Mussini's progress at PG

beast of the east

Active member
Now that we are well into the season, I think it's a good time to assess how well Mussini has done playing the point.

I've been critical of Mussini, but not negative about him. The criticisms were mostly do with him not becoming an offensive juggernaut, mostly do to physical limitations (height and quickness) that prevent him from shooting over taller guards and beating them off the dribble. He is a bonafide very good outside shooter, and in a system that moves that ball better and solid inside threats that cause guards to collapse, he will be the beneficiary of more wide open looks. But this post is about PG play.

Ball handling - has improved immensely in my opinion. Playing Big time, Big East basketball, he hasn't looked overwhelmed bringing the ball up against pressure, keeps his head up at all times, and IMO has become a credible point guard. Comparing his ballhandling skills to Dwight Hardy, who was also asked to play PG, and who had a very shaky left hand dribble, Mussini has done much better. Considering that he came here to be a a shooting guard, I'd give him a B+ so far in this category. He doesn't lose the ball off the dribble very much, hasn't traveled much, and as a result hasn't committed many turnovers off the dribble.

Floor General - Also has improved considerably since Game 1. He runs the show, directs the flow, and as a freshman, has also done a good job here. I'd give him a solid B in this department.

Passing - This is an area I think Mussini needs improvement. Sometimes he telegraphs passes in the halfcourt offense, sometimes he floats them, and sometimes he suffers from tunnelvision - all leading to turnovers. All of this is correctable. But he's nowhere close to a playmaker yet. Still this is a big area of improvement needed, and I'd give him a C here.

Defense - Freshman or not, as a smaller guard not fleet of foot, this will be an area where he will have to work extremely hard to improve modestly. There are just a lot of guys his size and bigger who are lightning quick, and some guards whose stride alone is probably a foot or more longer than his. In the future, one matchups alone or inability to cover a wide swath of zone well, this could keep him off the court. Already late in close games, Mullin is subbing him out on defense. Also cannot jog slowly upcourt when the other team is breaking 3 on 2 or 3-1 - too many things can happen, and if the opposition gets second looks Mussini is often somewhere at midcourt at that point. A PG should be busting it upcourt and be the first defender, and not trail the break. I'd give him a C- because he is a frosh.

Overall, I'd give Mussini a B- to B as a freshman PG playing out of position. Point guard is perhaps the most difficult position to play on the floor, requiring the most skill, and the most difficult by far for a freshman. He's really learning fast, and isn't a big liability that he could have been. I think this year will accelerate his development as a player, and in the future at SJU or elsewhere, may see spot duty at PG because of this.
 
Now that we are well into the season, I think it's a good time to assess how well Mussini has done playing the point.

I've been critical of Mussini, but not negative about him. The criticisms were mostly do with him not becoming an offensive juggernaut, mostly do to physical limitations (height and quickness) that prevent him from shooting over taller guards and beating them off the dribble. He is a bonafide very good outside shooter, and in a system that moves that ball better and solid inside threats that cause guards to collapse, he will be the beneficiary of more wide open looks. But this post is about PG play.

Ball handling - has improved immensely in my opinion. Playing Big time, Big East basketball, he hasn't looked overwhelmed bringing the ball up against pressure, keeps his head up at all times, and IMO has become a credible point guard. Comparing his ballhandling skills to Dwight Hardy, who was also asked to play PG, and who had a very shaky left hand dribble, Mussini has done much better. Considering that he came here to be a a shooting guard, I'd give him a B+ so far in this category. He doesn't lose the ball off the dribble very much, hasn't traveled much, and as a result hasn't committed many turnovers off the dribble.

Floor General - Also has improved considerably since Game 1. He runs the show, directs the flow, and as a freshman, has also done a good job here. I'd give him a solid B in this department.

Passing - This is an area I think Mussini needs improvement. Sometimes he telegraphs passes in the halfcourt offense, sometimes he floats them, and sometimes he suffers from tunnelvision - all leading to turnovers. All of this is correctable. But he's nowhere close to a playmaker yet. Still this is a big area of improvement needed, and I'd give him a C here.

Defense - Freshman or not, as a smaller guard not fleet of foot, this will be an area where he will have to work extremely hard to improve modestly. There are just a lot of guys his size and bigger who are lightning quick, and some guards whose stride alone is probably a foot or more longer than his. In the future, one matchups alone or inability to cover a wide swath of zone well, this could keep him off the court. Already late in close games, Mullin is subbing him out on defense. Also cannot jog slowly upcourt when the other team is breaking 3 on 2 or 3-1 - too many things can happen, and if the opposition gets second looks Mussini is often somewhere at midcourt at that point. A PG should be busting it upcourt and be the first defender, and not trail the break. I'd give him a C- because he is a frosh.

