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- Thread starter paultzman
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I know it sounds all wise to be pessimistic but we've got the pieces to be a Tournament team. Last year the lack of speed and ball handling in the guard spots killed us and we still managed to stay competitive against superior teams in most of our losses including a few that we came close to stealing. We'll fill that need nicely. Lovett is small but wicked fast and an uncanny ball handler and has a year of BE practice if not PT. Sima and Yakwe got a lot of PT as Frosh. Both showed good smarts and Yakwe has literally one of the best motors in the country (Hard to dispute that) and a natural talent for being where the ball is. Some added muscle and hustle in the front court in addition to WAY less pressure on Mussini and I think we'll see him hitting some big shots. Not sure how much to expect from RF this season but he's definitely got some great potential with his size and shot. The coaching staff went through a baptism of fire and will be much more comfortable this season. I'm expecting a fun season. Tournament is probably not a reasonable expectation in all fairness but I don't think it is out of the question either. We have a Big East quality roster that is better balanced with some depth and some stars in the making with the opportunity there for them to rise to.
I think we can be quite good this season, especially with Livingston. He's a true low post PF type. A Ty Grant-type guy who can score down low and rebound. We also have Sima and Owens in the post at 6'10+, Freudenberg, Yakwe, Ahmed at forwards. Maybe even a healthy Williams? Add to that our extremely quick guards, both of whom can also score, with Mussini and Ellison as well. We have both depth, athleticism and more scoring ability.
I know I'm the eternal optimist, but the makeup of this team is really deep, with size and just about everything. The one caveat is that we are super young. We played very hard this year for an undermanned and young team. Bring all those young guys back double our depth and talent and we might just be a thorn in the side of quite a few teams.
I know I'm the eternal optimist, but the makeup of this team is really deep, with size and just about everything. The one caveat is that we are super young. We played very hard this year for an undermanned and young team. Bring all those young guys back double our depth and talent and we might just be a thorn in the side of quite a few teams.
It's a middle of the pack roster, which is a big step up. Not sure it's necessarily pessimistic to say that I don't expect them to be better than say Marquette or Creighton was this year. Marquette had 20 wins and didn't make the NIT. I don't see next year's squad getting 20 wins. 18-12 going into the BET would be a pleasant surprise, which would likely be 19-13 coming out and that is NIT bubble, ergo my guess at 50%.
Nice post Paul!
We've had problems (one or more) for decades Poor even pathetic:
talent
coaching
recruiting
behavior/attitude issues
no depth
no rebounding
poor FTs
poor shooting
poor 3pters
now drum roll.......
we have NICE PROBLEMS of
talent
coaching
recruiting
behavior/attitude
depth
rebounding
shooting/FTs/3pter prowess
Who knows if 12/15/18/20 Ws are realistic HOWEVER one thing is certain:
the Red Storm is back! And better!
Marquette had a non-conference SOS of 330. That is why they didn't make the NIT. Our non-conference SOS will be much better than that.
rawdognyc
Well-known member
IMHO our roster next year is just as good if not better than Seton Hall's roster from this year, and they made the dance ... now can we put it all together is the only question. However the talent is there and we just need things to fall our way and I think we could definitely be pleasantly surprised by this team.
I think our backcourt is far beyond the middle of any pack to the point where they're tops in the BE. That's 40-50 pts
game in and game out. If Freudenberg shoots as advertised we will have a super base to work with and
depth all over the place. That drops NIT from the conversation In my opinion..Keep your dancing shoes handy.
I will respectfully disagree. They may be almost as good as the team that took the floor against SD St without Dlo and Obekpa but fully healthy (mentally and physically) they are not even close. The three best players on the floor would be on the 1415 team. Shamori has the potential to be as good if not better than Dlo, Pointer or Rysheed as he matures but not as a frosh. This year's team will certainly be bigger and hopefully better rebounders, and has the potential to be better coached though I didn't see much last year to guarantee that.
Class of 72
Active member
D'Lo and Pointer were two of the best SJ players to improve radically from their freshman year to senior year. Haggerty winners and physically gifted as they come at St. John's. Having watched Shamorie play a number of times since he played practically in my back yard, he will be a very different type of player than those mentioned who all had NBA level height and were prototypical 2 guards. Shamorie is a smoother ball handler than those players and has good range but will have to develop into a point guard for NBA consideration by his senior year as he is only around 6' tall without sneakers. Picture a very young and less talented Isiah Thomas and you have Shamorie Ponds. He will be a terrific player in his own right.
Dom and Dlo are prototypical shooting guards? Dlo doesnt have the height and Dom doesnt have the game.
Class of 72
Active member
I beg to differ. Both are currently playing professional ball and on their team's roster the are listed as 6'6 and 6'4 respectfully. Both are listed as shooting guards. 99% of college basketball players never get to play any level of professional basketball and these two St. John's alums are heading into their second year of paid ball. Dom's contract is owned by Cleveland but I see him playing overseas for many years to come.
