Mustapha Heron
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[quote="bobo" post=354701]https://nypost.com/2019/07/22/how-mustapha-heron-is-making-st-johns-his-team/[/quote]
Great read, great insight into the change in culture that has already occurred. The difference in having a professional coach and a MAN at the helm. That is not to denigrate the coaches since Louie but obviously they all lacked something. I don’t think Anderson does. We shall see............
Great read, great insight into the change in culture that has already occurred. The difference in having a professional coach and a MAN at the helm. That is not to denigrate the coaches since Louie but obviously they all lacked something. I don’t think Anderson does. We shall see............
Really enjoyed the article and cannot believe how svelte Heron looks in video of him practicing with PanAM team. I expect we'll see him a lot quicker off the dribble this year, an area where he occasionally struggled last year. Clearly the leaders have bought into Coach Mike's program (on and off the court) and I expect we will really enjoy watching these guys. No idea where we'll finish, but very confident this team won't underperform.
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=354705]Really enjoyed the article and cannot believe how svelte Heron looks in video of him practicing with PanAM team. I expect we'll see him a lot quicker off the dribble this year, an area where he occasionally struggled last year. Clearly the leaders have bought into Coach Mike's program (on and off the court) and I expect we will really enjoy watching these guys. No idea where we'll finish, but very confident this team won't underperform.[/quote]
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA!
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA!
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Moose
Well-known member
[quote="Paultzman" post=354718][quote="NCJohnnie" post=354705]Really enjoyed the article and cannot believe how svelte Heron looks in video of him practicing with PanAM team. I expect we'll see him a lot quicker off the dribble this year, an area where he occasionally struggled last year. Clearly the leaders have bought into Coach Mike's program (on and off the court) and I expect we will really enjoy watching these guys. No idea where we'll finish, but very confident this team won't underperform.[/quote]
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA![/quote]
All kidding aside. Who wrote this?
Is it wrong to ask Windy to refrain from posting until this is figured out.
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA![/quote]
All kidding aside. Who wrote this?
Is it wrong to ask Windy to refrain from posting until this is figured out.
[quote="Moose" post=354720][quote="Paultzman" post=354718][quote="NCJohnnie" post=354705]Really enjoyed the article and cannot believe how svelte Heron looks in video of him practicing with PanAM team. I expect we'll see him a lot quicker off the dribble this year, an area where he occasionally struggled last year. Clearly the leaders have bought into Coach Mike's program (on and off the court) and I expect we will really enjoy watching these guys. No idea where we'll finish, but very confident this team won't underperform.[/quote]
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA![/quote]
All kidding aside. Who wrote this?
Is it wrong to ask Windy to refrain from posting until this is figured out.[/quote]
Your friend Bob wrote it. Anti wind virus program worked.
Good post.
I am taking conservative road and just hoping, with Figgy and Heron & team in great shape, we can at least be competitive. It will be tough early on with Steere sitting, but suspect we will see an exciting style of ball year one with some BE upsets along the way.
Do that and it will help on recruiting front and give the program a positive look for the future. Of course we need to land some solid, not elite kids, in next few cycles and I remain positive about that. We likely finish in lower echelon of a tough BE, but bet the team will compete hard and surprise occasionally.
Although I like the first glimpse of the culture CMA is building, I won’t get giddy year one. Factors like who will be third scorer, what new guys bring to table and impact of injuries to either Figgy or Heron, keep me grounded. Should be fun year, if not a win/loss column smash. Build that foundation CMA![/quote]
All kidding aside. Who wrote this?
Is it wrong to ask Windy to refrain from posting until this is figured out.[/quote]
Your friend Bob wrote it. Anti wind virus program worked.
JohnnyFever
Active member
Make your avatar into 4 pictures: Curbelo, Key, Diarra, and some 5 star big man and then post lots of smiley faces.
Windy City Johnny Fan
Member
[quote="Paultzman" post=354724]OK this has been fun, but i'm going to try and sign out now and turn myself back into Windy City. There can be only one Paultman. See you on the other side...[/quote]
I'm back! Any bowel movements from Curbelo yet today lol?
I'm back! Any bowel movements from Curbelo yet today lol?
beast of the east
Active member
This is a good read, and aside from the "oh what a wonderful world" inclination here, is important.
I'm not off the deep end yet about MA. He's got to recruit well here, and this is a new part of the country for him. He's assembled what appears to be a very good staff. It's clear he knows what he is doing. What I'm also impressed with is that wasn't expressed prior to him coming here is that he is a great communicator. This is essential in dealing with the media onslaught here, but also in managing a team. People in the athletic department already love him.
Forget about what Heron looks like below the neck, to me the most important thing for Heron is above the neck. It's clear to me that this will be HIS team, and that Anderson will be looking to him for leadership and to be the man on offense. I think last season he never felt comfortable with his role with Ponds running the show and lots of different people taking shots. He should have been our #2 option at worst, and it seems he wasn't certain that he was a big time player. This season he will be option one, and I think LJ will be the #2 option. LJ won't need to be the focal point or have the ball in his hands all the time to score. Heron will, and he will get it.
