Rutgers, Thur., Nov. 19, 7PM, FS1 & WMCA 570 AM

[mjmaherjr]

A Euro critique;

"Sima And Mussini had ups and downs in their third game of the season and St. John’s is no where close to even an NIT level team at this point. But that’s not the point, this is a two, three, four year plan for them to get better and for the team to grow in Coach Chris Mullin’s first season.

But as two freshman from across the pond, it’s pretty damn cool that they are the ones that have been handed the keys to a Big East team. Surely big name recruits will come in and transfers too, Mussini will have to learn to play on and off the ball, Sima will have to deal with not getting as many touches and play less but more effective minutes. But in the end they’re getting the type of reps almost no other freshman in the country are getting and this will be invaluable experience as they continue to develop."

Full article;
http://euroleagueadventures.com/st-johns-rebuilds-behind-federico-mussini-and-yankuba-sima/

Not bad points.

Last night's game was a ton of fun. Best atmosphere I've seen in CA in a long time, especially for the third game of the season.

As for the players, the team, and the season, as nice as the win was last night, there are miles and miles of development left. For those who like to watch works in progress become completed pieces, it's going to be a very enjoyable year. This is a very likable group, (with perhaps one exception).

The minutes that some guys are getting (even if out of position) should pay dividends next year. And hopefully as the year goes on they will continue to develop as a team and look for one another all the time. Last night there were too many moments when one player or another tried to do too much by himself. I'm sure that will improve by leaps and bounds as the season goes on.

On to Maui.

Who is the one exception. Who is your whipping boy since moving on from Mussini

I'm going to guess Lawman's ire will be at DJ

 

[Amaseinyourface]

A few observations:
1. Jones should not be taking the ball out of bounds against pressure

Dude, he hasn't made a single mistake passing the ball in against pressure. In fact hes been great. The first game against STAC was a horror show getting the ball in, and guess who wasnt inbounding the ball? Jones. This is the #1 observation you have coming off the game?

Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled that we played with energy and enthusiasm down the stretch
This was not my #1 observation - just one of several that I made
As a former coach, I believe that you put players in position where they can do the most good
You also don't put players in situations that play to their areas of weakness
Jones is, in general, not a good ball handler
You want to have a more adept ball handler/passer taking the ball out of bounds
Felix should not have been in the game when he was fouled at the end of the game
I turned to my buddy and predicted that he would miss both FTs - which he did

In the game we struggled most against pressure we had our guards passing it in. My only point is that Jones has been great in that role and to single him out after hes been fine at is seemed weird. Honestly cant remember a turnover in the backcourt during the regular season, by anybody. And usually I am with you, I prefer a guard but it has to be a guard with size and right now we dont have many options.

 

[beast of the east]

A few observations:
1. Jones should not be taking the ball out of bounds against pressure

Dude, he hasn't made a single mistake passing the ball in against pressure. In fact hes been great. The first game against STAC was a horror show getting the ball in, and guess who wasnt inbounding the ball? Jones. This is the #1 observation you have coming off the game?

Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled that we played with energy and enthusiasm down the stretch
This was not my #1 observation - just one of several that I made
As a former coach, I believe that you put players in position where they can do the most good
You also don't put players in situations that play to their areas of weakness
Jones is, in general, not a good ball handler
You want to have a more adept ball handler/passer taking the ball out of bounds
Felix should not have been in the game when he was fouled at the end of the game
I turned to my buddy and predicted that he would miss both FTs - which he did

Once Rutgers was down and bound to press like hell and then foul if they didn't steal, I immediately thought that we need at least 4 guards on the floor who were our best ball handlers. Then I realized we didn't have that many. The story of this season is that we have to go with what we have. Someone has got to teach Felix to at least put some arc on his FTs - it was sick how bad those shots were.

Felix throws line drives at the basket from the FT line
It looks like Ron is our second best ball handler and he is a bit shaky
I really like the future of this program - these kids have a lot of potential
If LoVett played this year, we would definitely not be a last place team
The only solace is that we have a lot to look forward to next year and beyond

Prior to this year in 22 attempts from the line Felix shot 77 percent from there.

Something weird obviously happened with his grip or his brain on that last free throw. I almost felt like he was trying to get a hard bounce for an offensive rebound.

Didn't see it but wanted to blow holes in a statement with some good ole fashioned stats

Stats always help thank you. But keep in mind that for both Felix and Federico, it's a lot tougher shooting FTs with the game on the line in raucous gym. They went 0-4, Ron went 1-3 (including the front end of a 1-1 missed), CJ went 1-2 down the stretch also. We got 2 points out of a possible 10 down the stretch.

