Mike Anderson - Recruiting, Coaching, Etc.

[Amaseinyourface]

I think Anderson is a teacher.  He wants his players to learn how to respond and play through situations without needing a timeout to regroup.  The same thing goes for Posh getting minutes when those minutes aren't necessarily helping the team win - he wants him to get the experience so he can grow more next year.  Also with giving Cole extended run yesterday even when he was awful, he doesn't want to kill his confidence since he believes the kid can be a contributor.

These things don't do us any good as fans this year or in the moment - we want to win THIS game and THIS year.  But if Anderson knows his business and his players - which I think he does - more of these decisions will pay dividends than not as time goes on.   

Agree he is letting Posh play through some mistakes, but what better option is there? I don’t think it’s Dunn.

 

[lawmanfan]

You're not wrong, Mase.  I'm more comfortable with Dunn but I can't say he gives you more overall upside.  I'd like to see McGriff get more time - from what I've seen he has the best handle and is the best distributor of the three of them, but I'm sure Coach has a good reason. 

Having said that, down the stretch I might have just given the ball straight to Greg.  If he was supposed to get it for a pick and roll anyway, just give it to him on the inbounds and cut both Dunn and Posh out of the loop. I might trust Greg with the ball in his hands more than either of them anyway. 

Haven't looked at assist to turnover ratio to see what the stats are, tho.

 

[beast of the east]

I think Anderson is a teacher.  He wants his players to learn how to respond and play through situations without needing a timeout to regroup.  The same thing goes for Posh getting minutes when those minutes aren't necessarily helping the team win - he wants him to get the experience so he can grow more next year.  Also with giving Cole extended run yesterday even when he was awful, he doesn't want to kill his confidence since he believes the kid can be a contributor.

These things don't do us any good as fans this year or in the moment - we want to win THIS game and THIS year.  But if Anderson knows his business and his players - which I think he does - more of these decisions will pay dividends than not as time goes on.   


I've expressed your sentiment in the past to hs coaches and was swiftly rebuked with "there isn't a coach alive who wouldn't use any player who could help him win the game in front of him."   Your theory sounds reasonable but I don't think CMA or any coach sacrifices wins forthe sake of giving a young player experience.    Posh is playing more because he is better than anything else we have.
 

 

[boo haarvey]

I think Anderson is a teacher.  He wants his players to learn how to respond and play through situations without needing a timeout to regroup.  The same thing goes for Posh getting minutes when those minutes aren't necessarily helping the team win - he wants him to get the experience so he can grow more next year.  Also with giving Cole extended run yesterday even when he was awful, he doesn't want to kill his confidence since he believes the kid can be a contributor.

These things don't do us any good as fans this year or in the moment - we want to win THIS game and THIS year.  But if Anderson knows his business and his players - which I think he does - more of these decisions will pay dividends than not as time goes on.   

Sorry, but in the era of the transfer, you don't give extended minutes to  a kid whose playing awful in the hopes that he will be a contributor next year or the following.  Far from a certainty these kids will stick around.  This is particularly the case  with this program where we desperately need to show progress to generate momentum on the recruiting trail.  Can't afford to lose games to Marquette in the hopes that Cole will gain confidence.

 

[boo haarvey]

You're not wrong, Mase.  I'm more comfortable with Dunn but I can't say he gives you more overall upside.  I'd like to see McGriff get more time - from what I've seen he has the best handle and is the best distributor of the three of them, but I'm sure Coach has a good reason. 

Having said that, down the stretch I might have just given the ball straight to Greg.  If he was supposed to get it for a pick and roll anyway, just give it to him on the inbounds and cut both Dunn and Posh out of the loop. I might trust Greg with the ball in his hands more than either of them anyway. 

Haven't looked at assist to turnover ratio to see what the stats are, tho.

While he has hops, Williams does not have a good handle and has not demonstrated particular acumen for getting to the rim.

 

[L J S A]

Sorry, but in the era of the transfer, you don't give extended minutes to  a kid whose playing awful in the hopes that he will be a contributor next year or the following.  Far from a certainty these kids will stick around. 

In this era if you don't give a kid minutes he will transfer. I don't mind if the staff is thinking ahead if they think a kid has the talent to be a contributor. 

