SJU 2018 Recruiting Prognosis Article

[paultzman]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

[bk8664]

I think we'd all sign up for landing two of those mentioned, right? That'd be phenomenal.

 

[monte]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

 

[beast of the east]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

 

[monte]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

 

[logen]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

Again, bingo, right on the money. The problem is people set expectations from afar and when those completely unrealistic expectations are not met, they complain and snipe. Anyone close to the program knew Jordan wasn't coming back because he had stopped going to class before Mullin ever got here and to think Obekpa staying would have made a difference....really? What difference would he have made; a mediocre ball player at best that more than once showed he couldn't have cared less about his teammates, never mind the program. Last year was a wash with anyone who knows anything. Mullin is and was high profile and with that comes higher scrutiny but the truth is this is and was a 3-4 year project to get to a consistent competitive level in the BE. it took in some cases (not all), GREAT ESTABLISHED coaches that amount of time to turn programs in MUCH better shape than ours to that level. Judging any young team game to game is silly, to do it here where one of the big issues is we have no upper class experience to lean on is downright idiotic. Talk to me next year or 2018-2019 and opinions would be more than just like...........well, everybody has one.

 

[usguard]

I am happy with the progress. Would I like it to be faster yes but hey some of those early loses we could have won and we been in all of our games. If we can be a little more patient not forcing shots get back on D so we can stop the breaks set more picks and keep shooting 3s we are still going to win games no one gave us a chance to win. So, I am not ready to throw in the towel this yr

 

[logen]

I guess here is as good a place as any so here goes - as I always preface when I am talking statistics, they lie, and I take them all with a big pile of salt. Having said that, I think all would agree we have played a representative schedule through nine games, especially for so young a team - currently we rank 9th in the league in scoring defense but are .06 points per game from 6th; since we generally play up tempo, not horrible. We are 7th in field goal % but .09% out of 1st, again not horrible. 3 point % we are 4th. Now, I am not saying we are a good defensive team, we are not, but IMO we are far from the train wreck some portray us as.

 

[Knight]

I guess here is as good a place as any so here goes - as I always preface when I am talking statistics, they lie, and I take them all with a big pile of salt. Having said that, I think all would agree we have played a representative schedule through nine games, especially for so young a team - currently we rank 9th in the league in scoring defense but are .06 points per game from 6th; since we generally play up tempo, not horrible. We are 7th in field goal % but .09% out of 1st, again not horrible. 3 point % we are 4th. Now, I am not saying we are a good defensive team, we are not, but IMO we are far from the train wreck some portray us as.

Some of the D I've seen, a plane crash may be more appropriate.

 

[austour]

I guess here is as good a place as any so here goes - as I always preface when I am talking statistics, they lie, and I take them all with a big pile of salt. Having said that, I think all would agree we have played a representative schedule through nine games, especially for so young a team - currently we rank 9th in the league in scoring defense but are .06 points per game from 6th; since we generally play up tempo, not horrible. We are 7th in field goal % but .09% out of 1st, again not horrible. 3 point % we are 4th. Now, I am not saying we are a good defensive team, we are not, but IMO we are far from the train wreck some portray us as.

That representative schedule is the weakest in the BE and ranked 234 overall. Look at MN and Bahamas games if you want a true picture. All the other games are against teams outside the top 240 in the RPI, and yes it's early to talk RPI but it's still a decent place to start. Pomeroy actually has CSN at 223.

 

[logen]

I guess here is as good a place as any so here goes - as I always preface when I am talking statistics, they lie, and I take them all with a big pile of salt. Having said that, I think all would agree we have played a representative schedule through nine games, especially for so young a team - currently we rank 9th in the league in scoring defense but are .06 points per game from 6th; since we generally play up tempo, not horrible. We are 7th in field goal % but .09% out of 1st, again not horrible. 3 point % we are 4th. Now, I am not saying we are a good defensive team, we are not, but IMO we are far from the train wreck some portray us as.

Some of the D I've seen, a plane crash may be more appropriate.

Just trying to add some perspective but I'll jump on the bandwagon, yeah, our coaching stinks, we stink, every Tom, Dick, and Harry on this board could do a better job, blah, blah, blah.

 

[logen]

I guess here is as good a place as any so here goes - as I always preface when I am talking statistics, they lie, and I take them all with a big pile of salt. Having said that, I think all would agree we have played a representative schedule through nine games, especially for so young a team - currently we rank 9th in the league in scoring defense but are .06 points per game from 6th; since we generally play up tempo, not horrible. We are 7th in field goal % but .09% out of 1st, again not horrible. 3 point % we are 4th. Now, I am not saying we are a good defensive team, we are not, but IMO we are far from the train wreck some portray us as.

