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%.
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.
And if they win a few of the games against quality opponents that will count for something, you're right.[/quote
I think the 2016 team will be a better team that went to the ncaa and lost first round with jordan obekpa etc So I guess I am saying we will get the the dance
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.
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.
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.
I didn't mean to disparage either of those two. D'lo is probably my favorite Johnnie of all time. My point was that neither an undersized guard who can't run, jump, or slide particularity fast, or a 6'6 pf who can't shoot particular well for 3, are prototypical sg's.
