Penn State, Sun. Dec. 18, 11am, FS1/970AM

As I have said from the beginning of the year:

1. No defense - squarely on the staff for not teaching and/or not holding players accountable. Not once have I seen any member of the staff instruct a player or get in anyone's face after a defensive error of which there are dozens every game.

2. Ahmed is a team killer. He has talent but his "every man for himself" approach is poison and ends up infecting Lovett and Ponds. Also squarely on the staff, I posted weeks ago that he needs to be benched every time he fails at team play, which is basically every time he touches the ball.

3. Ponds and Lovett checked out of this game, but there's talent there. Ellison made his usual mistakes with turnovers but other than that played well. If he can limit the turnovers and move his feet on D he can be useful. Owens gives you 100%, gotta like him. Freudenberg a year away but making small progress every game.

4. The staff needs to either add 3 NBA players next year so they can coach NBA basketball and not worry about pesky things like defense, ball movement, structured offense, and discipline, or they need to hire a basketball lifer who was a high level HS coach or college coach to do the things they clearly can't or won't be bothered doing. All you had to do today was watch the two huddles at the timeouts. The Penn State coach, who basically has a good-not-great guard and a decent big man and that's it, grabbed players coming off the floor to teach and correct, and then went straight to the huddle to work with his team. We have the player huddle so they can yell at one another while the staff huddles to figure out what CM should say to the team. That clearly isn't working for us.

I still think we will jump up on a couple of teams when the stars line up right, but the fundamental flaws and the fact that they have gone totally uncorrected for this long is very discouraging.
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Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
 
did we really win the 2nd half ? well as useless as that is I guess that's finding a piece of corn in a pile of shite
 
During the last few years, there were two major uncertainties:

1. How would the new Big East perform?
2. How would SJU perform?

One wildly exceeded expectations, while the other has greatly underperformed.

I know people are saying to be patient, but fact is there are some major red flags in terms of long term viability. Things can change. If we go on to win five Big East games we'll go back to fantasizing about next year. But there needs to be a tipping point this year. Something that gives hope for next year.

Believe we were favored in four games this year that we didn't win (ODU, LIU, Delaware, PSU). We haven't won any games we were underdogs in.
 
Incredible as it may seem, this season is turning out as bad as last year when we gave everyone as pass with basically a makeshift roster.
The only place I can begin to describe what we witnessed today is at the 7:11 mark of the first half.  At that point we went from being up by 7 a few short minutes earlier to a tie score of 24-24.  Whatever passes for a defense on this Mullin coached team became softer than Mister Softie in July. We managed only 5 points the rest of the half but Penn State started their 3 point shooting drill with wide open shots. There was only one time out called by Mullin to my recollection.  Had it not been for TV timeouts, I don't think Mullin would have called any timeouts to settle his dazed and confused team.  The game was basically conceded at the end of the first half playing at home in the world's most famous arena in front of family and friends. 
A long time fan on this board said early in the season that it would be unfair to expect Ponds and Lovett to score in double figures every game and I hinted were that to be a scenario in any game against any opponent we would lose by double digits.  Although they managed a combined 22 points, both had horrific games. I think today my point was made.
The confused and dejected look on the faces of our players was accentuated by the equally confused and embarrassed look on Mullin's face.   Outcoached, outplayed and outhustled,  the second haff was just a token appearance and the Nittany Lions basically coasted. 
The players:  Easily the worst game in young Shamorie Ponds career.  Nothing fell and his dejection obvious in his face.  Marcus Lovett was awful and played out of control much of the game.  When those two are not clicking the outcome will always be a loss, regardless of the opponent. 
Why?  The rest of the team team recruited by our little mighty Matt are soft tweeners.  In terms of pure energy no one matches Owens. Thirty more pounds and he would be the 3rd best player on the team.  Because of his aggressiveness and slight frame he fouls out easily but his 11 points and 11 rebounds were a bright spot. The rest of the players just are not ready to play at a high level yet.  Bashir Ahmed is the biggest disappointment.  He is just not a cerebral player.  Much less so than Malik Ellison who had a career game which only served to emphasize how badly the rest of the team performed on almost every level of the game against a team as inexperienced but light years better prepared and better composed physically.  That today they were better at every position and on the bench would be yet another understatement. 
Never in my many years of following redmen basketball have I seen a season decided before January but this blind faith in Chris Mullin is turning more and more like the blind leading the blind.  Recruits are being underwhelmed by every loss.  These players are not without talent.  Everyone of them has potential.  As the disaster unfolds Chris Mullin needs to make some very hard decisions.  What is happening is not good for his mental health.  It is not good for his elderly mentor.  It is not good for the fans. And most importantly, it is not good for the players.  Those players don't deserve to be in a locker room dejected and their coached confused as to what is going wrong and how to resolve the problem. 



