St. Thomas Aquinas

Talk about an overreaction. We've got people talking about getting swindled and burying a coach when he hasn't even coached a real game yet. If you bought tickets thinking we were a tourney team this year that's on you. Lavin left us with nothing, this is a process, don't worry about it people,
 
I am not going to start with "relax guys", because everyone is entitled to feel exactly as they wish, but as ugly as yesterday was I still have the utmost faith that this staff has our program headed in the right direction. It's going to take a hell of a lot more than one blow out lose, by a bunch of newcomers who were assembled within a few short months, for me to change my opinion about Chris and co.
 
We will stink this year. Accept it and move on. Hopefully at some point Lovett becomes eligible as he looks fun to watch. Think of it as taking a one year vacation from worrying about ST John's winning or losing.
 
I can accept losing. I'm not thinking we were going to have a great year. But at least be prepared to compete. You have to wonder what the coaching staff is doing in practice if they think this team is ready to play at all. It was troubling that there was no adjustments and no coaching on, at least, making a better effort.

Playing hard and being a tough out is all I'm looking for and that's not too much to ask.
 
I can accept losing. I'm not thinking we were going to have a great year. But at least be prepared to compete. You have to wonder what the coaching staff is doing in practice if they think this team is ready to play at all. It was troubling that there was no adjustments and no coaching on, at least, making a better effort.

Playing hard and being a tough out is all I'm looking for and that's not too much to ask.
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If this was a real game, I'd agree with you to some extent. There is a reason they play exhibitions, and it should be clear that whatever they were doing in practice or game preparation probably has to be tweaked now. Let's see how next exhibition goes and then the first few games before considering handing out any indictments.
 
We will stink this year. Accept it and move on. Hopefully at some point Lovett becomes eligible as he looks fun to watch. Think of it as taking a one year vacation from worrying about ST John's winning or losing.
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I understand that we will not be good. But we cannot be a disaster. It is not acceptable to lose the way we lost last night. Yes we won't be good, but we need to at least try and/or compete. What do top recruits who are being courted by the powerhouse schools throughout the country think of a loss like this? It's not a good look.
 
I really regret saying anything negative about my favorite SJU player in the 53 years that I've been watching this program. However, tonight's debacle was the single worst display of basketball by any St. John's team ever. It is hard to imagine how St. John's roundball has come to this, but one can only shiver to think that this team still has to face some of the best programs in America. This display tonight was embarrassing on so many levels. You can find blame for it on so many things...not the least is the abject failure of Steve Lavin to recruit any noteworthy players in two years.Yes, Chris entered with little to work with and most of the national talent headed elsewhere. But in all fairness... his coaching tonight...or lack thereof it...was noticeable and disturbing. St. John's looked like a confused team tonight. Chris was definitively uninvolved. He never spoke to a player....never sat one down next to him...he never got up off the bench...he never questioned a call....and he never rallied a soul. It was most puzzling. But even worse, he never recognized the single most significant single factor in this game. It was something I wondered about, and hoped wouldn't be an obstacle to his success as a coach. In this I refer to defensive flexability. Chris learned his defense under Louieball, and then re-enforced it with an NBA career. Or in other words= man to man....absolutelty no zone. It was clear very early in this game that our opponent was quicker and more athletic almost at every position. We had three front court players who were noticeably sluggish compared with STTA, who were smaller, but active and athletic. Both our guards were also slower (that's saying a lot because Mussini is pretty quick). Our opponents went around us and penetrated with ease while our coach watched this go on without adjustment. It was an awesome display of superior shooting and athleticism...very little from real range. At some point early, a zone was mandated here. We needed to push them out of the lanes, where they were having a field day driving to the basket. Yes, I know this is our adored Chris Mullin, but I call it like I see it. Lou Carnesecca never understood against Georgetown that you cannot play man to man against a much quicker and athletic team. It cost him a National Championship. One can only hope that Chris will go on to understand that his defensive bag MUST contain more options to address the multitude of circumstances he will face as a Div. I coach. This team has so many liabilities. His big men totally and completely lack finesse...on both sides of the court. Mussini is talented but small and slight. Ellison is relatively slow for a Div. I guard. You cannot overstate how damaging this game is to SJU's reputation and recruiting. I haven't seen Lovett play. Is he part of an answer? I would at least expect that to change the pitiful display of lost inbounds passes...something completely inexcusable for any quality Div. I team. But as things stand at the moment, there is hardly reason for optimism. I can only hope that tonight was a learning process for he team, as well as Coach Mullin.
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sounds like someone could use a hug
 
