What happened to Simon

[quote="oldschool Redmen" post=319804][quote="L J S A" post=319782][quote="oldschool Redmen" post=319778]

How many pnts does he blow a game missing bunny, 8?
Yeah he could be out starting center since we dont have a center to begin with.
I say next year it's bench or good bye.

Counter me if you want but that's how i feel.[/quote]

I'm not going to counter how you feel. But I think we need him next season. Unfortunately for him and the team, we need him at PF. And he's not going to go for that.

Keita will never give us anything. And if you notice, people who've seen practice tell us that they are impressed with Wright, but there's never a peep about Caraher. The staff somehow can't find any real minutes for Roberts or Earlington. Unless Precious comes aboard, I'm not sure who starts over Simon.

Starters right now are Mack, Wright, Figgy, Steere, and ? So in my mind that ? needs to be Simon.[/quote]

I thought the staff said kota said kota was a stud last year in practice, guess that was all bs hype huh?[/quote]

I actually think Keita played well in the first half. Probably his best play of the year. The whole team fell apart in the second half. I think the injury really set Keita back. He has had incremental improvement every game. If he can play a whole game the way he played in the first half today he can be a big help to us. I wouldn’t write him off yet.
 
[quote="Marillac" post=319789]Simon could be a monster here if he understood his abilities. That's what makes this sonfirstrsting. See my comments on Dom Pointer needing to play 4/5 for three years prior to his breakout senior year.

I hate players standing flat-footed on the perimeter, but a guy who can't shoot or dribble out there?! Wtf!!!! How many gorgeous Ponds drive and kicks go to Simon completely wasted? Why is he giving a false target to Ponds when he can't do anything with it? It's such a lazy mindset and it kills your team. Neither Simon or Pointer move an inch when the ball is shot. Postell, who could shoot, crashed glass from the perimeter with reckless abandon.[/quote]

A false target? You say this as if Ponds should be shocked every time he passes to teammate who misses. Other than Clark, the rest of the team will usually miss more 3s than they make.
This is the game Mullin coaches. 5 out but he doesn't have the talent for it. Only a more experienced coache could adjust to his talent. Today a coaching legend simply told his team to pressure Ponds and it worked. Simon didn't lose this game so why have a thread to crucify him.
 
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[quote="Enright" post=319699]Simon is the poster boy for showing how hard it is for a player with no shooting touch to improve his touch. Even with Mullin and Richmond working with him for years, shooting the basketball is not an easy skill to develop or improve.
However Simon's other skill sets make him a valuable asset. He can do just about everything else on a basketball court well. Must be very frustrating. He has to be on the court with at least three other offensive threats and play within his shooting limitations.[/quote]
Simon is one of those players whose shot is better looking and more reliable off the dribble (mid range) than from a set position.
 
Been holding off on saying this but for the longest time I’ve been thinking of this kid as the Sean Evans, Phil Greene IV type (players on good teams whose game I could not stand watching).

Ok he’s good for the occasional dunk and lucky roll when he mindlessly & wildly flips a shot at the rim but other than that he’s an overrated defender, cannot dribble at all, cannot shoot yet continues to shoot and he’s poor at the rim. He has the talent to be a Swiss army-knife type player but instead has been a major dud.
 
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[quote="sirvoo" post=319840]Been holding off on saying this but for the longest time I’ve been thinking of this kid as the Sean Evans, Phil Greene IV type (players on good teams whose game I could not stand watching).

Ok he’s good for the occasional dunk and lucky roll when he mindlessly & wildly flips a shot at the rim but other than that he’s an overrated defender, cannot dribble at all, cannot shoot yet continues to shoot and he’s poor at the rim. He has the talent to be a Swiss army-knife type player but instead has been a major dud.[/quote]

Still don't think we needed a thread to discuss the obvious. On a more talented team he would be the ideal 6th man. He can do a little of everything in spurts. If Keita was the big we thought we were getting Simon would be that 6th man with Heron at the 2 since he is the better shooter. I feel bad for the kids when they are not the real problem.
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=319841][quote="sirvoo" post=319840]Been holding off on saying this but for the longest time I’ve been thinking of this kid as the Sean Evans, Phil Greene IV type (players on good teams whose game I could not stand watching).

Ok he’s good for the occasional dunk and lucky roll when he mindlessly & wildly flips a shot at the rim but other than that he’s an overrated defender, cannot dribble at all, cannot shoot yet continues to shoot and he’s poor at the rim. He has the talent to be a Swiss army-knife type player but instead has been a major dud.[/quote]

Still don't think we needed a thread to discuss the obvious. On a more talented team he would be the ideal 6th man. He can do a little of everything in spurts. If Keita was the big we thought we were getting Simon would be that 6th man with Heron at the 2 since he is the better shooter. I feel bad for the kids when they are not the real problem.[/quote]

Agreed but along with the mismagement of his talents by coaching staff there has to be some self-awareness that you are not a remotely decent shooter and thus should not shoot the ball from 3.
 