Overall, I'd give Mussini a B- to B as a freshman PG playing out of position. Point guard is perhaps the most difficult position to play on the floor, requiring the most skill, and the most difficult by far for a freshman. He's really learning fast, and isn't a big liability that he could have been. I think this year will accelerate his development as a player, and in the future at SJU or elsewhere, may see spot duty at PG because of this.

I really noticed the improved dribbling in the Georgetown game. I think he is starting to get some open looks and he needs to knock them down more consistently, He doesn't play defense at this level.
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)

Not that it matters but I get the sheepish feeling that I'm getting schooled on eating at an Italian joint by an Irish guy. Which is okay, unless your name is McCloskey.
 
Great write up, Beast. Pretty much agree with all of your points.

Outside of his defensive shortcomings, which is probably due to his size and inexperience, the biggest complaint I have against him is his court vision. As you mentioned in the passing section, there are times you scratch your head wondering who the hell he was trying to get the ball to. But honestly, I just chalk that up to him being a freshman and getting acclimated to the college game. Personally, I think he's going to be an offensive force once St. John's brings in better guards to play alongside him.
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)

Not that it matters but I get the sheepish feeling that I'm getting schooled on eating at an Italian joint by an Irish guy. Which is okay, unless your name is McCloskey.

Ha, right, Rockaway = Irish! ...and that's fairly accurate on the west end, I happen to be part of the 2% Italian pop that lives on the Irish Riviera. and I got Italy covered north to south, Genoa on one side, Calabrese on the other...let me know when you're ready for lesson 2, Capisce? ;)
 
Now that we are well into the season, I think it's a good time to assess how well Mussini has done playing the point.

I've been critical of Mussini, but not negative about him. The criticisms were mostly do with him not becoming an offensive juggernaut, mostly do to physical limitations (height and quickness) that prevent him from shooting over taller guards and beating them off the dribble. He is a bonafide very good outside shooter, and in a system that moves that ball better and solid inside threats that cause guards to collapse, he will be the beneficiary of more wide open looks. But this post is about PG play.

Ball handling - has improved immensely in my opinion. Playing Big time, Big East basketball, he hasn't looked overwhelmed bringing the ball up against pressure, keeps his head up at all times, and IMO has become a credible point guard. Comparing his ballhandling skills to Dwight Hardy, who was also asked to play PG, and who had a very shaky left hand dribble, Mussini has done much better. Considering that he came here to be a a shooting guard, I'd give him a B+ so far in this category. He doesn't lose the ball off the dribble very much, hasn't traveled much, and as a result hasn't committed many turnovers off the dribble.

Floor General - Also has improved considerably since Game 1. He runs the show, directs the flow, and as a freshman, has also done a good job here. I'd give him a solid B in this department.

Passing - This is an area I think Mussini needs improvement. Sometimes he telegraphs passes in the halfcourt offense, sometimes he floats them, and sometimes he suffers from tunnelvision - all leading to turnovers. All of this is correctable. But he's nowhere close to a playmaker yet. Still this is a big area of improvement needed, and I'd give him a C here.

Defense - Freshman or not, as a smaller guard not fleet of foot, this will be an area where he will have to work extremely hard to improve modestly. There are just a lot of guys his size and bigger who are lightning quick, and some guards whose stride alone is probably a foot or more longer than his. In the future, one matchups alone or inability to cover a wide swath of zone well, this could keep him off the court. Already late in close games, Mullin is subbing him out on defense. Also cannot jog slowly upcourt when the other team is breaking 3 on 2 or 3-1 - too many things can happen, and if the opposition gets second looks Mussini is often somewhere at midcourt at that point. A PG should be busting it upcourt and be the first defender, and not trail the break. I'd give him a C- because he is a frosh.

Overall, I'd give Mussini a B- to B as a freshman PG playing out of position. Point guard is perhaps the most difficult position to play on the floor, requiring the most skill, and the most difficult by far for a freshman. He's really learning fast, and isn't a big liability that he could have been. I think this year will accelerate his development as a player, and in the future at SJU or elsewhere, may see spot duty at PG because of this.

Excellent analysis. Well thought out and articulate. You should be on TV as an analyst!
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)

Don Peppe's is a very good place. I know one of the owners. My Father In-Law owned an Italian restaurant in Manhattan for many years and he is good friends with the owners of Don Peppe. The Veal Don Peppe and the Linguini with white clam sauce are excellent!
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)

Not that it matters but I get the sheepish feeling that I'm getting schooled on eating at an Italian joint by an Irish guy. Which is okay, unless your name is McCloskey.

