N.Y. Daily News / Support For Lavin

If Lavin goes then what is the talent pool of coaches on the market? I am not that well versed like other posters seem to be here but I really don't think we can get better than Lavin at this point in time, am I wrong? I think Lavin is good but not great and that he is learning on the job and does bring visibility to the school. It is also a mystery to me what role Gene Keady (sp) really plays in all of this, he is always taking notes and is a legend among coaches but none of it seems to rub off on Lavin.
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IMO my first look would be to hop Florida tanks out the season like they are currently doing, hopefully Donovan wants out and comes home and wants to coach at SJU.

If that doesn't happen,which it most likely won't, the hurleys seem like good options, and there's also a few others out there I wouldn't mind either but they don't come to mind right now
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Do you think this administration is willing to spend the $$$ necessary on the program? II am sure there is relationship between dollars spent and success of bball program at any school, I do not know where we stand in this. Also I doubt that we have the equivalent money boosters/donors that other schools have, most alumni are not that passionate like us about SJU ball.
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I think we offer enough to attract pretty much anybody. Other things we have going for us are being in a great location, play at MSG a lot, have good local talent that a hard working recruiter wouldn't have to go far to see, and also our facilities seem good. We also have a good conference top to bottom that I personally think would attract Donovan being in the crappy sec.

What we don't have is a roster that a good coach could step in and make competitive. It would be a project, and some coaches may not want that some may be up to it. Plus one thing about trying to get Shaka, Donovan, etc, is that they may have found their home or their niche where they are. But who knows. I agree there's nothing wrong with making a call and trying. Shaka and billy are both the first on my list. Shaka is highly improbable and billy I feel slightly better about, other than that getting an established coach might not happen we gotta get a newer guy. Tom Crean might be saving his job at Indiana, although the problems there go beyond W/L, so if he gets canned I'd look his way as well
 
[quote="Roamer" post=148916
What we don't have is a roster that a good coach could step in and make competitive. It would be a project, and some coaches may not want that some may be up to it.
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I don't think a top head coach worries about that. He knows he'll have SJU back by his 3rd year. Norm had 6yrs, and this is Lavins 5th. So he knows that time is on his side.
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I am surprised about another thing. You guys know that bringing in a top recruit involves $$$$$$
and i am not talking about Abe Keita allowance.
 
the factors that could determine SL's future at SJU

http://nypost.com/2015/02/06/the-factors-that-could-determine-steve-lavins-future-at-st-johns/
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As per Coach Lavin,-Like most coaches, you focus on things you have control over and the rest takes care of itself.”-But it don't.- If you want to bring in the kind of players SJU should have, you must work to make it happen. Look at the shape this team is in after a couple of years of neglect. I gatta feel admin keeping a look at how next year shapes up. Coach a well rounded guy who cruises. He does what he can control and waits for good things to happen. I'll read his book. This program needs a guy who eats and breaths hoops and is thrilled to be a D1 coach working at SJU. Lavin says the fans are fair, but will they fill the Garden to see bad hoops and 3-6? Coach says he loves it here. This league is full of coaches who live and die every game, and they look it.
 
This is just a theory, but I think the people who want Lavin back feel that way out of fear. They are scared that the next coach could be worse and plunge us back into the dark days of Norm. Don't be scared there is only one Norm!
 
Very simple. In the past 23 years SJU made the tourney 6 times. Once in last 12 years credited to Lav. I want us to be winners but i am also a realist. The forum is expecting god knows what overnight. Once again, i am not thrilled so don't get me wrong. I just don't think we will get better than Lavin.
I do think he will bring a solid class for next year. I don't buy it that we won't have any more commitments. Lavin proved that he can bring in the names. Now it's time to put them together as a team. You guys need to throw some blame at the players. We were all jumping in joy when (Jordan-Obekpa-Greene) committed. Now everyone is complaining that Lavin brought in misfits and thugs. Is it all on Lavin? He's no psychic to estimate how foolish some of these players will act.
Besides Harrison and Pointer(this year) rest of the guys are busts. (the remaining guys)
I would give Lavin a 2-3 year extension with provisions about NCAA. Four years total-he has to bring us back to the dance at least twice
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Mr. G, you write coach had know way of knowing this group was going to be a bust. What was stopping him from recruiting over these washouts?He had a better look at them then anyone else. Good coaches do it all the time. Thats how we got Branch. Lavs answer was Hooper who couldn't get on the court at Harvard, and the French kid. Good guys but not close to being the answer. Recruiting players the last 2 years was a must. Got nothing. And next year? He can say he loves it here. He should be showing it.
 