 

[boo haarvey]

Sorry, but in the era of the transfer, you don't give extended minutes to  a kid whose playing awful in the hopes that he will be a contributor next year or the following.  Far from a certainty these kids will stick around. 

In this era if you don't give a kid minutes he will transfer. I don't mind if the staff is thinking ahead if they think a kid has the talent to be a contributor. 

I think you have to play your best players and try to win the game.  I'm not worried about Cole transferring.  While I too feel more comfortable with Dunn, I have no problem with Posh getting extended minutes for the reasons others have mentioned.  
 

 

[JohnnyFan]

You're not wrong, Mase.  I'm more comfortable with Dunn but I can't say he gives you more overall upside.  I'd like to see McGriff get more time - from what I've seen he has the best handle and is the best distributor of the three of them, but I'm sure Coach has a good reason. 

Having said that, down the stretch I might have just given the ball straight to Greg.  If he was supposed to get it for a pick and roll anyway, just give it to him on the inbounds and cut both Dunn and Posh out of the loop. I might trust Greg with the ball in his hands more than either of them anyway. 

Haven't looked at assist to turnover ratio to see what the stats are, tho.

While he has hops, Williams does not have a good handle and has not demonstrated particular acumen for getting to the rim.

I am not expecting much from McGriff.  He is essentially the same player as Dunn, but without the ability to get to the rim.  

 

[NCJohnnie]

Boo Harvey wrote: 
While he has hops, Williams does not have a good handle and has not demonstrated particular acumen for getting to the rim.

If that is true, why has he taken more  free throws than anyone on our team, including Champ? Those fouls are not on three pointers.    

 

[boo haarvey]

Boo Harvey wrote: 
While he has hops, Williams does not have a good handle and has not demonstrated particular acumen for getting to the rim.

If that is true, why has he taken more  free throws than anyone on our team, including Champ? Those fouls are not on three pointers.    

I don't  think there is any debate that Williams does not have a great handle.  His drives are typically off two or three bounces and I would not characterize him as particularly good at the rim.  If he coukd signfiiabtly improve that area of his game he'd be a good offense player.  But I don't think Williams in isolation at the top of the key is going to win too many games.


 

 

[boo haarvey]

And Champagnie is neither a guard nor an around the rim player so the fact that Williams has shot more free throws that Champagnie does not suggest that Williams is adept at getting to the rim 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Boo Harvey wrote: I don't  think there is any debate that Williams does not have a great handle.  His drives are typically off two or three bounces and I would not characterize him as particularly good at the rim.  If he coukd signfiiabtly improve that area of his game he'd be a good offense player.  But I don't think Williams in isolation at the top of the key is going to win too many games.

My post had nothing whatever to do with Greg's handle (don't dispute that he is not a point guard). He averages more than 4 free throws a game which is an indication that he gets a step on the defense going to the rim and draws fouls. And he already is a "good offensive player" averaging 12 points per game on 46% shooting overall and 42% from three, both quite good for a 2 guard.  

 

[boo haarvey]

Boo Harvey wrote: I don't  think there is any debate that Williams does not have a great handle.  His drives are typically off two or three bounces and I would not characterize him as particularly good at the rim.  If he coukd signfiiabtly improve that area of his game he'd be a good offense player.  But I don't think Williams in isolation at the top of the key is going to win too many games.

My post had nothing whatever to do with Greg's handle (don't dispute that he is not a point guard). He averages more than 4 free throws a game which is an indication that he gets a step on the defense going to the rim and draws fouls. And he already is a "good offensive player" averaging 12 points per game on 46% shooting overall and 42% from three, both quite good for a 2 guard.  

I don't think Greg has a particularly good handle for a two guard.  I also would not characterize Greg as a good scorer.  Somebody has to score points on this team but the fact that he's averaging double digits does not make him a "good" scorer.  He is very inconsistent and disappears for games.  I don't think he would get much burn on a team in the top half of the conference.  I also don't think he is very good at creating his own shot.  I do think he has potential and has improved each year.  Hopefully he continues to improve and has a nice senior year.
 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Boo Harvey wrote: I don't think Greg has a particularly good handle for a two guard.  I also would not characterize Greg as a good scorer.  Somebody has to score points on this team but the fact that he's averaging double digits does not make him a "good" scorer.  He is very inconsistent and disappears for games.  I don't think he would get much burn on a team in the top half of the conference.  I also don't think he is very good at creating his own shot.  I do think he has potential and has improved each year.  Hopefully he continues to improve and has a nice senior year.