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Incredible as it may seem, this season is turning out as bad as last year when we gave everyone as pass with basically a makeshift roster.
The only place I can begin to describe what we witnessed today is at the 7:11 mark of the first half.  At that point we went from being up by 7 a few short minutes earlier to a tie score of 24-24.  Whatever passes for a defense on this Mullin coached team became softer than Mister Softie in July. We managed only 5 points the rest of the half but Penn State started their 3 point shooting drill with wide open shots. There was only one time out called by Mullin to my recollection.  Had it not been for TV timeouts, I don't think Mullin would have called any timeouts to settle his dazed and confused team.  The game was basically conceded at the end of the first half playing at home in the world's most famous arena in front of family and friends. 
A long time fan on this board said early in the season that it would be unfair to expect Ponds and Lovett to score in double figures every game and I hinted were that to be a scenario in any game against any opponent we would lose by double digits.  Although they managed a combined 22 points, both had horrific games. I think today my point was made.
The confused and dejected look on the faces of our players was accentuated by the equally confused and embarrassed look on Mullin's face.   Outcoached, outplayed and outhustled,  the second haff was just a token appearance and the Nittany Lions basically coasted. 
The players:  Easily the worst game in young Shamorie Ponds career.  Nothing fell and his dejection obvious in his face.  Marcus Lovett was awful and played out of control much of the game.  When those two are not clicking the outcome will always be a loss, regardless of the opponent. 
Why?  The rest of the team team recited by our little mighty Matt are soft tweeners.  In terms of pure energy no one matches Owens. Thirty more pounds and he would be the 3rd best player on the team.  Because of his aggressiveness and slight frame he fouls out easily but his 11 points and 11 rebounds were a bright spot. The rest of the players just are not ready to play at a high level yet.  Bashir Ahmed is the biggest disappointment.  He is just not a cerebral player.  Much less so than Malik Ellison who had a career game which only served to emphasize how badly the rest of the team performed on almost every level of the game against a team as inexperienced but light years better prepared and better composed physically.  That today they were better at every position and on the bench would be yet another understatement. 
Never in my many years of following redmen basketball have I seen a season decided before January but this blind faith in Chris Mullin is turning more and more like the blind leading the blind.  Recruits are being underwhelmed by every loss.  These players are not without talent.  Everyone of them has potential.  As the disaster unfolds Chris Mullin needs to make some very hard decisions.  What is happening is not good for his mental health.  It is not good for his elderly mentor.  It is not good for the fans. And most importantly, it is not good for the players.  Those players don't deserve to be in a locker room dejected and their coached confused as to what is going wrong and how to resolve the problem. 



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Wow. I think it is well documented that I was an early critic of Steve Lavin and I was particularly puzzled about why it took so long for people to see him for what he was.

While this season (and today especially) has been a dismal disappointment, I never thought Chris Mullin would have less leash with the fans than Slick Steve.

I was at today's game with my son (his first ever game) and I totally get it......it was beyond ugly. That said, I still think we win 10 games this year. Coaching aside, once these kids understand what it means to truly play hard for 40 minutes, we will look a lot better. For the long-term, I am going to assume that we will add an experienced basketball coach to the staff at year's end. If we don't, that's when I bail.
 
Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
Click to expand...

Nobody hires Slice for his coaching acumen. His departure is not the problem.
 
Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
Click to expand...

Nobody hires Slice for his coaching acumen. His departure is not the problem.
Click to expand...

I understand that Slice was hired as a recruiter. But the fact remains that he was also the one and only member of the coaching staff to serve as as a head coach at the college level and as an assistant coach at the very top levels of the college game. His departure after one year in retrospect may be the ultimate red flag of the Mullin era. I sincerely hope not.
 
Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
Click to expand...

Nobody hires Slice for his coaching acumen. His departure is not the problem.
Click to expand...

