St. John's basketball family should be embarrassed

[ct_redstorm]

I am not the least bit embarrassed the way this team played this year. Disappointed? Very, but not ashamed by any means. We proved this year, we could compete with almost any team in the country. Not necessarily beat any team, but at least show up and compete. During the Lavin era, Attendance at MSG went from about 6k to almost 10k and there is nothing wrong with that.

I went to 5 games this year, home and away, and we went 2-3. We were in EVERY game until at least the last 90 seconds. My wife and kids had a blast, I had blast. We are simply an NIT type of program that may make the big dance every few years or so. Nothing more and fortunately, Nothing less. There are 60 or so teams better than is in D1 and probably another 250 or so that would love to in our shoes right now.

Speaking of the NIT, hopefully we get a 1 seed and go ahead and win that thing! Ill be watching and hopefully most of you will as well.

I would have to say that you're in the minority in asserting, and being willing to accept, that we are an "NIT type of program". But if that's what we wind up becoming, I assure that attendance at MSG will not stay anywhere near 10K per game.

Were we a "NIT type of program" before Lavin? No. Progress has been made to the point where we are now seeing post season basketball every year. Obviously the NIT isn't the final goal but we have positioned ourselves for ATLEAST an NIT appearance every year and I truly think in a couple more years you will see us in the NCAAs every year. It takes time to transform a program. The truth of the matter is we were no where near the program we were in the 80's or even late 90s when Lavin took over.

 

[johnnycomelately]

Fun year-nice talent level, progression of Sampson, Jordan; but you do come away wanting/expecting more.

 

[TobinGrad]

I am not the least bit embarrassed the way this team played this year. Disappointed? Very, but not ashamed by any means. We proved this year, we could compete with almost any team in the country. Not necessarily beat any team, but at least show up and compete. During the Lavin era, Attendance at MSG went from about 6k to almost 10k and there is nothing wrong with that.

I went to 5 games this year, home and away, and we went 2-3. We were in EVERY game until at least the last 90 seconds. My wife and kids had a blast, I had blast. We are simply an NIT type of program that may make the big dance every few years or so. Nothing more and fortunately, Nothing less. There are 60 or so teams better than is in D1 and probably another 250 or so that would love to in our shoes right now.

Speaking of the NIT, hopefully we get a 1 seed and go ahead and win that thing! Ill be watching and hopefully most of you will as well.

This is one of the more moronic statments i have heard.
This is not Seton Hall or Providence. How can anyone with an IQ above 50 even write such nonsense?!

This season is indeed an embrassment and is inexcusable.
One of the most talented teams in the conf; highly experienced; not hit with injury. No excuse for this team not to be headed to Sweet-16 right now.

St. Johns can do better than Lavin.

 

[TobinGrad]

I am not the least bit embarrassed the way this team played this year. Disappointed? Very, but not ashamed by any means. We proved this year, we could compete with almost any team in the country. Not necessarily beat any team, but at least show up and compete. During the Lavin era, Attendance at MSG went from about 6k to almost 10k and there is nothing wrong with that.

I went to 5 games this year, home and away, and we went 2-3. We were in EVERY game until at least the last 90 seconds. My wife and kids had a blast, I had blast. We are simply an NIT type of program that may make the big dance every few years or so. Nothing more and fortunately, Nothing less. There are 60 or so teams better than is in D1 and probably another 250 or so that would love to in our shoes right now.

Speaking of the NIT, hopefully we get a 1 seed and go ahead and win that thing! Ill be watching and hopefully most of you will as well.

I would have to say that you're in the minority in asserting, and being willing to accept, that we are an "NIT type of program". But if that's what we wind up becoming, I assure that attendance at MSG will not stay anywhere near 10K per game.

Were we a "NIT type of program" before Lavin? No. Progress has been made to the point where we are now seeing post season basketball every year. Obviously the NIT isn't the final goal but we have positioned ourselves for ATLEAST an NIT appearance every year and I truly think in a couple more years you will see us in the NCAAs every year. It takes time to transform a program. The truth of the matter is we were no where near the program we were in the 80's or even late 90s when Lavin took over.

