Yup
Rick Pitino - Head Coach at St John’s University!!!
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Boo Harvey
Well-known member
He clarified in response to a follow up that he wasn’t suggesting this team wouldn’t dance
The story on Pitino to St. Johns obviously has yet to be written but he and the administration did what they had to do personnel wise; then he started selling the hype, which was bought hook, line and sinker by the media and most, not all, of this fan base. Soriano was going to be transformed into an NBA player, Luis was the best talent he’d ever coached, etc., etc.
All nonsense, very good publicity, it let everyone know he was back, but nonsense.
RMN summed a lot of it very nicely above, I disagree with the Alexander and Wusu spin but so what, we disagree. What I agree 100% with is the filling of the roster, it was a mad dash, not a let’s sit down and map out a strategy type effort, unfortunately, it HAD to be that. People can disagree whether the roster should have bern jettisoned but the fact is it was, a collective decision, and deemed necessary by the people paid to make that decision.
But the expectations with Pitino’s hiring far exceeded the reality. People bought in, but in some ways molding a team of 5th year players together can be much harder than with all freshman for obvious reasons and it just hasn’t happened. Perhaps trying to mold a group of 5th players and Pitino was doomed to failure, players set in their style of play who never played together, paired with a coach used to doing it his way over decades. Yes, roster turnover has worked in other places but every situation is unique, this is not remotely a cookie cutter business.
Pitino should be judged the same as any new coach, a couple of years down the line, not by the haphazard, disjointed, unusual, and at least so far, frustrating circumstances of this year.
All nonsense, very good publicity, it let everyone know he was back, but nonsense.
RMN summed a lot of it very nicely above, I disagree with the Alexander and Wusu spin but so what, we disagree. What I agree 100% with is the filling of the roster, it was a mad dash, not a let’s sit down and map out a strategy type effort, unfortunately, it HAD to be that. People can disagree whether the roster should have bern jettisoned but the fact is it was, a collective decision, and deemed necessary by the people paid to make that decision.
But the expectations with Pitino’s hiring far exceeded the reality. People bought in, but in some ways molding a team of 5th year players together can be much harder than with all freshman for obvious reasons and it just hasn’t happened. Perhaps trying to mold a group of 5th players and Pitino was doomed to failure, players set in their style of play who never played together, paired with a coach used to doing it his way over decades. Yes, roster turnover has worked in other places but every situation is unique, this is not remotely a cookie cutter business.
Pitino should be judged the same as any new coach, a couple of years down the line, not by the haphazard, disjointed, unusual, and at least so far, frustrating circumstances of this year.
Boo Harvey
Well-known member
Given the current makeup of the returning roster, the likelihood that some will transfer, and the freshmen we have coming in, won’t this year also be a “mad dash” in the portal?
Sure we won’t have quite as many roster spots to fill, but we’ll have a bunch and how well we do in the portal will go a long way toward determining our success next year.
Certainly possible but it won’t be a “mad dash” regardless. Every program in the country is living with the uncertain reality of free agency, but that is the very reason Matt A. was hired. He and the staff internally are not sitting by idly waiting to see what happens.
Even if we fail to dance, and a crystal ball indicated such in year 1 when Rick was hired, I would have taken that in a heart beat. Getting him for five or six years considering we were stuck in neutral, was fortuitous. This is not blind faith, but common sense.
Let’s finish strong and see where that gets us. I am already focused on big picture, getting program on the ever elusive “continuous high level play and success track”
Let’s finish strong and see where that gets us. I am already focused on big picture, getting program on the ever elusive “continuous high level play and success track”
gonzalo
Well-known member
Jones averages 14.83 shots per game, only two more than Jenkins (12.83).
Plus he's shooting 48% overall, 41% from three and 79% from the line all while averaging 7 boards per game. The kid is having an excellent final year, no reason to do anything but congratulate him; I'm sure Penny is encouraging him to keep shooting it at those percentages.
Define mad dash. Mad dash is replacing an entire team in a 2 month timespan without any foundation. Yes there may be a pretty large number of spots to fill but there will have been a year to lay the foundation. Unfortunately if you look at this year's results the PR campaign has not been as good as you may want but it's still the CRP brand. There's 8 underclassmen on the roster and 3 frosh signed already. Not saying all commitments will stick but it's a much less daunting task.
My hope is most stay and for Zubi, RJ and Glenn to grow as players and into CRP's system, Brady and Sim to become sophomores (best thing about freshmen), Jaiden to live up to the hype and Lefty, given his pro experience, to be an effective role player. And Drissa to continue to evolve into someone who can provide quality spot minutes if he stays. Maker is a ?. Cruz and Ayo could well be gone to more appropriate levels of play. But there needs to at least be a high quality PG, a high quality scorer, and another experienced big, all preferably with high or high mid major experience, added in the portal. After that it's gravy. So 3 key portal players with a year of research is a far less mad dash then 12 players in 2 months.
I would just say 4* key portal players... feel as though we will Need 2 Contributing BIGs to have success (in addition to your aforementioned PG / Scoring guard)
Really depends on if CRP wants to go Euro style stretch 4 (RJ and a transfer) or traditional I guess.
I suggest you reread my post, pretty clearly I said it “won’t” be a mad dash this year.
I don't see Maker contributing much at all... and with Zuby as the only contributing "BIG" on the roster as of yet (love Drissa... but let's be real) - don't think Rick wants to be caught in the same predicament as this year...
Think he wants atleast 3 guys 6'9+ that he can feel confident playing 20+mins/game if need be.
If CRP wants to just rotate in his true "bigs" for the C position like he's done this year a quality transfer and Zubi would be good with Maker in very limited make up and mop up minutes but another between Zubi/top portal guy and Maker would be good insurance. However in that case you are allocating 33-40% of your roster spots to one position.
I agree they need more size but I don't classify a stretch 4, who should be around 6'9", as a traditional big. I guess it's a matter of semantics but agree that with the remaining slots, however many there are, there would need to be another productive guy of that height with offensive skills his primary asset (Karaban (under 6'9")/Mason Miller/Tre Mitchell type or similar) added to the quality Center.. Ayo isn't that guy, nor Drissa.
That said UConn for example only plays 2 guys over 6'8", the third guys of that height on Creighton and Marquette don't play much. All those teams have a guy that height on RS/not seeing minutes ready to step in for Kalk/Donovan/Oso if not at that level. Today's game accentuates skill over size anyway.
Jones put up 24 shots in a game a few weeks ago . The next highest shot total on his team that night was 7 .
Unless your Stephen Curry , 24 shots is unconscionable .
Have you forgotten Jones shot selection last year ?
L J S A
Well-known member
He did shoot 50 percent though, and 45.5 from 3 that game. But I guess 0 assists is an issue in a two-point loss if he took a bad shot or two instead of dishing off for a higher percentage one.
Yes , in that game yes . But , if you were a teammate would you like to watch Jones fire away and never see the ball ?
It’s more his shot selection attitude . Like I have the ball and I’m putting it up . Screw you .
L J S A
Well-known member
Not disputing it sucks, but on a defensively challenged team, could we have used him if Pitino could rein him in a bit?
That said, I don't know particulars of why he is no longer here. That leak never trickled all the way down to the masses like some other players' situations.