I don't think the sky's the limit for these kids. Some will hit the wall when we play tough Big East competition. Perhaps Durand will look more like a Big East sub, Mussini a scrawny frosh, Sima a guy with miles to improve. In fact, I expect that. But already we are seeing signs that going forward, these younger guys will be contributors to a very good team. Which is exactly what we are hoping for.

Everyone loves harping on FTs. People have Bad games from the line. It's human nature.

If my memory is correct, by going 2-9 down the stretch we were shooting a respectable 11-15 before that. I think it's apple in throat syndrome. It's why teams practice shooting FTs not in bunches of 100, but in twos as part of practice drills to get used to game like circumstances. Part of growing, not just bad game - bad FT shooting down the stretch.

 

[austour]

A few observations:
1. Jones should not be taking the ball out of bounds against pressure

Dude, he hasn't made a single mistake passing the ball in against pressure. In fact hes been great. The first game against STAC was a horror show getting the ball in, and guess who wasnt inbounding the ball? Jones. This is the #1 observation you have coming off the game?

Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled that we played with energy and enthusiasm down the stretch
This was not my #1 observation - just one of several that I made
As a former coach, I believe that you put players in position where they can do the most good
You also don't put players in situations that play to their areas of weakness
Jones is, in general, not a good ball handler
You want to have a more adept ball handler/passer taking the ball out of bounds
Felix should not have been in the game when he was fouled at the end of the game
I turned to my buddy and predicted that he would miss both FTs - which he did

Once Rutgers was down and bound to press like hell and then foul if they didn't steal, I immediately thought that we need at least 4 guards on the floor who were our best ball handlers. Then I realized we didn't have that many. The story of this season is that we have to go with what we have. Someone has got to teach Felix to at least put some arc on his FTs - it was sick how bad those shots were.

Felix throws line drives at the basket from the FT line
It looks like Ron is our second best ball handler and he is a bit shaky
I really like the future of this program - these kids have a lot of potential
If LoVett played this year, we would definitely not be a last place team
The only solace is that we have a lot to look forward to next year and beyond

Prior to this year in 22 attempts from the line Felix shot 77 percent from there.

Something weird obviously happened with his grip or his brain on that last free throw. I almost felt like he was trying to get a hard bounce for an offensive rebound.

Didn't see it but wanted to blow holes in a statement with some good ole fashioned stats

Stats always help thank you. But keep in mind that for both Felix and Federico, it's a lot tougher shooting FTs with the game on the line in raucous gym. They went 0-4, Ron went 1-3 (including the front end of a 1-1 missed), CJ went 1-2 down the stretch also. We got 2 points out of a possible 10 down the stretch.

I don't think the sky's the limit for these kids. Some will hit the wall when we play tough Big East competition. Perhaps Durand will look more like a Big East sub, Mussini a scrawny frosh, Sima a guy with miles to improve. In fact, I expect that. But already we are seeing signs that going forward, these younger guys will be contributors to a very good team. Which is exactly what we are hoping for.

Everyone loves harping on FTs. People have Bad games from the line. It's human nature.

Exactly, the first one had pretty good form by the way just didn't drop. But if you have the game taped watch the second one, it was surreal and, as you stated, can likely be chalked up to nerves, or a brain freeze as I put it.

 

[Moose]

A few observations:
1. Jones should not be taking the ball out of bounds against pressure

Dude, he hasn't made a single mistake passing the ball in against pressure. In fact hes been great. The first game against STAC was a horror show getting the ball in, and guess who wasnt inbounding the ball? Jones. This is the #1 observation you have coming off the game?

Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled that we played with energy and enthusiasm down the stretch
This was not my #1 observation - just one of several that I made
As a former coach, I believe that you put players in position where they can do the most good
You also don't put players in situations that play to their areas of weakness
Jones is, in general, not a good ball handler
You want to have a more adept ball handler/passer taking the ball out of bounds
Felix should not have been in the game when he was fouled at the end of the game
I turned to my buddy and predicted that he would miss both FTs - which he did

Once Rutgers was down and bound to press like hell and then foul if they didn't steal, I immediately thought that we need at least 4 guards on the floor who were our best ball handlers. Then I realized we didn't have that many. The story of this season is that we have to go with what we have. Someone has got to teach Felix to at least put some arc on his FTs - it was sick how bad those shots were.

