THIS Season (formerly Next Season)

[paultzman]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

Don't hang around "Milton". Leave earth at your leisure. SJU will only disappoint. You have taught me that man! Looking forward to your next "doom" post.

 

[mjmaherjr]

I think next year we will be getting a potential player of the year back in Jordan. It sounds like he is maturing and if he takes a DLO step maturity wise and hits the gym with Mullin the sky is the limit for him.

Really hopes he buys in

 

[Marillac]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

It really isn't that much optimism. I am talking about making the dance...not contending for a title. Your take, though, is absurdly pessimistic. "Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement!" WTF?

We have two second round picks in our starting lineup. There are 60 kids that get drafted and 1/3 will be international players. We have a 6'8 experienced JUCO that can score any way imaginable with great fundamentals. We have a 6'9 240 big man that showed a ton of promise and will only get (much) better. We have a 6'4 SG/SF that has been stuck behind four older, higher ranked players his entire career. We just signed a 6'5 g/f that can shoot and create to give us great depth at the 2/3 and play point in a pinch.

Durand Johnson isn't a stud, but he's exactly what we need and that makes him more valuable than a stud at a position we don't need as badly.

Ellison is ranked #91 by 247 sports and his ceiling and potential are recognized by anyone that has ever seen him play.

If you want to look for reasons to be negative, so be it. But we are a few players away from roster that can easily finish in the top 5-6 in the Big East.

 

[Eric]

If we don't get Diallo we will be lucky to stay out of BE basement! Not impressed one bit with who we got in this cycle. Gonna be a painful trip to Hawaii without Diallo.

Why not wait until this cycle is over before you say how unimpressed this cycle has been? Ok so we missed out on Sampson. As others have said, do you really think they let doughty go without having guys on the way? With or without diallo the staff will be getting players. Try to reserve judgement until the roster is filled out. No point in saying these things with the unfinished product at this moment. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[southernjohnny2]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

It really isn't that much optimism. I am talking about making the dance...not contending for a title. Your take, though, is absurdly pessimistic. "Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement!" WTF?

We have two second round picks in our starting lineup. There are 60 kids that get drafted and 1/3 will be international players. We have a 6'8 experienced JUCO that can score any way imaginable with great fundamentals. We have a 6'9 240 big man that showed a ton of promise and will only get (much) better. We have a 6'4 SG/SF that has been stuck behind four older, higher ranked players his entire career. We just signed a 6'5 g/f that can shoot and create to give us great depth at the 2/3 and play point in a pinch.

Durand Johnson isn't a stud, but he's exactly what we need and that makes him more valuable than a stud at a position we don't need as badly.

Ellison is ranked #91 by 247 sports and his ceiling and potential are recognized by anyone that has ever seen him play.

If you want to look for reasons to be negative, so be it. But we are a few players away from roster that can easily finish in the top 5-6 in the Big East.

I guess I am absurd in my realism. NO SJU players projected to be drafted next year on draftexpress.com 4-24 update. No way Obekpa is drafted unless he reinvents himself! I guess it's me cause everyone was bashing Lavin cause the recruits he had were no good and calling for his head. So far as I see Sampson was lights out better than all these new kids. Everyone was saying we were gonna stink next season due to Lavin not recruiting well. Now we lose a top 40 kid who will play in NBA for much lower ranked kids and now all of a sudden with less talent we are going to somehow be good? Unless we get Diallo who would make this team good I am going off what wizards like you, and Paultz were saying about this team next season before Lavin was let go. Now I believe Mullin will be great long term I think it will take a few years. Next year's talent is loaded outside NYC
I hope we lock up the CTK kid before he may have to prep for a year, cause if he ends up with the top 2 ranked kids in Winston Salem he may not be back in NYC

 

[paultzman]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

It really isn't that much optimism. I am talking about making the dance...not contending for a title. Your take, though, is absurdly pessimistic. "Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement!" WTF?

