None of us are happy but ...........

[quote="Beast of the East" post=329149][quote="Chicago Days" post=329148][quote="Beast of the East" post=329042]There is stuff that has been going on this season that will become news all too soon. I wish we could all control our emotions better and not make a disappointing season a reason to attack some really good kids and men who coach them. When the news comes out some of you will regret the nasty stuff you've been saying. At least those of you with brains.

In the end, our roster is just too thin and too short. In game strategy can only do so much when you basically have 2 small forwards as your big men, and three guards comprising your rotation. Basketball is unforgiving when it comes to height, and in the absence of height, the lack of depth has been a crusher for us.

When you have to double down, teams with skilled big men will kick it to open perimeter players. One on one, we got crushed by big men who seemed to score at will. In our losses, teams made their open looks when we doubled down. Hard to come up with a strategy to beat that.

There's really only one strategy that could have helped this team win over the past three and that is make your outside shots and make sure you get good looks. They failed in the former, and did okay in the latter. If this team doesn't make shots, they don't win. period.

In terms of roster, I'd take each of our starting 5 in a heartbeat. After that the falloff was radical. There wasn't a single game where our bigs, Keita and Roberts outplayed the opposition, and nearly all the time they were tremendously overmatched either by skilled Euro plodders, athletic and talented bigs, really anyone 6'8 or better. The height differential was too much for our top 5 to make up for considering the lack of depth. In college 2 fouls in the 1st half puts you on the bench, 3 in early 2nd half bendches you again, and 4 anytime above 7 minutes benches you. With just 5 capable players, it was too much to ask our smaller guys to play physical against larger opponents.

The staff greatly overrated what Keita would bring. The knee injury hurt for sure, but he hasn't shown much. Roberts get puched around too easily.

Heron and Ponds injuries hurt a ton.

I didn't go over the top after big wins, and i didn't lose it after we lost winnable games.


Still and all, 10 wins were attainable, and 9 looks like would have locked up a bid - certainly 10 would. Big disappointment, but I'd also remind you guys that just 3 weeks ago, the biggest and nastiest critics right now were singng that they loved this team and it was among their favorite. You can't have it both ways after a 3 game collapse.


Think of our collective mindset. We would have collecitvely been calling for Xavier's coach to be fired after their miserable start. We'd be moaning over Nova and MArquette's late season swoon, and if we were Providence fans, moaning how Cooley can't coach and the team sucks. Forget about being a DePaul fan, who makes our program seem like Duke.

Facts are facts though. We lost 2 to Providence, Xavier, and DePaul, and without inspection makes for an unsuccessful campaign. It's disappointing, and depressing.

I had said a few weeks ago that 9-9 in conference without a bid would make this season a disappointment. 8-10 certainly is a failed season. I'd like for us to have been healthy and see how it went, but injuries are part of the game.[/quote]

Awesome post, Beast. Well-said and the heartfelt angst of a true fan, with insight and perspective. Thank you.[/quote]

Believe it or not my family hasn't quit on this team and are going weds night. Would love to meet you. Thanks for your reply[/quote]

I haven't given up either.These guys ain't done! Just got my ticket for Wednesday night, in the 'famed' Section.
I'll be there for the 'duration', 1-game-at-a-time. Hope to meet you too, Beast.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=329139][quote="SJU11phd" post=329082][quote="Beast of the East" post=329015][quote="SJU11phd" post=328982][quote="mjmaherjr" post=328925]Overall the kids we have are good kids. They make mistakes on the court like other kids maybe some more and maybe some the same mistakes but the kids are good kids. We can be unhappy with where we are as a team conference record wise but the kids dont deserve thread titles with their names on them knocking them.

And no-one including staff deserves personal shots. We are all adults if we cant set an example and treat people the way we'd want to be treated then it says more about us than the kids[/quote]

Yeah these kids are great kids...... they averaged like 2 technical fouls a game. True role models. I had to explain to my son every game I brought him to not to act like these clowns. Although I can’t really blame them because their coach is the epitome of low class and clueless on top of that. Mr Cragg please bail us out of this nightmare.[/quote]

I can't help but be disappointed by your post. Just what has anyone on this staff done to be worthy of the term "low class"? Grow up in flatbush maybe? Father a customs agent? Aunts who are nuns? No PhD?

