourney.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=388266]It's all very simple: LJ has decided to make money playing somewhere next season. That's clear. Whether it's the NBA, G league, or playing abroad, that is his latest decision. The decision to enter the transfer portal is to simply have one more option to advance his career goals.

If the right paying situation doesn't develop, he can transfer to what he feels is a higher profile program or one that will better advance his career objectives. He decided that this program is not the place, for whatever reason. This doesn't mean the coach didn't care about him, or the coach doesn't care about his players. It just means LJ thought it was time to move on.

His timing was abysmal and fans have a right to be upset about that, but nothing more. To discredit his talents as he leaves, is simply not classy.[/quote]

How about the possibility that he's auctioning himself off to the highest bidder in college ball? Not saying thats the case, but i certainly would add it to the list of options. College basketball has become such a giant cesspool, and the stench just gets worse by the day.
 
Does anyone think Cole's arrival (and being a CMA recruit) could have been in the back of LJ's mind? He would have to share the ball with a player who is coming in with almost identical JC statistics. Vince and LJ both averaged 21 ppg; shot similar %ages; big difference is FT % where Vince is vastly superior. LJ had 19 games of 20+ and 4 of 30+ while Vince had 18 of 20+ and 4 of 30+. Comparison is eerily similar. Expecting Vince to do what LJ did in the transition year is not beyond the realm of liklihood.
 
St. John's transfer L.J. Figueroa has heard from a number of schools, sources told ESPN, including:

Memphis
Texas Tech
Arkansas
Dayton
Ohio State
Oregon
Georgia Tech
Samford
UCLA
Auburn

Per Jeff Borzello
 
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[quote="BrooklynRed" post=388339]Does anyone think Cole's arrival (and being a CMA recruit) could have been in the back of LJ's mind? He would have to share the ball with a player who is coming in with almost identical JC statistics. Vince and LJ both averaged 21 ppg; shot similar %ages; big difference is FT % where Vince is vastly superior. LJ had 19 games of 20+ and 4 of 30+ while Vince had 18 of 20+ and 4 of 30+. Comparison is eerily similar. Expecting Vince to do what LJ did in the transition year is not beyond the realm of liklihood.[/quote]

Then he should have said something sooner and let the team do what it had to do. Wouldn't it be great to have both of these young men on this team?
 
Do not agree we are bring in better players and Toro at 6-8 and his wt wil
get us a lot of boards our exp and improvement in our guards along with another 6-10 Center and overall knowing Anderson Think we get into the top 5 in confr that might be optimistic but hey it’s do able
 
I personally would go to Dayton if I were him, but I think he'll be seduced by Oregon's facilities.
 
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