More Bad News Coming?

[Marillac]

This team will go as far as Jordan and D'Lo take them. Keep those two and some depth behind them and just add 2-3 guys up front that can defend, rebound, and things will be fine for next season.

I'd rather give our guards Sampson's shots and have a kid like Thomas down low to rebound than have Sampson shooting from 17 feet with Pointer and Sanchez on the three point line and zero chance at an offensive rebound. You guys are acting like we are losing Cleanthony Early and Jabari Parker.

Do they have the skills to carry this team? No doubt about it. I honestly believe that DLo has the Shabazz Napier in him to make a run and be that type of player. And Jordan should be even better next year. My only concern is what happens when one of these guys has an off night, or when opposing coaches start to focus on these two. Who else do we have to step up? Is there anyone else on the roster that can give us 8-10pts a game, and an occasional 20pt game?

D'LO is a monster. Jordan is a freak. We keep them and Branch as well as Balamou and we'll win.
Our front court was very disappointing this past season. They only scored on fast breaks and jumpers. They defended nobody, screened poorly outside of Obekpa, and did not play with any toughness whatsoever. I could floss with Sampson's arms. I'd rather have a less talented junkyard dog at the four any day of the week. I never want to see a PF shooting a jumpshot if they aren't absolutely killing it on the glass first.

 

[rawdognyc]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is anymore

My guess is they are in the same place you Lavin haters were when we were on the winning streak. ..Can we at least wait until the signing period starts before we question what he is able to do and who he does bring in. Stupid bringing up his recruiting abilities but that's what you haters do best. He sucks as an in game coach, but is a top notch recruiter and if you can't see that obviously you're blinded by your hatred for Lavin.

 

[MBoutchatski]

But that wouldn't be bad news.

Greene is one of the few players on the squad that can hit a three pointer...it would make our team worse, no question.

 

[mario]

I personally would like to see Green stay, however, there should be some kind of public relations from the SJU front office on all of this. Press releases just don't cut it. What do they think that this is all going to go away? Questions unanswered?

 

[SJUalum98]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is anymore

My guess is they are in the same place you Lavin haters were when we were on the winning streak. ..Can we at least wait until the signing period starts before we question what he is able to do and who he does bring in. Stupid bringing up his recruiting abilities but that's what you haters do best. He sucks as an in game coach, but is a top notch recruiter and if you can't see that obviously you're blinded by your hatred for Lavin.

Prove it...

 

[MBoutchatski]

People criticizing greene and then mentioning balamou like he isn't a replica of the exact player we don't need. An athlete with minimal basketball/shooting skills.


This is more terrible news...no other way to spin it. and i have a feeling in a few more weeks we'll be down to balamou, branch, dom and jones for next year.


Over/Under at 9 wins?

 

[Marillac]

People criticizing greene and then mentioning balamou like he isn't a replica of the exact player we don't need. An athlete with minimal basketball/shooting skills.


This is more terrible news...no other way to spin it. and i have a feeling in a few more weeks we'll be down to balamou, branch, dom and jones for next year.


Over/Under at 9 wins?

Back off Balamou if you know what's good for you.
He's the exact type of player we need...hungry, aggressive but controlled, plays actual defense, boxes out, hits the glass...
Whether that sissy Lavin gives him a real shot is another matter. You bet your ass he'd be playing at a school like Wichita State.

 

[MBoutchatski]

People criticizing greene and then mentioning balamou like he isn't a replica of the exact player we don't need. An athlete with minimal basketball/shooting skills.


This is more terrible news...no other way to spin it. and i have a feeling in a few more weeks we'll be down to balamou, branch, dom and jones for next year.


Over/Under at 9 wins?

Back off Balamou if you know what's good for you.
He's the exact type of player we need...hungry, aggressive but controlled, plays actual defense, boxes out, hits the glass...
Whether that sissy Lavin gives him a real shot is another matter. You bet your ass he'd be playing at a school like Wichita State.

Another undersized forward that can't shoot a lick...no thanks.

 

[1and1sju]

People criticizing greene and then mentioning balamou like he isn't a replica of the exact player we don't need. An athlete with minimal basketball/shooting skills.


This is more terrible news...no other way to spin it. and i have a feeling in a few more weeks we'll be down to balamou, branch, dom and jones for next year.


Over/Under at 9 wins?

Back off Balamou if you know what's good for you.
He's the exact type of player we need...hungry, aggressive but controlled, plays actual defense, boxes out, hits the glass...
Whether that sissy Lavin gives him a real shot is another matter. You bet your ass he'd be playing at a school like Wichita State.

No way. A guard who can't handle the ball and shoot would not play for Wichita State.

 

[JohnnyFan]

This team will go as far as Jordan and D'Lo take them. Keep those two and some depth behind them and just add 2-3 guys up front that can defend, rebound, and things will be fine for next season.

I'd rather give our guards Sampson's shots and have a kid like Thomas down low to rebound than have Sampson shooting from 17 feet with Pointer and Sanchez on the three point line and zero chance at an offensive rebound. You guys are acting like we are losing Cleanthony Early and Jabari Parker.