Felix throws line drives at the basket from the FT line
It looks like Ron is our second best ball handler and he is a bit shaky
I really like the future of this program - these kids have a lot of potential
If LoVett played this year, we would definitely not be a last place team
The only solace is that we have a lot to look forward to next year and beyond

Prior to this year in 22 attempts from the line Felix shot 77 percent from there.

Something weird obviously happened with his grip or his brain on that last free throw. I almost felt like he was trying to get a hard bounce for an offensive rebound.

Didn't see it but wanted to blow holes in a statement with some good ole fashioned stats

Stats always help thank you. But keep in mind that for both Felix and Federico, it's a lot tougher shooting FTs with the game on the line in raucous gym. They went 0-4, Ron went 1-3 (including the front end of a 1-1 missed), CJ went 1-2 down the stretch also. We got 2 points out of a possible 10 down the stretch.

I don't think the sky's the limit for these kids. Some will hit the wall when we play tough Big East competition. Perhaps Durand will look more like a Big East sub, Mussini a scrawny frosh, Sima a guy with miles to improve. In fact, I expect that. But already we are seeing signs that going forward, these younger guys will be contributors to a very good team. Which is exactly what we are hoping for.

Everyone loves harping on FTs. People have Bad games from the line. It's human nature.

If my memory is correct, by going 2-9 down the stretch we were shooting a respectable 11-15 before that. I think it's apple in throat syndrome. It's why teams practice shooting FTs not in bunches of 100, but in twos as part of practice drills to get used to game like circumstances. Part of growing, not just bad game - bad FT shooting down the stretch.

What about when it's the opposite. You start out like crap from the line and clutch down the stretch. Same result no? I didn't watch the game. Couldn't. Thought I saw 80 percent from the line at half. Then again could have been 4 for 5

 

[Amaseinyourface]

I know at one point we were 9-18 at the line.

 

[beast of the east]

A few observations:
1. Jones should not be taking the ball out of bounds against pressure

Dude, he hasn't made a single mistake passing the ball in against pressure. In fact hes been great. The first game against STAC was a horror show getting the ball in, and guess who wasnt inbounding the ball? Jones. This is the #1 observation you have coming off the game?

Don't get me wrong - I was thrilled that we played with energy and enthusiasm down the stretch
This was not my #1 observation - just one of several that I made
As a former coach, I believe that you put players in position where they can do the most good
You also don't put players in situations that play to their areas of weakness
Jones is, in general, not a good ball handler
You want to have a more adept ball handler/passer taking the ball out of bounds
Felix should not have been in the game when he was fouled at the end of the game
I turned to my buddy and predicted that he would miss both FTs - which he did

Once Rutgers was down and bound to press like hell and then foul if they didn't steal, I immediately thought that we need at least 4 guards on the floor who were our best ball handlers. Then I realized we didn't have that many. The story of this season is that we have to go with what we have. Someone has got to teach Felix to at least put some arc on his FTs - it was sick how bad those shots were.

Felix throws line drives at the basket from the FT line
It looks like Ron is our second best ball handler and he is a bit shaky
I really like the future of this program - these kids have a lot of potential
If LoVett played this year, we would definitely not be a last place team
The only solace is that we have a lot to look forward to next year and beyond

Prior to this year in 22 attempts from the line Felix shot 77 percent from there.

Something weird obviously happened with his grip or his brain on that last free throw. I almost felt like he was trying to get a hard bounce for an offensive rebound.

Didn't see it but wanted to blow holes in a statement with some good ole fashioned stats

Stats always help thank you. But keep in mind that for both Felix and Federico, it's a lot tougher shooting FTs with the game on the line in raucous gym. They went 0-4, Ron went 1-3 (including the front end of a 1-1 missed), CJ went 1-2 down the stretch also. We got 2 points out of a possible 10 down the stretch.

I don't think the sky's the limit for these kids. Some will hit the wall when we play tough Big East competition. Perhaps Durand will look more like a Big East sub, Mussini a scrawny frosh, Sima a guy with miles to improve. In fact, I expect that. But already we are seeing signs that going forward, these younger guys will be contributors to a very good team. Which is exactly what we are hoping for.

Everyone loves harping on FTs. People have Bad games from the line. It's human nature.

If my memory is correct, by going 2-9 down the stretch we were shooting a respectable 11-15 before that. I think it's apple in throat syndrome. It's why teams practice shooting FTs not in bunches of 100, but in twos as part of practice drills to get used to game like circumstances. Part of growing, not just bad game - bad FT shooting down the stretch.