We have two second round picks in our starting lineup. There are 60 kids that get drafted and 1/3 will be international players. We have a 6'8 experienced JUCO that can score any way imaginable with great fundamentals. We have a 6'9 240 big man that showed a ton of promise and will only get (much) better. We have a 6'4 SG/SF that has been stuck behind four older, higher ranked players his entire career. We just signed a 6'5 g/f that can shoot and create to give us great depth at the 2/3 and play point in a pinch.

Durand Johnson isn't a stud, but he's exactly what we need and that makes him more valuable than a stud at a position we don't need as badly.

Ellison is ranked #91 by 247 sports and his ceiling and potential are recognized by anyone that has ever seen him play.

If you want to look for reasons to be negative, so be it. But we are a few players away from roster that can easily finish in the top 5-6 in the Big East.

I guess I am absurd in my realism. NO SJU players projected to be drafted next year on draftexpress.com 4-24 update. No way Obekpa is drafted unless he reinvents himself! I guess it's me cause everyone was bashing Lavin cause the recruits he had were no good and calling for his head. So far as I see Sampson was lights out better than all these new kids. Everyone was saying we were gonna stink next season due to Lavin not recruiting well. Now we lose a top 40 kid who will play in NBA for much lower ranked kids and now all of a sudden with less talent we are going to somehow be good? Unless we get Diallo who would make this team good I am going off what wizards like you, and Paultz were saying about this team next season before Lavin was let go. Now I believe Mullin will be great long term I think it will take a few years. Next year's talent is loaded outside NYC
I hope we lock up the CTK kid before he may have to prep for a year, cause if he ends up with the top 2 ranked kids in Winston Salem he may not be back in NYC

If it takes a few years for Mullin to be great, that is acceptable. We may indeed have a transitional year next season. The world will not end in that case, but thanks for your redundant reminders.

 

[Marillac]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

It really isn't that much optimism. I am talking about making the dance...not contending for a title. Your take, though, is absurdly pessimistic. "Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement!" WTF?

We have two second round picks in our starting lineup. There are 60 kids that get drafted and 1/3 will be international players. We have a 6'8 experienced JUCO that can score any way imaginable with great fundamentals. We have a 6'9 240 big man that showed a ton of promise and will only get (much) better. We have a 6'4 SG/SF that has been stuck behind four older, higher ranked players his entire career. We just signed a 6'5 g/f that can shoot and create to give us great depth at the 2/3 and play point in a pinch.

Durand Johnson isn't a stud, but he's exactly what we need and that makes him more valuable than a stud at a position we don't need as badly.

Ellison is ranked #91 by 247 sports and his ceiling and potential are recognized by anyone that has ever seen him play.

If you want to look for reasons to be negative, so be it. But we are a few players away from roster that can easily finish in the top 5-6 in the Big East.

I guess I am absurd in my realism. NO SJU players projected to be drafted next year on draftexpress.com 4-24 update. No way Obekpa is drafted unless he reinvents himself! I guess it's me cause everyone was bashing Lavin cause the recruits he had were no good and calling for his head. So far as I see Sampson was lights out better than all these new kids. Everyone was saying we were gonna stink next season due to Lavin not recruiting well. Now we lose a top 40 kid who will play in NBA for much lower ranked kids and now all of a sudden with less talent we are going to somehow be good? Unless we get Diallo who would make this team good I am going off what wizards like you, and Paultz were saying about this team next season before Lavin was let go. Now I believe Mullin will be great long term I think it will take a few years. Next year's talent is loaded outside NYC
I hope we lock up the CTK kid before he may have to prep for a year, cause if he ends up with the top 2 ranked kids in Winston Salem he may not be back in NYC

First of all, why the hell do you think Diallo is a savior? He will be a freshman and, while his motor and potential are outstanding, he is still raw and developing. He's going to get 80% of his points in transition, secondary transition, and off the glass. If you think he is a kid we can dump it down to 15 times a game, you are wrong.