I understand that Slice was hired as a recruiter. But the fact remains that he was also the one and only member of the coaching staff to serve as as a head coach at the college level and as an assistant coach at the very top levels of the college game. His departure after one year in retrospect may be the ultimate red flag of the Mullin era. I sincerely hope not.
Click to expand...

If I am not mistaking, Slice was the only member (outside of Matt) who had ever been part of a coaching staff at any level.

Unless, Greg St. Jean being "Director of Player Personnel" for the Sacramento Kings is considered an assistant coaching position.
 
Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
Click to expand...

Nobody hires Slice for his coaching acumen. His departure is not the problem.
Click to expand...

I understand that Slice was hired as a recruiter. But the fact remains that he was also the one and only member of the coaching staff to serve as as a head coach at the college level and as an assistant coach at the very top levels of the college game. His departure after one year in retrospect may be the ultimate red flag of the Mullin era. I sincerely hope not.
Click to expand...

If I am not mistaking, Slice was the only member (outside of Matt) who had ever been part of a coaching staff at any level.

Unless, Greg St. Jean being "Director of Player Personnel" for the Sacramento Kings is considered an assistant coaching position.
Click to expand...
Think St. Jean was D of PP of the Sacramento Kings day care program.
 
I get it, but you're barking up the wrong tree. No argument that Slice was in fact a (failed) head coach and a (very successful) assistant. Just understand that his portfolio as assistant in his various stops had exactly zero to do with actual coaching.
 
There is also chatter that parents/handlers of current players have been reaching out to coaches outside of SJU for advice on how to deal with what is going on. They have concerns regarding the lack of improvement and how this will push their stock down for a future pro job.
 
There is also chatter that parents/handlers of current players have been reaching out to coaches outside of SJU for advice on how to deal with what is going on. They have concerns regarding the lack of improvement and how this will push their stock down for a future pro job.
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I don't think any of the players poor performance on the basketball court will prevent them from getting jobs when the graduate. Some of them will probably even get paid to play basketball overseas.
 
Incredible as it may seem, this season is turning out as bad as last year when we gave everyone as pass with basically a makeshift roster.
The only place I can begin to describe what we witnessed today is at the 7:11 mark of the first half.  At that point we went from being up by 7 a few short minutes earlier to a tie score of 24-24.  Whatever passes for a defense on this Mullin coached team became softer than Mister Softie in July. We managed only 5 points the rest of the half but Penn State started their 3 point shooting drill with wide open shots. There was only one time out called by Mullin to my recollection.  Had it not been for TV timeouts, I don't think Mullin would have called any timeouts to settle his dazed and confused team.  The game was basically conceded at the end of the first half playing at home in the world's most famous arena in front of family and friends. 
A long time fan on this board said early in the season that it would be unfair to expect Ponds and Lovett to score in double figures every game and I hinted were that to be a scenario in any game against any opponent we would lose by double digits.  Although they managed a combined 22 points, both had horrific games. I think today my point was made.
The confused and dejected look on the faces of our players was accentuated by the equally confused and embarrassed look on Mullin's face.   Outcoached, outplayed and outhustled,  the second haff was just a token appearance and the Nittany Lions basically coasted. 
The players:  Easily the worst game in young Shamorie Ponds career.  Nothing fell and his dejection obvious in his face.  Marcus Lovett was awful and played out of control much of the game.  When those two are not clicking the outcome will always be a loss, regardless of the opponent. 
Why?  The rest of the team team recruited by our little mighty Matt are soft tweeners.  In terms of pure energy no one matches Owens. Thirty more pounds and he would be the 3rd best player on the team.  Because of his aggressiveness and slight frame he fouls out easily but his 11 points and 11 rebounds were a bright spot. The rest of the players just are not ready to play at a high level yet.  Bashir Ahmed is the biggest disappointment.  He is just not a cerebral player.  Much less so than Malik Ellison who had a career game which only served to emphasize how badly the rest of the team performed on almost every level of the game against a team as inexperienced but light years better prepared and better composed physically.  That today they were better at every position and on the bench would be yet another understatement. 
Never in my many years of following redmen basketball have I seen a season decided before January but this blind faith in Chris Mullin is turning more and more like the blind leading the blind.  Recruits are being underwhelmed by every loss.  These players are not without talent.  Everyone of them has potential.  As the disaster unfolds Chris Mullin needs to make some very hard decisions.  What is happening is not good for his mental health.  It is not good for his elderly mentor.  It is not good for the fans. And most importantly, it is not good for the players.  Those players don't deserve to be in a locker room dejected and their coached confused as to what is going wrong and how to resolve the problem. 