Make a list of the top mid major school. Yes that includes: N Iowa coach, wishita st. coach, Shaka Smart, Donovan (if he wants out at uf.). Don't give me on they aren't coming, I don't want to hear it.
One of them just might surprise, then maybe we'll be in good shape. Will it hurt to just pick up the phone and make that call.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/99081/what-would-it-take-gregg-marshall
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"In their interview this week, Dana went ahead and asked Marshall the very question this series poses. What would it take for him to leave?

"I don’t know," Marshall told ESPN.com this week. "But I’m very happy here. It would take something really big."

Possibilities: Something really big."

Like I said, how bad do you want to be on top.

Do you think of how it used to be a long 30 years ago with mullin and berry there, do you think of how it was in the late 90s when we were back for couple years. Remember hearing the "WE ARE ST. JOHN'S" chants in the Maryland and Indiana NCAA games, and how proud you felt.
Do you think of those moments and tear because you miss those moments and want them moments again in the worst f'ing way that you're willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Well that's me and I say do whatever it takes.

I believe Marshall would make SJU a hit within 3 years, and all the SJU fans that gave up years ago would be back, and msg would have to open the 200s because every game would be sellouts with 80%-85% SJU fans, and we'd hear the WE ARE ST. JOHN'S chants again.

I love SJU to much to believe that we're just now another mid major that could never be on top again. It just takes that one coach, and we'd be backin a huge way.
 
When was the last time we won an NCAA tourney game? I don't know the answer to that question. . We may get press because we are in NYC and the BE. But no wins in 10 years w 1 appearance is an irrelevant program in most peoples minds.
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we beat Northern Arizona in 2000
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Barring a miraculous finish to the season , that would be 1 win in the last 15 years. Pretty sad for a once prominent program. Re Lavin 1 tourney appearance and a loss in the first round w Norms players and Dunlap on the bench does not cut it IMO.
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In general lets not keep going over what we once were,we were good but not great except for 85 and teams from the 40s 50s and a few from the 60s This is what we have now ,would I like things better ,yes but where' the programs has been it takes yrs to get us back. I will stick with Lavin If he doe not produce by contract end replacement is a consideration All of our Seniors are graduating on time and that says a lot about the coach and the program
 
Who the right man is for the job is not necessarily a clear cut thing. My wife loves me and we have a great marriage but it is unique to our situation and I am surely not the right man for anybody else.

Many other factors like timing, overall program wellness and a proper structure for support are just as significant as selecting the right man for the job.

Back in 1977 the Mets believed they found the right man with a young and talented Manager. Five years later after a brutal 420 losses and just 286 victories the dismal Joe Torre era ended in Flushing.

However fifteen years later the Yankees hired that same Joe Torre to much criticism and ridicule. Despite negative public opinion it produced a legendary run of success that might not be matched for many years to come.

The difference between the success of the two Joe Torre hires were the relative conditions of the franchises at the time of the hire. Additionally it was the experience and ability of Torre himself who had grown from his earlier time in New York
 
When was the last time we won an NCAA tourney game? I don't know the answer to that question. . We may get press because we are in NYC and the BE. But no wins in 10 years w 1 appearance is an irrelevant program in most peoples minds.
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we beat Northern Arizona in 2000
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Barring a miraculous finish to the season , that would be 1 win in the last 15 years. Pretty sad for a once prominent program. Re Lavin 1 tourney appearance and a loss in the first round w Norms players and Dunlap on the bench does not cut it IMO.
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In general lets not keep going over what we once were,we were good but not great except for 85 and teams from the 40s 50s and a few from the 60s This is what we have now ,would I like things better ,yes but where' the programs has been it takes yrs to get us back. I will stick with Lavin If he doe not produce by contract end replacement is a consideration All of our Seniors are graduating on time and that says a lot about the coach and the program
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we have had one NCAA Tournament game in the last 14 seasons - we are more a laughingstock than we have ever been, and with the deck stacked against us for the rest of the season plus, from what it looks like a complete rebuild starting next year, so we are basically back at the bottom of the league (AGAIN) next year so at this rate we will never be "GOOD" ever again, so to let him ride out his contract as LDL (Lame Duck Lavin) its utterly pointless.

The graduating seniors is a nice story but if thats what i cared about I would be rooting for Penn or Dartmouth. These kids came here to play basketball first and foremost and be students second. We all know thats how it is in major college athletics.

And its important to remember what we once were because that is what whoever the coach is will sell to the recruits - that we were once the class of the Big East and these kids will bring us back there.

I think you pretending like there isnt a pink elephant in the room and the program is in fantastic shape not a care in the world represents everything thats been wrong w/ SJU for the last 15 years.
 
I guess you don't understand the phrase, Something really big. Even if STJ isn't a mid major, which at this point I agree with you on, it's certainly not something really big. Heck half the posters on the board think it's irrelevant. I think most would love to have Marshall but he's not coming.

PS this was meant to respond to oldschoolredmen's reposting of some of the ESPN article on what it would take to get Marshall.
 