Actually, in a couple more years we will again be the "youngest team in the nation" again. i just wonder how many cycles of failure and spin from Lavin it will take before some of you realize the sham

 

[SJUISBACK]

It's funny reading the people who like to defend Lavin by bringing up Norm. A year or two ago you were insulted when they were put in the same sentence. Now all you of you are hyprocrites by doing so in order to defend Lav.

Funny thing is there's no argument to be made. In actuality Norm served his purpose just fine. He cleaned up a program that had turned into scum. What has Lavin done? The guy makes excuse after excuse after excuse. And THAT is my problem. Take some accountability Stevie cause this nice-guy excuse bs doesn't suit anybody well. It's only the clueless apologists who are still buying that crap.

Lavin hasn`t done anything. Want to say he got to the NCAA his first year? That was with Norm`s kids.
Want to say, but hey atleast Lavin got them there? I`d bet they got to the ncaa because of Dunlap.
Maybe they win 2 or 3 games that they lost this year and would of made the ncaa.

To me Lavin is like Norm. Ok, maybe no more blowouts, but they lose competitive games. A loss is a loss right.
Next year will be the seniors last chance.
I treat everyone equal, if we complained about Norm, then we could complain about Lavin.

Why extend him? Shouldn`t he only be extended if we succeed? Are we ok with going to the NIT, again?
I`m not.
Lavin defenders say we`re going in the right direction. Well how better will we be next year with the same players, minus, Sanchez, and GG.
It`s not 100% that Adonis is coming, and Lavin better not get some 3star play just to add a body?

Maybe Lavin doesn`t have to earn it, just give him what he want.

I'm not content with the NIT either. But you and I aren't the ones that sign his check. Maybe. just maybe, the administration is fine with the NIT. If so, we'll either need to find another team to root for or accept many years of rooting for mediocrity.

Monte, if that`s the case, then the administration at SJU are losers. The ultimate goal shouls be to win the NCAA National Championship. If they don`t give a crap about that, then get a new administration.

 

[Zorba]

This year's SJ team is going to be about as good as it gets for many seasons to come. On paper & in reality Lav had all the makings of a Top 25 team. Consider that he had size in Gift, Sanchez and CO, a premier shot blocker in CO, two experienced shooting guards in DeLo & Phil. A top 40 freshman Point Guard in RJ and an experienced PG in Branch, a returning rookie of the year in Jakarr, a lock down defender in Sir Dom, two supposed 3 point shooters in Hooper & Bourgault and a coaching staff large enough to go one on one with the players. Couple that with a top notch on campus training facility, the lights of MSG, a lighter schedule than last year and to start things off, a European summer tour!!!! When do you think these events will realign themselves again? Not anytime soon my fellow long suffering fans. Now, how could the blame this year's performance and results be placed anywhere other than Lav's coaching skills or lack there of?
When I heard Lav say in November that this team may not "Jell" until Feb or March I was flabbergasted. What do you think the "Jell time" would be say having this team under a Coach K, Jay Wright or any other consistent top 25 coach? Would you like to bet that at next season's Big East opening Press Conference you hear Lav say that; "The upcoming 2014-2015 season will be tougher since we lost Gift & Sanchez"........so in other words my friends get ready for yet another mediocre season.

 

[beast of the east]

I am not the least bit embarrassed the way this team played this year. Disappointed? Very, but not ashamed by any means. We proved this year, we could compete with almost any team in the country. Not necessarily beat any team, but at least show up and compete. During the Lavin era, Attendance at MSG went from about 6k to almost 10k and there is nothing wrong with that.

