Potential Dark Horse

[MBaldi]

The following is a link to a pretty good article about the team and its potential to be a dark horse, in the Big East and possibly nationally.

http://www.todaysu.com/big-east/st-johns-red-storm/major-conference-dark-horse-st-johns-red-storm/

Focuses largely on Mussini, Yakwe, Lovett and Ponds. All four are important pieces of the team, but it's as much about what/who the article doesn't mention that makes me think that there really is real potential this year. No mention of Yakwe, Ahmed, Freudenberg, Ellison or other role players who may provide depth, eg, Williams, Owens. At the end of the day I believe that we have some special talent but lack the intangible experience that we will make the team especially dangerous next year. I guess that's what makes us a dark horse this year, i.e., unproven potential.

 

[MBaldi]

My apologies. The article mentions Sima, not Yakwe.

 

[Spocky Ramone]

and it's name is Thunder!

 

[monte]

The following is a link to a pretty good article about the team and its potential to be a dark horse, in the Big East and possibly nationally.

http://www.todaysu.com/big-east/st-johns-red-storm/major-conference-dark-horse-st-johns-red-storm/

Focuses largely on Mussini, Yakwe, Lovett and Ponds. All four are important pieces of the team, but it's as much about what/who the article doesn't mention that makes me think that there really is real potential this year. No mention of Yakwe, Ahmed, Freudenberg, Ellison or other role players who may provide depth, eg, Williams, Owens. At the end of the day I believe that we have some special talent but lack the intangible experience that we will make the team especially dangerous next year. I guess that's what makes us a dark horse this year, i.e., unproven potential.

Certainly an encouraging piece, although with no mention of Yakwe, Ahmed, etc, it's almost as though he understated our upside and our potential to be a dark horse. Appreciate the basic premise of the article, but the author should have done some more homework. Could have done that easily by checking on Redmen.com. .

 

[Valgoth]

The following is a link to a pretty good article about the team and its potential to be a dark horse, in the Big East and possibly nationally.

http://www.todaysu.com/big-east/st-johns-red-storm/major-conference-dark-horse-st-johns-red-storm/

Focuses largely on Mussini, Yakwe, Lovett and Ponds. All four are important pieces of the team, but it's as much about what/who the article doesn't mention that makes me think that there really is real potential this year. No mention of Yakwe, Ahmed, Freudenberg, Ellison or other role players who may provide depth, eg, Williams, Owens. At the end of the day I believe that we have some special talent but lack the intangible experience that we will make the team especially dangerous next year. I guess that's what makes us a dark horse this year, i.e., unproven potential.

at the end of the day, I thought you were channeling antrel rolle lol

 

[beast of the east]

i would say more long shot than dark horse. So many things would have to fall right in terms of new players stepping right in.

 

[Muse]

The single most important person on the team is C.M.. His coaching will make or break each individual and the team itself. We did not get any insight last year

 

[rcatalano]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

 

[mjmaherjr]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

How do I not remember seeing this screen name with your number of posts ?

Give me some time and I'll figure it out. lol

 

[MarkRedman]

Most people seem to think that we should win 15 - 17 games this year
While that's a realistic goal, I have a gut feeling that we may surprise a lot of people

 

[rcatalano]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

How do I not remember seeing this screen name with your number of posts ?

Give me some time and I'll figure it out. lol

Mj you are an old timer like me, you will figure it out!

 

[Andrew]

This article is like a fill in the blank story. You could write this article for 50 teams with minimal changes.

 

[MBaldi]

MJ and Catman, I'm also a (quasi) old-timer. Been a HUGE fan since 84-85, and on redmen.com from the very beginning (which I remember was around mid-1998). I should not be confused with another poster with similar name. Seriously, nothiing to figure out with infrequent posts (other than infrequent poster). Just a big fan with positive energy.

 

[monte]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

If I had asked you after BM's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. If I had asked you after Lav's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. 2 points here: 1) we are likely not going to know this coming year whether Chris will turn out to be a good coach or not, so you may be haunted for a while. And 2) most anyone with the right players, especially the right point guard(Cain for BM, Hardy-although not a true PG- for Lav), and the right staff, can be a good coach. Maybe not a great coach, but a good coach. Continue to get the players, keep a good staff, and IMO Chris will be a good coach at the very least.