[ we are more a laughingstock than we have ever been, .
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The rest of your post is pretty good but his quote is so far from the truth I can't believe even you said it. You were there for pregame when this team reached the apex of laughingstock. Nothing will ever come close though some of those Norm teams really tried.
 
I guess you don't understand the phrase, Something really big. Even if STJ isn't a mid major, which at this point I agree with you on, it's certainly not something really big. Heck half the posters on the board think it's irrelevant. I think most would love to have Marshall but he's not coming.

PS this was meant to respond to oldschoolredmen's reposting of some of the ESPN article on what it would take to get Marshall.
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So then I guess SJU will never be like how it was? Our last really good run was 17-18yrs ago. Since then we been to 2 ncaa tournaments and both were first round knockouts.
So I guess this is what we are then huh?
 
Also, can anyone answer me this - a bunch of people on twitter have said Lavin has "made SJU relevant" again....how are we relevant? That is an utterly outrageous statement to me, considering what we have seen from him.....i would love to understand the rationale
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It's all relative, Hit. First 20 wine team since Hatten, first ranked teams since 00/01 (and that team ended up 14-15 as I'm sure you recall), first tourney appearance since 01/02. Increasing win totals every year since he started with his own players (and yes I still believe that is likely to be true after this season). To hoops junkies that would all be relevant, to the layman fan probably not so much. Other thing is, and yes I live in LA so take this with a grain of salt, Lavin is the biggest name recognition coach STJ has had nationally since Louie per those I run into, not just in LA but in my frequent travels, like it or not.
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The most "relevant" NIT team in the history of basketball. Should be the SJU marketing slogan for next year
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Or......"Home of the Nation's Best Walk-Ons"
 
I guess you don't understand the phrase, Something really big. Even if STJ isn't a mid major, which at this point I agree with you on, it's certainly not something really big. Heck half the posters on the board think it's irrelevant. I think most would love to have Marshall but he's not coming.

PS this was meant to respond to oldschoolredmen's reposting of some of the ESPN article on what it would take to get Marshall.
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So then I guess SJU will never be like how it was? Our last really good run was 17-18yrs ago. Since then we been to 2 ncaa tournaments and both were first round knockouts.
So I guess this is what we are then huh?
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Think Gonzaga or Villanova as the ceiling would be my best guess. And there's really no shame in that but Marshall's not going to those schools either.. You think STJ can be Duke or Kentucky you dreaming and that's the kind of really big they're talking about with Marshall. St Johns hasn't been that kind of team since what, the 40's or early 50's, despite making it to one final four.
 
Also, can anyone answer me this - a bunch of people on twitter have said Lavin has "made SJU relevant" again....how are we relevant? That is an utterly outrageous statement to me, considering what we have seen from him.....i would love to understand the rationale
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It's all relative, Hit. First 20 wine team since Hatten, first ranked teams since 00/01 (and that team ended up 14-15 as I'm sure you recall), first tourney appearance since 01/02. Increasing win totals every year since he started with his own players (and yes I still believe that is likely to be true after this season). To hoops junkies that would all be relevant, to the layman fan probably not so much. Other thing is, and yes I live in LA so take this with a grain of salt, Lavin is the biggest name recognition coach STJ has had nationally since Louie per those I run into, not just in LA but in my frequent travels, like it or not.
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The most "relevant" NIT team in the history of basketball. Should be the SJU marketing slogan for next year
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Or......"Home of the Nation's Best Walk-Ons"
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Wow guys,those were both really clever.
 
I guess you don't understand the phrase, Something really big. Even if STJ isn't a mid major, which at this point I agree with you on, it's certainly not something really big. Heck half the posters on the board think it's irrelevant. I think most would love to have Marshall but he's not coming.

PS this was meant to respond to oldschoolredmen's reposting of some of the ESPN article on what it would take to get Marshall.
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So then I guess SJU will never be like how it was? Our last really good run was 17-18yrs ago. Since then we been to 2 ncaa tournaments and both were first round knockouts.
So I guess this is what we are then huh?
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Think Gonzaga or Villanova as the ceiling would be my best guess. And there's really no shame in that but Marshall's not going to those schools either.. You think STJ can be Duke or Kentucky you dreaming and that's the kind of really big they're talking about with Marshall. St Johns hasn't been that kind of team since what, the 40's or early 50's, despite making it to one final four.
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I'm just using this as an example, I know this would never happen.
I guess if Rick Pitino came to SJU that his recruiting would diminish and he'd forget how to coach. All because he's at ST. John's.
How was Duke before coach k went there and made them elite?

Sorry but I continur to believe that with the right coach can and would bring SJU to a whole new level, even bigger then the Louie 85 team.
Now will the right coach ever come? I guess we'll have to be patient and see, got no other choice.
 
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