I went to 5 games this year, home and away, and we went 2-3. We were in EVERY game until at least the last 90 seconds. My wife and kids had a blast, I had blast. We are simply an NIT type of program that may make the big dance every few years or so. Nothing more and fortunately, Nothing less. There are 60 or so teams better than is in D1 and probably another 250 or so that would love to in our shoes right now.

Speaking of the NIT, hopefully we get a 1 seed and go ahead and win that thing! Ill be watching and hopefully most of you will as well.

This is one of the more moronic statments i have heard.
This is not Seton Hall or Providence. How can anyone with an IQ above 50 even write such nonsense?!

This season is indeed an embrassment and is inexcusable.
One of the most talented teams in the conf; highly experienced; not hit with injury. No excuse for this team not to be headed to Sweet-16 right now.

St. Johns can do better than Lavin.

Do you realize how damned offensive it is to call someone post "moronic"? Now what if someone questioned your own SAT score, or GPA, or why you chose the 377th best school in the nation to attend? how would you feel? I'm sick of the effing name calling around here. Losing is bad enough, without that garbage.

 

[1and1sju]

+ 100 Beast.

People need to accept the fact the rationale people can have different opinions. Even ones you might vehemently agree with.

 

[beast of the east]

+ 100 Beast.

People need to accept the fact the rationale people can have different opinions. Even ones you might vehemently agree with.

I think you and I are a perfect example. I disagree with you on some subjects, but I do respect what you have to say and your right to say it.. Spirited debate need not denigrate into name calling, right?

 

[usguard]

I am not the least bit embarrassed the way this team played this year. Disappointed? Very, but not ashamed by any means. We proved this year, we could compete with almost any team in the country. Not necessarily beat any team, but at least show up and compete. During the Lavin era, Attendance at MSG went from about 6k to almost 10k and there is nothing wrong with that.

I went to 5 games this year, home and away, and we went 2-3. We were in EVERY game until at least the last 90 seconds. My wife and kids had a blast, I had blast. We are simply an NIT type of program that may make the big dance every few years or so. Nothing more and fortunately, Nothing less. There are 60 or so teams better than is in D1 and probably another 250 or so that would love to in our shoes right now.

Speaking of the NIT, hopefully we get a 1 seed and go ahead and win that thing! Ill be watching and hopefully most of you will as well.

This is one of the more moronic statments i have heard.
This is not Seton Hall or Providence. How can anyone with an IQ above 50 even write such nonsense?!

This season is indeed an embrassment and is inexcusable.
One of the most talented teams in the conf; highly experienced; not hit with injury. No excuse for this team not to be headed to Sweet-16 right now.

St. Johns can do better than Lavin.

Far from an embarrassing season 20 wins .Disappointing .indeed Still like where Lavin
will take us. I see a promising future for SJU Also the talent is subjective,obvious we were not but will we be, I say !

 

[Avon Barksdale]

Embarrassed was when the sex scandal in Pittsburgh happened in 2004.

This is just a major disappointment and to me unacceptable results with the returning roster we had PLUS we added a blue chip point guard!!!

We were picked Top 2 by just about everyone pre-season Big East and to be quite honest, it was a joke that we didnt even have a bid to the NCAAs locked up going into yesterday's game. There are 4 games we had no business losing - PC, PSU, DePaul and Xavier. If we win those, we are in the NCAAs hands down.

The excuse that we started 0-5 just doesnt hold weight with me because those 5 games hold just as much weight as the games we played down the stretch.

The season was a failure and a disappointment but I wouldnt call it an embarrassment.....but that can change if Iona runs us out of our own gym next week

 

[tom in salem]

Embarrassed was when the sex scandal in Pittsburgh happened in 2004.

This is just a major disappointment and to me unacceptable results with the returning roster we had PLUS we added a blue chip point guard!!!

We were picked Top 2 by just about everyone pre-season Big East and to be quite honest, it was a joke that we didnt even have a bid to the NCAAs locked up going into yesterday's game. There are 4 games we had no business losing - PC, PSU, DePaul and Xavier. If we win those, we are in the NCAAs hands down.