 

[redmannorth]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

If I had asked you after BM's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. If I had asked you after Lav's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. 2 points here: 1) we are likely not going to know this coming year whether Chris will turn out to be a good coach or not, so you may be haunted for a while. And 2) most anyone with the right players, especially the right point guard(Cain for BM, Hardy-although not a true PG- for Lav), and the right staff, can be a good coach. Maybe not a great coach, but a good coach. Continue to get the players, keep a good staff, and IMO Chris will be a good coach at the very least.

Agree with everything you say Monte but would like to add if team wins 16 games this season with 2 returning sophomore starters I for one will have great confidence in the staff. If we win 12 doubts will continue to linger.

 

[monte]

Good article but I cannot believe they did not mention Yawke!!! Another point which I believe is right on and which haunts me every day is can CM coach! Hope to see a major improvement over last year! Let's keep our fingers crossed!

If I had asked you after BM's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. If I had asked you after Lav's first year if he was a good coach you would have said yes. 2 points here: 1) we are likely not going to know this coming year whether Chris will turn out to be a good coach or not, so you may be haunted for a while. And 2) most anyone with the right players, especially the right point guard(Cain for BM, Hardy-although not a true PG- for Lav), and the right staff, can be a good coach. Maybe not a great coach, but a good coach. Continue to get the players, keep a good staff, and IMO Chris will be a good coach at the very least.

Agree with everything you say Monte but would like to add if team wins 16 games this season with 2 returning sophomore starters I for one will have great confidence in the staff. If we win 12 doubts will continue to linger.

Valid point RN. I actually already have the utmost confidence in the staff, as previously expressed. I guess the point I was trying to make is that as far as W-Ls go, we will need to judge Chris over a period of time, not based on one year, good or bad. I fully expect a marked improvement this year, and another horrendous year will certainly add more concerns, but still not ready to bestow a label on Chris after this season. Way to early.

 

[monte]

Want to add one more thing. The 81-82 Duke team won 10 games. The 82-84 team won 11 games with a team that featured Dawkins, Amaker, Bilas, Alarie, Henderson, etc. I am sure that the Duke fan base expected much more improvement than 1 victory, and were likely calling for K's head. We know how that turned out. Which brings me back to my original point, which is that Rome wasnt built in a day, and that we are in very good hands with this staff. Lets not hang on every win/loss in an effort to determine if Chris if can be a successful head coach. We'll have our answer in due time.

 

[rcatalano]

I guess you are right Monte! I remember many moons ago while attending SJU, I think it was 1968 when I was in the men's bathroom in Alumni Hall at the urinal when Louie walked in right next to me doing his thing. We began talking and he said something to the effect that you need the horses to win and that coaching was overrated! I never forgot that and to his credit he is probably right! Great players overshadow many coaching deficiencies!

 

[beast of the east]

Want to add one more thing. The 81-82 Duke team won 10 games. The 82-84 team won 11 games with a team that featured Dawkins, Amaker, Bilas, Alarie, Henderson, etc. I am sure that the Duke fan base expected much more improvement than 1 victory, and were likely calling for K's head. We know how that turned out. Which brings me back to my original point, which is that Rome wasnt built in a day, and that we are in very good hands with this staff. Lets not hang on every win/loss in an effort to determine if Chris if can be a successful head coach. We'll have our answer in due time.

Wins and losses don't make a good coach. There are great coaches who never won much, and lousy ones who won a lot but not enough.

There is a great interview of John Wooden by Charlie Rose. Rose asked Wooden if he agreed with those who proclaim him the greatest coach in basketball history. Wooden scoffed at the notion, and said with conviction "I am no where close to being the best coach ever in basketball. It is far more likely that better coaches exist across America, in high school gyms in places you've never heard of, who never receive much acclaim, who are far better than me."

While winning doesn't make a good coach, the absence of winning when you don't have the horses doesn't necessarily absolve you.

 

[L J S A]

I guess you are right Monte! I remember many moons ago while attending SJU, I think it was 1968 when I was in the men's bathroom in Alumni Hall at the urinal when Louie walked in right next to me doing his thing. We began talking and he said something to the effect that you need the horses to win and that coaching was overrated! I never forgot that and to his credit he is probably right! Great players overshadow many coaching deficiencies!

I generally prefer that people leave me alone at the urinal, but sure, I'd speak to Louie there.