That representative schedule is the weakest in the BE and ranked 234 overall. Look at MN and Bahamas games if you want a true picture. All the other games are against teams outside the top 240 in the RPI, and yes it's early to talk RPI but it's still a decent place to start. Pomeroy actually has CSN at 223.

Okay, in the 4 games you want to cherry pick as "representative" we gave up 4.6 more points per game than the overall, our 3 point % defensively went up 2.2%, and our field goal % defensively went down 2.9%. If you just look at the 3 games in the Bahamas, our points per game actually is lower than the overall slightly, about a point lower. But let's not let that get in the way of our completely negative narrative. Like I said to Knight, just trying to offer a little perspective to the Chicken Little crowd, we are certainly not a good defensive team but we are not the paper tiger some would try to portray either.

 

[austour]

Appreciate that. Wasn't going to do the math. As I recall things seemed to come pretty easily to Mi St in 2nd half and VCU most of the game. That Rock Fight against ODU probably helped your cause. The game against Minn certainly didn't. But you know what. I don't care if their problem is that at this point they're no good offensively or they're no good defensively or both. So far they haven't beaten a good team while losing to one bad team. There's not enough bad teams left on the schedule to even match last year's win total so they better start beating some good teams. That's going to take some coaching and yes, I am skeptical about how much is going on, but at least I've been consistent on that since Mullin's name was first mentioned for the job. And I will admit that I'd rather have him than Doh!

 

[logen]

Appreciate that. Wasn't going to do the math. As I recall things seemed to come pretty easily to Mi St in 2nd half and VCU most of the game. That Rock Fight against ODU probably helped your cause. The game against Minn certainly didn't. But you know what. I don't care if their problem is that at this point they're no good offensively or they're no good defensively or both. So far they haven't beaten a good team while losing to one bad team. There's not enough bad teams left on the schedule to even match last year's win total so they better start beating some good teams. That's going to take some coaching and yes, I am skeptical about how much is going on, but at least I've been consistent on that since Mullin's name was first mentioned for the job. And I will admit that I'd rather have him than Doh!

Not sure why you are skeptical about the effort in terms of coaching - so you think Mullin took a job he didn't need; works hard with his staff to recruit and then doesn't bother putting in the effort coaching (" I am skeptical about how much is going on"). I just don't agree but, hey, that's what makes the world go round. Now, is he an effective or good coach? That is different and I don't feel he has had enough time or circumstances to judge that yet, an opinion which I have also been consistent from day one.

 

[austour]

Appreciate that. Wasn't going to do the math. As I recall things seemed to come pretty easily to Mi St in 2nd half and VCU most of the game. That Rock Fight against ODU probably helped your cause. The game against Minn certainly didn't. But you know what. I don't care if their problem is that at this point they're no good offensively or they're no good defensively or both. So far they haven't beaten a good team while losing to one bad team. There's not enough bad teams left on the schedule to even match last year's win total so they better start beating some good teams. That's going to take some coaching and yes, I am skeptical about how much is going on, but at least I've been consistent on that since Mullin's name was first mentioned for the job. And I will admit that I'd rather have him than Doh!

Not sure why you are skeptical about the effort in terms of coaching - so you think Mullin took a job he didn't need; works hard with his staff to recruit and then doesn't bother putting in the effort coaching (" I am skeptical about how much is going on"). I just don't agree but, hey, that's what makes the world go round. Now, is he an effective or good coach? That is different and I don't feel he has had enough time or circumstances to judge that yet, an opinion which I have also been consistent from day one.

I did not mean to imply there wasn't the effort being made and am sorry of that's how it came out. I meant it to refer to how well I think they are prepared for and able to do their job.

I just think that a staff of two guys who've never coached before and are 30+ years removed from a college campus, a guy who's only discernible skill is recruiting, and the NCAA's version of Jimmie Olson who also had no previous college coaching experience nor real big time college practice experience, are not who I would want coaching my favorite team, and I didn't feel that much better about them with Slice on the bench given his abject failure at Manhattan. Hey, it's just my opinion but no one's proven me wrong yet. And I do hope someone will sooner rather than later.

 

[beast of the east]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

Again, bingo, right on the money. The problem is people set expectations from afar and when those completely unrealistic expectations are not met, they complain and snipe. Anyone close to the program knew Jordan wasn't coming back because he had stopped going to class before Mullin ever got here and to think Obekpa staying would have made a difference....really? What difference would he have made; a mediocre ball player at best that more than once showed he couldn't have cared less about his teammates, never mind the program. Last year was a wash with anyone who knows anything. Mullin is and was high profile and with that comes higher scrutiny but the truth is this is and was a 3-4 year project to get to a consistent competitive level in the BE. it took in some cases (not all), GREAT ESTABLISHED coaches that amount of time to turn programs in MUCH better shape than ours to that level. Judging any young team game to game is silly, to do it here where one of the big issues is we have no upper class experience to lean on is downright idiotic. Talk to me next year or 2018-2019 and opinions would be more than just like...........well, everybody has one.