What about when it's the opposite. You start out like crap from the line and clutch down the stretch. Same result no? I didn't watch the game. Couldn't. Thought I saw 80 percent from the line at half. Then again could have been 4 for 5

Just my opinion, which I believe is conventional, that clutch players make FTs down the stretch.

 

[SJU14]

If anybody wants a little laugh, this is a picture Shamorie Ponds posted on Instagram and the comments that went along with it. Slick is Ponds and mw_ru5 is Mike Williams from Rutgers.

 

[redken]

I know at one point we were 9-18 at the line.

Brick by brick ...

 

[redken]

WOW, first of Felix made up for his missed FT's by committing a foul and not getting called for it.

Next, I don't know why the announcers were killing Jones for going for the lay up. There was a guy right behind him he was going to get fouled anyway for for the lay.

That being said 3-0 baby!

Great point on the Jones play

Not really. If he pulls it out and looks for some open space he's going to burn some of that 6.5 seconds and also still get fouled and shoot two. Then Rutgers only has say 3 seconds and its a much different situation.

Assuming that Jones, in the heat of the moment, in a role he doesn't do - handling the ball and the related decision making, and until ing a skill he doesn't appear to have - the same ball handling, I think he made the right play. I didn't at the time but I do now. A turnover could have been worse, leading to a break the other way in the helter skelter..

A heady player drives towards the hoop and then starts a big circle to the corner and back out, hitting the first wide open man before he can get fouled to stop the clock.

A dumbass cowers over the ball and plays cover up in the waning moments and gets immediately tied up, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

CJ didn't do a horrible thing, just not the best thing. If Mullin feels it was a bad decision, he will get schooled.

And what in the three years of watching Jones sporadically would lead one to believe he is a heady player? I was talking about that play not what you would teach in a basketball clinic.

Granted, it wasn't the headiest play ... but can we let is go? We won the game, and hopefully Jones will learn from it. The kid -- however limited his ability or BB IQ -- is finally getting the chance to play big minutes and is busting his butt to make the most it. Let's appreciate his effort and move on.

 

[bamafan]

Wasn't going to way in but have to: the ball was passed ahead to a 6'7 forward who is not a great ball handler and some of you want him to try dribbling around to kill the clock with Rutgers players chasing him down. He ain't Magic Johnson. He takes it to the rack and gets fouled. He almost and should have converted the layup which would put us up 3 with a free throw to come. If he tries to dribble he kills maybe a second or two and we stay up one with 2 free throws on a night we were bricking them and CJ is no great shakes at the FT line. Bottom line is he made the right play so I highly doubt coach Mullin is schooling him. Now if the ball was kicked ahead to LoVett different story.

 

[logen]

WOW, first of Felix made up for his missed FT's by committing a foul and not getting called for it.

Next, I don't know why the announcers were killing Jones for going for the lay up. There was a guy right behind him he was going to get fouled anyway for for the lay.

That being said 3-0 baby!

Great point on the Jones play

Not really. If he pulls it out and looks for some open space he's going to burn some of that 6.5 seconds and also still get fouled and shoot two. Then Rutgers only has say 3 seconds and its a much different situation.

Assuming that Jones, in the heat of the moment, in a role he doesn't do - handling the ball and the related decision making, and until ing a skill he doesn't appear to have - the same ball handling, I think he made the right play. I didn't at the time but I do now. A turnover could have been worse, leading to a break the other way in the helter skelter..

A heady player drives towards the hoop and then starts a big circle to the corner and back out, hitting the first wide open man before he can get fouled to stop the clock.

A dumbass cowers over the ball and plays cover up in the waning moments and gets immediately tied up, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

CJ didn't do a horrible thing, just not the best thing. If Mullin feels it was a bad decision, he will get schooled.

And what in the three years of watching Jones sporadically would lead one to believe he is a heady player? I was talking about that play not what you would teach in a basketball clinic.

Granted, it wasn't the headiest play ... but can we let is go? We won the game, and hopefully Jones will learn from it. The kid -- however limited his ability or BB IQ -- is finally getting the chance to play big minutes and is busting his butt to make the most it. Let's appreciate his effort and move on.

If you bothered to read the thread you would have realized I said Jones made the right play and defended his play. Since you obviously didn't take the time and effort to do that, please don't take my comments completely out of context and tell me to move on.

 

[L J S A]

Mussini is getting an education. A crash course for sure but you can tell he is a good student. Next season we will have 4+ very capable ball handlers and Mussini will have been forged in fire when it comes to pressure.

