(POST GAME) @Georgetown, Sun., Dec. 13, 7:30p, FS-1 / 970 AM WNYM

I think Cole has shown ability to shoot, pass and drive. However, it hasn’t been consistent. Think he needs to show more fire/toughness. Winning teams usually have at least a few guys who will try to take over and get a basket. His drive late in the OT on the break was soft. In fact, he may have been fouled but isn’t getting calls because he doesn’t go hard enough to sell it.

While i believe he is more talented than Earlington and should get more PT, Marcellus should have gotten more time in 2nd half. He was not afraid to take it to the basket.

With an offense that habitually breaks down in the half court, wee need to leverage FTs as a weapon since finally have some good FT shooters - although some let us down tonight,

Don’t know if we really have an on court leader. JC seems a bit quiet for the role. Right now, we appear to be relying on Posh to be our leader. As a PG this is natural and ideal. I think he will ultimately be up for this role and will be very good at it. But, right now he is a freshman and not ready.
 
[quote="Section3" post=408544]
Don’t know if we really have an on court leader. JC seems a bit quiet for the role. Right now, we appear to be relying on Posh to be our leader. As a PG this is natural and ideal. I think he will ultimately be up for this role and will be very good at it. But, right now he is a freshman and not ready.[/quote]

Moore sounded pretty vocal with the screams he let out following some of those dunks tonight. I was a bit surprised that he didn't get a T for taunting at some points, but maybe that's something we don't ordinarily hear when there are fans in the stands, and was not much in the grand scheme of things?

Regarding Julian: Do you have be loud to be an on-court leader? Chris Mullin and Malik Sealy were two of the best on-court leaders we had, and they were pretty quiet out there, vocally.
 
Really exciting game between the 2 teams that will fight for the right to not finish last in the conference. I do not see the loss as a coaching problem. The cross court lob pass by Cole that was stolen is something a player is taught not to do in third grade. His 3 point heave was not the right move either. I saw Champ late in the game reach down for a loose ball that G Town picked up. Dive for it Champ. You can always send your uniform to the dry cleaners.

The half court defense is abysmal. As for the pressure defense, St. John's lost their best 2 havoc makers on defense: Rutherford and Figgy. I am fine trapping and speeding up the game. When you have no one that is scary from 3, and no inside presence, you better find other ways to score.
 
This system is outdated and does not seem to work anymore. Its just not enjoyable to watch. The pressure in the backcourt leads to miscommunication and slow rotations in the front court which gives the opponent open looks all day long. I for one do not enjoy watching our opponents get "40 minutes of open looks." We base our game off of steals and other teams mistake and do not actually play any half court team defense. Georgetown is horrible this year and were without one of their players and we still lost. Does everyone still think that we have tremendous depth?

I love posh but how many times did her get beat off the dribble badly in the half court? The fact of the matter is that I do not trust the recruiting or the system that CMA implements. A lot of questionable in game decisions as well. Not being able to close teams out was a problem that everyone last year blamed on our talent but I see it continuing this year and it looks to be a trend, and is alarming.
 
Imagine in the NFL, a team's approach was to blitz every play and yes they will occasionally get some INT's and sacks they may score off of (pick 6's, fumble returns for TD's, safetys, etc.) but if the other team is able to pick up the blitz, they burn them all day long with wide open WR's. Would we call that a smart system? Many announcers question the system can even work well at this level. Moore had a great game last night, but did you hear the announcers making fun of how skinny our bigs are? This is stuff we've been saying on here for years and it never changes. We get manhandled by real bigs like Mamu, Obiagu, Wuhab, and will continue to by Freemantle, Watson, Theo, etc. It's not enough to have height...we need the guys built from day 1 ready to go. Every other team gets those regularly. I believe we got blocked 10+ times last night. So sick of watching every team light us up like a Christmas tree from 3. Wide open shots all day long, getting beat off dribble all day long, getting eaten alive in paint. I just don't think 40 min of hell is going to get us anywhere even if we recruit better. No one was expecting us to win the BE this year, but we were supposed to beat the beatable teams like SH with 1 great player and a terrible G'Town team that lost to Navy. Another poor start suggests we are headed backwards. Losing LJ hurt us badly. Cole is nowhere near him.
 