It's funny you use the word "afar". I was in Charlotte, when Obekpa was suspended, and trust me, if he was on the court even with his B game, we'd have beaten SD state. Roll it back a year and if he didn't put himself on the bench in the BET vs. Providence and then refuse to go in the game, it's very possible we'd still have a Coach Lavin who took SJU to 3 tourneys in 5 seasons and had at least 1 NCAA win. That's not an assessment from afar - it's based on being there, and watching a limited player who could provide an interior presence (not confused with man to man defense), and alter just about every shot that went up. Obekpa at his best was proferred as an NBA player (I never believed it) but for our thin roster without a true big man, he was essential. If he wasn't such a knucklehead, he would have completed a decent 4 years here, but to suggest he wouldn't have made a difference on last year's roster is crazy.

 

[austour]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

Again, bingo, right on the money. The problem is people set expectations from afar and when those completely unrealistic expectations are not met, they complain and snipe. Anyone close to the program knew Jordan wasn't coming back because he had stopped going to class before Mullin ever got here and to think Obekpa staying would have made a difference....really? What difference would he have made; a mediocre ball player at best that more than once showed he couldn't have cared less about his teammates, never mind the program. Last year was a wash with anyone who knows anything. Mullin is and was high profile and with that comes higher scrutiny but the truth is this is and was a 3-4 year project to get to a consistent competitive level in the BE. it took in some cases (not all), GREAT ESTABLISHED coaches that amount of time to turn programs in MUCH better shape than ours to that level. Judging any young team game to game is silly, to do it here where one of the big issues is we have no upper class experience to lean on is downright idiotic. Talk to me next year or 2018-2019 and opinions would be more than just like...........well, everybody has one.

It's funny you use the word "afar". I was in Charlotte, when Obekpa was suspended, and trust me, if he was on the court even with his B game, we'd have beaten SD state. Roll it back a year and if he didn't put himself on the bench in the BET vs. Providence and then refuse to go in the game, it's very possible we'd still have a Coach Lavin who took SJU to 3 tourneys in 5 seasons and had at least 1 NCAA win. That's not an assessment from afar - it's based on being there, and watching a limited player who could provide an interior presence (not confused with man to man defense), and alter just about every shot that went up. Obekpa at his best was proferred as an NBA player (I never believed it) but for our thin roster without a true big man, he was essential. If he wasn't such a knucklehead, he would have completed a decent 4 years here, but to suggest he wouldn't have made a difference on last year's roster is crazy.

Well before they reached campus some folks said both Sima and Yakwe had NBA potential too. Both have regressed this year a little or a lot. Would keeping Z around have helped with big man development? I don't know the answer to that question, just wondering. Someone remind me did he leave for a paying job?

 

[Class of 72]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

Again, bingo, right on the money. The problem is people set expectations from afar and when those completely unrealistic expectations are not met, they complain and snipe. Anyone close to the program knew Jordan wasn't coming back because he had stopped going to class before Mullin ever got here and to think Obekpa staying would have made a difference....really? What difference would he have made; a mediocre ball player at best that more than once showed he couldn't have cared less about his teammates, never mind the program. Last year was a wash with anyone who knows anything. Mullin is and was high profile and with that comes higher scrutiny but the truth is this is and was a 3-4 year project to get to a consistent competitive level in the BE. it took in some cases (not all), GREAT ESTABLISHED coaches that amount of time to turn programs in MUCH better shape than ours to that level. Judging any young team game to game is silly, to do it here where one of the big issues is we have no upper class experience to lean on is downright idiotic. Talk to me next year or 2018-2019 and opinions would be more than just like...........well, everybody has one.

It's funny you use the word "afar". I was in Charlotte, when Obekpa was suspended, and trust me, if he was on the court even with his B game, we'd have beaten SD state. Roll it back a year and if he didn't put himself on the bench in the BET vs. Providence and then refuse to go in the game, it's very possible we'd still have a Coach Lavin who took SJU to 3 tourneys in 5 seasons and had at least 1 NCAA win. That's not an assessment from afar - it's based on being there, and watching a limited player who could provide an interior presence (not confused with man to man defense), and alter just about every shot that went up. Obekpa at his best was proferred as an NBA player (I never believed it) but for our thin roster without a true big man, he was essential. If he wasn't such a knucklehead, he would have completed a decent 4 years here, but to suggest he wouldn't have made a difference on last year's roster is crazy.