Do they have the skills to carry this team? No doubt about it. I honestly believe that DLo has the Shabazz Napier in him to make a run and be that type of player. And Jordan should be even better next year. My only concern is what happens when one of these guys has an off night, or when opposing coaches start to focus on these two. Who else do we have to step up? Is there anyone else on the roster that can give us 8-10pts a game, and an occasional 20pt game?

DLO does not have enough speed or ball control to be Shabazz Napier.

 

[Andrew]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is any more.

The StJohns program is in shambles and that has been evident for many months to anyone who was objective.

Unfortunately StJohns seemingly lacks the institutional leadership to make the moves necessary to cleanse the basketball program but hopefully the new president that will be named in 6+/- weeks will understand that prompt changes in the Athletic Department are warranted and will take necessary actions.

There is no good way for the Lavin disciples to spin the past season much leads the last month for StJohns men's basketball.

I was lambasted months ago for complaining about the poor early start on the 2014 class. All I kept hearing is in Lavin we trust. I will say it again, past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. This feels just like Pittsburgh all over again.

 

[1and1sju]

This team will go as far as Jordan and D'Lo take them. Keep those two and some depth behind them and just add 2-3 guys up front that can defend, rebound, and things will be fine for next season.

I'd rather give our guards Sampson's shots and have a kid like Thomas down low to rebound than have Sampson shooting from 17 feet with Pointer and Sanchez on the three point line and zero chance at an offensive rebound. You guys are acting like we are losing Cleanthony Early and Jabari Parker.

If our forwards aren't a threat from 15 ft then Jordan and Harrison will be trapped on EVERY pick. Every possession they'll be doubled.
Sampson and Sanchez were at least offensive threats that had to accounted for, and even with them we weren't a very efficient offensive team.
You are putting way too much on the shoulders of Harrison and Jordan.
They're good. But they need well rounded players around them. Christian jones, Felix, and this JUCO Thomas are not going to cut it.
Next season is a big step backwards.

 

[Marillac]

People criticizing greene and then mentioning balamou like he isn't a replica of the exact player we don't need. An athlete with minimal basketball/shooting skills.


This is more terrible news...no other way to spin it. and i have a feeling in a few more weeks we'll be down to balamou, branch, dom and jones for next year.


Over/Under at 9 wins?

Back off Balamou if you know what's good for you.
He's the exact type of player we need...hungry, aggressive but controlled, plays actual defense, boxes out, hits the glass...
Whether that sissy Lavin gives him a real shot is another matter. You bet your ass he'd be playing at a school like Wichita State.

No way. A guard who can't handle the ball and shoot would not play for Wichita State.

LOL what has Balamou done to show you he can't handle the ball? In his limited minutes he has been our most controlled player. He's not going to be a three point assassin, but the kid can definitely hit 33-36% with two attempts per game.
If given a chance, this kid will produce. Bala who? Balamou!

 

[fuchsia]

This team will go as far as Jordan and D'Lo take them. Keep those two and some depth behind them and just add 2-3 guys up front that can defend, rebound, and things will be fine for next season.

I'd rather give our guards Sampson's shots and have a kid like Thomas down low to rebound than have Sampson shooting from 17 feet with Pointer and Sanchez on the three point line and zero chance at an offensive rebound. You guys are acting like we are losing Cleanthony Early and Jabari Parker.

Similar sentiments and the phrase "flash to bash" started rattling around in my head. Big men who carve out space and have good hands look very good when set up by guards who both score and pass and penetrate and kick. Obekpa and Sampson both brought help defenders in to the lane to thwart Rysheed and D'Lo and we all know who was in better position for defensive rebounds. We may be short a baseline 3point shooter when Rysheed or D'Lo are not on the floor together, but we have yet to see what was on Lav's shopping list, which he intimated a few weeks ago, had all the items checked.

Given Calhoun's absence and Calamari's well-deserved reputation, I am a Husky fan Monday evening.

 

[sj88]

Does anyone know what happened? I mean I know some guys have alluded to knowing but for 50% of the team maybe more having left or talking about it you would think there would have been something big that would have come out as the reason why.

 

[1and1sju]

This team will go as far as Jordan and D'Lo take them. Keep those two and some depth behind them and just add 2-3 guys up front that can defend, rebound, and things will be fine for next season.

I'd rather give our guards Sampson's shots and have a kid like Thomas down low to rebound than have Sampson shooting from 17 feet with Pointer and Sanchez on the three point line and zero chance at an offensive rebound. You guys are acting like we are losing Cleanthony Early and Jabari Parker.

Similar sentiments and the phrase "flash to bash" started rattling around in my head. Big men who carve out space and have good hands look very good when set up by guards who both score and pass and penetrate and kick. Obekpa and Sampson both brought help defenders in to the lane to thwart Rysheed and D'Lo and we all know who was in better position for defensive rebounds. We may be short a baseline 3point shooter when Rysheed or D'Lo are not on the floor together, but we have yet to see what was on Lav's shopping list, which he intimated a few weeks ago, had all the items checked.

