Nebraska recap:http://www.bigeastboards.com/
Nebraska, Thu. Nov. 16, 6:30p, FS1, 570 AM
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
Mullin and staff seem committed to making other teams matchup with SJU as opposed to worrying about SJU matching up with the opposition. Agree with that strategy. Teams are going small voluntarily, we are doing so with less of a choice, but it doesn't make much of a difference. Play to your strengths and speed, pace, and skill are clearly ours.
Team is much more collectively engaged so far on defense this year. This seems to be a big swing factor for this team. When they are energized defensively they seem to rebound better and then both of those things lead to easy offense (not that they need a lot of help there). Given the home/road disparity last year, interested to see if they display this kind of defensive intensity next Thursday, 2pm on Thanksgiving, neutral site, a potentially more sleepy atmosphere. Road/neutral likely can't be as much of a giveaway as it was last year for this team to go where it wants to.
13 points, 12 boards, 4 steals, 3 blocks is not the kind of line you see from a guard often. SJU certainly hasn't had that kind of guard in a while. But this seems to be what Simon brings and as others have noted difficult to draw up much better of a compliment for Ponds/Lovett.
Much better player and ball movement in the half-court so far this year. More consistent purpose it seems. Fun team to watch.
Team is much more collectively engaged so far on defense this year. This seems to be a big swing factor for this team. When they are energized defensively they seem to rebound better and then both of those things lead to easy offense (not that they need a lot of help there). Given the home/road disparity last year, interested to see if they display this kind of defensive intensity next Thursday, 2pm on Thanksgiving, neutral site, a potentially more sleepy atmosphere. Road/neutral likely can't be as much of a giveaway as it was last year for this team to go where it wants to.
13 points, 12 boards, 4 steals, 3 blocks is not the kind of line you see from a guard often. SJU certainly hasn't had that kind of guard in a while. But this seems to be what Simon brings and as others have noted difficult to draw up much better of a compliment for Ponds/Lovett.
Much better player and ball movement in the half-court so far this year. More consistent purpose it seems. Fun team to watch.
Kudos to the staff for raising SJU from the absolute depths to relevance in three years with bigger things to come.
I assume we beat Molloy (ok shouldn't dismiss anyone but really?), and then we have more chances to prove we are a better team against even stronger competition. I hope we get to the Missouri game. It will test us against an alleged top player. If our guys bring the energy we can give the other team or any team something to worry about. Exactly the type of game we should be building for.
Lets keep tempered optimism WE are doing better than last yr but have glaring weaknesses that undoubtedly will be exploited by more talented teams Did not think we shot the 3 as good against Nebraska If we did we could have won by 30 I am satisfied thus far when we play a div1 team will tell If by chance we lose but play tough with 5-6 pt and not get blown out we will have something to really be said about our progress Hope we surprise this yr and make the NCAAs Tourney Good luck to players and staff for the work and progress they have made
Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star - Interesting comments from Nebraska coach.
http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_d32a1777-2dab-565d-911e-97e79833d393.html
http://journalstar.com/sports/huske...cle_d32a1777-2dab-565d-911e-97e79833d393.html
Enright
thanks for your "positiveness"
but actually it has been less than 3 years!
(2 years 7 months)
CM was hired April 2015
I think we have reason to be pleased with the progress and direction of SJU BBall.
thanks for your "positiveness"
but actually it has been less than 3 years!
(2 years 7 months)
CM was hired April 2015
I think we have reason to be pleased with the progress and direction of SJU BBall.
beast of the east
Active member
Considering that every one of Lavin's teams, even the two NCAA teams, got out of the gates slowly, and every Norm team was a disappointment, and the last Jarvis team feel apart right away, there is allowable giddiness after three games vs. subpar competition.
I went to the pregame (excellent barbecue) and to me at least, when St. Jean spoke, he clearly indicated that Mullin was in charge, even to the extent of pregame workouts that coaches participate in. He referred to several things "Coach Mullin says" about competing, playing defense, etc. He even complimented my question about what makes our guards such good rebounders on the defensive glass - reason enough for me to like him.