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It looks to me like we are now officially irrelevant in College basketball. It's been so long since we have consistently won or been a B.E. factor that basketballs new generation reacts to SJU with complete indifference. Many basketball fans are surprised to learn of SJU's success in the past, it's been that long. Aside from an aging alumni base SJU is just a basketball team and nothing more. Now, with our declining fan base and program is the time to quietly find a more appropriate conference to play in. It would be embarrassing, and painful to many of us but what's the point of the program we've become. Changing conference affiliation would put us in the position to compete yearly for NCCA berths and NIT. Floundering in the B.E. is pointless. Our time as a B.E. player has passed.
 
We gave the ball away twice in the last two minutes of regulation, made only 2 of 4 free throws with Champ and Posh on the line, but a 7 point lead with Gtown having the ball is not exactly insurmountable. As soon as Gtown scored it was a two possession game with over 2 minutes remaining. The final play of regulation with Greg Williams scoring a floater at the buzzed was brilliantly executed and a great spread of the floor. We rarely have seen an out of bounds play at game's end executed successfully. Credit there.

This was basically a winnable away game between the predicted 9th and 10th place team in conference. We played well in spots and poorly in others. The same was true w=for Georgetown. It stings that we didn't put it away, or at least run some time off the clock on those two inbound turnovers.

We are 0-1 in conference, but to listen to some guys here, it's like we are 0-6. You are already predicting a losing season overall, the firing of the coach, losing the Cuffe recruiting battle, on and on. I posted yesterday that if we lost at Georgetown (we were a 2 point underdog), it puts pressure on us to win next week when we play them at home.

Relax, this isn't supposed to be a tourney team. Weaknesses will be exposed, some correctable, some only with more talent. Wahab blocked 9 shots, but wandered away from Moore so often that Isaih went 26 and 14 rebounds. Good teams will carve up Georgetown if this is how Wahab plays defense. With some corrections, we will drive and dish more when our guards and small forwards encounter Wahab - maybe by next Sunday.

It's frustrating, but admittedly a lot easier to post this the morning after and not right after the game. Perspective, right Panther?
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=408553]We gave the ball away twice in the last two minutes of regulation, made only 2 of 4 free throws with Champ and Posh on the line, but a 7 point lead with Gtown having the ball is not exactly insurmountable. As soon as Gtown scored it was a two possession game with over 2 minutes remaining. The final play of regulation with Greg Williams scoring a floater at the buzzed was brilliantly executed and a great spread of the floor. We rarely have seen an out of bounds play at game's end executed successfully. Credit there.

This was basically a winnable away game between the predicted 9th and 10th place team in conference. We played well in spots and poorly in others. The same was true w=for Georgetown. It stings that we didn't put it away, or at least run some time off the clock on those two inbound turnovers.

We are 0-1 in conference, but to listen to some guys here, it's like we are 0-6. You are already predicting a losing season overall, the firing of the coach, losing the Cuffe recruiting battle, on and on. I posted yesterday that if we lost at Georgetown (we were a 2 point underdog), it puts pressure on us to win next week when we play them at home.

Relax, this isn't supposed to be a tourney team. Weaknesses will be exposed, some correctable, some only with more talent. Wahab blocked 9 shots, but wandered away from Moore so often that Isaih went 26 and 14 rebounds. Good teams will carve up Georgetown if this is how Wahab plays defense. With some corrections, we will drive and dish more when our guards and small forwards encounter Wahab - maybe by next Sunday.

It's frustrating, but admittedly a lot easier to post this the morning after and not right after the game. Perspective, right Panther?[/quote]

We are 0-2 in the conference and if posting the morning after works for you, do it. Many here have perspective but perspective does not mean being blind to what you are seeing. I respect CMA for taking the blame for the loss, hopefully that translates into something real. I agree he cannot play for the players, he is not missing free throws, throwing bad passes or committing untimely dumb fouls but the trend of playing tentative and folding at the end of games needs to addressed by the staff, plain and simple.
 
[quote="Logen" post=408555][quote="Beast of the East" post=408553]We gave the ball away twice in the last two minutes of regulation, made only 2 of 4 free throws with Champ and Posh on the line, but a 7 point lead with Gtown having the ball is not exactly insurmountable. As soon as Gtown scored it was a two possession game with over 2 minutes remaining. The final play of regulation with Greg Williams scoring a floater at the buzzed was brilliantly executed and a great spread of the floor. We rarely have seen an out of bounds play at game's end executed successfully. Credit there.

This was basically a winnable away game between the predicted 9th and 10th place team in conference. We played well in spots and poorly in others. The same was true w=for Georgetown. It stings that we didn't put it away, or at least run some time off the clock on those two inbound turnovers.