The excuse that we started 0-5 just doesnt hold weight with me because those 5 games hold just as much weight as the games we played down the stretch.

The season was a failure and a disappointment but I wouldnt call it an embarrassment.....but that can change if Iona runs us out of our own gym next week

To be fair, the coaches picked SJU 5th.
If nor for Harrison's prayer "3" last week, SJU would have finished 6th.
Let's see what the coaches pre-season poll brings next year.

 

[mjmaherjr]

Embarrassed was when the sex scandal in Pittsburgh happened in 2004.

This is just a major disappointment and to me unacceptable results with the returning roster we had PLUS we added a blue chip point guard!!!

We were picked Top 2 by just about everyone pre-season Big East and to be quite honest, it was a joke that we didnt even have a bid to the NCAAs locked up going into yesterday's game. There are 4 games we had no business losing - PC, PSU, DePaul and Xavier. If we win those, we are in the NCAAs hands down.

The excuse that we started 0-5 just doesnt hold weight with me because those 5 games hold just as much weight as the games we played down the stretch.

The season was a failure and a disappointment but I wouldnt call it an embarrassment.....but that can change if Iona runs us out of our own gym next week

If we lose to Baldi and Iona I will personally start a riot in the rockaways and I will buy a white castle franchise and put it in front of his house

 

[beast of the east]

I'm embarrassed every time I see that damned ad that says I went to the 377th best school in the United States, and hope that my co-workers and clients don't see it.

 

[mantle369]

You obviously can't real well...the embarrassment is not over the one game...it is over the brand of basketball played during the entire season. Instead of making snide comments try absorbing what you read first and realize this team was an embarrassment.......

 

[MJDinkins]

Embarrassed was when the sex scandal in Pittsburgh happened in 2004.

This is just a major disappointment and to me unacceptable results with the returning roster we had PLUS we added a blue chip point guard!!!

We were picked Top 2 by just about everyone pre-season Big East and to be quite honest, it was a joke that we didnt even have a bid to the NCAAs locked up going into yesterday's game. There are 4 games we had no business losing - PC, PSU, DePaul and Xavier. If we win those, we are in the NCAAs hands down.

The excuse that we started 0-5 just doesnt hold weight with me because those 5 games hold just as much weight as the games we played down the stretch.

The season was a failure and a disappointment but I wouldnt call it an embarrassment.....but that can change if Iona runs us out of our own gym next week

To be fair, the coaches picked SJU 5th.
If nor for Harrison's prayer "3" last week, SJU would have finished 6th.
Let's see what the coaches pre-season poll brings next year.

If Hooper didn't go brain-dead versus Providence in CA, then we finish outright in 3rd place.

 

[JohnnyFan]

If you're not embarrassed, you don't know what basketball is supposed to look like.

Please stop with the Mahoney, Jarvis, Roberts comparisons. We all saw it and using them to set a level of expectation is signing up to be average.

As angry as all of us are, you just seem to be around after brutal losses. I don't remember your eloquence during the team's winning streak.

Call it what you want. I won't apologize for wanting a better basketball coach for this team.

 

[JohnnyFan]

If we don't get Harrison to a tournament next year I will be ashamed and disgusted. Poor dude

He could have helped himself by not sleep walking through the Xavier game.

 

[monte]

It's funny reading the people who like to defend Lavin by bringing up Norm. A year or two ago you were insulted when they were put in the same sentence. Now all you of you are hyprocrites by doing so in order to defend Lav.

Funny thing is there's no argument to be made. In actuality Norm served his purpose just fine. He cleaned up a program that had turned into scum. What has Lavin done? The guy makes excuse after excuse after excuse. And THAT is my problem. Take some accountability Stevie cause this nice-guy excuse bs doesn't suit anybody well. It's only the clueless apologists who are still buying that crap.

