NY Post- Mullin Doubts Arise -SJU Hits Rock Bottom

[usguard]

Anyone who has followed this program over the past few decades knows this is not rock bottom.

We aren't good right now, but "rock bottom" is not even in the line of sight. (See: Pitt, Jarvii, Abe Keita, et al)

Thank you Firestorm
None of us like what's happening
The word is disappointing
But IMHO we need to give this a few more years
Before any conclusions/decisions are drawn...
A year plus starting from scratch...premature to determine how this will shake out
Have a nice holiday

Well said, Sherm.
This is the coach most of us wanted so we should be patient.

I think the majority of fans wanted one of the Hurley brothers.

That being said, I'll be the first to admit that I bought into St, John's PR rhetoric regarding CM after the fact.

I thought Dan Hurley was a target until I heard of backdoor maneuvering that resulted in the unexpected hiring of Chris Mullin. When he hired two respected recruiters we all hoped we would finally start getting better players but when his most experienced recruiter with any type of coaching experience was shown the door after one season we all realized there was serious trouble in the marriage.
The second recruiting cycle brings in two transfers and Brown. No prime targets signed. We managed to sign another project from the 2018 class but it remains to be seen if Mullin and Matt can deliver the bigger targets with player development becoming a major concern.
That said, I hope Mullin has an ephinany regarding the make up of the staff because even hiring a consultant with experience in game preparation may improve his learning curve. His hard headed pride may preclude that happening and we as fans have no options other than express our concerns here and hope some of our concerns are taken seriously.

This is a good point. Many coaches improve, and it's not always by hiring a new assistant.
They go to each other's camps, go sit-in on another team's practice, watch NBA teams practice... or simply talk to people. They can learn. You hear this all the time with football coaches, but basketball guys do it too.
You need to be a student of the game and pick things up along the way.

Look I do know what is happening but CM has seen enough practices at all levels of this game to have learned. I feel the recruiting at this point has been bad by that I mean we picked overrated players ,have not been able to develop improvement,drive or focus or instill toughness. I know we have some talented players but we have to find away to bring that talent to the surface.Starts with coaching again not running around every game like we are playing pick up games in the school yards Penn St showed set played that have been taught. We played not like a team. More than another coach we need a Defensive coach and a look at the staff who is not doing there job or perhaps in over their heads to be replaced and fast for the salaries we are paying are not to bad. I know if you were in the corp world heads would have rolled by now .We spend millions of $$$$and should expect a much better product

 

[sirvoo]

This year is a nightmare and definitely is cause for concern. In 2017-18 season we all expected to take a leap to the tournament and now it'll have to be a quantum leap based on how bad we've been in 16-17.

I'm very disappointed in the results right now and fear it'll have an impact on current roster transfers/the all-important 2018 recruiting class. Whatever the case may be next season is the true barometer with Simon and Clark bringing skill and experience to the rotation and hopefully Brown bringing a true big man's game to the program for the first time in a long long time.

 

[we are sju]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

 

[paultzman]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

Agree on 1-3, but on #4, as I realize you know, I want to see what player defections we suffer, if Brown qualifies and if we add some additional beef on the front line. Do agree on that Mullin prognosis if we remain dormant.

 

[we are sju]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

Agree on 1-3, but on #4, as I realize you know, I want to see what player defections we suffer, if Brown qualifies and if we add some additional beef on the front line. Do agree on that Mullin prognosis if we remain dormant.

If one of the guards leave we are screwed. Brown would be a nice surprise but I have learned my lesson and he doesn't exist to me until he he checks into a game.
If no one major leaves and you add Simon, Clark and a serviceable JUCO big that should be a tourney team, no?

 

[paultzman]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

Agree on 1-3, but on #4, as I realize you know, I want to see what player defections we suffer, if Brown qualifies and if we add some additional beef on the front line. Do agree on that Mullin prognosis if we remain dormant.

If one of the guards leave we are screwed. Brown would be a nice surprise but I have learned my lesson and he doesn't exist to me until he he checks into a game.
If no one major leaves and you add Simon, Clark and a serviceable JUCO big that should be a tourney team, no?

Maybe in that case they could contend for post season bid, but frankly I doubt it. Most BE quality teams will probably have more solid cores returning & better coaches in my opinion. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but my positive tank is empty.

 

[we are sju]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

Agree on 1-3, but on #4, as I realize you know, I want to see what player defections we suffer, if Brown qualifies and if we add some additional beef on the front line. Do agree on that Mullin prognosis if we remain dormant.

If one of the guards leave we are screwed. Brown would be a nice surprise but I have learned my lesson and he doesn't exist to me until he he checks into a game.
If no one major leaves and you add Simon, Clark and a serviceable JUCO big that should be a tourney team, no?

Maybe in that case they could contend for post season bid, but frankly I doubt it. Most BE quality teams will probably have more solid cores returning & better coaches in my opinion. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but my positive tank is empty.

The two guards are good. That is a nice start. Sima and Yakwe killed this year and the staff has to find some capable bigs to play off the guards. Clark is one I think.
The team is not as bad as it has looked. Which unfortunately falls on the coach. But I will put my chips in on Mullin figuring it out next year. Because if not........
How many times can you rebuild something that was never that great to begin with?

