The Stretch Run

Teams had comparable talent and both rosters were structurally flawed. Neither coach known for tactical savvy or strong work ethic.

I think the 2014-15 team may have had more fortitude. We'll see. Hope the current guys can match the conference record.
 
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JohnnyFan wrote: I think the 2014-15 team may have had more fortitude. We'll see. Hope the current guys can match the conference record.

Maybe if you discount Obekpa. Wasn't crazy about Jordan either. Agree that Pointer, Harrison, Green & Branch were tough minded kids.
 
Overall I find this a more fun bunch to root for, Obepka and Jordan displayed a lot of negative baggage. I think the teams have similar talent levels. We know where that team ended up, this one is still writing their story.
 
[quote="IDRAFT" post=321824]Overall I find this a more fun bunch to root for, Obepka and Jordan displayed a lot of negative baggage. I think the teams have similar talent levels. We know where that team ended up, this one is still writing their story.[/quote]

Obekpa and Jordan were frustrating with their off-court antics, but they were much closer to being a true center and a true point guard, respectively, then anybody we have on the team as presently constructed.

I don't mind postionless/interchangeable players at the 2, 3, and 4 spots, but a true PG and a true C can go a long way towards making your team a successful one.
 
[quote="JohnnyFan" post=321807]I have been thinking about this comparison.

2014-2015 (21-12; 10-8; at large NCAA bid)
D’Angelo Harrison
Sir’Dominc Pointer
Phil Greene IV
Rysheed Jordan
Chris Obekpa
Jamal Branch
Christian Jones
Amar Alibegovic
Felix Balamou
Khadim Ndiaye
Joey DelaRosa



2018-2019 (???)
Shamorie Ponds
Mustapha Heron
Justin Simon
Marvin Clarke II
LJ Figueroa
Bryan Trimble
Sedee Keita
Greg Williams
Josh Roberts
Marcellus Earlington
Mikey Dixon[/quote]

If Mustapha is healthy,I think this team’s starting 5 better, but D-Lo, Sir Dom, and Phil Green. IV. were warriors and among my all-time favorite Johnnies.
That said, I hope—with little confidence—this group can regroup and resemble a team that shows some consistency and grit down the stretch and not mail it in.
The jury is out.
 
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[quote="SJU61982" post=321843][quote="IDRAFT" post=321824]Overall I find this a more fun bunch to root for, Obepka and Jordan displayed a lot of negative baggage. I think the teams have similar talent levels. We know where that team ended up, this one is still writing their story.[/quote]

Obekpa and Jordan were frustrating with their off-court antics, but they were much closer to being a true center and a true point guard, respectively, then anybody we have on the team as presently constructed.

I don't mind postionless/interchangeable players at the 2, 3, and 4 spots, but a true PG and a true C can go a long way towards making your team a successful one.[/quote]

Maybe Jordan was the better nba prospect at one time, but Ponds is far and away the superior college pg.
 
Boo Harvey wrote: Maybe Jordan was the better nba prospect at one time, but Ponds is far and away the superior college pg.

Jordan had as much or more talent as anyone on our current team, but was just so undependable.
 
[quote="Boo Harvey" post=321845][quote="SJU61982" post=321843][quote="IDRAFT" post=321824]Overall I find this a more fun bunch to root for, Obepka and Jordan displayed a lot of negative baggage. I think the teams have similar talent levels. We know where that team ended up, this one is still writing their story.[/quote]

Obekpa and Jordan were frustrating with their off-court antics, but they were much closer to being a true center and a true point guard, respectively, then anybody we have on the team as presently constructed.

I don't mind postionless/interchangeable players at the 2, 3, and 4 spots, but a true PG and a true C can go a long way towards making your team a successful one.[/quote]

Maybe Jordan was the better nba prospect at one time, but Ponds is far and away the superior college pg.[/quote]

Ponds is the better college player, but I seem him as more of a hybrid 1/2. A point guard by size, but a 2 guard by style.

Even though he's improved his point guard skills this year, he's still better at creating for himself, then he is at creating for others. He's not Allen Iverson on defense, so I think that handicap is what ultimately will keep him out of the NBA.
 
