Step back from the ledge
- Thread starter mjmaherjr
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Ray Morgan
Well-known member
I'm not hanging off any ledges. One reason is I don't have an arbitrary 3 year rule. Turning around a program the right way, which means bringing in high quality student-athletes without resorting to strippers and payoffs and other nefarious means isn't easy. Balancing the roster is important. Being honest with players that will have to earn their playing time as better recruits come in is part of being a coach with integrity. There are thousands of players making a living playing basketball all over the world. There used to be 300 or so. Even marginal players don't want to miss the chance to get a lot of playing time, figuring there goes their chance to play in Krakow.
So far, there have been no Grady Reynolds' incidents. No player caught smoking weed before a NCAA game, or in his car. No unexplained disappearances down the Jersey Turnpike. If Lovett could have played, at least he quit the team because he thought it was better for his pro career, not because he missed his friends from the old neighborhood. Every player is losing with dignity, and coming to play every game. That's a positive reflection on the coaching staff. Mullin is learning on the job. A tough thing to do when you don't inherit a roster of battle hardened seniors. I would like to see a seasoned assistant coach put on the staff, if for no other reason than to shut everyone up who seem to be experts on running a major college basketball program. Then you can blame the assistant for every missed free throw or boneheaded play.
So far, there have been no Grady Reynolds' incidents. No player caught smoking weed before a NCAA game, or in his car. No unexplained disappearances down the Jersey Turnpike. If Lovett could have played, at least he quit the team because he thought it was better for his pro career, not because he missed his friends from the old neighborhood. Every player is losing with dignity, and coming to play every game. That's a positive reflection on the coaching staff. Mullin is learning on the job. A tough thing to do when you don't inherit a roster of battle hardened seniors. I would like to see a seasoned assistant coach put on the staff, if for no other reason than to shut everyone up who seem to be experts on running a major college basketball program. Then you can blame the assistant for every missed free throw or boneheaded play.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
Wasn't that missed free throw against Temple in the NCAA, after which Temple's best player hit a 30 footer?
Just my gut, but, based on his father's support via Twitter of the team members, staff and Tariq's playing time opportunities here, I think he stays. As hard as it is to be losing so often, my sense is this is a tough kid, like Clark, who will be up to the challenge. We'll see.
beast of the east
Active member
I dont remember the game you referenced but I was at the spectrum for the game I referenced. Thanks, Ray
stjohnschris
Well-known member
Several of our losses are a case of severe bad luck. Saturday - Give Dickerson that same deep, highly contested shot 19 more times and maybe he hits one of them. Even Yakwes ill advised foul on Dickerson would often lead to a 2-3 from the FT line under that kind of pressure. The kid stepped up, had a career game, and the Bottom line is that we lost. I like the kind of basketball we've been playing against Creighton, Nova, Xavier and Saturday's G-Town game. The DePaul game at CA was a poor effort from beginning to end, as was most of the Providence game. So right now it's a matter of how many defectors we have to endure between now and October. If it's only Lovett, I think we're having a much more positive discussion this time next year.
Ray Morgan
Well-known member
Terence Stansbury. First round of NCAA tournament I think.
I am uncertain if this will ease everyone back from the brink of hoops-icide, but here goes anyway.
If Mullin can't make it work, then we may be just one of those programs/teams that have thick, dark clouds hovering over it, nothing can let the sun peek through.
First off, what are the chances this school hires the next dynamic, young assistant coach to lead the program? And since they will not pay another person like this is a long time, a younger guys will only be considered.
Then, let us look at how this season has turned out. Early on in non-conference play, the majority of us were optimistic. Some nice wins, even with Lovett out. The team played better defensively as well.
And they are good kids, worth rooting for.
We all said once Lovett comes back, this team can make some noise in BE play. NIT is a lock. They may be a bubble team in March.
Well, just their luck, Lovett isn't coming back this year, or ever.
It falls into the rotten luck category of DJ Kennedy's season ending injury from Lavin's first year. If that group was in tact for the NCAA's, I am convinced they make a big run.
Or the bad luck of Jayson Williams season ending injury in 1990 when he and Boo Harvey could have taken SJU far in the tournament together.
What about the crap luck of Jarvis and the Wizards having a last second complication which caused them to walk away from each other. This, as Jay Wright was about to become the next coach here. What would have happened if Wright had become coach? Would SJU be Villanova right now?
What if Cook had remained in college for his sophomore year? Imagine him and Hatten together in the backcourt.
What if Jarvis wasn't so pompous, and had not insulted recruits family? The class that was going to come, after the final eight year, was a very good one.
This can go on and on of course.. And while all have series of unfortunate events, this program seems to be a headliner.
Right now it stinks. It stinks badly. But even after writing this absurdly long post, I will still hold out hope that when they do announce St. John's on selection on one Sunday (hopefully soon), it will be glorious afternoon that we can all take it in and be proud of.
If Mullin can't make it work, then we may be just one of those programs/teams that have thick, dark clouds hovering over it, nothing can let the sun peek through.
First off, what are the chances this school hires the next dynamic, young assistant coach to lead the program? And since they will not pay another person like this is a long time, a younger guys will only be considered.
Then, let us look at how this season has turned out. Early on in non-conference play, the majority of us were optimistic. Some nice wins, even with Lovett out. The team played better defensively as well.
And they are good kids, worth rooting for.
