Positives to think about after this game for the season

[Redenbacher]

Beating Duke at a packed MSG (mostly Duke fans) when Mullin was coaching tops last night by a long shot.

edit: I just realized Zach is talking about December wins. My bad.

 

[bamafan]

As I said earlier in the thread overall I thought it was a great effort. Many years ago I felt like we shared completely different views on things. Since you have come back to posting I feel like you are reading my mind and saying almost everything I think during the games just a little different then I want to as I want to try and stay positive. Perhaps I am being brainwashed but I don't think so. I like your perspective.

So it’s now confirmed we have at least 2 certifiable cuckoos on the board

 

[monte]

I mean, this is the worst take you’ve ever had! He averaged over 30 minutes a game for two top 25 teams in the ACC. He won the ACC championship one of those years in NYC!

He shot 38% from 3 over 3 years at Va Tech and the year he had a drive and kick PG he shot 40.8%.

Jenkins kills Alleyne and Dingle.

If you think this is the worse take I've ever had, then you need to read my posts more often. Especially the ones at night when I'm drinking.

Jenkins, if harnessed, has way more upside then Alleyne. I know you'll never admit that, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that Rick knows that. He plays him more not out of loyalty, but out of the fact he feels that having Jenkins on the court gives us our best chance of winning.

You can choose to keep whining about Jenkins, but it ain't gonna change squat.

 

[kranmars]

Also while who knows how this plays out but we didn't turn the corner Lavin's first year till end of January roughly I think when all the sudden the light went on. Just something to think about as far as progress maybe we fast track it

January 30, they beat Duke at the Garden, which lead to the change of the scope and perception of the season.

This team will not wait that long.

 

[Money]

I didn’t have an issue with Ledlum. He missed some shots and a huge rebound go off his hand at pivotal moment late. The missed FTs were bad too, but he played very hard and made some big buckets.

Jenkins, though, I believe was hypnotized into thinking he could shoot well. His false confidence is absolutely shocking. Every game we have the same complaints and every game he has 3-4 shots before the under 16.

He does nothing to make anyone but Soriano better and it’s wearing thin on everyone else.

The defense in the first half was absolutely insane. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Jenkins included. I’ve literally never seen a team make that jump in 2 games.

Luis looked so good it was almost unreal. Super rusty but he looked like a late first round pick. His length for the position is almost comical and he had a finish that literally looked like it was in 2x speed.

How do you know its wearing thin on everyone else??

 

[SJUWillRockNYC]

As always, kids are built up with unrealistic expectations(it's happening right now with Luis) and then torn down when they don't meet those ridiculous expectations. Look, I was as disappointed in some of Jenkins' decisions as anyone, especially on that 2nd to last possession. And I think that Ledlum often tries to do to much, instead of having the game come to him. But both kids can play at this level but need some harnessing, and maybe a little less PT. But they're what we have and aren't going anywhere, so let's hope they continue to improve under Rick's tutelage as the seaon progresses.

Rick had had him at Iona also, how much is Jenkins really going to improve this year? I think what you see, is what you're going to get.

When Luis is healthy, I'd start him over Jenkins and see what happens. I doubt he'd be any worse then Jenkins.
It can't hurt.

 

[SJU85]

damn no + .1 for Christmas ?

I didn’t want to be repetitive and liked the other post below it +.1 more.

 

[monte]

Rick had had him at Iona also, how much is Jenkins really going to improve this year? I think what you see, is what you're going to get.

When Luis is healthy, I'd start him over Jenkins and see what happens. I doubt he's be any worse then jenkins

Who plays the point? Luis isn't a PG. When I say Jenkins has more upside, I mean if he plays within himself he can be very productive.

 

[SJU85]

I mean, this is the worst take you’ve ever had! He averaged over 30 minutes a game for two top 25 teams in the ACC. He won the ACC championship one of those years in NYC!

He shot 38% from 3 over 3 years at Va Tech and the year he had a drive and kick PG he shot 40.8%.

Jenkins kills Alleyne and Dingle.

Yes he definitely took some bad shots yesterday. First he was killing Dingle, now he is killing Dingle and Alleyne? When does Dingle get blame for his own ineffectivenes? When does he try more movement without the ball to free himself up or more available? Maybe they cancel each other out when they play together but they need to figure it out. The same was said regarding Felipe and James Scott and they figured it out in Scott’s last year.

As for Alleyne, he is currently shooting 34% from the 3 this year. He shot 30% last year. Was it his PG’s fault he shot 30%. Lastly, as of right now, Alleyne’s field goal percentage (2’s and 3’s) is at 42% which is higher than his field goal percentage (2’s and 3’s) in any season which has never been over 40%.

