Rothstein on campus today

[Andrew]

I hope I am right in interpreting Rothstein's comments that LoVett, Ellison and Ponds will all be playing more minutes than Mussini. A very important barometer of SJU's success next season.

I am curious to see if Mussini can help us with his shooting this year. I have been on record and will reiterate that what I saw from him last year was a guy that looked lost in D-1 at the start of the season and only made a small improvement in the Marquette game in the BET. Honestly, I hope he goes back to Italy after this season to free up a roster spot.

 

[hnkcolumbia]

His foul shooting could potentially really help at end of games if other guys don't step up and we have narrow leads.

 

[Andrew]

His foul shooting could potentially really help at end of games if other guys don't step up and we have narrow leads.

Agreed. Ponds is a decent foul shooter but not as good as Mussini and don't know about Lovett. Ellison needs a lot of improvement there.

 

[Red.Fans]

last season was destined - starting 3+ years ago to be a train wreck and it is unduly harsh on Mussini who was a Frosh playing out of position and most likely did not sign on to be the team leader in a foreign country in his second language on a squad in total disarray with no one else really providing any leadership other than another frosh who came in late and was considered a borderline redshirt project himself.
If he is leading the team again this season we have bigger problems. He is a nice 4 year player that should be in a complimentary role and could provide some highlights there. He'll be much more effective off the ball with good ball movement/passing both of which Lovett and Ponds can hopefully provide. On the contrary to the criticisms, I'm looking forward to seeing him play in that type of role.

 

[kranmars]

I hope I am right in interpreting Rothstein's comments that LoVett, Ellison and Ponds will all be playing more minutes than Mussini. A very important barometer of SJU's success next season.

I am curious to see if Mussini can help us with his shooting this year. I have been on record and will reiterate that what I saw from him last year was a guy that looked lost in D-1 at the start of the season and only made a small improvement in the Marquette game in the BET. Honestly, I hope he goes back to Italy after this season to free up a roster spot.

That is harsh.

 

[Sherman Sheridan & Grant]

last season was destined - starting 3+ years ago to be a train wreck and it is unduly harsh on Mussini who was a Frosh playing out of position and most likely did not sign on to be the team leader in a foreign country in his second language on a squad in total disarray with no one else really providing any leadership other than another frosh who came in late and was considered a borderline redshirt project himself.
If he is leading the team again this season we have bigger problems. He is a nice 4 year player that should be in a complimentary role and could provide some highlights there. He'll be much more effective off the ball with good ball movement/passing both of which Lovett and Ponds can hopefully provide. On the contrary to the criticisms, I'm looking forward to seeing him play in that type of role.

i

Excellent commentary Paul! Such salient points about Mussini who was, as you indicate, put in an impossible situation.
Thanks!

 

[MCNPA]

Mussini will play a very nice role as shooter off the bench and as a 3rd or 4th guard. He learned the position in trial by fire last year. Mthe can only help us in a more limited role, where his shots don't have to come off the dribble and with his free throw shooting. People will be very happy with him down the stretch.

 

[Knight]

More concerned that ME will wear down, then about FM's contribution.

 

[austour]

I hope I am right in interpreting Rothstein's comments that LoVett, Ellison and Ponds will all be playing more minutes than Mussini. A very important barometer of SJU's success next season.

I am curious to see if Mussini can help us with his shooting this year. I have been on record and will reiterate that what I saw from him last year was a guy that looked lost in D-1 at the start of the season and only made a small improvement in the Marquette game in the BET. Honestly, I hope he goes back to Italy after this season to free up a roster spot.

That is harsh.

Kind of harsh but think about the fact that the team is one over the scholarship limit for 17/18, and even when they figure that out there would only be one more ride available for class of 18. I see Darien grad transferring after this year, but someone else will also have to go if there's going to be another class of 17 player added. In Class of 18 there are a lot of targets, so either someone's gotta go (Fred and/or Tariq as another grad transfer?) or it's another 1 player class.

 

[hnkcolumbia]

Amar.....or all of them?

 

[mjmaherjr]

@JonRothstein: "Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens just told me that he's 6'11" and just 195 pounds. Someone needs to take this kid to Campagnola"

I'd be glad to, it's right around the corner from me.

He would get as good a meal at Park Side in Corona just 15 minutes from the campus at one third the price.

I freaking love that place. I could eat that bread basket just for dinner

 

[mjmaherjr]

@JonRothstein: "Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens just told me that he's 6'11" and just 195 pounds. Someone needs to take this kid to Campagnola"

I'd be glad to, it's right around the corner from me.

He would get as good a meal at Park Side in Corona just 15 minutes from the campus at one third the price.

I love Parkside !!!!!