We are 0-1 in conference, but to listen to some guys here, it's like we are 0-6. You are already predicting a losing season overall, the firing of the coach, losing the Cuffe recruiting battle, on and on. I posted yesterday that if we lost at Georgetown (we were a 2 point underdog), it puts pressure on us to win next week when we play them at home.

Relax, this isn't supposed to be a tourney team. Weaknesses will be exposed, some correctable, some only with more talent. Wahab blocked 9 shots, but wandered away from Moore so often that Isaih went 26 and 14 rebounds. Good teams will carve up Georgetown if this is how Wahab plays defense. With some corrections, we will drive and dish more when our guards and small forwards encounter Wahab - maybe by next Sunday.

It's frustrating, but admittedly a lot easier to post this the morning after and not right after the game. Perspective, right Panther?[/quote]

We are 0-2 in the conference and if posting the morning after works for you, do it. Many here have perspective but perspective does not mean being blind to what you are seeing. I respect CMA for taking the blame for the loss, hopefully that translates into something real. I agree he cannot play for the players, he is not missing free throws, throwing bad passes or committing untimely dumb fouls but the trend of playing tentative and folding at the end of games needs to addressed by the staff, plain and simple.[/quote]

You game critiques are valid, but obviously I'm not too concerned at this point about our record because I never believed we are a bubble team or anything close to it. I stated very early I felt this team was somewhere between 7-13 and 9-11 in conference, and I still think that's in range.
 
on Cole:
Yes he has potential that should have been polished in prior years. As of today however, while he will have good games this is the reality of his performance:

He plays no D unless it’s in the front court looking for steals. In the 1/2 court set, he is repeatedly blown past or doesn't hustle to the open guy on the switches.
He offense is horrendous. He thinks that he can shoot or drive at will. Fadeaway jumpers with NOBODY under the rim. Off the dribble jumpers, off balance jumpers, they are all good shots to him. That deeper-than-NBA, OFF THE DRIBBLE, STEP BACK and not in rhythm when down by only 1 point and 17 seconds still left on the clock made me INSANE. He shouldn’t be out there. He demonstrated that numerous times but the coach either doesn't believe in anyone on the bench, including Earlington, or they don’t see how badly he lacks maturity in the game.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=408557][quote="Logen" post=408555][quote="Beast of the East" post=408553]We gave the ball away twice in the last two minutes of regulation, made only 2 of 4 free throws with Champ and Posh on the line, but a 7 point lead with Gtown having the ball is not exactly insurmountable. As soon as Gtown scored it was a two possession game with over 2 minutes remaining. The final play of regulation with Greg Williams scoring a floater at the buzzed was brilliantly executed and a great spread of the floor. We rarely have seen an out of bounds play at game's end executed successfully. Credit there.

This was basically a winnable away game between the predicted 9th and 10th place team in conference. We played well in spots and poorly in others. The same was true w=for Georgetown. It stings that we didn't put it away, or at least run some time off the clock on those two inbound turnovers.

We are 0-1 in conference, but to listen to some guys here, it's like we are 0-6. You are already predicting a losing season overall, the firing of the coach, losing the Cuffe recruiting battle, on and on. I posted yesterday that if we lost at Georgetown (we were a 2 point underdog), it puts pressure on us to win next week when we play them at home.

Relax, this isn't supposed to be a tourney team. Weaknesses will be exposed, some correctable, some only with more talent. Wahab blocked 9 shots, but wandered away from Moore so often that Isaih went 26 and 14 rebounds. Good teams will carve up Georgetown if this is how Wahab plays defense. With some corrections, we will drive and dish more when our guards and small forwards encounter Wahab - maybe by next Sunday.

It's frustrating, but admittedly a lot easier to post this the morning after and not right after the game. Perspective, right Panther?[/quote]

We are 0-2 in the conference and if posting the morning after works for you, do it. Many here have perspective but perspective does not mean being blind to what you are seeing. I respect CMA for taking the blame for the loss, hopefully that translates into something real. I agree he cannot play for the players, he is not missing free throws, throwing bad passes or committing untimely dumb fouls but the trend of playing tentative and folding at the end of games needs to addressed by the staff, plain and simple.[/quote]

You game critiques are valid, but obviously I'm not too concerned at this point about our record because I never believed we are a bubble team or anything close to it. I stated very early I felt this team was somewhere between 7-13 and 9-11 in conference, and I still think that's in range.[/quote]

Where are you seeing 7 or 9 wins? I don't see one team we are better than. Sad but just being honest. We can't beat SH, can't beat G'Town and the real big boys haven't even played us yet. We play a Creighton team next who played pretty bad and still took Kansas to the last second. We are not beating Creighton, Nova, SH, PC, Xavier, Marquette, UConn, etc. maybe Butler or DePaul...those in my mind are the only teams I think we actually have a shot against right now. 4-16 is a real possibility. My guess is 4-6 wins.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=408510]By the way, Dante Harris was a 2-star recruit. :whistle:[/quote]

This may have been a career game. two star recruits are greatly inconsistent. That's true of all two and three star recruits. We need to get four star recruits here. five stars is a reach.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=408533]I think Cole's offense will come around and get his shot off.