 

[logen]

I guess I am a Luis “cult” guy according to some lol. I just remember his play at UMass and my hunch he will help with his quickness and athleticism. He obviously is still not in game shape and it showed a bit when he did not finish a few times. He certainly is not a super star, but looks like a solid piece, big minutes guy and we need that.

I always liked Ledlum back to high school. His rebounding is sound in an area we really need. He just has trouble finishing and hopefully that abates.

Re Jenkins, I don’t want him banned to Guam like others perhaps, but I must say his volume shooting with mediocre results is frustrating. I wish he could pull it back a bit and be more patient and get others involved. Hoisting shots often early to me is a rhythm breaker for an offense that could benefit from more ball movement.

I was not referring to people who use words like “hunch” “he will help” from seeing him play at Umass. Many haven’t and yet are proclaiming him a savior and future NBA star. But well played!

 

[SJUWillRockNYC]

Who plays the point? Luis isn't a PG. When I say Jenkins has more upside, I mean if he plays within himself he can be very productive.

Magic wasn't, and Doncic isn't a PG and still brings the ball up court.

If he plays within himself, then he won't try to be a hotshot at the end of a game and shoot a 3ball when he can't shoot.
Lets see if that changes but it probably won't.

 

[SJUWillRockNYC]

I was not referring to people who use words like “hunch” “he will help” from seeing him play at Umass. Many haven’t and yet are proclaiming him a savior and future NBA star. But well played!

When something is working, then you should try something else to maybe see if that helps the team.
If it doesn't then you can go back to what you were doing before.

Trying to do something for the better of the teams isn't saying that we think he's a savior, but think as you want.

 

[monte]

Thank you for this thread. Immediately, you countered the unrestrained and undeserved name calling of kids who played UCONN to nearly a draw on their SOLD-OUT home court.

The word "choke" is perhaps the worst and most demeaning label you can assign to an athlete, even worse when directed at your own team, even worse when they are college kids.

A city kid, I started playing baseball at 15 (thusly admired Manny Sanguillen who did same at 14) and by 17 found myself playing in the PAL championship game in Staten Island on a team of hs all stars. In the first inning a kid hit a wicked line drive towards me in right with a man on 2nd. In baseball you have less than a second to read a liine drive as to whether it will sink or sail. I read sink and knew with a good jump i could either snare it on the fly or one hop and throw the runner out at the plate. I had about 8 outfield assists that year and was confident. The ball didn't sink, it sailed. With just 1 step in I was beat. I turned and tore ass, but it went far over my head took one bounce over a park bench and into a lake. I caught up with it immediately and made a strong throw holding the kid to a double - except the ump signaled Home run. We lost 2-1.

My teammates could have whispered choke, coaches too, but didn't. I didn't need them to. I told myself then and now.

Great teammates, and great fans don't do that. You think kids don't feel the pain of not executing in the last minute?

Learning to win is an important step. UCONN kids on the line swaggered confidently before putting the game away. CRP will use this as a learning experience.

I didn't choke way back when and neither did our kids last night. They lost, and i hope deal with it better than some of us did. And by the way I don't think i know more or am on higher ground than anyone else.

So yea Mike, Luigi, and the rest of you posting here - thanks. You are all great fans.

If not "choked", what term would suggest? "Wilted under pressure"? "Folded"? I can't speak for anyone else, but in my many years of playing sports I've choked plenty of times. I've also choked on stage and in life. I knew it each and every time it happened. I could handle the "choked" moniker. You learn from it and you grow from it. Guess some people can't. Oh, and I've also risen to the occasion plenty of times, in sports and in life.

 

[hardytime]

I guess I am a Luis “cult” guy according to some lol. I just remember his play at UMass and my hunch he will help with his quickness and athleticism. He obviously is still not in game shape and it showed a bit when he did not finish a few times. He certainly is not a super star, but looks like a solid piece, big minutes guy and we need that.

I always liked Ledlum back to high school. His rebounding is sound in an area we really need. He just has trouble finishing and hopefully that abates.

Re Jenkins, I don’t want him banned to Guam like others perhaps, but I must say his volume shooting with mediocre results is frustrating. I wish he could pull it back a bit and be more patient and get others involved. Hoisting shots often early to me is a rhythm breaker for an offense that could benefit from more ball movement.

More of the Jenkins v Xavier and less of the Jenkins last night. Kid does plenty of good things too.

 

[Marillac2]

How do you know it’s wearing thin on everyone else??