I like the example of Donald Williams. Played backup PG as a freshman and was shaky at times, but it helped improve his whole game as a SG. Won national championship as a soph, I believe, and got MVP.

Regarding Mussini, mistakes will of course be made, but I expect that only positives will eventually come from it. Now we just need him to stay four years and win us a championship next season. :lol:

 

[redken]

WOW, first of Felix made up for his missed FT's by committing a foul and not getting called for it.

Next, I don't know why the announcers were killing Jones for going for the lay up. There was a guy right behind him he was going to get fouled anyway for for the lay.

That being said 3-0 baby!

Great point on the Jones play

Not really. If he pulls it out and looks for some open space he's going to burn some of that 6.5 seconds and also still get fouled and shoot two. Then Rutgers only has say 3 seconds and its a much different situation.

Assuming that Jones, in the heat of the moment, in a role he doesn't do - handling the ball and the related decision making, and until ing a skill he doesn't appear to have - the same ball handling, I think he made the right play. I didn't at the time but I do now. A turnover could have been worse, leading to a break the other way in the helter skelter..

A heady player drives towards the hoop and then starts a big circle to the corner and back out, hitting the first wide open man before he can get fouled to stop the clock.

A dumbass cowers over the ball and plays cover up in the waning moments and gets immediately tied up, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

CJ didn't do a horrible thing, just not the best thing. If Mullin feels it was a bad decision, he will get schooled.

And what in the three years of watching Jones sporadically would lead one to believe he is a heady player? I was talking about that play not what you would teach in a basketball clinic.

Granted, it wasn't the headiest play ... but can we let is go? We won the game, and hopefully Jones will learn from it. The kid -- however limited his ability or BB IQ -- is finally getting the chance to play big minutes and is busting his butt to make the most it. Let's appreciate his effort and move on.

If you bothered to read the thread you would have realized I said Jones made the right play and defended his play. Since you obviously didn't take the time and effort to do that, please don't take my comments completely out of context and tell me to move on.

Logen, for the record, my comments were not in direct response to your post , but rather to the whole series of exchanges about Jones's decision making.

 

[Spocky Ramone]

The end game officiating was abysmal. Hope Eddie has a pack of Marlboro's on him, cuz he just got screwed. I feel dirty. Those 2 non calls were horrendous.

Oh hush. Even if a foul was called. Rutgers was bricking them left and right. A win is a win.

Color me admonished, but the last time we benefitted from egregious officiating at the expense of Joisey State, karma ended our best player's season and provided us with a horrible match up (and subsequent departure) from the dance hall.

 

[lawmanfan]

Who is the one exception. Who is your whipping boy since moving on from Mussini

You're my whipping boy.

I like FM. He's playing out of position, he has to develop in some areas, and he needs to adjust to the level of competition. The first one isn't his fault, and the other two are true of most of the players on the roster. Hopefully Felix and Mvouika will be able to share some of the load at the point and allow FM to do what he does well while the rest of his game develops.

As for the rest, my view of this team/season is that there are a lot of likable players on the team with a lot of promising skills. So far it looks as though they are being well-coached. They look for one another, share the ball, move without the ball, hustle, and make some good decisions (though as I said, many of them sometimes fall into trying to do too much by themselves, which I think will resolve itself over the course of the season).

I think we're going to lose a lot of games this year, though, and in some circumstances it might be worth it to give minutes to guys who are still developing instead of playing guys who have already hit their ceiling. I trust the staff to make the right decisions there, though.

 

[paultzman]

Btw today;

@NJHoopsHaven: Rutgers got shellacked on loose balls -- probably by a 3-to-1 ratio -- and is tied with Central Arkansas 38-38 at the half.

 

[Section3]

Wasn't going to way in but have to: the ball was passed ahead to a 6'7 forward who is not a great ball handler and some of you want him to try dribbling around to kill the clock with Rutgers players chasing him down. He ain't Magic Johnson. He takes it to the rack and gets fouled. He almost and should have converted the layup which would put us up 3 with a free throw to come. If he tries to dribble he kills maybe a second or two and we stay up one with 2 free throws on a night we were bricking them and CJ is no great shakes at the FT line. Bottom line is he made the right play so I highly doubt coach Mullin is schooling him. Now if the ball was kicked ahead to LoVett different story.

Only thing I'd like to see is him try to dunk a bit more...he seems to love the finger roll a bit too much...would like to see more aggression