LJ in Transfer Portal?

[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.
 
[quote="austour" post=388176][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.[/quote]

That's fair but the flip side is that, as they say, "there are no freshman in March". The reason for that is they have a full season under their belts and have adjusted to the league a bit.

Also, "the best thing about Freshmen is that they become Sophomores."

Williams and Earlington had breakthrough seasons and were playing their best at the end of the year. That was as Sophomores in a new system. It offers a glimpse of their upside and what you can get from them as Juniors and Seniors.

I fully expect both of them to continue to develop their games and be leaders on this squad the next two years. That doesn't mean it's going to happen. Could be they just had a hot streak and they fall off a cliff going forward, but based on this staff's ability to coach people up, the normal development trajectory of an 18-22 year old ball player, and what they showed last year...I'm betting on them having a big impact going forward.
 
[quote="fan5577" post=388036]Based on BT's tweet there was something else going on between the staff and the player about "buy in". That said, LJ has put the team in a bad spot. He could have told the staff a moth ago he had no intention of coming back and the team could have planned accordingly. It looks almost spiteful at this point.[/quote]

I agree. The way LJ handled this does seem very spiteful. And to add to that Myles Powell felt comfortable enough with LJ to to congratulate him on leaving St.John's and telling him about time he did so. So, it appears as Zach tweeted out people have just been in his ear and got to the point where he was resentful.
 
[quote="SJU61982" post=388110][quote="Jack Williams" post=388107]SJU61982, a ton of respect for you as a poster, but every time I come across you talking about coach Anderson it just makes me shake my head at my phone screen.

What is your argument really, that because a college coach won’t bend over to any kid he recruits, we therefore do not have a higher ceiling?

I’m genuinely confused. Pat Riley comparison doesn’t work here because the NBA and college is completely different. The NBA is all about keeping your stars happy. It’s a stars driven league.

College basketball is not that. Especially with the G League gaining more traction and some of the top stars in the country not going to college, it’s becoming increasingly clear that building a TEAM under the coaches vision is the way to go.

No one player is ABOVE Jay Wright at Villanova. He doesn’t bend to fit any of his guys. It’s why Jahvon Quinerly isn’t there anymore. He came in as a 5 Star and thought he was gonna be THE MAN. It’s why Mikal Bridges was red shirted despite his high ranking. There’s plenty of examples.

As I always say in these discussions. Villanova is the model for sju to build a winning and consistent basketball program. And jay wright makes players play his way. And that hasn’t ruined their ceiling. So don’t give me that, that’s a weak argument[/quote]

I'm not saying that the players should be above the coach, but the coach should be able to meet them part of the way, at least WRT to on-court style of ball.

What I'm saying is, that I don't think you can play only one style of ball and be successful, in today's game. Duke mixes in zone defense now. Ditto Syracuse, as they play more man-to-man then they used to.

A complaint about Anderson at Arkansas, was that his teams were easy to prepare for, since it was the press and nothing else. If you're married to playing just one style, there's so much video out there now, that other teams will pick up on what you do pretty quickly. That's a concern, although I did see some wrinkles being thrown in throughout this past season, which gives me more confidence.

And yes, Villanova is the model, but it took a decade before they became a consistent power under Wright. They had some good teams prior to the new league, but they weren't a national power until Wright was there for over a decade. Our fan base won't have the patience to wait that long, nor should they. Providence and/or Seton Hall should be our shorter term models.[/quote]

Jay wright made it to the sweet 16 in his fourth year at Nova. Was in the elite eight in his fifth. And he has gone to the tourney every year except one since then. How is that taking a decade?

If St. John’s is in the sweet sixteen in year 4 of Mike A’s tenure, guess what, he’s sticking around.

I’m getting tired of these “a complaint about him at Arkansas was ____”

Guess what I have a complaint about St. John’s, we haven’t won a tournament game or made it to the semifinals of the Big East tournament in two decades. Mike Anderson won tournament games and consistently went deep into the SEC tournament during his time there.

That is what I care about.

Having reservations about a coach is fine, but citing him not bending over for players and instead having a clear control and vision over the program as sone thing that limits our ceiling, that’s just where you lose me
 
[quote="Moose" post=388164]Zach is still plugged in. While not as much since the Cob has left but still plugged in.