Days like today here always bring me back to that national geographic thing on animals that eat their own

One day we praise next day we attack
 
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[quote="mjmaherjr" post=319843]Days like today here always bring me back to that national geographic thing on animals that eat their own

One day we praise next day we attack[/quote]
Thread should be renamed WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK! :dry:
 
[quote="oldschool Redmen" post=319804][quote="L J S A" post=319782][quote="oldschool Redmen" post=319778]

How many pnts does he blow a game missing bunny, 8?
Yeah he could be out starting center since we dont have a center to begin with.
I say next year it's bench or good bye.

Counter me if you want but that's how i feel.[/quote]

I'm not going to counter how you feel. But I think we need him next season. Unfortunately for him and the team, we need him at PF. And he's not going to go for that.

Keita will never give us anything. And if you notice, people who've seen practice tell us that they are impressed with Wright, but there's never a peep about Caraher. The staff somehow can't find any real minutes for Roberts or Earlington. Unless Precious comes aboard, I'm not sure who starts over Simon.

Starters right now are Mack, Wright, Figgy, Steere, and ? So in my mind that ? needs to be Simon.[/quote]

I thought the staff said kota said kota was a stud last year in practice, guess that was all bs hype huh?[/quote]

Kota? I know put keita.
My pos android.
 
[quote="mjmaherjr" post=319843]Days like today here always bring me back to that national geographic thing on animals that eat their own

One day we praise next day we attack[/quote]

I get as frustrated as anyone when our "breakout" season takes a sideways turn. But I still find this team more enjoyable to watch than most of the past couple decades. We seen bad teams and bad kids. I'd say our guys this year put in an honest effort (most nights) and wear St. John's on their chest with pride and respect - on an off the court.

We knew this wouldn't be the perfect team. Yeah, it's more fun seeing them stomp Creighton. Still, I can root for guys like Ponds, Clark, Heron, Simon, Figgy and others even when they're getting stomped by Dook.
 
On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.
 
[quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

I agree this board is insane, but Simon hasn't regressed because of the staff...he's been replaced by better and more skilled players like Heron and Figueroa. He is a great athlete, but he has a severe lack of coordination and skill. There is no helping someone that uncoordinated. To top it off, he freezes up physically in almost every game in the last two minutes--and from the beginning of yesterday's game. Some people suffer from debilitating anxiety and there is no rhyme or reason as to what brings it on.

Citing to Govan doesn't make much sense to me. Govan has a great shot and always did. He is a career 42.6% shooter from three (50% as a freshman) and he's 75.4% from the FT line. More important than his early stats was his good form and excellent coordination. Simon simply doesn't have that. No shot or drive ever looks the same with him. He shot put free throws...he's too stiff. Simon shot a good % from three, but nobody felt comfortable he could continue that. You need to be able to replicate skills like that and he has never showed that he can.

He can't be a perimeter player on a good team. He just can't. Jay Wright wins consistently because his perimeter players are so absurdly skilled. They are all sharpshooters and most of them can handle as well. When was the last time you saw a perimeter player on Nova with as weak of a handle or as poor of a shot as Simon?
 
[quote="Marillac" post=319904][quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

I agree this board is insane, but Simon hasn't regressed because of the staff...he's been replaced by better and more skilled players like Heron and Figueroa. He is a great athlete, but he has a severe lack of coordination and skill. There is no helping someone that uncoordinated. To top it off, he freezes up physically in almost every game in the last two minutes--and from the beginning of yesterday's game. Some people suffer from debilitating anxiety and there is no rhyme or reason as to what brings it on.

Citing to Govan doesn't make much sense to me. Govan has a great shot and always did. He is a career 42.6% shooter from three (50% as a freshman) and he's 75.4% from the FT line. More important than his early stats was his good form and excellent coordination. Simon simply doesn't have that. No shot or drive ever looks the same with him. He shot put free throws...he's too stiff. Simon shot a good % from three, but nobody felt comfortable he could continue that. You need to be able to replicate skills like that and he has never showed that he can.

He can't be a perimeter player on a good team. He just can't. Jay Wright wins consistently because his perimeter players are so absurdly skilled. They are all sharpshooters and most of them can handle as well. When was the last time you saw a perimeter player on Nova with as weak of a handle or as poor of a shot as Simon?[/quote]

Simon uncoordinated? Totally disagree.
 
[quote="firestorm" post=319857][quote="mjmaherjr" post=319843]Days like today here always bring me back to that national geographic thing on animals that eat their own

One day we praise next day we attack[/quote]

I get as frustrated as anyone when our "breakout" season takes a sideways turn. But I still find this team more enjoyable to watch than most of the past couple decades. We seen bad teams and bad kids. I'd say our guys this year put in an honest effort (most nights) and wear St. John's on their chest with pride and respect - on an off the court.