Second, Sampson is a tough loss. The kid is really good and there are no two ways about it. When you replace an entire staff this late in the game, you run the risk of losing players like Sampson. Mullin kept Obekpa and Jordan and that is far more important for NEXT season. I'll take Mullin, Slice, Matt A and whoever they replace Sampson with over Lavin and Sampson. The reality is that M'Vouika will be just as good next season as Sampson would have been as a freshman and Heron will make us forget about Sampson instantly.

Cheer up, be patient, and stay on those meds.

 

[stjohnnie75]

If we don't get Diallo we will be lucky to stay out of BE basement! Not impressed one bit with who we got in this cycle. Gonna be a painful trip to Hawaii without Diallo.

Why not wait until this cycle is over before you say how unimpressed this cycle has been? Ok so we missed out on Sampson. As others have said, do you really think they let doughty go without having guys on the way? With or without diallo the staff will be getting players. Try to reserve judgement until the roster is filled out. No point in saying these things with the unfinished product at this moment. You just might be pleasantly surprised.

I agree. I think we should all wait until the recruiting cycle is over. The same goes for those that say we could be a NCAA bound team next year.

 

[southernjohnny2]

L

I'm not ready to write off next year if we don't get Diallo. I don't think Mullin will let this team end up in the basement. We return one of the Big East's best offensive players in Jordan and one of it's best defensive players in Obekpa. If they learned from last year or Mullin gets in their heads and they show up even a bit more mature, those two guys are going to be a major problem for other teams.

I also really think folks may be underestimating the impact Willams and Sima can have right away. Sima will be raw offensively as a freshman, but the one thing he will do at a high level from day one is rebound. That was something we really, really lacked last year. As great as Obekpa is at defending the rim, he's an underwhelming rebounder. You can teach some stuff as far as boxing out and positioning, but most of what makes a great rebounder is instincts and energy. He's got those things. And Williams is a big versatile 3 who can flat out score. He led his JUCO last year with 16 PPG. That may not sound like a ton for a guy trying to make the jump to a big conference but you have to realize that his JUCO (Iowa Western) had 5 guys who averaged in double digits. He led a team that had a lot of guys to feed. He should get more shots with us. If we get Ellison and another good transfer I think we'll be competitive. If we get Diallo, then there's a big leap. Biggest factor though is Mullin is going to be on these guys. You can just feel it. Playing hard won't be optional.

Nobody should be writing this team off yet. That is just silly in the age of the graduate transfer.
Assuming we land ANY PG (which we will), if we went into the season now (I'll also include Malik Ellison on the roster because I am that confident and I don't expect much from freshmen anyway), I think we are a 16-18 win team that is just a Durand Johnson away from the dance. That doesn't even consider Diallo, who would be a coup.

I think we need at least 3 more guys who can get buckets in order to have realistic NCAA hopes. If Diallo and Lovett are 2 of the 3, I'd feel pretty good. If only one, less so.

At least three more guys who can get buckets? Just to have realistic NCAA hopes? That seems like overkill. Most teams in the dance only have 2-3 guys that can consistently get buckets. Some elite teams are more fortunate. We have upperclassmen NBA prospects at the 1 and 5. Adding Williams--who I think many on this board are sleeping on--gives us a solid rotation at the four. M'Vouika can hit the outside shot and gives us good depth at the 2 and 3, but we still lack a starter that is a bonafide scorer/shooter. Enter Durand Johnson. Add Ellison for depth at the 2 and 3, and pick up a solid point that can distribute make open shots (Lovett or Mussini would be great). That's all we need to dance. Simple as that. Diallo is just the cherry on top.

