(NCAA-Game 1, Dayton) - Arizona St., Wed. Mar. 20, 9:10 pm, TruTV / 970 AM

[quote="Beast of the East" post=332240]Not that these aren't dumb comments but are we really dumping on our best player on the eve of our biggest game in 5 years?[/quote]

Yeah maybe I am, what's to say he wont quit if Az st goes up 7-10pnts half way through the 2nd half, or will he say "nah, I ain't going out like that", and just go off.

He can still change his legacy here.
 
As mind numbing at times as this season has been. I think we will be playing on sunday

5 players double figures.

SJU 70.
Zona St 64
 
[quote="oldschool Redmen" post=332246][quote="Beast of the East" post=332240]Not that these aren't dumb comments but are we really dumping on our best player on the eve of our biggest game in 5 years?[/quote]

Yeah maybe I am, what's to say he wont quit if Az st goes up 7-10pnts half way through the 2nd half, or will he say "nah, I ain't going out like that", and just go off.

He can still change his legacy here.[/quote]

I know you get emotional but don't you find it debilitating to root like that? I'm invested like you are but I just try to be positive heading into and during a big game.

The way I see it if he doesn't play well, or even tanks, this affects his future a lot more than yours or mine, and that's on him.

In the meantime I'm gonna be positive and hope that there's enough of us in Dayton. Based on the response here doesn't look like many of us are travelling to the game. There doesn't even appear to be the same fan enthusiasm as Lavins 2 ncaas that I went to.

Damnit for us, the ncaa's are a big deal. It isn't like we are Iona (who won yet another bid to the dance by salvaging a bad season)
 
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[quote="Beast of the East" post=332253][quote="oldschool Redmen" post=332246][quote="Beast of the East" post=332240]Not that these aren't dumb comments but are we really dumping on our best player on the eve of our biggest game in 5 years?[/quote]

Yeah maybe I am, what's to say he wont quit if Az st goes up 7-10pnts half way through the 2nd half, or will he say "nah, I ain't going out like that", and just go off.

He can still change his legacy here.[/quote]

I know you get emotional but don't you find it debilitating to root like that? I'm invested like you are but I just try to be positive heading into and during a big game.

The way I see it if he doesn't play well, or even tanks, this affects his future a lot more than yours or mine, and that's on him.

In the meantime I'm gonna be positive and hope that there's enough of us in Dayton. Based on the response here doesn't look like many of us are travelling to the game. There doesn't even appear to be the same fan enthusiasm as Lavins 2 ncaas that I went to.

Damnit for us, the ncaa's are a big deal. It isn't like we are Iona (who won yet another bid to the dance by salvaging a bad season)[/quote]

Yeah well ummmm lets look at how the season ended.
Losing 4 of 5, 5 of last 7. Last game was a 32pnt blow out in which Marquette went on a 23-2, so nah maybe everyone isn't jumping for joy. Ponds did admit that they went through the emotions, that sure happens alot this year huh.
But in sports, all you gotta do is get hot during this moment, especially in NYC, and it'll be "all eyes on you" young fellas, make it happen.
Just maybe most sju fans are waiting, and being cautious, and hoping that we show up next 2 games.
I'm expecting a win tonight, but not to confident for Frriday, we never win 2 straight.

Win Friday, and I guarantee NYC will rock for SJU.

Until then, I believe most SJU fans are taking the wait and see approach.

Edit:
For starters lets just get our first NCAA tourny win since 01.
 
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[quote="Beast of the East" post=332240]Not that these aren't dumb comments but are we really dumping on our best player on the eve of our biggest game in 5 years?[/quote]

IMO, Ponds has dumped on himself with too many lifeless, effortless minutes this year. Chemistry counts, and it is virtually impossible to build chemistry when your “best player” spends much of his time going through the motions while using game minutes trying to figure out which style of play will impress the pros. In hindsight, and it is hindsight, I feel he should have turned pro after last season. Yes, we probably would not have made the NCAAs, but watching the team underachieve has been tough. Not all on Ponds obviously but he has sure contributed big time. Ponds is an extremely gifted offensive player, no question, but several impressive outbursts over the course of a season do not make a player. And while his stats are good, he passes no eye test.
 
[quote="Logen" post=332265][quote="Beast of the East" post=332240]Not that these aren't dumb comments but are we really dumping on our best player on the eve of our biggest game in 5 years?[/quote]

IMO, Ponds has dumped on himself with too many lifeless, effortless minutes this year. Chemistry counts, and it is virtually impossible to build chemistry when your “best player” spends much of his time going through the motions while using game minutes trying to figure out which style of play will impress the pros. In hindsight, and it is hindsight, I feel he should have turned pro after last season. Yes, we probably would not have made the NCAAs, but watching the team underachieve has been tough. Not all on Ponds obviously but he has sure contributed big time. Ponds is an extremely gifted offensive player, no question, but several impressive outbursts over the course of a season do not make a player. And while his stats are good, he passes no eye test.[/quote]

I can hug you after that.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=332271]Zach's three keys to a Johnny victory:

https://nypost.com/2019/03/19/march-madness-3-keys-to-a-st-johns-win-over-arizona-state/

I would add avoid serious foul trouble and turn AST over as they are prone to turnovers. But Shamorie coming up big is definitely needed - would certainly help his legacy to lead us to victory tonight (and Friday).[/quote]

I think it was the Temple Belmont game last night. 7 COMBINED fouls in the first half. 4 and 3 respectively. There were breaks where the team accepted the basket and moved on. Instead we far to often try to do something worldy that just tacks on a meaningless foul.
 
