We need to really face reality...Ahmed, Yakwe and Owens are just not good enough to be successful in the Big East. They are at best players you see in the MACC conference. We will never compete with Villanova, with other top level programs if we continue with players like them. We need size inside, both at center and at forward. Not just height but big guys like you see in the Big Ten and other leagues. Our guards are excellent on offense, but must be taught to play defense. They played very little defense last year. Defense must be played as a team, not as an individual. Someone on the staff must teach this team how to play good defense. If these problems are not addressed, the program will continue to flounder and not be successful.
Some Positives
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
Not sure how far back you go but 1984-85
Mullin top 10
Wennington and Jones top 24 MCAA
Berry JC Player of the year
Mark Jackson borderline top 100
Ron Rowan not sure but no less than borderline top 100
Gotta agree but Bash,Clark, Wilson and Yakwe are a better 2nd 4 than the school has been able to put on the court in a while as well. They're going to be better than last year for sure, hope they're a bubble team at least to make Feb and Mar fun. Need that more than every few years.
Jakarr came the next year so he cannot be considered part of that class, Jamal didn't play the first year but I guess you can consider him half a recruit in that class even though couldn't play until half way through his second year, and Pelle shouldn't even be mentioned as he never played a second of college basketball.Just thought wisdom was a bit of an overstatement. :
Plus, it was Astour. 
At the risk of piling on, absolutely agree. Ridiculous post TAC. Ahmed averaged 14 pts & 5 rebounds playing 29 minutes. Owens averaged 5 and 5 plus 2 blocks/game playing only 20 minutes. Yakwe had a tougher season and hopefully he can take a big step forward next season but Owens and Ahmed already had successful seasons and if Ahmed can force his drives less and Owens can avoid ticky tack fouls and get a consistent 10-12 footer, they can both be very successful. I fully expect that to happen, especially with Owens who has apparently been working his tail off this winter. Don't know what team you've been watching but I see no reason to trash these good kids.
Class of 72
Active member
I basically agree with TAC in that the upper echelon of both the Big East and Power 5 college basketball is composed of better talent in the first 5 players than Yakwe and Owens. Bashir Ahmed is a wild card in that he rarely plays under control but is very talented. Everything else he said has been said many times before here by many posters regarding a doughnut in the middle, lack of defense and now, a high turnover in players which could lead to very few classes with junior and senior players who have played together for 3 years.
Dear 72
Have you read the title of this thread ?
It is entitled Some Positives.
Paultzman clearly pointed out where we missed out in recruiting and then went on to point out a few bright spots to a long suffering fan base.
You then misinterpreted another fans post who said three of our players are MAAC level players and went on how the top teams in the Big East have more talent. We know that that is why they are in the upper echelon and we are not, aside from having an experienced coaching staff.
My point is can you please refrain from turning every post into a Mullin,team, player bash ?
If you wish to start a thread entitled Some Negatives or Glaring Deficiencies or whatever please feel free to do so but I would ask that you please refrain from repeating the same unhappiness in each and every thread.
Some of us have noticed that the staff has gotten 3 very good commitments in the last 5 weeks and prefer to focus on the positive.
Yes, this is just silly. It is a manifestation of fan frustration with limited success. But, guys like Mussini, Ellison etc. certainly proved that they were (despite drawbacks) BE caliber players, but they were forced into situations that maybe did not suit their talents or strengths. Others like Bashir, Owens and Yakwe are certainly BE caliber (heck, even tho Yakwe had a poor season, the prior season he was one of the BE top freshmen). We've had a few players (like Freud, AliB etc.) that needed top play at a lower level, but these guys mentioned are of course BE players. Maybe their roles on other teams would have been lesser, but they are legit nonetheless.
My initial point was not to say Mullin/Matt have brought the best classes ever in the door here. It was more a comment of the long term approach they've set up her which has enabled us to have waves of talent consistently coming in and also having us set up well with top targets for the next 3 classes. We can all lament what Lavin did in his first two classes, it's just unfortunate that didn't continue in the following years, for reasons which are well documented. We just had 5 kids transfer and are not in any real serious trouble with our roster. How refreshing is that?
we are sju
Active member
I am not against the strategy but is relying on transfers sustainable?
Great question. I would prefer if roster turnover abates in time. Continuity, as others have noted, is usually a positive. Pulling transfers constantly from hat is risky, even if you have a guy as good at it as Matt. It should be a tool, but not one you rely on too often to fill gaps. Teams usually win with roster continuity & upperclassmen
we are sju
Active member
Agree. Innovative in that ST John's is not going to get many "one and dones", so this is an alternate way to acquire talent. But would like to see some HS kids to be the building blocks. Preferably local kids but maybe that is not feasible any longer?
Class of 72
Active member
Dear Redmennorth,
What did I misinterpret?
When TAC said "They are at best players you see in the MACC conference."
Is agreeing with a poster now cause to publicly call me out?
Where did I bash anyone other than point out the obvious and what was repeated in this very thread by others?
I am well aware of the title of the thread! You were conspicuously absent in retort when it veered into comparing Lavin's and Mullin's recruiting classes.
As for "Some positives", I wholly agreed with Paultzman on his views and that included his very opening statement.
It bears repeating for you:
"Yeah, not getting an additional interior grad transfer was disappointing, but not end of the world. It would also be nice to have added some college coaching experience on the bench, but perhaps that happens. If not, so be it. Would also like to see roster turnover reduced."
My agreement with Paultzman is not bashing Mullin as you seem to go out of your way to imply.
Also, I just randomly selected opinions in this thread that had the intent on tempering the positives, none of which you publicly criticized. Again, for your reference:
"Continue to be confounded by staff construction, especially seeming lack of flexibility to address what seem like obvious needs."
" I don't know if its next year as I am still concerned with our post/interior play. We also cannot afford loses to some of the mid major programs who have given us fits either."
"Steve Lavin was a clunkhead and self promoter. Steve Lavin' first year was head and shoulders over anything Mullin has done here."
" All I said was his first recruiting class of Pointer, Harkless, Sampson, Garret and Harrison blows away anything we have seen since Fran was recruiting. I like Mullin and thought Lavin was a knucklehead but you have to give credit where credit is due.
In fact though not a recruiting expert by any means, Ponds is Mullin's only recruit on par with Pointer, Harrison, Garrett, Harkless, Sampson and Jordan who were all top 100 ESPN guys."
As for player bashing, please don't confuse me with Fun. I have met most of the players and some even know my handle here. That I am blunt is my trademark. I have personally told Amar he needs to be more aggressive inside. I told Mussini I loved his dedication but to lift more weights and get stronger. I hinted to Slick that playing defense is part of playing basketball.
My only conclusion is that you harbor some kind of fondness for me.
If that is the case please PM me to discuss as you have always been, imo, one of the best and fairest mods on redmen.com.