That is a ton of optimism. First which Jordan do we get? The euro-walking selfish one we saw at the beginning of the season, or the version under DLO wing(hope to see that version). Obekpa is no offensive threat, blocks shots and unless his offensive game improves will only see the NDBL. So we have one scorer coming back. Durand is no stud! He is a piece who wouldn't sniff the court on an elite team. I may seem pessimistic but I hear everyone saying we will be good next season, and without Diallo that isn't possible. Ellison is a 3 star and outside the top 100. Amar may be ok but this team without Diallo will have exactly one scorer of BE caliber. Will we get a matured Obekpa or one who we have seen break our hearts? Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement! Lovett may not even qualify. I wish I was wrong, as there is nothing I want to witness before I leave this earth than SJU playing deep into March. Praying for Diallo to take the chance Mullin did twice, once as a player and now as a coach picking SJU

It really isn't that much optimism. I am talking about making the dance...not contending for a title. Your take, though, is absurdly pessimistic. "Too many question marks to say we have a chance to be out of the basement!" WTF?

We have two second round picks in our starting lineup. There are 60 kids that get drafted and 1/3 will be international players. We have a 6'8 experienced JUCO that can score any way imaginable with great fundamentals. We have a 6'9 240 big man that showed a ton of promise and will only get (much) better. We have a 6'4 SG/SF that has been stuck behind four older, higher ranked players his entire career. We just signed a 6'5 g/f that can shoot and create to give us great depth at the 2/3 and play point in a pinch.

Durand Johnson isn't a stud, but he's exactly what we need and that makes him more valuable than a stud at a position we don't need as badly.

Ellison is ranked #91 by 247 sports and his ceiling and potential are recognized by anyone that has ever seen him play.

If you want to look for reasons to be negative, so be it. But we are a few players away from roster that can easily finish in the top 5-6 in the Big East.

I guess I am absurd in my realism. NO SJU players projected to be drafted next year on draftexpress.com 4-24 update. No way Obekpa is drafted unless he reinvents himself! I guess it's me cause everyone was bashing Lavin cause the recruits he had were no good and calling for his head. So far as I see Sampson was lights out better than all these new kids. Everyone was saying we were gonna stink next season due to Lavin not recruiting well. Now we lose a top 40 kid who will play in NBA for much lower ranked kids and now all of a sudden with less talent we are going to somehow be good? Unless we get Diallo who would make this team good I am going off what wizards like you, and Paultz were saying about this team next season before Lavin was let go. Now I believe Mullin will be great long term I think it will take a few years. Next year's talent is loaded outside NYC
I hope we lock up the CTK kid before he may have to prep for a year, cause if he ends up with the top 2 ranked kids in Winston Salem he may not be back in NYC

First of all, why the hell do you think Diallo is a savior? He will be a freshman and, while his motor and potential are outstanding, he is still raw and developing. He's going to get 80% of his points in transition, secondary transition, and off the glass. If you think he is a kid we can dump it down to 15 times a game, you are wrong.

Second, Sampson is a tough loss. The kid is really good and there are no two ways about it. When you replace an entire staff this late in the game, you run the risk of losing players like Sampson. Mullin kept Obekpa and Jordan and that is far more important for NEXT season. I'll take Mullin, Slice, Matt A and whoever they replace Sampson with over Lavin and Sampson. The reality is that M'Vouika will be just as good next season as Sampson would have been as a freshman and Heron will make us forget about Sampson instantly.

Cheer up, be patient, and stay on those meds.

I will be sure to stay on the meds, thanks for the personal attacks. Diallo is projected as a lottery pick, and unlike Obekpa when he goes for a block he doesn't abandon rebounding. Did I mention LOTTERY pick! IF you don't think a LOTTERY pick would change this program my friend it is not I who needs the prescription! Diallo is a monster who would wake OBekpa up from his munchie sleep

 

[southernjohnny2]

You cannot seriously compare a one dimensional player to Sampson, come on even u know that isn't plausible.None of these kids will make us forget about Sampson

 

[monte]

You cannot seriously compare a one dimensional player to Sampson, come on even u know that isn't plausible.None of these kids will make us forget about Sampson

Sampson chose to go to LSU. Whats the use in dwelling on him?

