Welcome back LJ Figueroa

[quote="Logen" post=348133][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=348122]The $64,000 Question , which was a big TV Show back in the Day, is WHY would Figgy want to sit a Year as a Transfer to another 4 year Program ? When he can play again next Season for Coach Anderson from Day 1 .[/quote]

And to badly paraphrase the punch line from another back in the day TV show, The Shadow, when confronted by a perplexing question....."Figueroa knows" and his is the only vote that counts.[/quote]





Or is it his handler’s vote that counts?
 
[quote="MainMan" post=348136]LJ and Heron are top 10 BE talents.
Really think they can carry next years’ team far.[/quote]

As little else as we are bringing back, still they would consist of the best returning BE duo.
 
Main Man wrote:LJ and Heron are top 10 BE talents.
Really think they can carry next years’ team far.

Agree that if both those guys return and MA gets a JUCO PF/C type who can score a little and another PG to team with Jonathan, we can be good. But that's a number of "ifs" that need to fall our way.
Have to think we'll know the answer to most of those by the end of the month. It's much easier to be patient when you are confident staff is working all of these items hard.
 
It's an incomplete picture currently. Even the Mustapha and LJ spots are blurry and there are major pieces to fill at PG and PF/C, plus spots for depth need to be added.
That said, NCJ nailed it.
The Board's sentiment this year--with greater uncertainty--is calmer and much more positive because we now have a 24/7 coach building a hard working Staff to structure this program for sustained success.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=348111]Anderson is playing this one deftly, prepare for the worst, don’t pressure or oversell and just see where chips fall.[/quote]

Agree Paultz. Don't see CMA as cow toeing to any one player. LJ has to shop around and decide what's best for him. If it means that he decides that sticking around is best for him, then I'm sure CMA will welcome him back. At the same time, I would assume CMA is proceeding as though LJ is likely gone and planning accordingly. That's the prudent thing to do and what any good manager/coach would do.
 
[quote="Moon Mullen" post=348138][quote="Logen" post=348133][quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=348122]The $64,000 Question , which was a big TV Show back in the Day, is WHY would Figgy want to sit a Year as a Transfer to another 4 year Program ? When he can play again next Season for Coach Anderson from Day 1 .[/quote]

And to badly paraphrase the punch line from another back in the day TV show, The Shadow, when confronted by a perplexing question....."Figueroa knows" and his is the only vote that counts.[/quote]





Or is it his handler’s vote that counts?[/quote]

Well, that's up to Figueroa, isn't it? What advice he takes is what advice he takes but the final decision is his unless his handler has a Stepford Wives thing going.
 
I love you posters who suggest that CMA is ready to recruit Figueroa’s replacement in the event he leaves. We are in desperation mode for next year with a boatload of ships to fill and we are way behind in the game. At this point, I’d wager CMA would recruit the best players available irrespective of position and whether or not Figueroa stays or goes.
 
Not exactly sure sure if it means he is staying at St Johns, but on his Instagram post, LJ stated he is going for Back to Back MVP's. He can't accomplish this if he is sitting out at another school.
 
[quote="panther2" post=348206]Not exactly sure sure if it means he is staying at St Johns, but on his Instagram post, LJ stated he is going for Back to Back MVP's. He can't accomplish this if he is sitting out at another school.[/quote]

Yeah I took that the same way. I think some here didn’t read it, but it would suggest he’s coming back.
 
NCJ, Monte, Panther2, MCNPA, others
A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he(she) is to be ultimately at peace with himself.
Abraham H. Maslow 1908-1970

Similarly,
LJ must play college basketball so as to choose to be at peace with himself - and he will choose - and SJU seems to be a viable choice.
We shall see.
:).
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=348210][quote="panther2" post=348206]Not exactly sure sure if it means he is staying at St Johns, but on his Instagram post, LJ stated he is going for Back to Back MVP's. He can't accomplish this if he is sitting out at another school.[/quote]

Yeah I took that the same way. I think some here didn’t read it, but it would suggest he’s coming back.[/quote]
Or it could mean his goal is to be the MVP at wherever his next stop is. If he plans on staying here -- and I'm praying he does -- he could simply come out and say it instead of making vague statements that are subject to interpretation.
 
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You have to think that Figueroa is trying to figure out what this team is going to look like next season. Let’s be honest next year is setting up as another long season. I mean is Heron coming back? Who is playing PG? When will Steere be eligible? Tons of questions. Figueroa is probably being told he can be a pro, sooner rather than later. His question probably is can I show enough in what could be a very tough short term situation or do I sit out a year but end up in a stronger place to showcase my talent.

