(POST GAME) @Xavier, Wed., Feb. 16, 6:30p, CBSSN

[beast of the east]

This is one of those games where you go what if, especially either UConn game, the SH game or either Providence game and we’d be in so much better shape. Where was some of this finishing we got tonight? 

Nothing you can do about that now. I happened to be able to watch the last 8 minutes so I got to see the best part. Bottle this and finish the season like this. It’s possible. 

There is now 3 years of evidence that CMA teams do get better as the season progresses, completely refuting claims on here that he cannot coach.   If he is able to recruit the next level of talent, we'd begin a season in better shape, and be a team that could do real damage in the NCAA tournament.   Let's hope.

 

[usguard]

Think the best game played all yr. Now if the energy and shooting can stay like this so we can pick up more important wins?.

 

[we are sju]

Since Anderson gets his share of criticism, he does deserve some credit for getting the message across to Mathis re shot selection and knowing his limits:

Per @JohnniesTape
Montez Mathis shot 3 of 22 with 7 points combined against Georgetown, Butler, and Villanova. The last 2 games he has shot 10 of 14 with 24 points. Great to see him attacking the rim and improved shot selection.

Wusu next
Took him out after 2nd crazy TO at end
But honestly too long a leash this year with Mathis and Wusu
Short leash with Soriano, Smith , Coburn and the most egregious with Wheeler early on.

 

 

[kranmars]

This is one of those games where you go what if, especially either UConn game, the SH game or either Providence game and we’d be in so much better shape. Where was some of this finishing we got tonight? 

Nothing you can do about that now. I happened to be able to watch the last 8 minutes so I got to see the best part. Bottle this and finish the season like this. It’s possible. 

There is now 3 years of evidence that CMA teams do get better as the season progresses, completely refuting claims on here that he cannot coach.   If he is able to recruit the next level of talent, we'd begin a season in better shape, and be a team that could do real damage in the NCAA tournament.   Let's hope.

A little strong on the hyperbole about “refuting the claim on here that he cannot coach.”

We all acknowledge Anderson can coach. He has been doing it for a long time, and never had a losing record.

And you are correct that his teams have improved as the season progressed. The frustration comes from being in year three, with talent that is worthy of the top half of the conference, the record should be better.

This should be a NCAA tournament team. There is no reason they must scratch and crawl while requiring a razor thin margin of error to be in the conversation for the NCAA’s.

We all want Anderson to succeed. If he does, so does the program. Even the folks who did not like the hire, will be first in line to erect a statue of the guy if he gets SJU to the Final Four. It is as simple as that.

We are…

 

[fordham96]

Who would've thought that a team who had gone almost a year without winning a road game would have a streak where their last 4 league wins were all on the road: @SHU, @Georgetown, @Butler and @Xavier.

That would be even better if they didn't simultaneously lose their last 4 home games: SHU, PC, Nova and UCONN.  

But there are opportunities left for sure.

 

[beast of the east]

This is one of those games where you go what if, especially either UConn game, the SH game or either Providence game and we’d be in so much better shape. Where was some of this finishing we got tonight? 

Nothing you can do about that now. I happened to be able to watch the last 8 minutes so I got to see the best part. Bottle this and finish the season like this. It’s possible. 

There is now 3 years of evidence that CMA teams do get better as the season progresses, completely refuting claims on here that he cannot coach.   If he is able to recruit the next level of talent, we'd begin a season in better shape, and be a team that could do real damage in the NCAA tournament.   Let's hope.

A little strong on the hyperbole about “refuting the claim on here that he cannot coach.”

We all acknowledge Anderson can coach. He has been doing it for a long time, and never had a losing record.

And you are correct that his teams have improved as the season progressed. The frustration complaint comes from being in year three, with talent that is worthy of the top half of the conference, the record should be better.

This should be a NCAA tournament team. There is no reason the must scratch and crawl while requiring a razor thin margin of error to be in the conversation for the NCAA’s.

We all want Anderson to succeed. If he does, so does the program. Even the folks who did not like the hire, will be first in line to erect a statue of the guy if he gets SJU to the Final Four. It is as simple as that.

We are…

A good friend of mine cautions to stay off line after tough losses. The stuff that some people post is purely temper tantrum, like witnessing a 6 year old throwing a fit in the shopping mall. I usually watch to see how the parents react, because I sometimes fear there uncontrolled loss of temper will get physical.

While i agree that most people return to their senses, if we scrolled through the worst that's been said about Anderson, it attacks almost every aspect of his ability to coach.

Admittedly many of the same people to went so far to call for his firing and name replacements, calm down, back off, and say he should get a season 4 to prove himself.