 

[redmannorth]

As far as next season goes I can't believe the good shape the new staff has put us in.
1. Got Jordan to come back and buy into the program. On twitter he is the schools biggest cheerleader. Look for him to score 15 ppg and be in the running for big east player of the year.
2. Got Obelpa to come back. Look for the player you saw against Syracuse on a regular basis. He will be close to a double digit scorer and rebounder.
3. Williams was a huge get. Kid can score and board. Would not shock me if he went for 15 a night.
4. Ron M is starting at the 2 for now and can be a double digit scorer. Is he Sampson no but we must move on and for the short period of time he will be here he will be productive.
5. Sima should be very good over the course of 4 years. As for next year if the kid gives us 4 and 4 a game we will all be pleased. He will also give Opekpa a break which is key. Obekpa often played 35 minutes a game.
5. Belamou , AA and Jones will all be better with this staff. Defined roles and huge off season workouts will translate into increased production.
6. Ellison, Mussini, Papa, Lovett, Durand any of whom would be a big addition.
7. Diallo the cherry on the Sunday no more no less. He would be a great addition from a publicity point of view but more importantly we need another good guard or two.

From where I sit the future looks very bright. Too bad we all don't see it the se way.

 

[southernjohnny2]

As far as next season goes I can't believe the good shape the new staff has put us in.
1. Got Jordan to come back and buy into the program. On twitter he is the schools biggest cheerleader. Look for him to score 15 ppg and be in the running for big east player of the year.
2. Got Obelpa to come back. Look for the player you saw against Syracuse on a regular basis. He will be close to a double digit scorer and rebounder.
3. Williams was a huge get. Kid can score and board. Would not shock me if he went for 15 a night.
4. Ron M is starting at the 2 for now and can be a double digit scorer. Is he Sampson no but we must move on and for the short period of time he will be here he will be productive.
5. Sima should be very good over the course of 4 years. As for next year if the kid gives us 4 and 4 a game we will all be pleased. He will also give Opekpa a break which is key. Obekpa often played 35 minutes a game.
5. Belamou , AA and Jones will all be better with this staff. Defined roles and huge off season workouts will translate into increased production.
6. Ellison, Mussini, Papa, Lovett, Durand any of whom would be a big addition.
7. Diallo the cherry on the Sunday no more no less. He would be a great addition from a publicity point of view but more importantly we need another good guard or two.

From where I sit the future looks very bright. Too bad we all don't see it the se way.

I have read this board for as long as it has been around, and I would read posts like yours and have high hopes for a great year. Maybe now I have become more of a realist and do more homework, or maybe watch allot more the past few seasons of other programs we aspire to be like. Some of your observations are very hopeful.
1. Where was Jordan gonna go? If he left he would have to sit out a year. Yes he has been active on twitter especially recruiting Diallo. I believe he can average 15 or more.
2. Obekpa has yet to show maturity as a player. He is very limited offensively
3. Williams going for 15 a game against much better competition, well I hope you are right. The last kid who came from that route didn't do so well. Orlando Sanchez
4. I like Sima and think with bigs you never know who will turn out very good, and 4 pts a game may be what we get
5. I hope the trio improve we got nothing from the three all year. Amar has the most potential. But we can't count on them for production or we are in trouble
6.Ellison borderline 100 player, usually don't get much freshman year from kids ranked in that range. Lovett may not qualify, Spanish kid doesn't know what he is doing. Durand would help as a role player.
7. Diallo is no cherry, he is the center piece and work horse. He comes aboard he will make everybody much better.
So by my count that's about 40 pts a game 15 from Jordan, 15 by Williams, and 4 by Sima, the 5th year senior who averaged 5 points as a senior in a weaker conference I don't see Mike M being a savior at the 2. We need more scoring

 

[L J S A]

Pretty sure I remember reading that Sampson averaged less that 17 ppg this past season. I would have loved to see him here, but it's not like we lost the greatest shooting guard of all time. Also not convinced the NBA is in his future, as the league is littered with guys his size.

Honestly, without a signed LOI, I'm not even 100 percent convinced he would have been here with Lavin.

I think LoVett would have more of an impact here in year 1, so that's who I'm praying for.