Being a fan of this team is so up and down. They often build you up then break you down then rinse, repeat. Not being negative just being honest. For some reason every BET or NIT or NCAA tournament, we just never seem prepared compared to the other team regardless of whether it's Lavin or Mullin. I don't know what it is, but we just never seem to rise to the occasion. We will flirt with national relevance, then get KO'd and go back in our hole. For that reason, I'm going to expect a loss and be pleasantly surprised with a win. We can definitely win, ASU isn't special. But the history of the past decade or so following this team doesn't inspire much hope. Either way I'll root like hell.

Regarding Ponds, he's a great all-time player but he never really had it between the ears. Sorry to be blunt. He doesn't have that killer instinct. Freshman Ponds was much more hungry and passionate. I never see Howard, Booth, Pacshall, and other stars in the conference acting disinterested at times. Here's to hoping he proves us wrong. Great kid but needs to have that dog mentality like Jamal Adams says on the Jets.
 
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Well said Mike, approaching a fan for nearly 40 years, I could name so many players that have that killer instinct
I just thought with NBA aspirations we would seen an incredible year from Ponds
He does tonight to show it lets see
Hoping for Friday !
 
[attachment=801]A85110B5-8C5E-4923-A1A5-CC2D9F7E2D35.jpeg[/attachment]
 
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I think it's more of a cultural thing with the program unfortunately. Sorry to keep bringing up Jamal Adams, but he came from a winning program at LSU where he was used to everyone busting their behinds every game. He then came to the Jets and he immediately noticed a negative locker room culture where players were going through the motions. That's when he said "we need some dawgs". D'Angelo Harrison had his issues but he overcame them and became a fan favorite and the #3 leading scorer all time due to his hunger and passion. You could look in his eyes and see it. He'd roar after making big plays. Maybe as fans we are biased in favor of guys who show the passion vs. guys who are more timid. All I know is D'Lo was and still is in love with this program and would put his body on the line to see it succeed. He didn't assume he was a draft pick or that he needed to save himself for the next level. He left it all on the court and I'm just not sure Ponds does. This is the NCAA tourney...if you can't get interested now the NBA scouts are going to have some huge questions.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=332274]

Regarding Ponds, he's a great all-time player but he never really had it between the ears.[/quote]

Ponds has one of the highest basketball IQs I’ve ever witnessed. His vision and awareness are off the charts.
 
D'Lo one of my favorite all time.

Will always remember years ago, I brought my daughter and nephew to one of the Women's game. D'Lo was there. The kids asked him for his autograph , he sat and talked to them . Still have that picture.!
 
Arizona St. is a good team. Compared to us, they are much more complete. They can score inside and out, they can defend, and they can rebound. It's one thing to say we just have to turn them over a lot and make shots, but it's quite another thing to actually do it. They obviously will have prepared their scouting report on us and will try to take care of the basketball. I think there is a lot of wishful underestimating of them around here. And as a fan, I totally get that. It's fun to be optimistic before a big game. But I think some of the downplaying of the Sun Devils stems from the underperformance of the Pac-12 relative to pre-season expectations. But in reality, it's not the case that all Pac-12 teams are magically and simultaneously weak this season just because the conference is statistically down. They beat a lot of solid teams in and out of conference that we would have struggled against. I think we are very fortunate we don't play in the Pac-12. I really don't think we would have gotten a bid this year coming out of that conference.

We finished the season poorly. In fact, outside a few good halves here and there, we played relatively poorly for the final 10-12 games or so. Overall I think we are a mediocre team. Arizona St. on the other hand finished the season strong. They got better as the season progressed. Most objective indicators point to a loss. But the beauty of the Dance is that stats and indicators don't determine the outcome. Truly anything can happen. If we rightly consider ourselves underdogs, we can enjoy whatever the team gives us. And despite the well known team weaknesses, we have several players will unique skillsets who can change a game on any given night.
 
BTW Shout out to my buddy Beast of the East who went out there to Dayton for the game from Long Island as well as any of you other guys who are making the trip. I'm sure you will carry the redmen.com cheering for us tonight
 
[quote="Marillac" post=332283][quote="Mike Zaun" post=332274]

Regarding Ponds, he's a great all-time player but he never really had it between the ears.[/quote]

Ponds has one of the highest basketball IQs I’ve ever witnessed. His vision and awareness are off the charts.[/quote]

Why does he take such stupid 3 point shots? I think he's an average floor general. Scoring guard at heart. Lacks true leadership skills IMO.
 
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