[quote="NCJohnnie" post=321846]Boo Harvey wrote: Maybe Jordan was the better nba prospect at one time, but Ponds is far and away the superior college pg.

Jordan had as much or more talent as anyone on our current team, but was just so undependable.[/quote]

If Rysheed Jordan had anything between the ears he could have been one of St. John's greats. NBA size and talent.
Shamorie Ponds is a great college basketball player. After 3 years I think we all see he would struggle with bigger NBA guards. Unfortunately he dropped some notches this season and Marcus Howard likely will steal his POY unless Slick gets his head straight.
 
Zach B
“Energy and passion ... you hope it’s there every night, and obviously it’s not with us. I’m not quite sure how you coach that."
This quote from Chris Mullin on St. John's inconsistency would concern me if I'm a St. John's fan or administrator. That's part of the job. #sjubb
 
I swear Mullin is trolling the fans on this board. He says things that make him sound clueless and it is almost as if he does it on purpose. He has been around the game his whole life and has had a mic in his face for decades, he knows how to answer questions and play the media game correctly. But yet, he says pretty questionable things sometimes.

9/10 times the coach always just gives the cookie cutter "my guys werent ready to play tonight and that is on me to get them ready" answer. Mullin takes the questionable route of deflecting blame.

Not trying to pile on Mullin cause I know he has been taking a lot of heat. But as someone studying journalism it is interesting to me he didn't just play along with the media and give the common answer.
 
Five is the magic number.

Get at least 5 more wins before the tournament and they have a good shot of making it (provided they win at least one game in the tournament).

Anything less than that and the chances diminish greatly unless they make a good run in the BE tournament (i.e get to the Championship).
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=322038]Zach B
“Energy and passion ... you hope it’s there every night, and obviously it’s not with us. I’m not quite sure how you coach that."
This quote from Chris Mullin on St. John's inconsistency would concern me if I'm a St. John's fan or administrator. That's part of the job. #sjubb[/quote] nothing surprises me anymore.
 
no way to spin that our beloved St.John's men's basketball team is 5 wins and 7 losses over the last 12 games.
 
True, however going into the road trip I thought they needed to go 7-3 over the last 10 in conference and they are 2-1 so far, which is where I thought they would be. Didn't think the loss was going to be at home to Providence of course. So now the target is still 5-2 over the last 7. Gonna try and stay positive.
 
[quote="Jack Williams" post=322052]I swear Mullin is trolling the fans on this board. He says things that make him sound clueless and it is almost as if he does it on purpose. He has been around the game his whole life and has had a mic in his face for decades, he knows how to answer questions and play the media game correctly. But yet, he says pretty questionable things sometimes.

9/10 times the coach always just gives the cookie cutter "my guys werent ready to play tonight and that is on me to get them ready" answer. Mullin takes the questionable route of deflecting blame.

Not trying to pile on Mullin cause I know he has been taking a lot of heat. But as someone studying journalism it is interesting to me he didn't just play along with the media and give the common answer.[/quote]

Jack,
We didn't hire a PR savvy coach no matter how many years he played the game.
In fact, we didn't even hire a basketball coach.  Chris never coached a day in his life. Neither did Mitch Richmond or Greg St. Jean.  This was an experiment so far fetched only St. John's would gamble it's Big East competitiveness on such a staff.

Chris has never been a good communicator and is more comfortable with jock speak.  All you will get is the bare basics.  The issue at hand is how well has he been communicating with the players, both as a team and individually.  Some feedback on that has been mixed.

The other issue is being able to communicate strategy, motivation and teaching moments in practices.  It's not that important during the game but it is critical in the days leading up to the game.  The question becomes has Mullin been a good teacher. There the results are as mixed as his befuddling comments.  A teacher is not born into the job but learns from other teachers and does student teaching.
Mullin's student teaching has been on the job.  He never apprenticed as an assistant and relies heavily on GSJ who has less basketball acumen than Mullin.

So, when Mullin says that he doesn't know how to explain what is wrong with his team he is actually being very forthright.  Hopefully the Slice position gets filled this Spring as soon as Richmond flies off to Los Angeles.
 
I'm just praying that The Stretch Run doesn't turn in to The Stench Run. Lets get back on track tonight!
 
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