I'm happy we played well last night but have also said all along that we are very close to being a good team. Expect to win is the team's motto, and as such, I'm trying to take it in stride as partly general improvement and part full roster available.

We have great passionate fans. We just need more of them.

We are...

 

[NCJohnnie]

One and a half games separating 4 teams (Xavier, Hall, SJU & Butler) for 6th through 9th place. Butler has a brutal schedule - Hall likely has the easiest. One game at a time starting with Butler at home tomorrow. 

 

[Knight]

No one is firing coach Anderson.  But this is one game where all the parts were working.  I am glad to see Anderson giving it to the officials.  /media/kunena/emoticons/smile.png

 

[redmanwest]

It is just frustrating that this team, with a a lot of good pieces, took so long to gel (if they indeed have), since there are at least 3 or 4 games that could/should have gone the other way for us.  And, if either Champ had not slumped or Posh had not missed  those games, we likely would have been in a MUCH better place right now.  But those are the challanges of being a St. John's fan.

 

[Ray Morgan]

Overall, 54% from the field, 40% from 3 and 83% for the line. Shooting the ball well cures a lot of ills. For those thinking there is no offensive plan, 24 assists on 34 made field goals. Ball movement was excellent. The game was a pleasure to watch as it showed what the guys can do when they play together and within themselves.

 

[beast of the east]

One and a half games separating 4 teams (Xavier, Hall, SJU & Butler) for 6th through 9th place. Butler has a brutal schedule - Hall likely has the easiest. One game at a time starting with Butler at home tomorrow. 

I know coach just wants the team to focus on Friday, as he should.  We cannot afford one more stumble.   My early prediction that i've stuck with was 10 or 11 wins in a 20 game conference schedule.   Since we lost a home game and are now at 19 games, it would have been adjusted down 1.  While 10 wins is possible, 9 is very doable.    While that would leave us out of the tourney (10-10 would have made us a weak bubble team except for Gtowns collapse) 
 

 

[Mullins Revenge]

For potential reimbursement reasons since I have Stubhub bought tickets in limbo, I'm still trying to get official answer if December Marquette game is going to be officially canceled.

would stink for team if we went on a run,, got close and another potential W would help us but didn't get rescheduled.

Hoping for update from ticket office tomorrow.




 

If you look at both teams schedules, I cant see a spot where they can get the game in.  And with a game at carnesseca not benefiting Marquette at all, they will be just fine not playing that game.

Agree...but if league wanted, I could see them playing on 3/7...2 days after their 3/5 game, 2 days before BET.

I just wish they'd make official decision so I don't get burned on $. (I paid a decent amount for three seatbacks....lol)

I dont think that week is eligible for games. Youd be asking st johns to play Sat, Monday and possibly Wed, Thursday, Fri and Sat.  They would never do that.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

One and a half games separating 4 teams (Xavier, Hall, SJU & Butler) for 6th through 9th place. Butler has a brutal schedule - Hall likely has the easiest. One game at a time starting with Butler at home tomorrow.                               Good post , NCJohnnie.  We can now begin to speculate as to what the rest of the BE schedule will result in for our team and the other teams in the 6 through 9 th place standings .                                   At our current 6 -8 we are tied with SH .  They have a much stronger SOS and more quality wins .        The speculation comes into play if we still believe the BE will be a 7 Team NCAA league .       Xavier is now 7-7 in the league and has away games vs PC and UCONN .                       At this point , both SH and X could drop out of the Tournament brackets and we could conceivably finish 10-8 , losing to Marquette on their floor . That would assume Home wins against Creighton , Butler , Xavier and 1 road Win at DePaul or , Marquette .   Will that be enough to secure a bid ?  I say NO , without at least 2 BE Tourney Wins .   It’s also possible the BE could easily drop to 5 teams instead of 7  . It was a very good quality Win at Xavier , similar to our Win vs SH at their Court .   Our problem is we haven’t protected home court .     Marquette on the Road would be a 3 rd Quality win .                  As for last night , 3 things as a observation .       Why was Coburn pulled with about 5 minutes remaining ?  He was hot and having a Career shooting night and the game was not yet wrapped up .   Second , why put the shaky Wusu back in the game with a minute left and give him the ball to distribute ?  He promptly made 3 errors in about 30 seconds and turned it over .  It didn’t matter last night but , it has  in prior games and might have cost us Chances to Win . Chances that can’t be recovered .  Clearly , Iron Mike has blinders on with Wusu and it’s a reason , albeit a small one , why the ? Question Mark still remains on our Coach .  Posh must have the ball in end of game moments , not Wusu .   Even Mathis would be a better option on my opinion . 