 

[SJU1512]

Couple things.
1. Mullin will not nor should he be fired after 2 years
2. I think Mullin did not do himself any favors last year when everyone was basically giving him a free pass. The not drawing up plays and sitting on tables might be minor but it did eat away a little of the good will he started with.
3. We should be better than we are this year and the team absolutely quit yesterday. That has to get better.
4. No matter what happens this year next year is huge. I think we will have enough talent to be in the running for a tourney bid. If that doesn't happen next year I think Mullin walks away.

Agree on 1-3, but on #4, as I realize you know, I want to see what player defections we suffer, if Brown qualifies and if we add some additional beef on the front line. Do agree on that Mullin prognosis if we remain dormant.

If one of the guards leave we are screwed. Brown would be a nice surprise but I have learned my lesson and he doesn't exist to me until he he checks into a game.
If no one major leaves and you add Simon, Clark and a serviceable JUCO big that should be a tourney team, no?

Maybe in that case they could contend for post season bid, but frankly I doubt it. Most BE quality teams will probably have more solid cores returning & better coaches in my opinion. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but my positive tank is empty.

Think Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, Clark, Brown, and another significant piece (most direct route 5th year senior) probably puts you in the mix if they are coached. But there are probably at least 3 ifs in there (4 if you add the coaching bit), and you lose any of them that's just more you need to add, challenging when the need is so immediate.

Not to overstate but there is probably going to be more riding on next season than there has on an SJU season in some time. Everything from on a really good path to multi-year success to start over again probably on the table.

 

[doodyny33]

In the running for a tourney bid next year? This team has lost to Delaware St. & LIU-Brooklyn. They were down by 27 at home to a young, inexperienced Penn State team. Unless Simon & Clark turn out to be studs and ZB is as good as advertised (if he even makes it here), this team will be a bottom feeder in 2017-'18.

 

[Knight]

Time for team to circle the wagons. Us vs. Them.
Need to retain quality players for next year.

 

[room112]

Article states we are in danger of having back to back single digit win totals for the first time since...wait for it... 2003 and 2004. I thought he was going to say since the early 1900's when they played like 12-15 games total. That would make it four times in the last 13 years. And some of us debate the programs relevancy. Does anyone realize just how far we have sunk because I didn't and you would never know it by reading some posts.

Yea, I'm not sure you could go any lower than where we were after the Pittsburgh scandal. For goodness sakes we were fielding a team of walk ons for half of the season! We barely had a full roster. Does anyone remember the names Joe McDonald, Devin Mayo, Nygel Roach? And of course Phil Missere who actually turned out "decent".

 

[we are sju]

Article states we are in danger of having back to back single digit win totals for the first time since...wait for it... 2003 and 2004. I thought he was going to say since the early 1900's when they played like 12-15 games total. That would make it four times in the last 13 years. And some of us debate the programs relevancy. Does anyone realize just how far we have sunk because I didn't and you would never know it by reading some posts.

Yea, I'm not sure you could go any lower than where we were after the Pittsburgh scandal. For goodness sakes we were fielding a team of walk ons for half of the season! We barely had a full roster. Does anyone remember the names Joe McDonald, Devin Mayo, Nygel Roach? And of course Phil Missere who actually turned out "decent".

Phil might start on this team

 

[paultzman]

Article states we are in danger of having back to back single digit win totals for the first time since...wait for it... 2003 and 2004. I thought he was going to say since the early 1900's when they played like 12-15 games total. That would make it four times in the last 13 years. And some of us debate the programs relevancy. Does anyone realize just how far we have sunk because I didn't and you would never know it by reading some posts.

Yea, I'm not sure you could go any lower than where we were after the Pittsburgh scandal. For goodness sakes we were fielding a team of walk ons for half of the season! We barely had a full roster. Does anyone remember the names Joe McDonald, Devin Mayo, Nygel Roach? And of course Phil Missere who actually turned out "decent".

Phil might start on this team

Or this "Phil"

[attachment]image-56.jpeg[/attachment]

 

[simplyred]

NM

this is what you wanted... you gotta link to the actual image, not the search URL (thanks. I tried that too)

 

[cappy105]

Article states we are in danger of having back to back single digit win totals for the first time since...wait for it... 2003 and 2004. I thought he was going to say since the early 1900's when they played like 12-15 games total. That would make it four times in the last 13 years. And some of us debate the programs relevancy. Does anyone realize just how far we have sunk because I didn't and you would never know it by reading some posts.

Yea, I'm not sure you could go any lower than where we were after the Pittsburgh scandal. For goodness sakes we were fielding a team of walk ons for half of the season! We barely had a full roster. Does anyone remember the names Joe McDonald, Devin Mayo, Nygel Roach? And of course Phil Missere who actually turned out "decent".

those guys and what was the other kid that played a ton because of heart.....sanford ? anyway all those kids played with tons of heart. Thats what most of the old johnnnies did, played with heart. I can name a few of the many that played that way....lamont middleton, billy singleton, matty brust, charles minlend, ty grant, lavor postal, and even jayson williams.....those guys weren't top recruits but they played a ton of mins because of their heart. Im leaving out a ton of great players but those are the guys that came to my mind first. this team...i love the talent on this team but owens looks like the only consistant fire on the court

 

[cappy105]

stanley was the other guy

 

[boo haarvey]

stanley was the other guy

My boy Andre! I recall sportcenter having a special about him. He passed up on some scholarship offers so he could stay home with his sick mother.