All that being said, from a fan standpoint I love what MA is doing. He is taking his time implementing his vision with his guys to match his style. I know some don’t want to hear it but next season might be interesting but I have a hard time believing we will be winning a whole lot of games. However, MA is laying his foundation. In other words, expectations are low next year but on the upswing after that.
 
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[quote="sjc88" post=348229]You have to think that Figueroa is trying to figure out what this team is going to look like next season. Let’s be honest next year is setting up as another long season. I mean is Heron coming back? Who is playing PG? When will Steere be eligible? Tons of questions. Figueroa is probably being told he can be a pro, sooner rather than later. His question probably is can I show enough in what could be a very tough short term situation or do I sit out a year but end up in a stronger place to showcase my talent.

All that being said, from a fan standpoint I love what MA is doing. He is taking his time implementing his vision with his guys to match his style. I know some don’t want to hear it but next season might be interesting but I have a hard time believing we will be winning a whole lot of games. However, MA is laying his foundation. In other words, expectations are low next year but on the upswing after that.[/quote]

If LJ and Heron return and if CMA finds a decent PG, we could be pretty good next year
We will see first hand that coaching really matters at this level
 
[quote="MarkRedman" post=348233][quote="sjc88" post=348229]You have to think that Figueroa is trying to figure out what this team is going to look like next season. Let’s be honest next year is setting up as another long season. I mean is Heron coming back? Who is playing PG? When will Steere be eligible? Tons of questions. Figueroa is probably being told he can be a pro, sooner rather than later. His question probably is can I show enough in what could be a very tough short term situation or do I sit out a year but end up in a stronger place to showcase my talent.

All that being said, from a fan standpoint I love what MA is doing. He is taking his time implementing his vision with his guys to match his style. I know some don’t want to hear it but next season might be interesting but I have a hard time believing we will be winning a whole lot of games. However, MA is laying his foundation. In other words, expectations are low next year but on the upswing after that.[/quote]

If LJ and Heron return and if CMA finds a decent PG, we could be pretty good next year
We will see first hand that coaching really matters at this level[/quote]
I agree MarkRedman. Still a whole lot of ifs. I am just trying to think from LJs perspective. It’s a business decision as I think if he realizes his potential and can show it he has a real chance to play and make real money at the NBA level.
 
Next year challenging no matter what. Steeper schedule and obviously can't underestimate the impact Ponds had. Conservatively Cal, VCU, GTech, @GTown, @Creighton, @Marq, and Seton Hall could all easily go the other way without him.

We are probably a .500 team or slightly worse without Ponds this year, against a lighter schedule than next. Not surprisingly 6 of those mentioned were neutral or on road which is where player like Ponds can really swing games. Anticipate road in particular could be tough sledding next season.

Even with LJ would be challenging to expect much more than that next year but without him could be far worse. Big optically, in terms of momentum, and next season being reasonable.
 
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I want this guy back as bad as most of the rest of you but why can’t he just take his time and think about what he wants? It’s nuts how some of you just complain, “OMG, why won’t he make a decision??!!??” He’s still basically a kid, the coaching staff who recruited him here is gone and a lot of the guys he played with are also gone, but my gut tells me he’ll come back. In this age of instant gratification, take a second to appreciate the fact he is taking his time, he owes it to no one other than himself and his loved ones.
 
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I think Figgy is not thinking of transferring any longer. Rather the choices are SJU or turning Pro.
I don't think he is ready to play Pro ball at this stage, but he can progress in his development to improve his chances.
 
[quote="Sherman, Sheridan & Grant" post=348217]NCJ, Monte, Panther2, MCNPA, others
A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he(she) is to be ultimately at peace with himself.
Abraham H. Maslow 1908-1970

Similarly,
LJ must play college basketball so as to choose to be at peace with himself - and he will choose - and SJU seems to be a viable choice.
We shall see.
:).[/quote]

General, I am a big fan of yours but not so much Maslow. Supposedly, his hierarchy of needs used Columbia graduate students as test subjects, not exactly typical of the population at large. For people who have experienced oppression I find Fanon's "Wretched of the Earth" far more useful, minus the revolutionary overlay.
 
[quote="redken" post=348227][quote="MCNPA" post=348210][quote="panther2" post=348206]Not exactly sure sure if it means he is staying at St Johns, but on his Instagram post, LJ stated he is going for Back to Back MVP's. He can't accomplish this if he is sitting out at another school.[/quote]

Yeah I took that the same way. I think some here didn’t read it, but it would suggest he’s coming back.[/quote]
Or it could mean his goal is to be the MVP at wherever his next stop is. If he plans on staying here -- and I'm praying he does -- he could simply come out and say it instead of making vague statements that are subject to interpretation.[/quote]

These kids love making us guess, hoping that they come back. That's the only reason that I don't give two craps if they come back or not.
Sorry, but i don't play that.
 
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