Seton Hall Game
- Thread starter JackofVirginia
- Start date
Actually a heady play by pointer there, and I often question his basketball IQ
beast of the east
Active member
Forgetting about us coughing up 16 points of a 17 point lead for a minute.
1) By far and away, this was the best roll we had all year opening up a 65-48 point lead in the second half. When you consider that SH had opened the game w a 15-5 lead, we had outscored them 60-33 since the quick SH start.
2) The return of Jakarr Sampson. He looked confident from 15, burning the nets on 3 straight shots, and threw a couple of AWESOME moves inside, including an incredible put back jam. He looked like a dominant player after a slow start.
3) Orlando Sanchez was Mr. Inside and Outside - I think he nailed three 3's, and slammed a few home also. He took it strong to the hole and looked at times like the best big man on the court, playing like a -gasp- NBA prospect
4) The return of Branch - Jamal looked confident, and made some really nice passes and moves.
5) Harrison played a solid game if you toss out the late failures.
6) We have really short memories. It seemed to me that's the kind of game our golden era Johnnies would play. Build up a big lead, and then cough it up. It's why I went home hoarse back then, and did tonight as well.
7) Coach C. was in the house. Good to see him.
8) Walter Berry in the house. Was hoping he'd sub in the last two minutes. He looks like he could still play a little
9) 5,000 Chris Mullins and they all couldn't shoot - but a really nice job to invite the Mullin clan to the game.
1) By far and away, this was the best roll we had all year opening up a 65-48 point lead in the second half. When you consider that SH had opened the game w a 15-5 lead, we had outscored them 60-33 since the quick SH start.
2) The return of Jakarr Sampson. He looked confident from 15, burning the nets on 3 straight shots, and threw a couple of AWESOME moves inside, including an incredible put back jam. He looked like a dominant player after a slow start.
3) Orlando Sanchez was Mr. Inside and Outside - I think he nailed three 3's, and slammed a few home also. He took it strong to the hole and looked at times like the best big man on the court, playing like a -gasp- NBA prospect
4) The return of Branch - Jamal looked confident, and made some really nice passes and moves.
5) Harrison played a solid game if you toss out the late failures.
6) We have really short memories. It seemed to me that's the kind of game our golden era Johnnies would play. Build up a big lead, and then cough it up. It's why I went home hoarse back then, and did tonight as well.
7) Coach C. was in the house. Good to see him.
8) Walter Berry in the house. Was hoping he'd sub in the last two minutes. He looks like he could still play a little
9) 5,000 Chris Mullins and they all couldn't shoot - but a really nice job to invite the Mullin clan to the game.
Just got back from the game myself, and I agree with every point you made. I too am a little hoarse right now. But it was well worth it! Nice way to end the season at CA.
Class of 72
Active member
What an unsatisfying victory! Seton Hall spotted us a 17 point lead with under 9 minutes and SJ responded with a comedy of errors. In typical Lavin fashion with under 20 seconds left in the game he calls time outs within 5 seconds of each other leaving SJ with no time outs on the last inbounds play. I guess he learned nothing after the Providence fiasco. These players have, to date, not learned to line up and break on an inbounds play! Zero communication, even with two time outs. Pointer, not the sharpest pencil on the team, decided to just throw the ball away rather than bounce it off an opposing player. A minor miracle saved the win.
As for the players at the end major choke award goes to Harrison who missed two free throws and who did a sub-par job as usual on defense. I know some will question Lavin on the substitutions near the end of the game but I actually liked having two ball handlers in with Jordan and Branch at the expense of Sampson who was foul and turnover prone during this game. He had 5 turnovers while Harrison had 3 with the two stars combining for 8 of the teams' 11 turnovers.
Primo was a prime time player tonight and Sampson provided key points but our other bigs (Obekpa and Gift) were ineffective against the bigger pirates.
I hope this close win will inspire the coaches and players on how to close out games and a win at Butler will certainly instill some hope in the fans that we can finish with a winning record and an invitation to the little dance.
As for the players at the end major choke award goes to Harrison who missed two free throws and who did a sub-par job as usual on defense. I know some will question Lavin on the substitutions near the end of the game but I actually liked having two ball handlers in with Jordan and Branch at the expense of Sampson who was foul and turnover prone during this game. He had 5 turnovers while Harrison had 3 with the two stars combining for 8 of the teams' 11 turnovers.
Primo was a prime time player tonight and Sampson provided key points but our other bigs (Obekpa and Gift) were ineffective against the bigger pirates.
I hope this close win will inspire the coaches and players on how to close out games and a win at Butler will certainly instill some hope in the fans that we can finish with a winning record and an invitation to the little dance.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
And therein lies the the problem. Playing our "A" game only results in a 1 point win, at home, over a mediocre opponent. Our "B" game wouldn't have been good enough against the Hall at home? We only have so many "A" games in us, and it still won't add up to too many more wins.
I have decided to shrink my game summary into four concise points.
1.) I enjoyed the game tonight. Good crowd......great roar on the dunks
2.) Sampson played better tonight
3.) I am glad we got the win
4.) Lavin is still the worst coach I have ever seen
1.) I enjoyed the game tonight. Good crowd......great roar on the dunks
2.) Sampson played better tonight
3.) I am glad we got the win
4.) Lavin is still the worst coach I have ever seen
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
Didn't read the whole thread, but Gift was deserving of props. He is what this team is lacking- a mature guy who gives up his body and knows his limitations. He manned up big time when guarding Teague, and probably has the bruises to show for it. He sits, comes in when called upon, and busts his hump until he sits again. No faces, no gestures, no bitching and moaning. We need more players with his attitude.