Salnave was ready to come and the staff was looking for/expecting something to open. Everyone assumed it was LJ or McGriff, pull up the threads from a few weeks ago. Then it was said that nobody was transferring and expectation was that LJ was coming back. So SJU out of Salnave sweepstakes and then he commits within a week. If he went pro- God Bless, good luck. To enter the portal for the 2nd year in a row. After 2 months of the staff thinking they were competing with pro aspirations. Sorry but LJ is in Nuri Lindsay territory to me now.

I don't know how else to spell it out. Pretty clear how it looks to all involved.[/quote]


100% correct!!!!!
 
[quote="RM86" post=387991][quote="sjc88" post=387988]I have been feeling great about things but......It’s always something.

Kid gets tons of minutes. He has incoming help. Team plays a style that will benefit his style of play. But...

I just don’t get it.[/quote]

He looked miserable last year. CMA yanked him quite a bit after taking bad shots or missing assignments.[/quote]
Took him a while to buy in to fact that he didn’t have to nor should be taking the type of shots he did. As a result, he did yanked often and deservedly so. This is why I like CMA.

However, I thought the lights went on late in season and he played more within the flow.

I think he was set up for a big season at SJ and is getting some bad advice.
 
Having had some time to read the thread and to digest the information, I offer the following:

Be careful thinking that we "won't miss a beat". LJ was a significant part of that strong final stretch and he was scoring much more efficiently (check the stats).

I do think LJ had a certain disregard for CMA and our program. All indications point to the team being patient with LJ as he explored the draft. One of his confidants (Alex Arias) even tweeted as such. I don't believe there was ever any mention of exploring a transfer. While I don't know this for sure, I can't imagine any coach would have been as patient knowing the player was considering a transfer.

I'll wish LJ the best and I suspect he is a good kid. I chalk this up to a young man not handling his business in a mature manner. Some of my twenty-something decisions were selfish and I appreciate not being defined by them.

So, yes, LJ blew the timing of this decision. And, yes, SJU fans have every right to be ticked off. Now, only thing to do is move on.
 
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[quote="Jack Williams" post=388190][quote="SJU61982" post=388110][quote="Jack Williams" post=388107]SJU61982, a ton of respect for you as a poster, but every time I come across you talking about coach Anderson it just makes me shake my head at my phone screen.

What is your argument really, that because a college coach won’t bend over to any kid he recruits, we therefore do not have a higher ceiling?

I’m genuinely confused. Pat Riley comparison doesn’t work here because the NBA and college is completely different. The NBA is all about keeping your stars happy. It’s a stars driven league.

College basketball is not that. Especially with the G League gaining more traction and some of the top stars in the country not going to college, it’s becoming increasingly clear that building a TEAM under the coaches vision is the way to go.

No one player is ABOVE Jay Wright at Villanova. He doesn’t bend to fit any of his guys. It’s why Jahvon Quinerly isn’t there anymore. He came in as a 5 Star and thought he was gonna be THE MAN. It’s why Mikal Bridges was red shirted despite his high ranking. There’s plenty of examples.

As I always say in these discussions. Villanova is the model for sju to build a winning and consistent basketball program. And jay wright makes players play his way. And that hasn’t ruined their ceiling. So don’t give me that, that’s a weak argument[/quote]

I'm not saying that the players should be above the coach, but the coach should be able to meet them part of the way, at least WRT to on-court style of ball.

What I'm saying is, that I don't think you can play only one style of ball and be successful, in today's game. Duke mixes in zone defense now. Ditto Syracuse, as they play more man-to-man then they used to.

A complaint about Anderson at Arkansas, was that his teams were easy to prepare for, since it was the press and nothing else. If you're married to playing just one style, there's so much video out there now, that other teams will pick up on what you do pretty quickly. That's a concern, although I did see some wrinkles being thrown in throughout this past season, which gives me more confidence.

And yes, Villanova is the model, but it took a decade before they became a consistent power under Wright. They had some good teams prior to the new league, but they weren't a national power until Wright was there for over a decade. Our fan base won't have the patience to wait that long, nor should they. Providence and/or Seton Hall should be our shorter term models.[/quote]

Jay wright made it to the sweet 16 in his fourth year at Nova. Was in the elite eight in his fifth. And he has gone to the tourney every year except one since then. How is that taking a decade?