We all said once Lovett comes back, this team can make some noise in BE play. NIT is a lock. They may be a bubble team in March.
Well, just their luck, Lovett isn't coming back this year, or ever.
It falls into the rotten luck category of DJ Kennedy's season ending injury from Lavin's first year. If that group was in tact for the NCAA's, I am convinced they make a big run.
Or the bad luck of Jayson Williams season ending injury in 1990 when he and Boo Harvey could have taken SJU far in the tournament together.
What about the crap luck of Jarvis and the Wizards having a last second complication which caused them to walk away from each other. This, as Jay Wright was about to become the next coach here. What would have happened if Wright had become coach? Would SJU be Villanova right now?
What if Cook had remained in college for his sophomore year? Imagine him and Hatten together in the backcourt.
What if Jarvis wasn't so pompous, and had not insulted recruits family? The class that was going to come, after the final eight year, was a very good one.
This can go on and on of course.. And while all have series of unfortunate events, this program seems to be a headliner.
Right now it stinks. It stinks badly. But even after writing this absurdly long post, I will still hold out hope that when they do announce St. John's on selection on one Sunday (hopefully soon), it will be glorious afternoon that we can all take it in and be proud of.
The best explanation I can provide for the unparalleled streak of bad luck is that StJohn’s offended the Basketball Gods when it changed the name of its storied program from “Redmen” to “RedStorm” and as a result it has had a dark cloud hang above the program with bad luck ever since the name change. StJohn’s should ask Cardinal Dolan to perform an exorcism on the program to rid the men’s basketball program of its bad karma.
Regarding the name change from Redmen to RedStorm ........ when the men’s teams at StJohn’s were called the “Redmen” the fledgling women’s teams were called the “Express” with their logo a New York Subway car. I have always wondered why when the StJohn’s braintrust decided to change the name of its men’s sport teams it did not merely adopt the women’s name “Express” and also call the men’s teams to the St.John’s Express with the same iconic logo. The sad part is that no one I know can explain the origin of how “RedStorm” was proposed or adopted.
I'm still a little nervous, but if you look at the big picture, it makes most sense for Ponds to stay here. Currently he's being mentioned as a potential draft pick for 2019. And you know Mullin has connections with the NBA to get Ponds the right exposure when the time comes. But it would not help Ponds in any way to sit out a year, and think he could improve his stock at another school at that point. Age is always a factor when it comes to the NBA, and certainly would be a deterrent to his draft stock at that point.
But this is St. Johns University, where we see all types of stuff play out here that doesn't quite make any sense and seemingly doesn't happen at other schools.
I guess it's also important to note that this is Owens' 2nd school. Not sure he'd want to transfer to yet another school, even if he doesn't have to sit out. Plus he'd most likely have a starting role here, so I guess it's debatable if better opportunities are even out there.
Maybe I'm a blind optimist, but I actually think we're in a good position for next year in terms of not having too many defections. Our biggest worries are most likely Ponds and Owens, but both are projected to be starters next year, so I'm not sure where they'd see a better opportunity. Especially Ponds, who should be a potential draft pick next year. Why would he want to sit out a year during which he is potentially expected to be drafted?
Clark and Simon already transferred once, and unlikely to see them do it again, especially since they are starters next year. Then we have two incoming transfers who already are sitting out a year. Then our recruits who are already signed, except for Brooks, who might end up being the most concerning the longer he doesn't sign.
Clark and Simon already transferred once, and unlikely to see them do it again, especially since they are starters next year. Then we have two incoming transfers who already are sitting out a year. Then our recruits who are already signed, except for Brooks, who might end up being the most concerning the longer he doesn't sign.
Class of 72
Active member
Of all people, Lou Carnesecca headed up the committee for the name change. Lou has been on a number of search committees for coaches also. Father Harrington was president. He was in Taiwan getting fitted for suits when the change was adopted. The predominantly Irish and Italian students staged a demonstration but the student body government was never consulted or involved. My guess is that the marketing genius that proposed the name was a big fan of the movie Red Dawn. One student, Morningstar Footinmouth, however was happy with the name change as was the other native American student enrolled on campus Isiah RedStorm Longkok from the Shinnecock Tribe on Long Island. They were consulted for their input but neither claimed responsibility for the new name. Unfortunately one student, Calogero Giovanni Cazzengulo, placed a mal'occhio curse on the name. The only way to lift this curse on the program is to have Mr. Cazzengulo remove the mal from the occhio. He is no longer listed in any alumni directory so I am buying public notice ads in some community papers. I am focusing on the communities of Massapequa, Lindenhurst, Glen Cove, Whitestone, Bensonhurst, Bay Ridge, Howard Beach, and Holbrook. If any out of state fans can do the same in their respective states it would be greatly appreciated.
We have a nice group of newcomers coming in but, the most pressing need will still remain a Inside Post Player . Brooks as a frosh may or , may not be able to fill that need . I don’t know his game . Matt A needs to find a large , big body 5 th year Player if we are to compete better next year . We are weak in the front court in comparison to nearly every other BE School . None of our current players fill that need . Govan and Derrecksen yesterday killed us inside . We had no answer . Blaming Mullin and his Coaches for not getting a post player is warranted but, blaming him for Player mistakes at Crunch time is way off the grid . But, the Amateurs on here want to find blame , where none exists .. The prime reason for this Year’s Record is the loss of LoVett ! Anything else is total BS .
Keita is huge.
Good . We will need him to contribute right away .