(POST GAME ) #16 Arizona (Chase Ctr), Sat. Dec. 21, 10p, ESPN-2, 970 WNYW

I am "technologically challenged" and don't know how to post a tweet or a video tweet on this site but I just saw a clip of the locker room after last night's win. When CMA walked in, the players went nuts, charged him and doused him with water.

The kids clearly like and respect CMA. He has pushed all the right buttons since he arrived. on campus Thank goodness that CMA is our head coach. He's done a tremendous job to date.
 
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A very satisfying win from a team that works harder than any other in the country. I had to clutch my chest a number of times thanks to all those missed shots. We'll see this all year...but we'll also see our fair share of wins.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=369070]Great to see them celebrating (video clip)

https://twitter.com/StJohnsBBall/status/1208632849919664128?s=20[/quote]

Just great!! One notice because I am a guy who thinks chemistry at this level is way more important that talent on paper - in this “Me” world, Steere, who got all of 4 minutes in his 1st game in a year and a half, and Heron, out with an injury, were as genuinely happy and demonstrative as everyone else. Maybe not a big deal to some but as an ex-coach it is a very revealing indication of the camaraderie and sense of team that has been instilled and bought into by these coaches and players. Truly a joy to see in a program we have all invested a lot of emotion on.
 
This is the coach we’ve been waiting for and deserve.

p.s. Bill Walton is slipping. Only 17 superlatives last night.
 
A team that is scrappy, in super shape & defends will compete v anyone in BE this year. Add some scoring from Heron, avoid injuries & get that shooting % up a bit & Johnnies will give us a hell of a season.

As noted by Monte, the cultural change is palpable; an AD who sets a professional tone & communicates effectively, a HC who promotes & practices a grade A work ethic, established a no BS family first philosophy and put together a staff who work well together. All in all a “sea change”
 
[quote="James Ray Lamb" post=369076]I never thought Damien Sears would play 17 mins, with 6 rebounds,1 assist, and 4 points. He picked the right time to have a good game.

I hope this turn around in performance continues into the BE.
Sears is a tough kid. Torn ACL at Jacksonville State and he still rehabbed to play in a big game for CMA and St John's.
https://nypost.com/2019/05/09/st-jo...ars-as-anderson-builds-team-in-his-image/amp/[/quote]

It sometimes take JUCO kids a minute to adjust to the D1 level play, especially big men because typically they are bigger and stronger than most they go up against at the JUCO level. And with Sears, considering he's playing at the 5 position undersized, it's completely understandable it's taken him more time to adjust than the others. He looked really good last night, wasn't scared, didn't back down, looked good on his free throws, and made smart decisions with the basketball when he got it.

And I agree with you I hope this builds his confidence and he gives consistency like this in Big East play. It's going to be interesting to see what happens between him and Steere. Steere looked like a deer in headlights last night, CMA verbally got onto a couple different times for missed assignments on defense and got onto him for taking a bad contested jumper early in the shot clock. Unlike Sears, Steere isn't going to be able to learn against "cupcake" teams when they are up double digits, and Coach can allow a few mistakes without pulling him. Every game is going to be tough in the Big East, I'm wondering if Steere will end up being the odd man out this year.
 
[quote="Logen" post=369078][quote="RedStormNC" post=369070]Great to see them celebrating (video clip)

https://twitter.com/StJohnsBBall/status/1208632849919664128?s=20[/quote]

Just great!! One notice because I am a guy who thinks chemistry at this level is way more important that talent on paper - in this “Me” world, Steere, who got all of 4 minutes in his 1st game in a year and a half, and Heron, out with an injury, were as genuinely happy and demonstrative as everyone else. Maybe not a big deal to some but as an ex-coach it is a very revealing indication of the camaraderie and sense of team that has been instilled and bought into by these coaches and players. Truly a joy to see in a program we have all invested a lot of emotion on.[/quote]

There is a saying in business that, "culture eats strategy for breakfast!"

Couldn't agree more
 
The team is young and still learning. The talent is there. Never thought we would be so competitive so soon. We are a scary team to play as evidenced by a dominant first half.
 
[quote="Monte" post=369072][quote="Logen" post=369057][quote="MCNPA" post=369045][quote="Logen" post=369039][quote="MCNPA" post=369030][quote="Logen" post=369026]Not usually a stat guy but two interesting things jump out, 28-7 in bench points for the good guys and a tremendous difference in the +/- between our starters and bench in favor of the bench; statistical testimony to the depth Anderson and co. have created.[/quote]

I absolutely love having a team that plays almost the entire bench depth-wise. Like I said, just wait until our talent level increases significantly over next few years. We will be bring waves of talent into the game. Love this style of play and great coaching to maximize our strengths despite have a generally poor offensive team without arguably our best player. Depth is what will carry us this year.[/quote]

Maybe; but right now we are winning as a blue collar TEAM, effort, commitment to the collective and heart are talents also. You can very easily lose that vibe and chemistry with higher ranked recruits who buy into their stats and pro aspirations. Not saying that is an absolute by any means but I could not help but think that watching Texas today. I am not familiar with them but at least today, they looked nothing like Shaka Smart’s VCU teams in terms of blue collar effort.[/quote]

Agree and you make a good point. I actually think Anderson is recruiting similar types of kids, of which Posh and Wusu definitely are and I’m gonna guess Cole and Moore are likely to be too. Forget that now though, these kids deserve the credit and SJU is getting our identity back. Really playing the way nyc basketball fans love to watch. Great win.[/quote]

Have not seen any of the four play but have talked to friends who scout for colleges and it certainly appears Alexander and Wusu are Anderson “types”. As you say though, enough said on that, loving the here and now.[/quote]

Hard work is contagious, and it’s starts at the top. So is effort. This group of kids is the epitome of the word “team”. We’ve talked before about how we’ve lacked a “culture” around here for many years. Well we’re seeing a culture being built here by the staff and the kids. Very exciting and promising times for the school and the fan base.[/quote]

You’ve been banging the culture drum since day 1 and have been dead on about this. The most important shift we could have asked for!
 