I don’t know…I think. I saw Soriano refuse to pass it out to him when he was wide open. He literally pulled the pass back.

 

[Marillac2]

Yes he definitely took some bad shots yesterday. First he was killing Dingle, now he is killing Dingle and Alleyne? When does Dingle get blame for his own ineffectivenes? When does he try more movement without the ball to free himself up or more available? Maybe they cancel each other out when they play together but they need to figure it out. The same was said regarding Felipe and James Scott and they figured it out in Scott’s last year.

As for Alleyne, he is currently shooting 34% from the 3 this year. He shot 30% last year. Was it his PG’s fault he shot 30%. Lastly, as of right now, Alleyne’s field goal percentage (2’s and 3’s) is at 42% which is higher than his field goal percentage (2’s and 3’s) in any season which has never been over 40%.

Alleyne needs to be set up. He’s a spot up shooter. The better his PG is as driving and kicking the better he will do. The year he shot 40.8% he had a Tasmanian devil at PG.

Last year at UConn they didn’t have a traditional PG. Newton is very, very good but he’s 6’5 combo. UConn made that up in the aggregate with a lottery caliber SG and NBA wing who was a ++ creator from the 3.

I don’t want Alleyne shooting off the bounce. He took some ill advised shots, but those are the downstream consequences of having a ball hog that doesn’t set up shooters playing PG.

Jenkins does some things well, but he he has absolutely no awareness of his flaws. Benching him really isn’t an option.

Alleyne doesn’t have to do anything. He’s proven himself as a three year starter in an ACC team that was ranked in the top 25 two years and won the freaking ACC. Jenkins hasn’t proven anything above the MAAC except that he’s a 25% shooter from deep over 2 1/2 seasons.

 

[SJU85]

Alleyne needs to be set up. He’s a spot up shooter. The better his PG is as driving and kicking the better he will do. The year he shot 40.8% he had a Tasmanian devil at PG.

Last year at UConn they didn’t have a traditional PG. Newton is very, very good but he’s 6’5 combo. UConn made that up in the aggregate with a lottery caliber SG and NBA wing who was a ++ creator from the 3.

I don’t want Alleyne shooting off the bounce. He took some ill advised shots, but those are the downstream consequences of having a ball hog that doesn’t set up shooters playing PG.

Jenkins does some things well, but he he has absolutely no awareness of his flaws. Benching him really isn’t an option.

Alleyne doesn’t have to do anything. He’s proven himself as a three year starter in an ACC team that was ranked in the top 25 two years and won the freaking ACC. Jenkins hasn’t proven anything above the MAAC except that he’s a 25% shooter from deep over 2 1/2 seasons.

There are a lot of people who are not aware of his flaws, seen that many times over the year.

Alleyne has proven he can play at this level as a glue piece who can get hot on occasion. He is not a star or some great shooter or scorer.

 

[paultzman]

There are a lot of people who are not aware of his flaws, seen that many times over the year.

Alleyne has proven he can play at this level as a glue piece who can get hot on occasion. He is not a star or some great shooter or scorer.

Smart glue piece, not a star is quite ok

 

[Beasts of the East]

If not "choked", what term would suggest? "Wilted under pressure"? "Folded"? I can't speak for anyone else, but in my many years of playing sports I've choked plenty of times. I've also choked on stage and in life. I knew it each and every time it happened. I could handle the "choked" moniker. You learn from it and you grow from it. Guess some people can't. Oh, and I've also risen to the occasion plenty of times, in sports and in life.

Not executing with the game on the line, in other words not getting it done is an acceptable phrase.

Choke means something entirely different. It means you couldn't handle the pressure in that moment. Telling someone they choked is an insult. Knowing in your heart a moment was too big for you to handle is very different because its your self assessment.

I would never tell a child or anyone i cared about, that they choked. If i met one of our players last night outside the arena and told them they choked, I'd deserve to get knocked on my ass. So why do it here?

If Jenkins knocked down that 3 to tie, the same people saying he chokef would be calling him a hero.

I'm sorry. I can't agree with you here. Its just not nice of our fans to defame our guys like that.

 

[Mean Gene]

Pitino’s system is starting to settle in, with the players knowing their roles.

StJ’s now plays team basketball as opposed to a group of basketball players as it did earlier in the season.

That said, a loss is a loss. StJ’s is now 8- 4 with the NCAA Tournaments window narrowing.

I am optimistic for the long term but less optimistic than many posters are for hoped for NCAA Tournament this season.

If we beat Hofstra and go 12-8 in the Big East with one BET win we will be in the NCAA Tournament. Those goals are still very achievable at this point.