Good post. And so true. Besides his aggressiveness one of the main reasons Owens fouls out is his attempts to stop the guards who have driven easily around our porous defense.



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I agree with most of what has been said. One thing I noticed yesterday was how much bigger, and I don't mean height-wise, the PSU players were. And they have a very young team. Lovett, Ponds, Ahmed and Owens looked like kids. During that run they just bullied and intimidated us and we spit out the bit. I don't think coaching can help that and I'm not looking forward to the rest of the schedule when we pretty much will have to face similar situations.
 
There is also chatter that parents/handlers of current players have been reaching out to coaches outside of SJU for advice on how to deal with what is going on. They have concerns regarding the lack of improvement and how this will push their stock down for a future pro job.
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That's another depressing thought. Defections.
 
Other than Yakwe the returning players have improved individually. Yakwe's a bit thicker and his FT shooting has improved but he definitely hasn't show the same fire as last season. Lovett and Owens are both better than expected. I think that has something to do with spending a year with the team but who knows and they may have Hollywood moms/dads... I certainly didn't expect Lovett to shoot as high a % as he has. Sima's FT was also improved. Ellison looked like an actual basketball player against Fordham. If his parents are complaining they are beyond delusional.
 
There is also chatter that parents/handlers of current players have been reaching out to coaches outside of SJU for advice on how to deal with what is going on. They have concerns regarding the lack of improvement and how this will push their stock down for a future pro job.
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That's another depressing thought. Defections.
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I don't know about defections and I don't necessarily blame the coach but the main reason we stink is Sima and Yakwe were much worse than we all thought they would be. Even by modest expectations.
 
We are doing a service to guys aspiring to play for pay;

Penn State's Mike Watkins picks up Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after 15 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks, 4 assists vs. St. John's.
 
As I have said from the beginning of the year:

1. No defense - squarely on the staff for not teaching and/or not holding players accountable. Not once have I seen any member of the staff instruct a player or get in anyone's face after a defensive error of which there are dozens every game.

2. Ahmed is a team killer. He has talent but his "every man for himself" approach is poison and ends up infecting Lovett and Ponds. Also squarely on the staff, I posted weeks ago that he needs to be benched every time he fails at team play, which is basically every time he touches the ball.

3. Ponds and Lovett checked out of this game, but there's talent there. Ellison made his usual mistakes with turnovers but other than that played well. If he can limit the turnovers and move his feet on D he can be useful. Owens gives you 100%, gotta like him. Freudenberg a year away but making small progress every game.

4. The staff needs to either add 3 NBA players next year so they can coach NBA basketball and not worry about pesky things like defense, ball movement, structured offense, and discipline, or they need to hire a basketball lifer who was a high level HS coach or college coach to do the things they clearly can't or won't be bothered doing. All you had to do today was watch the two huddles at the timeouts. The Penn State coach, who basically has a good-not-great guard and a decent big man and that's it, grabbed players coming off the floor to teach and correct, and then went straight to the huddle to work with his team. We have the player huddle so they can yell at one another while the staff huddles to figure out what CM should say to the team. That clearly isn't working for us.

I still think we will jump up on a couple of teams when the stars line up right, but the fundamental flaws and the fact that they have gone totally uncorrected for this long is very discouraging.
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Your Point 4 is on the money. I was at MSG today and the Penn State coach--with his team up 20 points and 3 minutes left in the game--was screaming bloody murder at one of his players in the huddle. Made Mike Rice look like Mary Poppins.

I was a big fan of getting Mullin in here but in the absence of a seasoned assistant--- which was what Slice was--- this is in real danger of going nowhere fast.
Click to expand...


at one point in the first half I believe when Penn State was shooting free throws, we only had one player on the line who was closest to the penn bench. The other side had two penn players no sju players, I was wondering why and on the second foul shot which was missed the ball went directly to the spot where a sju player would have been. Penn got the ball and scored. I don't know why we didn't have anyone on that side of the line
 
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