Why let facts get in the way of your assertion that Greg is not a particularly good offensive player? He is 12th in the league in 3 point % shooting, 20th in FG % shooting and 24th in scoring and takes pretty good care of the ball (see asists to turnover ratio). He is exactly the kind of more than solid 4 year player we need if we want to compete in the Big East; not sure why you take such pleasure in criticizing these kids who bust their gut for us.  He, Champ and Posh will be a very effective trio next year when we will finish in the middle of the Big East if we return this group, which is all we can really expect in coach's third year. 
You say you are impatient for SJU success; I laugh as I have been rooting for Johnnies & Knicks for 55 years, but we obviously look at life much differently, so be it.      

 

[SJU85]

Boo Harvey wrote: I don't think Greg has a particularly good handle for a two guard.  I also would not characterize Greg as a good scorer.  Somebody has to score points on this team but the fact that he's averaging double digits does not make him a "good" scorer.  He is very inconsistent and disappears for games.  I don't think he would get much burn on a team in the top half of the conference.  I also don't think he is very good at creating his own shot.  I do think he has potential and has improved each year.  Hopefully he continues to improve and has a nice senior year.

Why let facts get in the way of your assertion that Greg is not a particularly good offensive player? He is 12th in the league in 3 point % shooting, 20th in FG % shooting and 24th in scoring and takes pretty good care of the ball (see asists to turnover ratio). He is exactly the kind of more than solid 4 year player we need if we want to compete in the Big East; not sure why you take such pleasure in criticizing these kids who bust their gut for us.  He, Champ and Posh will be a very effective trio next year when we will finish in the middle of the Big East if we return this group, which is all we can really expect in coach's third year. 
You say you are impatient for SJU success; I laugh as I have been rooting for Johnnies & Knicks for 55 years, but we obviously look at life much differently, so be it.      

I wish I could say you've been routing for the St. John's and the Knicks longer than I've been alive but I can't.
 

 

[boo haarvey]

Boo Harvey wrote: I don't think Greg has a particularly good handle for a two guard.  I also would not characterize Greg as a good scorer.  Somebody has to score points on this team but the fact that he's averaging double digits does not make him a "good" scorer.  He is very inconsistent and disappears for games.  I don't think he would get much burn on a team in the top half of the conference.  I also don't think he is very good at creating his own shot.  I do think he has potential and has improved each year.  Hopefully he continues to improve and has a nice senior year.

Why let facts get in the way of your assertion that Greg is not a particularly good offensive player? He is 12th in the league in 3 point % shooting, 20th in FG % shooting and 24th in scoring and takes pretty good care of the ball (see asists to turnover ratio). He is exactly the kind of more than solid 4 year player we need if we want to compete in the Big East; not sure why you take such pleasure in criticizing these kids who bust their gut for us.  He, Champ and Posh will be a very effective trio next year when we will finish in the middle of the Big East if we return this group, which is all we can really expect in coach's third year. 
You say you are impatient for SJU success; I laugh as I have been rooting for Johnnies & Knicks for 55 years, but we obviously look at life much differently, so be it.      



I'm not sure why this needs to get personal.  I'm not attacking Greg Williams.  I happen to like the kid a lot.  I do, however, disagree with a number of your premises.  First, I disagree that he should have had the ball in his hands at the top of the key at the end of the game.  I don't think his handle is nearly good enough nor do I think he's an effective playmaker at this point in his career.  Greg is most effective when shooting the open J with his feet set and when he's cutting to the hoop.

Second, I don't agree  with you that he's a "good" offensive player right now.  Of course, what constitutes "good" is highly subjective.  You provided some statistics, 20th in one category and 24th in another.  That' doesn't impress me.  To me, a good scorer is one who can create his own shot and consistently score.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we desperately need a second and third scorer to compliment Champ.  While Greg has improved, I don't think he's been that guy.