Class of 72
Active member
Other than blowing his last time out it was the sloppy play and missed shots by the players that allowed the pirates back into the game and that was on the guys on the floor who still have a long way to go in terms of making smart decisions on the court. There were at least 3 occasions where they should have brought the ball back out to the PG to restart an offensive play and they forced bad shots in traffic instead. These kids are some of the worst players I have ever watched at St. John's when it comes to communicating with each other. It is not always the coach.
beast of the east
Active member
I thought about that, and was particularly annoyed that both Sanchez and Sampson rotted on the bench with 4 fouls as SH ate into the lead(much ealier than the 2.5 minute mark). For the last 2.5 minutes, I would have inserted Sampson and Sanchez (who did go in). At that point, GG was rotating in and out as we went w three guards. So I know at some point I'd have inserted Sampson for Pointer. Actually I rethought this on the way home, and not only did Pointer make some key plays down the stretch, and Sanchez a really heads up tip out of bounds on the long pass, but Sampson is not a very good defender. GG's defense on Teague(??) was mostly two bisons body slamming each other for position, and he had to be on the court for his muscle.
beast of the east
Active member
For the Lavin lovers (and haters).
1) Curious burn of the last time out when I was certain SHU would use the timeout to set up a game tying 3. (Lavin haters cheer)
2) Return of playing the players who can play and the end of experiments with walk-ons, red shirts, and really smart guys. (Lavin lovers cheer)
3) Seemingly forgetting that with 5 minutes or so to go in the game and the lead dwindling, that the two most important players who built the lead (Sampson and Sanchez) were nailed to the bench. They should have gone in at that point (Lavin haters cheer)
4) But if they went in at the 5 minute mark, one or both could have fouled out (Lavin lovers cheer)
5) But Sampson didn't go back in at all, and up until his fourth foul had rediscovered mid game that he is a monster inside, and a deadeye shooter from 15 and in (Lavin haters cheer)
6) Very smart call to give a foul in the closing moments so SHU couldn't attempt a game tying three. (Lavin lovers cheer)
7) But the foul could have been 2 seconds later or so, not with 4.9 seconds to go. (Lavin haters cheer)
8) The rotation worked (Sampson, Harrison, Jordan, Sanchez, Branch, Jordan, Greene, GG, Obekpa [to a lesser extent]) - all were positive factors in the win (Lavin lovers cheer)
Rather than look at the dissipation of the lead, remember that once again, three of our bigs - Obekpa, Sanchez, and Sampson got into serious foul trouble, and it was at that point that SHU started their comeback. Sanchez was the man all night, and Sampson caught fire as if you awoke a bear from hibernation. Sampson was an absolute beast for an extended period, and reminded us why he was BE ROY, and why some feared he'd bolt for the NBA after this season.
1) Curious burn of the last time out when I was certain SHU would use the timeout to set up a game tying 3. (Lavin haters cheer)
2) Return of playing the players who can play and the end of experiments with walk-ons, red shirts, and really smart guys. (Lavin lovers cheer)
3) Seemingly forgetting that with 5 minutes or so to go in the game and the lead dwindling, that the two most important players who built the lead (Sampson and Sanchez) were nailed to the bench. They should have gone in at that point (Lavin haters cheer)
4) But if they went in at the 5 minute mark, one or both could have fouled out (Lavin lovers cheer)
5) But Sampson didn't go back in at all, and up until his fourth foul had rediscovered mid game that he is a monster inside, and a deadeye shooter from 15 and in (Lavin haters cheer)
6) Very smart call to give a foul in the closing moments so SHU couldn't attempt a game tying three. (Lavin lovers cheer)
7) But the foul could have been 2 seconds later or so, not with 4.9 seconds to go. (Lavin haters cheer)
8) The rotation worked (Sampson, Harrison, Jordan, Sanchez, Branch, Jordan, Greene, GG, Obekpa [to a lesser extent]) - all were positive factors in the win (Lavin lovers cheer)
Rather than look at the dissipation of the lead, remember that once again, three of our bigs - Obekpa, Sanchez, and Sampson got into serious foul trouble, and it was at that point that SHU started their comeback. Sanchez was the man all night, and Sampson caught fire as if you awoke a bear from hibernation. Sampson was an absolute beast for an extended period, and reminded us why he was BE ROY, and why some feared he'd bolt for the NBA after this season.
beast of the east
Active member
One last point-
Really nice job by the students, who showed in solid numbers. While the student section (esp the utopia side) wasn't jammed to capacity, it was more than acceptable for an 0-5 squad. They were loud, esp the 164th street side. The kids could give up way before season ticket holders, but they didn't. I was impressed.
Really nice job for most ticket holders, who showed up in large numbers on a frigid night. I can't remember the last time it took 20 minutes to get out of the lot, mostly because everyone stayed till the end.
A friend of mine who is a sports fan came with me last night. He was impressed with how deep we are, and how many guys can play. He's right. Well, mostly right.
Really nice job by the students, who showed in solid numbers. While the student section (esp the utopia side) wasn't jammed to capacity, it was more than acceptable for an 0-5 squad. They were loud, esp the 164th street side. The kids could give up way before season ticket holders, but they didn't. I was impressed.
Really nice job for most ticket holders, who showed up in large numbers on a frigid night. I can't remember the last time it took 20 minutes to get out of the lot, mostly because everyone stayed till the end.
A friend of mine who is a sports fan came with me last night. He was impressed with how deep we are, and how many guys can play. He's right. Well, mostly right.