I've had season tickets since I was a student. My adult children have been to games with me since they were 5 or 6. Not once have I had to condemn a players on court actions by explaining it to them. At last count I had 13 techs on the team, which is less than 0.5 per game - way more than last season but you exaggerated. All player techs were two categories - double techs for 2 players shoving, and mouthing too much at a ref in frustration. Personally I'd be much more concerned with how a parent unduly describes the class and character of students and coaches based on wins or losses than how our guys actually conducted themselves[/quote]

Lol you're ok with averaging a technical foul every other game? That is absolutely ridiculous even if I did exaggerate. That's basically all on the coaching staff. 18-21 year old kids will be kids, but it's up to the adults on the coaching staff to control their players. Mullin was a failure in that aspect along with most other aspects of coaching. So yes I did have to tell my son it is not acceptable to act like that on the court, and to show the refs respect even if you don't agree with their calls.

I mostly just feel bad for the players like Shamorie who thought he was going to be a first round pick this year, and probably is going to end up overseas now after a disappointing season caused mostly by the lack of a competent coaching staff.[/quote]

Tell your son that if he should become a PhD not to broadcast it in a user name. No one cares except it makes a person appear to think he is superior. Tell your son that st John's has an entire school nm of pharmacy where every graduate comes out as a doctorate as does every lawyer, yet very few flaunt the title.

Tell your son that our coach is not "low class" at all but that the epitome of class is coming to work every day and being quiet about a very serious family situation where by low class men who are imbeciles will demean his character though he wont use it as an excuse.

Can I be clearer?[/quote]. Quality Post, Beast . Those who still have the knives out for Chris might feel differently in a few days or weeks . Perhaps some will repent and be shamed by their words but, they can’t recall what they did harshly and hurtfullty . Perhaps many on this roster of posters never saw Chris Mullin play , at St John’s or in the NBA or twice on the Dream Team . Too bad they didn’t see him play . And , how interesting too, that Chris has such a relationship with one of his Assisstsnt Coaches , Mitch Richmond , who was a teammate for years . Obviously , they have a special bond of brotherhood between them . How cruel for those who jumped on that as one more issue to show disrespect for Mullin . Forgetting that Mitch himself is a HOF player in his own right . And , to listen to some here , Mitch does nothing and he has received unwarranted abuse too ! Sad ! Our Team was undermanned in a League nearly as physically demanding as the NBA . Sure , we were short in some of the Critical areas and it was almost like Chris did nothing to address those short comings. Maybe the Players he put on the floor weren’t 100 percent healthy or , just didn’t click on all cylinders in every game . If all 5 of our Starters didn’t bring their A game , which they all possessed , we were often in trouble against bigger opponents . We did lack the 3 point sharpshooter who could shoot lights out . And , the 6’ 10 , 240 lb Bruiser that is so necessary in the BE . I think Chris knew his team was short in Personnel going into the season . And , since nearly half the BE finished 9-9 were we really that bad to finish 1 game off that standard ? Especially , for those who have forgotten , we universally were denied a victory against Seton Hall . Maybe the commentary today should be more directed at the awful Officiating today in College Basketball rather than at our Coach who took this job, not for the $$$ or the fame but, because he answered the call of his School and his former Coach . And , has tried to bring the Program back to a winning standard . We are 20-10 with more Quad 1 victories than losses and are still in the hunt for a NCAA bid . Stay tuned , loyal Sons of St John’s .
 
Good posts by all, but I really can't even fathom what this season might have been if LJ didnt fall into lap along with Heron, who even if we landed could have easily been ineligible.

The recruiting philosophy and approach remains the biggest pain point for me.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=329159]Good posts by all, but I really can't even fathom what this season might have been if LJ didnt fall into lap along with Heron, who even if we landed could have easily been ineligible.

The recruiting philosophy and approach remains the biggest pain point for me.[/quote]

It may become clearer to you soon enough, but having the responsibility of selling for my company for 25 years I can tell you hardly anything good just falls into your lap. When you see the kind of transfer talent nearly every school that we played landed, you know that everyone is aware of everyone who is out there.

We simply must recruit better and however we improve results within the rules I am all for - that we can all agree upon.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=329174][quote="RedStormNC" post=329159]Good posts by all, but I really can't even fathom what this season might have been if LJ didnt fall into lap along with Heron, who even if we landed could have easily been ineligible.

The recruiting philosophy and approach remains the biggest pain point for me.[/quote]

It may become clearer to you soon enough, but having the responsibility of selling for my company for 25 years I can tell you hardly anything good just falls into your lap. When you see the kind of transfer talent nearly every school that we played landed, you know that everyone is aware of everyone who is out there.

We simply must recruit better and however we improve results within the rules I am all for - that we can all agree upon.[/quote]

I think we would all like to know what you are referring to as far as coach is concerned Beast? Let’s go St. John’s!!
 
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