Well before they reached campus some folks said both Sima and Yakwe had NBA potential too. Both have regressed this year a little or a lot. Would keeping Z around have helped with big man development? I don't know the answer to that question, just wondering. Someone remind me did he leave for a paying job?

Zendon's lunch money was earmarked as part of the Slice buyout. Mullin is working with the bigs. I hear he keeps screaming "keep grinding" while rolling his eyes at Mitch dismissively every time Yawke drops a pass.

 

[logen]

Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned, the rebuilding phase of the Red Storm program has seen quality talent infused into the program. It may take a bit longer to get to where they want to be, yet the 2017 class boasts a top-75 big man in Zach Brown and the 2018 class might be able to bring even more talent to the Jamaica campus.

Already holding a commitment from Boubacar Diakite, a 6-foot-8 forward that has a great motor in the interior but has developed his ball skills in recent months, it is more about the locale that St. John’s finds itself in and the prospects nearby. The second year staff has created great relationships with some of the top travel and high school programs within reach as they remain heavily in the mix for top-100 talent including Naz Reid, Luther Muhammad, Lou King, Sid Wilson, Moses Brown, and Mamadou Doucoure, where it is likely that the Red Storm land at least two of those mentioned, giving the Johnnies a great chance at a great 2018 class.

http://www.hoopseen.com/news/genera...al&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

All in all a nice write up, but "Mullin era hasn’t gone as planned"? What exactly it is that he would have expected by now that leads him to imply that CM has come up short? Wonder if he's related to Bucknasty? lol

"As planned" is loose language. If you recall, out of the gate it appeared that Obekpa was coming back and that Jordan showed interest in returning. Lovett wasn't ruled ineligible and Mussini signed with high hopes. There was talk of tourney the very first year till the roster fell apart. Even then non one thought the team would be quite as horrible as it was, but in retrospect, looking at talent it was no surprise and no one could have won with that squad.

This year we haven't gotten out of the gates well and even with moderate expectations most thought we'd come away with a win or two out of the first big conference opponents, not 0-4. Then the loss last week really stung, which raised a ton of questions. So let's be real - starting form day one, our hopes have been tempered a bit by the lack of talent, a $3 million assistant coach mistake, and concerns about the experience of the staff overall.

For most of us, it just elongated the timeframes that Mullin will have success here, and that's fair also.

What you describe are very the typical growing growing pains of having to re-build a program from scratch. There is no shot in hell that there weren't going to be issues when CM had to throw a team and a staff together in just a few months. Sure there was/is some trial and error. Sure they could have won a few more games last year and this year, but I for one am not hanging on every loss. As long as I feel the program is headed in the right direction, which I still feel strongly that it is, I am going to cut CM and the team a lot of slack.

Again, bingo, right on the money. The problem is people set expectations from afar and when those completely unrealistic expectations are not met, they complain and snipe. Anyone close to the program knew Jordan wasn't coming back because he had stopped going to class before Mullin ever got here and to think Obekpa staying would have made a difference....really? What difference would he have made; a mediocre ball player at best that more than once showed he couldn't have cared less about his teammates, never mind the program. Last year was a wash with anyone who knows anything. Mullin is and was high profile and with that comes higher scrutiny but the truth is this is and was a 3-4 year project to get to a consistent competitive level in the BE. it took in some cases (not all), GREAT ESTABLISHED coaches that amount of time to turn programs in MUCH better shape than ours to that level. Judging any young team game to game is silly, to do it here where one of the big issues is we have no upper class experience to lean on is downright idiotic. Talk to me next year or 2018-2019 and opinions would be more than just like...........well, everybody has one.

It's funny you use the word "afar". I was in Charlotte, when Obekpa was suspended, and trust me, if he was on the court even with his B game, we'd have beaten SD state. Roll it back a year and if he didn't put himself on the bench in the BET vs. Providence and then refuse to go in the game, it's very possible we'd still have a Coach Lavin who took SJU to 3 tourneys in 5 seasons and had at least 1 NCAA win. That's not an assessment from afar - it's based on being there, and watching a limited player who could provide an interior presence (not confused with man to man defense), and alter just about every shot that went up. Obekpa at his best was proferred as an NBA player (I never believed it) but for our thin roster without a true big man, he was essential. If he wasn't such a knucklehead, he would have completed a decent 4 years here, but to suggest he wouldn't have made a difference on last year's roster is crazy.

I realize you think because you attend games you are some kind of expert but not knowing the game is not knowing the game. Obepka stunk, period and the only person he was essential to was his dealer. You can also rationalize all you want about Lavin's failures but you know what, he stunk too.

 

[ras]

I. Think CO would have helped last year. But, I wonder what difficult demands Mullin made that CO couldn't live w. Go to class, don't smoke weed?