Ha, right, Rockaway = Irish! ...and that's fairly accurate on the west end, I happen to be part of the 2% Italian pop that lives on the Irish Riviera. and I got Italy covered north to south, Genoa on one side, Calabrese on the other...let me know when you're ready for lesson 2, Capisce? ;)

Great. I'll have to go there with you. I played in all those Catholic Schools in Rockaway - De Sales, St. Thomas More, St. Camillus, and in the summer league at Breezy. First time I went down there, summer league vets warned me "Don't get into a fight down there (Breezy). Everyone is related and you will end up fighting 10 guys." Still, love the Rockaways, and some really great SJU fans there, including half my section that includes a bunch of DeSales parents and their really good kids, and Terrence Mullin of course.

Spent a lot of my teen and early 20s at Rockaway Beach. Seems that every section in Queens had a street that everyone went to. Ours was beach 108. It was near the legendary courts that Cousy, the McGuires, Alcindor, and a bunch of schoolyard legends traveled to to make their summer bones. By my time, those days had long ended and grass shot up between the cracks in the asphalt. Also remember Dingy Dan's that had some crazy mixed drink prices in summer one night a week and got mobbed.
 
Mullin on Mussini: “Ideally, I would love to manage his minutes but on the flip side of that, this is great experience for him.” #sjubb

Mullin on Mussini: “He’s been great from day one. He’s a great worker, tremendous teammate, high basketball IQ.” #sjubb
@RumbleSBN tweets

Mullin on Mussini continued: “He’s had some really good games & some tough games. But no matter what goes on he comes to work hard.” #sjubb
 
Mullin on Mussini: “Ideally, I would love to manage his minutes but on the flip side of that, this is great experience for him.” #sjubb

Mullin on Mussini: “He’s been great from day one. He’s a great worker, tremendous teammate, high basketball IQ.” #sjubb
@RumbleSBN tweets

Mullin on Mussini continued: “He’s had some really good games & some tough games. But no matter what goes on he comes to work hard.” #sjubb

Up until the final whistle he was throwing his body all over the court and defending tough. He does basket hang sometimes when the game is out of reach and the other team takes off on a break.
 
What are the responsibilities of a good PG?
Lot of talk that we do not have one, but what should we expect from our PG?
 
Now that we are well into the season, I think it's a good time to assess how well Mussini has done playing the point.

I've been critical of Mussini, but not negative about him. The criticisms were mostly do with him not becoming an offensive juggernaut, mostly do to physical limitations (height and quickness) that prevent him from shooting over taller guards and beating them off the dribble. He is a bonafide very good outside shooter, and in a system that moves that ball better and solid inside threats that cause guards to collapse, he will be the beneficiary of more wide open looks. But this post is about PG play.

Ball handling - has improved immensely in my opinion. Playing Big time, Big East basketball, he hasn't looked overwhelmed bringing the ball up against pressure, keeps his head up at all times, and IMO has become a credible point guard. Comparing his ballhandling skills to Dwight Hardy, who was also asked to play PG, and who had a very shaky left hand dribble, Mussini has done much better. Considering that he came here to be a a shooting guard, I'd give him a B+ so far in this category. He doesn't lose the ball off the dribble very much, hasn't traveled much, and as a result hasn't committed many turnovers off the dribble.

Floor General - Also has improved considerably since Game 1. He runs the show, directs the flow, and as a freshman, has also done a good job here. I'd give him a solid B in this department.

Passing - This is an area I think Mussini needs improvement. Sometimes he telegraphs passes in the halfcourt offense, sometimes he floats them, and sometimes he suffers from tunnelvision - all leading to turnovers. All of this is correctable. But he's nowhere close to a playmaker yet. Still this is a big area of improvement needed, and I'd give him a C here.

Defense - Freshman or not, as a smaller guard not fleet of foot, this will be an area where he will have to work extremely hard to improve modestly. There are just a lot of guys his size and bigger who are lightning quick, and some guards whose stride alone is probably a foot or more longer than his. In the future, one matchups alone or inability to cover a wide swath of zone well, this could keep him off the court. Already late in close games, Mullin is subbing him out on defense. Also cannot jog slowly upcourt when the other team is breaking 3 on 2 or 3-1 - too many things can happen, and if the opposition gets second looks Mussini is often somewhere at midcourt at that point. A PG should be busting it upcourt and be the first defender, and not trail the break. I'd give him a C- because he is a frosh.