We will stink this year. Accept it and move on. Hopefully at some point Lovett becomes eligible as he looks fun to watch. Think of it as taking a one year vacation from worrying about ST John's winning or losing.
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I understand that we will not be good. But we cannot be a disaster. It is not acceptable to lose the way we lost last night. Yes we won't be good, but we need to at least try and/or compete. What do top recruits who are being courted by the powerhouse schools throughout the country think of a loss like this? It's not a good look.
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The goal for this year is two have One or Two of the kids on this team show enough improvement by the end of the year that they will be able to help out when things turn around. I really don't know how you can judge this season on anything else.
 
I would hate to see how some of you people behave during a real crisis.
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Be careful, remember what happened to Chip when he tried to tell the people at the Faber homecoming parade to stay calm. I think it is best to just get out of the way of the crazy people.
 
I would hate to see how some of you people behave during a real crisis.
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Be careful, remember what happened to Chip when he tried to tell the people at the Faber homecoming parade to stay calm. I think it is best to just get out of the way of the crazy people.
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FWIW any Animal house reference gets a + karma and a "thank you" from me
 
You cannot overstate how damaging this game is to SJU's reputation and recruiting. .
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HYSTERICAL MUCH? MAYBE GO HAVE A LIE DOWN ON THE DIVAN, FAN YOURSELF UNTIL THE VAPORS SUBSIDE. ALSO, LOSE THE BOLD FACE, IT DOESN'T MAKE YOUR PEDESTRIAN OBSERVATIONS EPIPHANIC, JUST HARD TO READ. TRY TYPING IN ALL CAPS INSTEAD AND MAYBE ADD SOME ITALICS AND UNDERLINE STUFF FOR EMPHASIS. LIKE WHEN YOU'RE RIFFING ALONG THERE ABOUT HOW SAINT JOHN'S WOULD HAVE WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 50 YEARS AGO IF ONLY LOU'D TAKEN YOUR ADVICE AND PLAYED THE TRIANGLE AND TWO OR PENTAGRAM AND NONE OR WHATEVER AGAINST GEORGETOWN AND YOU STATE BOLDLY ESCHEWING THE SPLIT INFINITIVE THAT LAST NIGHT'S EXHIBITION GAME WAS THE DEFINING LOSS OF THE MULLIN ERA AND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN NEW YORK SPORTS SINCE HARRY FRAZEE SOLD BABE RUTH YOU SLAM THE READER WITH THE BOLD AND [strike]KNOCK THEM OVER[/strike] BLOW THEM AWAY!!!!!!!!
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Pentagram and none!! damn youve had some good ones before but that is gold
 
I know beast mentioned it, but you guys need to realize that it takes time to become comfortable on the sidelines. As much improvement as we will see from this completely new team, im sure there will be just as much improvement from Chris. You dont just know how to work the refs, or to demand respect in the huddle, or when to use timeouts, how to make adjustments on the fly. It seemed to me (through my computer screen) that Chris felt a little awkward, all eyes were on him and he might have got stuck. This thread will be a great one to look back at.

Positives- Jones looks like the confident kid he was the first 5 games of his career, realistically I think he should have got a touch every time down the court. . Ive always seen his talent, its good that he apparently is back to recognizing it himself. Mussini does a good job of not showing the ball to the defender, his shot is good but he NEEDS Lovett to be truly effective. Ellison had a rough game but I love his skills and physical package.