If St. John’s is in the sweet sixteen in year 4 of Mike A’s tenure, guess what, he’s sticking around.

I’m getting tired of these “a complaint about him at Arkansas was ____”

Guess what I have a complaint about St. John’s, we haven’t won a tournament game or made it to the semifinals of the Big East tournament in two decades. Mike Anderson won tournament games and consistently went deep into the SEC tournament during his time there.

That is what I care about.

Having reservations about a coach is fine, but citing him not bending over for players and instead having a clear control and vision over the program as sone thing that limits our ceiling, that’s just where you lose me[/quote]

Iron Mike alone has coached in more Ncaa tourney games than SJU has since the early 80’s under Louie.
 
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[quote="austour" post=388176][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.[/quote]The Big East was also loaded, it was the best a conference has been in 25 years, it was top 25 team after top 25 team and we lost our best player early in the season and was never the same throughout the season and the conf will take a big hit this year as there will be at the most 2-3 top 25 teams throughout the BE, while St Johns is almost returning a huge core plus 3 right away contributors.
 
[quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388045]LJ might not want to be pressing every second he is out there. Maybe that gasses him on the offensive end where he really needs to showcase to get to the next level.

St Johns style of play might not be best for LJs pro chances.

I really do not think anyone is in the wrong here. The team is not changing their philosophy to suit LJ and LJ is not willing to sacrifice and maybe have his pro career in jeopardy.[/quote]
Leaving is his decision, although an ill advised one in my opinion. It’s the timing that pisses me off. I have to believe that he either gave the staff the impression he was staying or told them he needed more time to consider his professional options. This smacks of something else - and I think he knew it.

If he comes back - great...if he elects to turn pro - great...if he transfers, cant say I wish him an iota of luck. Guess we’ll see
 
Welp, 7-11 finish here we come! That takes us from tourney bubble to irrelevant. Just like that with the season in several months. Just unreal. Salnave was also laughing about this. Love LJ but he really screwed the program. He’s not 14...make decisions like a man and understand how it affects others.
 
[quote="Billy Don Ferrell" post=388195][quote="austour" post=388176][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.[/quote]The Big East was also loaded, it was the best a conference has been in 25 years, it was top 25 team after top 25 team and we lost our best player early in the season and was never the same throughout the season and the conf will take a big hit this year as there will be at the most 2-3 top 25 teams throughout the BE, while St Johns is almost returning a huge core plus 3 right away contributors.[/quote]

Love ya Billy but the BE was good but the Best a conference has been in 25 years? It was good but that I'm not to sure about.
 
[quote="Moose" post=388198][quote="Billy Don Ferrell" post=388195][quote="austour" post=388176][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.[/quote]The Big East was also loaded, it was the best a conference has been in 25 years, it was top 25 team after top 25 team and we lost our best player early in the season and was never the same throughout the season and the conf will take a big hit this year as there will be at the most 2-3 top 25 teams throughout the BE, while St Johns is almost returning a huge core plus 3 right away contributors.[/quote]

Love ya Billy but the BE was good but the Best a conference has been in 25 years? It was good but that I'm not to sure about.[/quote]True, I'll rephrase that, its the best the BE has been in 25 years.
 
[quote="Billy Don Ferrell" post=388102]At Arkansas, there was always talk that players didn't like to attend every class and make good grades like Mike makes them do, and I get that also, you can go to most schools and the coaches will have deals with professors just to pass athletes, and as an athlete that would be the school to go to, there's very much something sleezy going on in this situation, LJ probably wants a little cash if he's going to come back and play somewhere in college another year, and Mike certainly won't do that.[/quote]
And, this is why I am impressed with CMA...2nd best record in SEC and playing it by the book...Kudos CMA
 
[quote="Billy Don Ferrell" post=388199][quote="Moose" post=388198][quote="Billy Don Ferrell" post=388195][quote="austour" post=388176][quote="Duke of Earlington" post=388165][quote="Moose" post=388158][quote="NCJohnnie" post=388154]The idea that we won't miss a beat losing our leading scorer and a sure pre-season All Big East selection is more than a stretch. Having said that, I do agree that we can still be a solid BE team next year if Cole and Anderson adjust to Div 1 play pretty quickly.[/quote]