Overall, I'd give Mussini a B- to B as a freshman PG playing out of position. Point guard is perhaps the most difficult position to play on the floor, requiring the most skill, and the most difficult by far for a freshman. He's really learning fast, and isn't a big liability that he could have been. I think this year will accelerate his development as a player, and in the future at SJU or elsewhere, may see spot duty at PG because of this.

Excellent analysis. Well thought out and articulate. You should be on TV as an analyst!

Yes!
Just don't sit on the scorer's table!
:)
 
That's a great breakdown/analysis.

I feel that Mussini and Yakwe are making the most of learning on the hot seat by playing roles that are not exactly their strong suits, and we'll likely see it pay off next year.

I flat out like Mussini on the court, and I wish he didn't have to play a position he's not really cut out for, but that's where this team is at this year. He's intense, focused, crafty at times, and has a very sweet stroke. He also makes a lot of freshman mistakes... but I see less mistakes, more confidence and better decision making with each game.

My 7 year old son is arguably his biggest fan, and wants to take him out to eat at Don Peppe in South Ozone!

Are you from S.O.P.? I grew up close to there and its been there forever, but never been there. Gotten spooked by the many drawn curtain, closed for general business nights.

Not too far fro SOP...Rockaway. Don Peppe is worth at least one visit for the "experience" and yes, it has a history of feeding some infamous folks in the past! To me, it's the quintessential old school NY/Italian dining destination. Pricy, but awfully good. Walk in with confidence, do what your told, and always pay with cash ;)

Not that it matters but I get the sheepish feeling that I'm getting schooled on eating at an Italian joint by an Irish guy. Which is okay, unless your name is McCloskey.

Ha, right, Rockaway = Irish! ...and that's fairly accurate on the west end, I happen to be part of the 2% Italian pop that lives on the Irish Riviera. and I got Italy covered north to south, Genoa on one side, Calabrese on the other...let me know when you're ready for lesson 2, Capisce? ;)

Great. I'll have to go there with you. I played in all those Catholic Schools in Rockaway - De Sales, St. Thomas More, St. Camillus, and in the summer league at Breezy. First time I went down there, summer league vets warned me "Don't get into a fight down there (Breezy). Everyone is related and you will end up fighting 10 guys." Still, love the Rockaways, and some really great SJU fans there, including half my section that includes a bunch of DeSales parents and their really good kids, and Terrence Mullin of course.

Spent a lot of my teen and early 20s at Rockaway Beach. Seems that every section in Queens had a street that everyone went to. Ours was beach 108. It was near the legendary courts that Cousy, the McGuires, Alcindor, and a bunch of schoolyard legends traveled to to make their summer bones. By my time, those days had long ended and grass shot up between the cracks in the asphalt. Also remember Dingy Dan's that had some crazy mixed drink prices in summer one night a week and got mobbed.

Bring back good memories. I was there often on the simmer weekends with my friends who were 1st team all city players great games
 
What are the responsibilities of a good PG?
Lot of talk that we do not have one, but what should we expect from our PG?

Good is relative. An average D1 point guard in my opinion would average over 4 assists per 30 minutes and have an assist to turnover ratio above 1.5 to 1 while shooting over 40 percent from the field.
 
What are the responsibilities of a good PG?
Lot of talk that we do not have one, but what should we expect from our PG?

Good is relative. An average D1 point guard in my opinion would average over 4 assists per 30 minutes and have an assist to turnover ratio above 1.5 to 1 while shooting over 40 percent from the field.

Maybe those are good statistical measures but I see a good PG as a guy who doesn't make many mistakes, who can break down a defense by deft passing or penetration, and who intuitively can break a half court defense down by seeing all the 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 opportunities that exist within a half court offense. He's a guy who knows when to penetrate, when to penetrate and dish, how to whip the ball from strong side to weak side to find the open guy. He's the guy who knows he should be the first guy back on defense, when to push the ball on the break. He keeps his head up and can throw a perfect lead pass when a wing is streaking up the court. He makes everyone move because they know if they get open, he will get them the ball. Oh yea, and he can nail an outside shot when open and take it strong to the hoop when he sees a crack in the defense, but that's all secondary to making his teammates look better and score more. He's also a guy who handles the ball so well, the opposition doesn't even try to press after awhile because the guy is unflappable and protects the ball like Fort Knox.

For the record, Mussini has grown leaps and bounds by his season's experience at the point. IMO it will pay big dividends going forward.
 
This season has to be tough on Mussini. He is playing out of position, he is playing an enormous amount of minutes, and there has been little success win loss wise.

My hope is that Mussini keeps his head up and develops the same way Phil Greene did.
 
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