I loved his comment directed towards guys who left early that were listening to advisors that misrepresented reality. Good to see a college player who knows how tough it is to become an NBA player and is realistic about his chances.
I'm not off the deep end yet about MA. He's got to recruit well here, and this is a new part of the country for him. He's assembled what appears to be a very good staff. It's clear he knows what he is doing. What I'm also impressed with is that wasn't expressed prior to him coming here is that he is a great communicator. This is essential in dealing with the media onslaught here, but also in managing a team. People in the athletic department already love him.
Forget about what Heron looks like below the neck, to me the most important thing for Heron is above the neck. It's clear to me that this will be HIS team, and that Anderson will be looking to him for leadership and to be the man on offense. I think last season he never felt comfortable with his role with Ponds running the show and lots of different people taking shots. He should have been our #2 option at worst, and it seems he wasn't certain that he was a big time player. This season he will be option one, and I think LJ will be the #2 option. LJ won't need to be the focal point or have the ball in his hands all the time to score. Heron will, and he will get it.
I loved his comment directed towards guys who left early that were listening to advisors that misrepresented reality. Good to see a college player who knows how tough it is to become an NBA player and is realistic about his chances.
JohnnyFever
Active member
Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.
Moose
Well-known member
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.
beast of the east
Active member
[quote="Moose" post=354732][quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.
[quote="Beast of the East" post=354741][quote="Moose" post=354732][quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You say that but it's widely known that Gehrig never passed the ball to Ruth.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You say that but it's widely known that Gehrig never passed the ball to Ruth.
Moose
Well-known member
[quote="Beast of the East" post=354741][quote="Moose" post=354732][quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You are correct.
When the players don't get along (especially in the amateur sense) who is responsible for mending those fences.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You are correct.
When the players don't get along (especially in the amateur sense) who is responsible for mending those fences.
[quote="Beast of the East" post=354741][quote="Moose" post=354732][quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
Jackson and Berry didn't get along, but it didn't stop us from being Big East regular season (tied with Cuse) and tournament champions.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
Jackson and Berry didn't get along, but it didn't stop us from being Big East regular season (tied with Cuse) and tournament champions.
JohnnyFever
Active member
Beast, I agree with a decent amount of your post and yes there are exceptions but more times than not you'd have to think poor chemistry negatively affects a team overall. The Ponds/Heron drama was not me watching the games on TV and making an assumption. It comes from rumblings within the program itself just to be clear. I do agree Ponds looked like he was playing for the NBA and didn't seem totally invested at times. He gave us flashes here and there. I don't think I've ever seen a SJ team with good chemistry. They always seem to be disjointed and there are some nice individual performances but never seen a SJ team that was better together than they were individually. In fact, I'd argue our players recently have been better individually than they were as a team.
Back to Heron, I remember watching him in CA his first few games. He looked so cool, collected, and confident. Every time he had the ball I was very confident and that's saying something lol. He had textbook form and was scoring at will. Had a wet jumper and knew how to finish down low. But then somewhere along the way he lost it. I think Ponds had a decent amount to do with it but of course that's just me guessing. He never seemed to know his role on the team. Ponds was the guy here already. Now the team is his and LJ will be his Robin. LJ will run through a brick wall to succeed here. I still don't think we do well at all next year unfortunately, but if Sear & Steere are solid and McGriff is slightly above average we may surprise.
Back to Heron, I remember watching him in CA his first few games. He looked so cool, collected, and confident. Every time he had the ball I was very confident and that's saying something lol. He had textbook form and was scoring at will. Had a wet jumper and knew how to finish down low. But then somewhere along the way he lost it. I think Ponds had a decent amount to do with it but of course that's just me guessing. He never seemed to know his role on the team. Ponds was the guy here already. Now the team is his and LJ will be his Robin. LJ will run through a brick wall to succeed here. I still don't think we do well at all next year unfortunately, but if Sear & Steere are solid and McGriff is slightly above average we may surprise.
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[quote="austour" post=354742][quote="Beast of the East" post=354741][quote="Moose" post=354732][quote="Mike Zaun" post=354731]Ponds and Heron did not get along well. Ponds not being here may unleash Heron at his best. Let's hope.[/quote]
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You say that but it's widely known that Gehrig never passed the ball to Ruth.[/quote]
And Ruth wasn't happy that Gehrig took Pipp's starting sport as Pipp was a good friend of Ruth's.
Now here comes those who will refute what you said. (Though you are right)
Stevie Wonder could have seen there was something awry with the team chemistry.[/quote]
Not disputing the assertion that they didn't like each other, but guys don't have to like each other to play well together. Gehrig really did not like Ruth, and they were the greatest 3-4 combo in history. More recently on Villanova, Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher hated each other, but it didn't affect their on court play (they both were benched by Wright at the start of an NCAA game, quickly ending any thoughts to the contrary).
No question, though, the chemistry was bad on the team. Probably had a lot more to do with Ponds playing for the NBA and not for his team.[/quote]
You say that but it's widely known that Gehrig never passed the ball to Ruth.[/quote]
And Ruth wasn't happy that Gehrig took Pipp's starting sport as Pipp was a good friend of Ruth's.