By observation, I am beginning to think that Mullin's progression towards becoming a very good coach is nearing completion. He is now fully at the helm, and instead of St. Jean continually coaching from the sidelines or in huddles, St. Jean is constantly in Mullin's ear on the sidelines, consulting, advising, and opining. Clearly the decisions are Mullin's to make and to me at least, that's the role of his top assistant.
So much to be really pleased with. Ponds and Lovett have both improved and are playing with surgical precision even as their play is heavily infused with schoolyard dazzle. Justin Simon appears to be the point this teams needs, especially since at 6'5 he can rebound (2nd double double in a row). Trow in Clark, Ahmed, and maybe even Trimble, and this team has a lot of weapons.
Owens is a legitimate presence in the middle, and what he doesn't block he alters.
To St. Jean's point about Yakwe, the coaching staff is very pleased with how he boxes out and plays straight up defense, but wants him to relax and "play without thinking" (St. Jean's phrase) the way he did as a freshman. So let's refrain from trashing Yakwe, the coaching staff is clearly satisfied for now with what he has provided.
I was going to ask St. Jean what he felt an acceptable rebounding deficit would be in order to win, but thought better of it as a dumb question. Considering our wide rebounding margin at game's end, I'm glad I didn't ask that.
The team defense was perhaps the best I've seen from a St. John's team in a very long time. Okay, Nebraska couldn't hit the broad side of a corn silo, but SJU teams have historically had a funny way of making bricklayers into Reggie Millers.
Great win, lots to be excited about, even if there are plenty of reasons to sit and wait for stronger competition.
I went to the pregame (excellent barbecue) and to me at least, when St. Jean spoke, he clearly indicated that Mullin was in charge, even to the extent of pregame workouts that coaches participate in. He referred to several things "Coach Mullin says" about competing, playing defense, etc. He even complimented my question about what makes our guards such good rebounders on the defensive glass - reason enough for me to like him.
By observation, I am beginning to think that Mullin's progression towards becoming a very good coach is nearing completion. He is now fully at the helm, and instead of St. Jean continually coaching from the sidelines or in huddles, St. Jean is constantly in Mullin's ear on the sidelines, consulting, advising, and opining. Clearly the decisions are Mullin's to make and to me at least, that's the role of his top assistant.
So much to be really pleased with. Ponds and Lovett have both improved and are playing with surgical precision even as their play is heavily infused with schoolyard dazzle. Justin Simon appears to be the point this teams needs, especially since at 6'5 he can rebound (2nd double double in a row). Trow in Clark, Ahmed, and maybe even Trimble, and this team has a lot of weapons.
Owens is a legitimate presence in the middle, and what he doesn't block he alters.
To St. Jean's point about Yakwe, the coaching staff is very pleased with how he boxes out and plays straight up defense, but wants him to relax and "play without thinking" (St. Jean's phrase) the way he did as a freshman. So let's refrain from trashing Yakwe, the coaching staff is clearly satisfied for now with what he has provided.
I was going to ask St. Jean what he felt an acceptable rebounding deficit would be in order to win, but thought better of it as a dumb question. Considering our wide rebounding margin at game's end, I'm glad I didn't ask that.
The team defense was perhaps the best I've seen from a St. John's team in a very long time. Okay, Nebraska couldn't hit the broad side of a corn silo, but SJU teams have historically had a funny way of making bricklayers into Reggie Millers.
Great win, lots to be excited about, even if there are plenty of reasons to sit and wait for stronger competition.
montyaloofah
Active member
I thought Bashir played with much more maturity last night. One play in particular, shot clock winding down, he took a pass with a couple seconds left and he was just off the top of the key. He drove and drew a foul on the shot with 1 sec left on the shot clock. Last year, that's a pull up for sure. He looked much more under control than usual. That's notable against a larger team. Hope this is a sign of things to come from him.
beast of the east
Active member
My full question was "Our guards rebound very well. Is it just great anticipation, or is that opposing guards laying back to defend against the break, freeing our guys to crash?"
St. Jean said that opposing teams know we really push the ball up the cout, and their guards must get back to stop the break. He said Shamorie in particular has such great court sense, he can read where the ball is going and be in for rebounds. Then he said that's a really great question.
He also said that on this team it's everyone's job to rebound.