[quote="Logen" post=369078][quote="RedStormNC" post=369070]Great to see them celebrating (video clip)

https://twitter.com/StJohnsBBall/status/1208632849919664128?s=20[/quote]

Just great!! One notice because I am a guy who thinks chemistry at this level is way more important that talent on paper - in this “Me” world, Steere, who got all of 4 minutes in his 1st game in a year and a half, and Heron, out with an injury, were as genuinely happy and demonstrative as everyone else. Maybe not a big deal to some but as an ex-coach it is a very revealing indication of the camaraderie and sense of team that has been instilled and bought into by these coaches and players. Truly a joy to see in a program we have all invested a lot of emotion on.[/quote] I noticed that as well. What kids !
 
Monster win! I think this will be an interesting season. I think there’s a lot of parity this year and that on any given day...
I also think we surprise teams and they need to adjust. I think we will do better first time through the Big East. Second time around teams will be more readily able to adapt to the pressure. Of course it won’t be as much of an issue if we improve on the set offensive side of a things.
 
[quote="mjmaherjr" post=369090][quote="Logen" post=369078][quote="RedStormNC" post=369070]Great to see them celebrating (video clip)

https://twitter.com/StJohnsBBall/status/1208632849919664128?s=20[/quote]

Just great!! One notice because I am a guy who thinks chemistry at this level is way more important that talent on paper - in this “Me” world, Steere, who got all of 4 minutes in his 1st game in a year and a half, and Heron, out with an injury, were as genuinely happy and demonstrative as everyone else. Maybe not a big deal to some but as an ex-coach it is a very revealing indication of the camaraderie and sense of team that has been instilled and bought into by these coaches and players. Truly a joy to see in a program we have all invested a lot of emotion on.[/quote] I noticed that as well. What kids ![/quote]

I immediately picked up on it when I saw it earlier this morning. Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry.
 
[quote="Steve Knortz" post=369055]Missed the game, but curious about how Steere played. Does he look like he will contribute this season?[/quote] I think you guys can watch the repeat on ESPN 3. Steere was disappointing IMO and didn’t get much burn, will see how he adjusts to real games.
 
Rutherford did not lose composure after turning ball over for Zona bucket & evidences senior poise in making next critical play, nice drive, Pheww shot :)

[attachment=1207]C61F5A9E-B1F6-4E6D-9B25-6A65080EC964.jpeg[/attachment]
 
With the season approaching the half way mark it is mind boggling to see the difference in the contributions of the bench as compared to the prior staff. The shot making is less than desired but the shot selection is fine and the contributions in all other phases of the game have been great.
Thinking of Amir throwing up one 28 footer after another with some seven seconds elapsed on the shot clock brings back bad memories.
 
[quote="Making Plays" post=369082][quote="James Ray Lamb" post=369076]I never thought Damien Sears would play 17 mins, with 6 rebounds,1 assist, and 4 points. He picked the right time to have a good game.

I hope this turn around in performance continues into the BE.
Sears is a tough kid. Torn ACL at Jacksonville State and he still rehabbed to play in a big game for CMA and St John's.
https://nypost.com/2019/05/09/st-jo...ars-as-anderson-builds-team-in-his-image/amp/[/quote]

It sometimes take JUCO kids a minute to adjust to the D1 level play, especially big men because typically they are bigger and stronger than most they go up against at the JUCO level. And with Sears, considering he's playing at the 5 position undersized, it's completely understandable it's taken him more time to adjust than the others. He looked really good last night, wasn't scared, didn't back down, looked good on his free throws, and made smart decisions with the basketball when he got it.

And I agree with you I hope this builds his confidence and he gives consistency like this in Big East play. It's going to be interesting to see what happens between him and Steere. Steere looked like a deer in headlights last night, CMA verbally got onto a couple different times for missed assignments on defense and got onto him for taking a bad contested jumper early in the shot clock. Unlike Sears, Steere isn't going to be able to learn against "cupcake" teams when they are up double digits, and Coach can allow a few mistakes without pulling him. Every game is going to be tough in the Big East, I'm wondering if Steere will end up being the odd man out this year.[/quote] It’s funny you said that. I would have bet my bottom dollar when Steere returned Seers would have barely played . But after watching last night I may have been wrong. Hopefully Steere doesn’t turn out to be another Keita. You are right pointing out there are no patsies to integrate Steere. Too bad he wasn’t eligible for Albany.
 
[quote="sirvoo" post=369040][quote="redken" post=369036][quote="sirvoo" post=369020] ,,, And props to Bill Wilton who was more complimentary of the program than any other analyst I’ve ever heard![/quote]
That wouldn't have anything to do with a mutual love of Jerry Garcia,would it? ;)[/quote]

lol guilty.. I can see how he irks people but there’s no doubt he was banging the drum for us all game and I loved it![/quote]
Thought it was great -- and classy -- that he gave a nod to Steve Dombroski.
 
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