I do agree with you that we need nice four year players who continue to improve as Greg has to date.  That is why I indicated in my prior post that I thought Greg could be a good scorer next year.  But, as I'm sure you'll agree, in this era good four year players are far and few between and we need a few immediate impact players if we're going to consistently finish in the top half of the Big East.


 

 

[FranWho?]

How many more years of Anderson do you think we will see?  He's well on his way to washing out, and a parting of ways is inevitable.

 

[NCJohnnie]

Boo Harvey wrote: 
I'm not sure why this needs to get personal.  I'm not attacking Greg Williams.  I happen to like the kid a lot.  I do, however, disagree with a number of your premises.  First, I disagree that he should have had the ball in his hands at the top of the key at the end of the game.  I don't think his handle is nearly good enough nor do I think he's an effective playmaker at this point in his career.  Greg is most effective when shooting the open J with his feet set and when he's cutting to the hoop.

Second, I don't agree  with you that he's a "good" offensive player right now.  Of course, what constitutes "good" is highly subjective.  You provided some statistics, 20th in one category and 24th in another.  That' doesn't impress me.  To me, a good scorer is one who can create his own shot and consistently score.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we desperately need a second and third scorer to compliment Champ.  While Greg has improved, I don't think he's been that guy.

I do agree with you that we need nice four year players who continue to improve as Greg has to date.  That is why I indicated in my prior post that I thought Greg could be a good scorer next year.  But, as I'm sure you'll agree, in this era good four year players are far and few between and we need a few immediate impact players if we're going to consistently finish in the top half of the Big East.

Boo,

Agree no need to get personal, as I am not a fan of personal attacks so apologize for that. I wasn't able to watch the Marquette game so I was not the guy who said Greg should have had the ball at the end of that game. As far as whether or not he is a good offensive player, we just disagree but I do think the stats favor my view. I'm not sure I agree that four year players are a thing of the past, but we'll have to see how that plays out; I hope not. 

 

[boo haarvey]

Boo Harvey wrote: 
I'm not sure why this needs to get personal.  I'm not attacking Greg Williams.  I happen to like the kid a lot.  I do, however, disagree with a number of your premises.  First, I disagree that he should have had the ball in his hands at the top of the key at the end of the game.  I don't think his handle is nearly good enough nor do I think he's an effective playmaker at this point in his career.  Greg is most effective when shooting the open J with his feet set and when he's cutting to the hoop.

Second, I don't agree  with you that he's a "good" offensive player right now.  Of course, what constitutes "good" is highly subjective.  You provided some statistics, 20th in one category and 24th in another.  That' doesn't impress me.  To me, a good scorer is one who can create his own shot and consistently score.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we desperately need a second and third scorer to compliment Champ.  While Greg has improved, I don't think he's been that guy.

I do agree with you that we need nice four year players who continue to improve as Greg has to date.  That is why I indicated in my prior post that I thought Greg could be a good scorer next year.  But, as I'm sure you'll agree, in this era good four year players are far and few between and we need a few immediate impact players if we're going to consistently finish in the top half of the Big East.

Boo,

Agree no need to get personal, as I am not a fan of personal attacks so apologize for that. I wasn't able to watch the Marquette game so I was not the guy who said Greg should have had the ball at the end of that game. As far as whether or not he is a good offensive player, we just disagree but I do think the stats favor my view. I'm not sure I agree that four year players are a thing of the past, but we'll have to see how that plays out; I hope not. 

Fair points and I very much respect your opinion.
 

 

[Windy City Johnny Fan]

The biggest nock on Greg Williams - and this is really a compliment - is that it seems like he's too nice a kid.  He shows too much deference, which means if the game doesn't flow a certain way, he can dissapear at times.  This would be fine if he was our 4th or 5th option, but as arguably our second most talented player, it can at times add to an already over-burdened Julian.

Unfortunately if that switch hasn't flipped by now, it may never flip.  I think he seem like a really good kid that will probably be successful in anything he does in life.  Unfortunately what we need from him right now for this basketball team is more aggression and frankly selfishness but that just isn't who he is as a player.