I am concerned about his speed, bad hands, weak passing and lack of defense against bigger guys.[/quote]. I was thinking the same things. His passes are lazy and gave away several points as a result . He’s not quick either . I agree his shooting is streaky . He can contribute , maybe swapping roles with Earlington .
 
[quote="Vinny" post=408551]It looks to me like we are now officially irrelevant in College basketball. It's been so long since we have consistently won or been a B.E. factor that basketballs new generation reacts to SJU with complete indifference. Many basketball fans are surprised to learn of SJU's success in the past, it's been that long. Aside from an aging alumni base SJU is just a basketball team and nothing more. Now, with our declining fan base and program is the time to quietly find a more appropriate conference to play in. It would be embarrassing, and painful to many of us but what's the point of the program we've become. Changing conference affiliation would put us in the position to compete yearly for NCCA berths and NIT. Floundering in the B.E. is pointless. Our time as a B.E. player has passed.[/quote]

I've been saying this for a few years now. We're a mid major team and with one or two exceptions have been since Jarvis left. Last night's game is a microcosm of the next ten years. We can keep Anderson...he'll recruit the same three star players...and we can dominate any mid major conference. Who doesn't like the idea of competing for NCAA and NIT berths EVERY year?
 
[quote="Vinny" post=408551]It looks to me like we are now officially irrelevant in College basketball. It's been so long since we have consistently won or been a B.E. factor that basketballs new generation reacts to SJU with complete indifference. Many basketball fans are surprised to learn of SJU's success in the past, it's been that long. Aside from an aging alumni base SJU is just a basketball team and nothing more. Now, with our declining fan base and program is the time to quietly find a more appropriate conference to play in. It would be embarrassing, and painful to many of us but what's the point of the program we've become. Changing conference affiliation would put us in the position to compete yearly for NCCA berths and NIT. Floundering in the B.E. is pointless. Our time as a B.E. player has passed.[/quote]

It won’t matter for the future as the Power 5 schools are planning to leave the NCAA and create their own group and it will not be including non football schools like the Big East. They are planning on their own March Madness tourney and CBS will go with them. They do not want to share their football revenue and potential hoops money with non football schools anymore.That will leave the non football schools alone in the NIT. My guess is that happens within 2 years. The Power 5 and Group of 5 schools are tired of the NCAA and their archaic rules and will branch out on their own. And when it becomes imminent, the better coaches will leave the Big East and latch on to Power 5 jobs as they open.
 
[quote="RedStormNC" post=408541][quote="Knight" post=408535]Per Zach
Mike Anderson said Josh Roberts is fine. Coach's decision. #sjubb[/quote]

Odd, not for him to sniff even 1-2 minutes early on.[/quote]. Well, Moore had a career game but , I agree with you that Roberts not playing does not bode well . He is a shot blocker and the GTown kids went to the rack off the dribble way too much . We could have used him stopping that .
 
We were up approximately 9 points when Dunn entered the game in the 2nd half and we were down approximately 3 when he left the game to never return. He had multiple turnovers, forced shots, missed bunnies, lousy defense etc. Despite all the analysis of why we lost this game, Dunn's horrendous performance is the overriding reason for me as too why we lost this game. Cole's performance included mightily to the loss.

PS: When Champagnie hustles to get a 50/50 ball, it will be the first of his career.
 
Not much to add that hasn't already been said....multiple times. Frustrating to loose a game like that. Still hoping we can make NIT but without OOC games to pad our win total, gonna be tough to do. Like GT, we have some nice parts but also lack some crucial parts, and overall our talent level is not sufficient to compete with the better teams in the Big East. We'll still win some games, but don't see it being enough to make it to the NIT. I'm not ready to throw CMA under the bus, but he needs to see that he cannot win in the Big East with the this level of talent. As for his brand of ball, I don't see him changing. It's what he's built his career success. He got some criticism about it at Ark as well. So get used to it, and just hope he brings in more talent and some skilled big man(men).
 
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