 

[mjmaherjr]

As far as next season goes I can't believe the good shape the new staff has put us in.
1. Got Jordan to come back and buy into the program. On twitter he is the schools biggest cheerleader. Look for him to score 15 ppg and be in the running for big east player of the year.
2. Got Obelpa to come back. Look for the player you saw against Syracuse on a regular basis. He will be close to a double digit scorer and rebounder.
3. Williams was a huge get. Kid can score and board. Would not shock me if he went for 15 a night.
4. Ron M is starting at the 2 for now and can be a double digit scorer. Is he Sampson no but we must move on and for the short period of time he will be here he will be productive.
5. Sima should be very good over the course of 4 years. As for next year if the kid gives us 4 and 4 a game we will all be pleased. He will also give Opekpa a break which is key. Obekpa often played 35 minutes a game.
5. Belamou , AA and Jones will all be better with this staff. Defined roles and huge off season workouts will translate into increased production.
6. Ellison, Mussini, Papa, Lovett, Durand any of whom would be a big addition.
7. Diallo the cherry on the Sunday no more no less. He would be a great addition from a publicity point of view but more importantly we need another good guard or two.

From where I sit the future looks very bright. Too bad we all don't see it the se way.

I have read this board for as long as it has been around, and I would read posts like yours and have high hopes for a great year. Maybe now I have become more of a realist and do more homework, or maybe watch allot more the past few seasons of other programs we aspire to be like. Some of your observations are very hopeful.
1. Where was Jordan gonna go? If he left he would have to sit out a year. Yes he has been active on twitter especially recruiting Diallo. I believe he can average 15 or more.
2. Obekpa has yet to show maturity as a player. He is very limited offensively
3. Williams going for 15 a game against much better competition, well I hope you are right. The last kid who came from that route didn't do so well. Orlando Sanchez
4. I like Sima and think with bigs you never know who will turn out very good, and 4 pts a game may be what we get
5. I hope the trio improve we got nothing from the three all year. Amar has the most potential. But we can't count on them for production or we are in trouble
6.Ellison borderline 100 player, usually don't get much freshman year from kids ranked in that range. Lovett may not qualify, Spanish kid doesn't know what he is doing. Durand would help as a role player.
7. Diallo is no cherry, he is the center piece and work horse. He comes aboard he will make everybody much better.
So by my count that's about 40 pts a game 15 from Jordan, 15 by Williams, and 4 by Sima, the 5th year senior who averaged 5 points as a senior in a weaker conference I don't see Mike M being a savior at the 2. We need more scoring

as hopeful as we might be this isn't unreasonable or we can get a combination of the 2.

hopefully time flies so we can find out

 

[paultzman]

Pretty sure I remember reading that Sampson averaged less that 17 ppg this past season. I would have loved to see him here, but it's not like we lost the greatest shooting guard of all time. Also not convinced the NBA is in his future, as the league is littered with guys his size.

Honestly, without a signed LOI, I'm not even 100 percent convinced he would have been here with Lavin.

I think LoVett would have more of an impact here in year 1, so that's who I'm praying for.

Spot on post

 

[Amaseinyourface]

I think next year we will be getting a potential player of the year back in Jordan. It sounds like he is maturing and if he takes a DLO step maturity wise and hits the gym with Mullin the sky is the limit for him.

Really hopes he buys in

Our ace in the hole.

 

[paultzman]

@becb_sbn: Arizona State & St. John's to play 12/22 in Vegas, per @JonRothstein. Can't think of a better place than Vegas to escape a NYC winter

 

[redstorm89]

@becb_sbn: Arizona State & St. John's to play 12/22 in Vegas, per @JonRothstein. Can't think of a better place than Vegas to escape a NYC winter

Why Vegas? Is this another tourney?

 

[mjmaherjr]

@becb_sbn: Arizona State & St. John's to play 12/22 in Vegas, per @JonRothstein. Can't think of a better place than Vegas to escape a NYC winter

I might go to that game. I have clients in Henderson. Great excuse for business trip