 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Coburn played very well last night but we absolutely had the right 5 in down the stretch - Posh, Champ, Mathis, who played an excellent game, Soriano & Wheeler; they were playing so well together. I posted in the game thread with about 5 and half minutes to go "please let these guys finish". Thankfully CMA did just that until the last 30 seconds where he put Wusu back in briefly. 

 

[SJU Double Alumn]

 

 

And you are correct that his teams have improved as the season progressed. The frustration comes from being in year three, with talent that is worthy of the top half of the conference, the record should be better.

This should be a NCAA tournament team. There is no reason they must scratch and crawl while requiring a razor thin margin of error to be in the conversation for the NCAA’s.



 

That is not how things work in sports. What people expect based "on paper" before the season doesn't just transfer to the court. Posh playing hurt and then missing games to injuries, Champ losing his shot for most of the season, lots of new players needing to figure out their games, some having to adapt to higher levels of competition. losing Pinzon. These aren't things that a coach can just snap his fingers and it all happens. And it's not like the talent levels of the top 8 teams in this league are that disparate. Lots of posters here like to blame the coach every time a player misses a shot or turns the ball over, but this isn't a video game with the coach directing the players with a controller on the sideline. Let's see how we finish and then evaluate how everyone did this season.

 

[kranmars]

That is not how things work in sports. What people expect based "on paper" before the season doesn't just transfer to the court. Posh playing hurt and then missing games to injuries, Champ losing his shot for most of the season, lots of new players needing to figure out their games, some having to adapt to higher levels of competition. losing Pinzon. These aren't things that a coach can just snap his fingers and it all happens. And it's not like the talent levels of the top 8 teams in this league are that disparate. Lots of posters here like to blame the coach every time a player misses a shot or turns the ball over, but this isn't a video game with the coach directing the players with a controller on the sideline. Let's see how we finish and then evaluate how everyone did this season.

Thank you for explaining how sports work. Metaphor for life. Just when you think you have things figured out, we are thrown a curve.

I think every coach can make that excuse. Injuries, missed layups and free throws happen all of the time. This isn’t unique to SJU.

But if you are going to bring up the injuries and missed easy baskets then you can blame the coach for building an imperfect roster. You cannot absolve Anderson for the abysmal late game offense.

I never said fire Anderson (not that it matters much because he is coming back). Waiting for the season to end has always been the fair and reasonable approach anyway.

But I will never agree that we should just chalk up this disappointing season (so far) to injuries and bad luck.

 

[Knight]

Please stay on topic.

 

[lawmanfan]

Did not see that one coming.  I guess it makes a difference when Posh plays, Champ is Champ, and another scoring option appears.

It also helped that Xavier opted not to take advantage of the opportunities we gave them to make a game of it late.  Although I suppose some credit for that might go to the Anderson "wear them down so you're stronger than they are late" approach.

Happy to see the team have some success - hope they can keep it going Friday.

How weird is it that in an otherwise meh season we have road wins at Xavier, Butler, Seton Hall and Georgetown? 

 

[fordham96]

Every team especially this year has had to live with injuries and missing players in key games (COVID).

I brought this up number of times, Providence did not have Reeves at Providence when SJU played them, SHU was missing Aiken both times SJU played them.  In other words SJU benefitted from other team's misfortunes.  And SJU lost 2 out of those 3 games.  SJU got blown out at Creighton and Villanova at full strength.

A team in his 3rd year as coach when everyone celebrated them being picked 4th is standing in 3rd week of February with a 90 NET and 7 BE teams are projected to be NCAA teams and the team picked 4th is not one of them can rightfully be described as a disappointment.  There is nothing overtly wrong about that.

kranmars post=458389

 

Thank you for explaining how sports work. Metaphor for life. Just when you think you have things figured out, we are thrown a curve.

I think every coach can make that excuse. Injuries, missed layups and free throws happen all of the time. This isn’t unique to SJU.

But if you are going to bring up the injuries and missed easy baskets then you can blame the coach for building an imperfect roster. You cannot absolve Anderson for the abysmal late game offense.

I never said fire Anderson (not that it matters much because he is coming back). Waiting for the season to end has always been the fair and reasonable approach anyway.

But I will never agree that we should just chalk up this disappointing season (so far) to injuries and bad luck.

 

[kranmars]

Did not see that one coming.  I guess it makes a difference when Posh plays, Champ is Champ, and another scoring option appears.

It also helped that Xavier opted not to take advantage of the opportunities we gave them to make a game of it late.  Although I suppose some credit for that might go to the Anderson "wear them down so you're stronger than they are late" approach.

Happy to see the team have some success - hope they can keep it going Friday.

How weird is it that in an otherwise meh season we have road wins at Xavier, Butler, Seton Hall and Georgetown? 

Yup. Their new house of horrors is MSG.