What do you mean? Didn't you see us roll thru the BE last year? Oh wait again people are remembering 3.5 games not 3 months worth of play. They are extrapolating 2 game stretches for some players and assuming that is the normal going forward. I can't help but laugh.[/quote]

Or we can take a team from Dec and January and just accept that that is the team and there is no way you can improve over the course of a season.[/quote]

The team went 1-6 with 4 double digit losses from Jan 28 through the end of February, played much better going 5-1 in December. There was more bad than good at many points throughout the season, I mean at one point they were 3-12 in conference. So unless all you remember is the 2nd half against GTown in the BET then it's fine to have high hopes but delusional to think success is guaranteed, LJ or no LJ.[/quote]The Big East was also loaded, it was the best a conference has been in 25 years, it was top 25 team after top 25 team and we lost our best player early in the season and was never the same throughout the season and the conf will take a big hit this year as there will be at the most 2-3 top 25 teams throughout the BE, while St Johns is almost returning a huge core plus 3 right away contributors.[/quote]

Love ya Billy but the BE was good but the Best a conference has been in 25 years? It was good but that I'm not to sure about.[/quote]True, I'll rephrase that, its the best the BE has been in 25 years.[/quote]

Are you think Marquette and Xavier dance? That would be 7 of 10.

Off top of my head in 2011 BIG had 11 of 16 teams dance so same percentage and IMO a much tougher conference.
 
1997-1998 Big East finished with 3 teams in final Top Ten (Johnnies, UConn & Miami) and two others, Nova and Syracuse, with 21 wins. Hard to beat that although there were some doormats in that league.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=388197]Welp, 7-11 finish here we come! That takes us from tourney bubble to irrelevant. Just like that with the season in several months. Just unreal. Salnave was also laughing about this. Love LJ but he really screwed the program. He’s not 14...make decisions like a man and understand how it affects others.[/quote]

This is hilarious
 
[quote="SJUFAN2" post=388145][quote="fordham96" post=388133][quote="Paul Massell" post=388123][quote="linx" post=388122]
You can draw whatever conclusions you want. You can be emotional. Please tell me why they were pursuing players all spring? It wasn't just Ray.[/quote]

That is not the issue.

LJ enters transfer portal 4/26 = highly disappointing but we move on.
LJ enters transfer portal 5/26 = the point[/quote]

There is a flip side to this, what if SJU was in tight with a 5 star stud or an elite grad transfer with quite frankly better numbers than LJ? In other words let's not kid ourselves and act like SJU's other options were significantly better if better at all than LJ coming back. If they were he might have been in the portal earlier. And none of us would have any problems with that including me. This is not to justify him waiting this long to decide, just a contrarian point.[/quote]

So you're arguing that it's fine that he did this because St Johns wouldn't have held the ship for him to test the draft waters if say Michael Jordan was available and wanted to come here as a 1st year player? Fine. You win that fantasy.

The reality is that St John's had no obligation to hold the ship for him once he went into the draft.
The reality is that they did so despite him going into the draft and transfer portal last year also.
The reality is that they did this for a kid they inherited, and didn't recruit for this system.
The reality is that they passed on a local kid who would have been a nice fit for a 1 year grad transfer in order to do right by LJ.
The reality is that LJ fucked them for doing right by him.

The reality is that LJ gets no credit whatsoever for doing what he's perfectly entitled to do when by doing so he fucks over people who were bending over backwards to do right by him.

The reality is that LJ handled this very badly, and there's a price to be paid to ones image/reputation when you act poorly.[/quote]
AMEN
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=388197]Welp, 7-11 finish here we come! That takes us from tourney bubble to irrelevant. Just like that with the season in several months. Just unreal. Salnave was also laughing about this. Love LJ but he really screwed the program. He’s not 14...make decisions like a man and understand how it affects others.[/quote]
Like death and taxes...
 
LJ maxed out and I think he and the staff knew that. His role would have been very different this coming year. He wasn't going to be showcased or guaranteed anything. I don't need guys hoisting bad shots anymore...that was the Mullin era. Give me guys like Earlington and Julian. They play within the framework of the team are still developing their games.

Everybody appears ready to move on.
 
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