Given Calhoun's absence and Calamari's well-deserved reputation, I am a Husky fan Monday evening.

Lavin's shopping list better be a long one because we have 6 players. We're going to be counting on BIG minutes from projects like Jones, ADR, and Felix.
And don't kid yourself, all 3 were, and still are works in progress.

Also, fwiw, we are back to being inexperienced. And we still have a dunce for a coach, so the prospect of them "gelling" is a remote one.

 

[firestorm]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is anymore

My guess is they are in the same place you Lavin haters were when we were on the winning streak. ..Can we at least wait until the signing period starts before we question what he is able to do and who he does bring in. Stupid bringing up his recruiting abilities but that's what you haters do best. He sucks as an in game coach, but is a top notch recruiter and if you can't see that obviously you're blinded by your hatred for Lavin.

Prove it...

Okay, I'll take the bait…

I'm in the camp of those who believe Lavin has advanced the program – not to the rapid and dramatic extent I initially hoped, but incrementally.

That said, its impossible not to question what's happened over the past few months. The team underachieved and the players (who many of us thought loved Lavin) obviously have some issues with the direction of the program. I'm less concerned about the short term than the long term. Players will come and go, but if we have fundamental problems at the operational level, we're in big trouble. If that's the case, I'm all in favor of fixing it fast rather than letting it fester.

It's obvious Lavin and staff have their shortcomings, but the one thing we can't seriously rip on the guy for is recruiting. He came into a total mess of a program that hadn't landed top talent in years and, every year, upgraded our talent. Every year we questioned if we was going to land any one and he every year he pulled a rabbit out of his hat. Two Big East ROYs and Jordan, plus D'lo, Branch, Obekpa, et al. Has he done a good job with his talent? Nope. But somehow he recruited decent players to a program that was a total train wreck.

So, in defense of our defense of Lavin, I'll still give him a pass on recruiting. The other stuff? Time is running out...

 

[JohnnyFan]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is anymore

My guess is they are in the same place you Lavin haters were when we were on the winning streak. ..Can we at least wait until the signing period starts .

The phrases "can we just wait until...." and "just let it play out" have been thrown around by Lavin apologists for the past six month. We waited and the program has imploded. Personally, I am not interested in waiting any longer to see what 2014 scraps we can sign. This program is going to have to be rebuilt again. Let's start it now with a new coach.

 

[STJ11Redmen]

Not that long ago the handful of posters that questioned Lavin were either dismissed or mocked. I don't read many disciples of Mr. Lavin boasting about what a great recruiter he is anymore

My guess is they are in the same place you Lavin haters were when we were on the winning streak. ..Can we at least wait until the signing period starts before we question what he is able to do and who he does bring in. Stupid bringing up his recruiting abilities but that's what you haters do best. He sucks as an in game coach, but is a top notch recruiter and if you can't see that obviously you're blinded by your hatred for Lavin.

Prove it...

Okay, I'll take the bait…

I'm in the camp of those who believe Lavin has advanced the program – not to the rapid and dramatic extent I initially hoped, but incrementally.

That said, its impossible not to question what's happened over the past few months. The team underachieved and the players (who many of us thought loved Lavin) obviously have some issues with the direction of the program. I'm less concerned about the short term than the long term. Players will come and go, but if we have fundamental problems at the operational level, we're in big trouble. If that's the case, I'm all in favor of fixing it fast rather than letting it fester.

It's obvious Lavin and staff have their shortcomings, but the one thing we can't seriously rip on the guy for is recruiting. He came into a total mess of a program that hadn't landed top talent in years and, every year, upgraded our talent. Every year we questioned if we was going to land any one and he every year he pulled a rabbit out of his hat. Two Big East ROYs and Jordan, plus D'lo, Branch, Obekpa, et al. Has he done a good job with his talent? Nope. But somehow he recruited decent players to a program that was a total train wreck.

So, in defense of our defense of Lavin, I'll still give him a pass on recruiting. The other stuff? Time is running out...

Part of recruiting players is identifying ones that fit the system and can actually play. Lavin landed a bunch of kids who cant shoot and do not play intelligently. Its almost like he just looked at the ESPN top 100 and blindly offered anyone on it who was uncommitted. As you can see, thats not how you build a team unless youre Kentucky.

 

[fuchsia]

Desco, no kidding, but part of me is hoping that we are seeing Keady's influence. Keady teams would have one scoring guard and one scoring forward and an entire roster of guys who spent the whole game wearing down opponents physically, which paid off in the closing minutes of games. (Pound the body, pound the body.) Lavins' style at UCLA felt gimmicky to me and as I have repeated here far too often, the total seemed less than the sum of the parts. Our NCAA team with Norm's players had Brownlee, Evans, and Burrell to carve out space and Brownlee and DJ were tough inside scorers. That system with a true point guard has a lot of appeal to this old Celtic fan who watched Loscutoff and Satch (yes he sharpened his elbows before every game) have long careers even though neither one could score a lick.