We knew this wouldn't be the perfect team. Yeah, it's more fun seeing them stomp Creighton. Still, I can root for guys like Ponds, Clark, Heron, Simon, Figgy and others even when they're getting stomped by Dook.[/quote]

I have to agree with this. I may be younger than many on here, but in my nearly 20 years of rooting for the team, this is probably the most enjoyable group I've had a chance to watch. These are all good kids and all easy to root for. I understand the team may not have lived up to some fans on this board personal expectations of what they should have so far, but from what I can tell, these kids are giving their all and represent the school very well.
 
[quote="Knight" post=319918][quote="Marillac" post=319904][quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

I agree this board is insane, but Simon hasn't regressed because of the staff...he's been replaced by better and more skilled players like Heron and Figueroa. He is a great athlete, but he has a severe lack of coordination and skill. There is no helping someone that uncoordinated. To top it off, he freezes up physically in almost every game in the last two minutes--and from the beginning of yesterday's game. Some people suffer from debilitating anxiety and there is no rhyme or reason as to what brings it on.

Citing to Govan doesn't make much sense to me. Govan has a great shot and always did. He is a career 42.6% shooter from three (50% as a freshman) and he's 75.4% from the FT line. More important than his early stats was his good form and excellent coordination. Simon simply doesn't have that. No shot or drive ever looks the same with him. He shot put free throws...he's too stiff. Simon shot a good % from three, but nobody felt comfortable he could continue that. You need to be able to replicate skills like that and he has never showed that he can.

He can't be a perimeter player on a good team. He just can't. Jay Wright wins consistently because his perimeter players are so absurdly skilled. They are all sharpshooters and most of them can handle as well. When was the last time you saw a perimeter player on Nova with as weak of a handle or as poor of a shot as Simon?[/quote]

Simon uncoordinated? Totally disagree.[/quote]

Have you ever seen him shoot or dribble? He has air balled multiple LAYUPS this season. I've never seen that.
 
Nothing happened to him, you are seeing the real Simon. Miller must have saw something.
 
Simon is not a perfect player but lets not make him the scapegoat for this teams struggles this year. He shut down Howard in our best win of the season up to date. He is not a natural scorer but he does a lot of other things well. He has struggled of late but was playing well up until recently after starting slow this year with a new role. Most guys on this team and in basketball in general go through slumps at times. Sometimes it even lasts a whole year like Ponds last year with his 3 pt shot. We knew he could shoot it better than 20something percent but he was in a season long funk, it happens. Give the guy a break.
 
Why are we picking on this fine young man? Staff gets paid millions to get critiqued.
Leave the kids alone.
Not going go feel like posting much here if we start blaming our players for the makeup of the team.
 
Dan V wrote: Simon is not a perfect player but lets not make him the scapegoat for this teams struggles this year. He shut down Howard in our best win of the season up to date. He is not a natural scorer but he does a lot of other things well. He has struggled of late but was playing well up until recently after starting slow this year with a new role. Most guys on this team and in basketball in general go through slumps at times. Sometimes it even lasts a whole year like Ponds last year with his 3 pt shot. We knew he could shoot it better than 20something percent but he was in a season long funk, it happens. Give the guy a break.

Exactly. We have got to have some of the worst fans in sports. Does it make people feel good to ridicule 20 year old kids who are doing their best to represent our team? This kid was 1st in steals, 2nd in assist and 5th in rebounds in the league last year for Christ sake. Yes, he is having a hard time this year, but give him a break!
 
[quote="indyredmen97" post=319900]On a different thread last week, I pointed to Simon’s regression on offense as my biggest concern with this coaching staff this year. I shouldn’t have been surprised it was an unpopular opinion by Coach Mullin supporters, of which I count myself among. Now I see a thread dogging this kid and filing an obit on his St. John’s career. This website is not fanatical, it’s downright insane. Big men who could barely shoot midrange jumpers (see Govan) can become legitimate shooters through tutelage, patience, and the want of an athlete to improve and understand his limitations. We have HOF shooters on the bench, perhaps a reminder to them to treat college players like college players instead of improvising jazz musicians may be in order. Letting players play their game isn’t much of a recruiting tool if the kids don’t see improvement in the game of the kids that are already part of the program.[/quote]

You are right about the hall of fame shooters we have. Yakwe shot free throws in the 70s under the tutelage of Mullin and Richmond, while under the guidance of a non hall of famer like Hurley, he is at 25%. I'm sure Sid Wilson would have been better than his 29% overall, 15% from 3 and 59% from the line if he had stayed here.
 
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