Class of 72
Active member
It seems every year since Lou Carnesecca retired a quarter century ago we revert to having the same discussion. I thought this year would be a good year to maybe start a permanent thread to compartmentalize our opinions. So here is my take. Feel free to express your concerns and opinions going further.
The major problem with St. John's basketball has been the provincial mentality of our Vincentian institution. The long reign of Lou Carnesecca, the local favorite son, was followed by the hiring of his loyal assistant Brian Mahoney who had already proved his inability to run a basketball program in his three losing years at his alma mater Manhattan College. That provincial mentality led our then short sighted president and A.D. to buck the national trend of searching nationally for the best candidates and again use Manhattan College as our feeder program for basketball coaches with hiring of Fran Fraschilla. After the firing of Mike Jarvis we again went with a local yokel with the baffling hire of Norm Roberts, an assistant known for recruiting, whose only head coaching experience was an abysmal losing record at his alma mater Queens College. The only true "national" hire and one with a history of both recruiting and post season success was Steve Lavin who brought St. John's out of the dark ages of college basketball. The national press was interested once again, the recruiting became national and then, after 4 seasons of post season appearances his final two seasons were defined by some program supporters who basically put him on probation pending a behind the scenes search for a replacement. Had that search actually been for the best coach on a national level which New York City fans deserve what do the snakes in the Hillcrest golf course grass cook up? They again publicly advocate for another local yokel Manhattan College flunkie in their little circle of little minds Steve Masiello. Why? Because in 2014 he guided Manhattan College to a 25 win season and an NCAA invitation. He stayed their main focus until he surprisingly accepted a head coaching job at the University of South Florida. However, South Florida later rescinded their offer after it was reported that he had not graduated from the University of Kentucky, as his resume had stated. A sneak and a liar just like his St. John's backers. Back to Manhattan he went with his tail between his legs and now has settled into a mediocre career there with consecutive losing seasons. Losing seasons he spared us at St. John's no doubt.
So what do the conspirators do after the Masiello caper? Still intent of bringing down Steve Lavin they turn to yet another "local boy". Just this time it is St. John's basketball legend Chris Mullin. The greatest player ever at St, John's. No one could say no! Except for some supporters of the program not part of the plot who said "WTF? Chris has never coached a day in his life!" He would be like a box of chocolate. We won't know what the hell we are getting. Well fellow fans after 3 years since the hire we still don't know and will have to wait until the next signing period to see who comes and who goes and hope that should Chris not succeed we don't return to our provincial roots and hire another local yokel from Iona College because if that were to happen I would seriously doubt that St. John's belongs in the Big East Conference as it would continue the tradition of thinking SMALL.
The major problem with St. John's basketball has been the provincial mentality of our Vincentian institution. The long reign of Lou Carnesecca, the local favorite son, was followed by the hiring of his loyal assistant Brian Mahoney who had already proved his inability to run a basketball program in his three losing years at his alma mater Manhattan College. That provincial mentality led our then short sighted president and A.D. to buck the national trend of searching nationally for the best candidates and again use Manhattan College as our feeder program for basketball coaches with hiring of Fran Fraschilla. After the firing of Mike Jarvis we again went with a local yokel with the baffling hire of Norm Roberts, an assistant known for recruiting, whose only head coaching experience was an abysmal losing record at his alma mater Queens College. The only true "national" hire and one with a history of both recruiting and post season success was Steve Lavin who brought St. John's out of the dark ages of college basketball. The national press was interested once again, the recruiting became national and then, after 4 seasons of post season appearances his final two seasons were defined by some program supporters who basically put him on probation pending a behind the scenes search for a replacement. Had that search actually been for the best coach on a national level which New York City fans deserve what do the snakes in the Hillcrest golf course grass cook up? They again publicly advocate for another local yokel Manhattan College flunkie in their little circle of little minds Steve Masiello. Why? Because in 2014 he guided Manhattan College to a 25 win season and an NCAA invitation. He stayed their main focus until he surprisingly accepted a head coaching job at the University of South Florida. However, South Florida later rescinded their offer after it was reported that he had not graduated from the University of Kentucky, as his resume had stated. A sneak and a liar just like his St. John's backers. Back to Manhattan he went with his tail between his legs and now has settled into a mediocre career there with consecutive losing seasons. Losing seasons he spared us at St. John's no doubt.
So what do the conspirators do after the Masiello caper? Still intent of bringing down Steve Lavin they turn to yet another "local boy". Just this time it is St. John's basketball legend Chris Mullin. The greatest player ever at St, John's. No one could say no! Except for some supporters of the program not part of the plot who said "WTF? Chris has never coached a day in his life!" He would be like a box of chocolate. We won't know what the hell we are getting. Well fellow fans after 3 years since the hire we still don't know and will have to wait until the next signing period to see who comes and who goes and hope that should Chris not succeed we don't return to our provincial roots and hire another local yokel from Iona College because if that were to happen I would seriously doubt that St. John's belongs in the Big East Conference as it would continue the tradition of thinking SMALL.