I expected 72 to love that place but you just got a +1 for surprising me

 

[redfanO10101ll]

I'm a Mussini defender. It's all about expectations. I think if Mussini had arrived when we had a decent team and only been asked to play 5-10 mins a game off the bench we'd be talking about how lucky we are to have a guy like this. I don't think anybody here thinks Mussini is destined to be an all-conference type player. He shouldn't have been playing 35 minutes a game and having to make him the primary ball-handler was a nightmare. And he is indeed a bad defender. Everybody was pretty bad defensively last year except for maybe Yakwe. When he's just another guy off the bench and not the focus of the other team's defense he's going to be a deadly shooter. I think pointing to his FG% from last year is extremely misleading. I'd love to see him stay here 4 years. Hopefully LoVett and Ponds develop into the stars we hope they can be and Mussini settles into a reliable leader for the 2nd unit. The experience from last year's disaster may actually serve him well going forward.

 

[monte]

@JonRothstein: "Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens just told me that he's 6'11" and just 195 pounds. Someone needs to take this kid to Campagnola"

I'd be glad to, it's right around the corner from me.

He would get as good a meal at Park Side in Corona just 15 minutes from the campus at one third the price.

I freaking love that place. I could eat that bread basket just for dinner

Joe's on Forest Ave in Ridgewood Queens, my old hood, is phenomenal. Décor hasn't been updated in God knows how long, but the food is consistently excellent and the service amazing. Went there with a group of my old Bushwick boys a few weeks back and we ate and drank like sailors and the bill came out to $75.00 per head, including tax and tip. Can't beat that. Only problem is parking, and there's no valet.

 

[JackofVirginia]

@JonRothstein: "Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens just told me that he's 6'11" and just 195 pounds. Someone needs to take this kid to Campagnola"

I guess they weighed him with his shoes on, cause the roster lists him at 200 lbs. Hoped he was going to come in with 30 which really is not that unrealistic if he was disciplined with aggressive eating and training over one year.

That said, looking forward to see how he does this year and hope he exceeds expectations.

Hakim Warrick style player, w/o his level of ability, not a center. Running floor & blocking some shots seem his best attributes. Hopefully he is a good sub, but IMO is not the impact player some posters were expecting. Hope he proves me wrong.

That's what it sounded like all along. Don't think anyone expected much, however it would be nice if he surprises us all.

 

[JackofVirginia]

I hope I am right in interpreting Rothstein's comments that LoVett, Ellison and Ponds will all be playing more minutes than Mussini. A very important barometer of SJU's success next season.

I am curious to see if Mussini can help us with his shooting this year. I have been on record and will reiterate that what I saw from him last year was a guy that looked lost in D-1 at the start of the season and only made a small improvement in the Marquette game in the BET. Honestly, I hope he goes back to Italy after this season to free up a roster spot.

Don't believe he was lost in D1 competition but certainly had a difficult time getting off his jumpers. Either the competition got around poor picks or there wasn't any for him.

 

[usguard]

@JonRothstein: "Tennessee transfer Tariq Owens just told me that he's 6'11" and just 195 pounds. Someone needs to take this kid to Campagnola"

I guess they weighed him with his shoes on, cause the roster lists him at 200 lbs. Hoped he was going to come in with 30 which really is not that unrealistic if he was disciplined with aggressive eating and training over one year.

That said, looking forward to see how he does this year and hope he exceeds expectations.

Hakim Warrick style player, w/o his level of ability, not a center. Running floor & blocking some shots seem his best attributes. Hopefully he is a good sub, but IMO is not the impact player some posters were expecting. Hope he proves me wrong.

That's what it sounded like all along. Don't think anyone expected much, however it would be nice if he surprises us all.

Not going to say anything neg about Mussini since I predict he will have a very good yr and would not be surprised if he starts early All our guards will see good mins

 

[redmannorth]

@JonRothstein: "St John's went Mike Brey in adding Justin Simon and Marvin Clark - "get old and stay old!!" Both should start in 17-18.

Appreciate Rothstein being on campus and all the positive tweets but I don't see Clark starting over Yakwe or Ahmed nor do I see Simon staring over Lovett. However , I see them both being in our top 8 and 9 of the rotation. Next season will be the deepest team we have had in 35 years.

 

[Andrew]

I didn't write what I did because I hope Mussini plays bad, I wrote it based only my evaluation of him as a player. My expectation for a Division 1 guard is that you can bring the ball up the court against schools like St. Thomas Aquinas and LIU Brooklyn. I don't care if you are a point guard or a shooting guard.

 

[Class of 72]

I didn't write what I did because I hope Mussini plays bad, I wrote it based only my evaluation of him as a player. My expectation for a Division 1 guard is that you can bring the ball up the court against schools like St. Thomas Aquinas and LIU Brooklyn. I don't care if you are a point guard or a shooting guard.

I always expected Mussini to stay only two years and return to Italy. If he has a good year as a part of the rotation good for him, us and his perceived value to his Italian team. Bottom line is he needs to play well to leave early.