Negatives- A lot. Williams is the biggest disappointment to me. Was hoping for so much more. Runs, passes, and even his shot looks similar to obekpa. And I never wanted to see obekpa do anything other than block a shot again.
 
No recruit is coming here because of our tradition of recent success.

They're coming because Mullin and Richmond are Hall of Famers, and we can offer a ton of playing time.
Going 0-30 wouldnt change that.
 
I know beast mentioned it, but you guys need to realize that it takes time to become comfortable on the sidelines. As much improvement as we will see from this completely new team, im sure there will be just as much improvement from Chris. You dont just know how to work the refs, or to demand respect in the huddle, or when to use timeouts, how to make adjustments on the fly. It seemed to me (through my computer screen) that Chris felt a little awkward, all eyes were on him and he might have got stuck. This thread will be a great one to look back at.

Positives- Jones looks like the confident kid he was the first 5 games of his career, realistically I think he should have got a touch every time down the court. . Ive always seen his talent, its good that he apparently is back to recognizing it himself. Mussini does a good job of not showing the ball to the defender, his shot is good but he NEEDS Lovett to be truly effective. Ellison had a rough game but I love his skills and physical package.

Negatives- A lot. Williams is the biggest disappointment to me. Was hoping for so much more. Runs, passes, and even his shot looks similar to obekpa. And I never wanted to see obekpa do anything other than block a shot again.
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Anyone else worried Mase is veering towards Carmine -Phil Greene territory with Jones?
Should we organize an intervention?
 
The undeniable fact is our cupboard was bare at the end of the Lavin era. Jordan wasn't going to play anyway since he forget the part about being a student-athlete.He was way too much maintenance anyway.

Obepka? Regardless of him having minimal offensive skills and shot blocking skills unquestionably, I would not want him wearing a St John's uniform this season. He proved his character by getting suspended for drug infractions as the post season tournaments commenced. He essentially quit on his Coach, Teammates and School.

And, Sampson was gone as soon as Lavin was fired. He had committed to Steve and, not Chris. Not uncommon for kids to opt out of their commitment when the Coach is fired.

That being said, I am re-reading all the posts from the Red -White scrimmage. Much more positive. :)

This was going to be brutal year if Lavin had returned anyway.. And, to me, Lovett was a great pick up after Sampson opted out. Hope his injury is not too serious and that he will be eligible.

Not sure what to make of the Comments about Mullin's Coaching or, that of the staff? Seemed a bit harsh for Exhibition Game 1.. let's see a few more games before conclusions are jumped too.
 
Nah. We'll wait for the season to start and Lovett's situation to straighten out. If he could have given us 30+ it might have been a game.
 
I know beast mentioned it, but you guys need to realize that it takes time to become comfortable on the sidelines. As much improvement as we will see from this completely new team, im sure there will be just as much improvement from Chris. You dont just know how to work the refs, or to demand respect in the huddle, or when to use timeouts, how to make adjustments on the fly. It seemed to me (through my computer screen) that Chris felt a little awkward, all eyes were on him and he might have got stuck. This thread will be a great one to look back at.
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Just playing devils advocate here (I know CM can do no wrong in many eyes on here) but perhaps it was not the brightest decision for a gravely struggling program to hire someone with no experience coaching, zero, and will struggle and have to learn how to coach opposed to someone who has been in this situation before. At the very least there should have been a highly regarded experienced coach hired as an assistant for in game coaching.
 
BOE, Not sure if you are serious about winning the NCAA with those , Sampson and Harkless? I doubt they would have won more than 2 NCAA games. Lavin's coaching was a big obstacle to overcome and clearly he was near the bottom of his BE Coaching colleagues.

Steve seemed to lose interest after his Cancer treatments and loss of his Father. Plus, he was out of his element here in the East and, it showed.
 
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