Lavin hasn`t done anything. Want to say he got to the NCAA his first year? That was with Norm`s kids.
Want to say, but hey atleast Lavin got them there? I`d bet they got to the ncaa because of Dunlap.
Maybe they win 2 or 3 games that they lost this year and would of made the ncaa.

To me Lavin is like Norm. Ok, maybe no more blowouts, but they lose competitive games. A loss is a loss right.
Next year will be the seniors last chance.
I treat everyone equal, if we complained about Norm, then we could complain about Lavin.

Why extend him? Shouldn`t he only be extended if we succeed? Are we ok with going to the NIT, again?
I`m not.
Lavin defenders say we`re going in the right direction. Well how better will we be next year with the same players, minus, Sanchez, and GG.
It`s not 100% that Adonis is coming, and Lavin better not get some 3star play just to add a body?

Maybe Lavin doesn`t have to earn it, just give him what he want.

I'm not content with the NIT either. But you and I aren't the ones that sign his check. Maybe. just maybe, the administration is fine with the NIT. If so, we'll either need to find another team to root for or accept many years of rooting for mediocrity.

Monte, if that`s the case, then the administration at SJU are losers. The ultimate goal shouls be to win the NCAA National Championship. If they don`t give a crap about that, then get a new administration.

I just wonder at what point the big donors(IE Repoli, etc) start demanding a return on their investment.

 

[SJUISBACK]

It's funny reading the people who like to defend Lavin by bringing up Norm. A year or two ago you were insulted when they were put in the same sentence. Now all you of you are hyprocrites by doing so in order to defend Lav.

Funny thing is there's no argument to be made. In actuality Norm served his purpose just fine. He cleaned up a program that had turned into scum. What has Lavin done? The guy makes excuse after excuse after excuse. And THAT is my problem. Take some accountability Stevie cause this nice-guy excuse bs doesn't suit anybody well. It's only the clueless apologists who are still buying that crap.

Lavin hasn`t done anything. Want to say he got to the NCAA his first year? That was with Norm`s kids.
Want to say, but hey atleast Lavin got them there? I`d bet they got to the ncaa because of Dunlap.
Maybe they win 2 or 3 games that they lost this year and would of made the ncaa.

To me Lavin is like Norm. Ok, maybe no more blowouts, but they lose competitive games. A loss is a loss right.
Next year will be the seniors last chance.
I treat everyone equal, if we complained about Norm, then we could complain about Lavin.

Why extend him? Shouldn`t he only be extended if we succeed? Are we ok with going to the NIT, again?
I`m not.
Lavin defenders say we`re going in the right direction. Well how better will we be next year with the same players, minus, Sanchez, and GG.
It`s not 100% that Adonis is coming, and Lavin better not get some 3star play just to add a body?

Maybe Lavin doesn`t have to earn it, just give him what he want.

I'm not content with the NIT either. But you and I aren't the ones that sign his check. Maybe. just maybe, the administration is fine with the NIT. If so, we'll either need to find another team to root for or accept many years of rooting for mediocrity.

Monte, if that`s the case, then the administration at SJU are losers. The ultimate goal shouls be to win the NCAA National Championship. If they don`t give a crap about that, then get a new administration.

I just wonder at what point the big donors(IE Repoli, etc) start demanding a return on their investment.

Monte, I looked at the roster before. We`ll lose Sanchez and GG (2 big seniors), we`ll be replacing them with Jones, who redshirted this year, and Adonis (if he commits), who`ll be fresh out of HS. So we`ll lose there.
Balamos for Marco is a wash.
If Obekpa goes to the NBA development league, then we`ll atleast have 3 less win next year.
Which means no ncaa tourny again next yeah, which will be Steve`s 5th year.

Should we wait to see what happens next year, I mean isn`t he here for another two seasons anyway?
Are we gonna extend him this year through 2018 then next year take a step back and maybe win 17, or 18 games?
I think the donors care very much about SJU, so they should have a say in the matter.

Paying big money for the NIT makes them happy? I doubt that very much.