When a loss is a win

I know your point, and not to be a contrarian - they put together a nice run in the second half. I would be a little more elated if they had executed at the critical possessions that would have made the game very interesting. They played well in the second half, and proved they belonged on the same court. In effect Duke bent but didn't break. We never got to the key possession to tie or go ahead. In the locker room Coach Dunlap can ask the each player to reflect on an ill advised shot, a turnover, a stop on defense that could have moved them into a one possession game.

A long, long time ago, St. John's gave eventual national champion Indiana all they could handle at the Garden in the Holiday Festival. Very late in the game, we had that possession, with about 2 minutes to go, and I believe it was John Farmer who missed a shot that would have tied the game or put us ahead. Indiana rebounded, and won the game. In the waning moments and the outcome no longer in doubt, fans at MSG rose as one and loudly cheered our boys, knowing that they had just played the eventual national champion nose to nose for 39 minutes.

Today wasn't like that, of course, and with a few more able bodies, the satisfaction we can get is our guys may be in a position to play teams like Duke nose to nose, and perhaps even be the favored team when they do it.

Again, no knock on our guys, but I don't think this was giving Duke all they could handle.

  
 
So proud of our guys. We were never intimidated today at Cameron, playing our hearts out. So proud, so proud. Still early, but if we continue to improve each game, I wouldn't want to play against us in the Big East Tournament.  
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no one lost their cool, no technicals, no giving up…we're growing though unlikely to get to .500 and into the NITs.

Next year.

This year we are talented, fun to watch and promising.
 
Again, no knock on our guys, but I don't think this was giving Duke all they could handle.

  
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respectfully disagree - what more could we expect - five freshmen versus a big time team on the road?

all the best
 
It probably helps Phil scrimmaging against Jamal Branch, I assume he is-that seems to coincide with his his improved play
 
Again, no knock on our guys, but I don't think this was giving Duke all they could handle.

  
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respectfully disagree - what more could we expect - five freshmen versus a big time team on the road?

all the best
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All of your posts are respectful - I appreciate that. I just think with a big time play or two very late, we could have Duke squirming, and didn't. It was a good effort, but we never got to the point where the outcome was in question, that's all. I'm not disappointed, our guys once again showed they are legitimate D1 players with a lot of upside.
 
Dukie Vitale gave us valuable tool in recruiting today. He and Mussberger seemed to repete over and over that we are a big man away from prime time. No doubt the communications department has those comments on Coach Lav's cell phone right now. Although a big man is an obvious need, a third and fourth party opinion voiced by someone the kid knows is going to count for lots. Coach Lavin will have no problem selling what it means to be the guy who brings his game to New York City and makes a difference to 8 million people (plus NJ)
 
 Nice post MJ. We are all so proud of these guys today. Giving up so much size on the boards it is amazing that we were able to make this game close. We exposed a large Duke weakness today...showing that they are not that quick, and have some ball handling inadequacies. I was a little concerned during the Marquette game, where I thought they quit during the second half. But in view of the West Virgina game, and today's solid and total effort...who could not be pleased? I would also like to single out Phil Green, who is not a point guard, but who has come on to do a whale of a job at that position. I was down on him earlier in the season (erroneously forgetting that he is just a freshman)...but this kid has real potential. In half of the season, he has improved his handle immensely. Duke puts a lot of external pressure on the ball, and he held up quite well. He had a single turnover against WV in heavy minutes. If his shot continues to improve, as well as his passing ability, he may hold up quite well as our point guard for the foreseeable future.
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Yes. Plus a bunch. I can spout superlatives about all of our first year players...but Phil is our catalyst, and what he is doing as a "thrown into the fire freshman pointguard in the bigeast" really needs to be admired. Well done Phil!
 
 Sometimes you lose but there is a lot of good to take out of it. Gaints vs New England before they won the super bowl that season. Giants vs Green Bay this year.

A bunch of freshman and 2 juniors went down to Cameron getting 18 points and got hammered in foul calls early and often. Down 16 at half they got it down to 4 with less than a minute left.

Moe was a stud and Harrison had a great 2nd half.

Most important thing is these kids didn't mail it in and give up. I hate Duke more than anything and it kills me when we lose to them.

But I am so proud of our kids today for not backing down and giving it all they had.

Today isn't a bad day. Big things on the horizon for our kids
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Agree a good day for the program
 
Dukie Vitale gave us valuable tool in recruiting today. He and Mussberger seemed to repete over and over that we are a big man away from prime time. No doubt the communications department has those comments on Coach Lav's cell phone right now. Although a big man is an obvious need, a third and fourth party opinion voiced by someone the kid knows is going to count for lots. Coach Lavin will have no problem selling what it means to be the guy who brings his game to New York City and makes a difference to 8 million people (plus NJ)
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Its up yo coach now
 
 I don't mean this as a trite comment, just a realistic observation, with feeling.
The players on this Team are new to each other as SJU men. They are learning about one another for the first time as individuals and as Teammates in a demanding and sometimes unforgiving environment (NYC, Big East, a renewal period for SJU basketball). Each has skills and abilities and have arrived at this place and time from different parts of the country (and world) for a common purpose....to learn, optimize their skills and meet their personal and collective objectives and to succeed in attaining those together. Each individual has a role and much is expected of them. Sometimes too much! Each will mature and develop in those roles and some may need to be in temporary roles for the good of the Team. Some are early bloomers and some are later ones. Some will gain notoriety earlier than others, some may only serve their role in the shadows (particularly the Walkons). Through it all they are together and will win or lose together. The comments made around and to them will be positive and also negative, but through it all they must stand together. We occasionally forget that our comments will help, and sometimes hurt them, and we don't intend to do that since we write and speak with and through emotion. We still root for them (all of them) to succeed and make us proud. Remember that those that care to watch and support them are with them in spirit always. Just don't forget that, when your fingers hit the keys and log our feelings and comments on this site. This Team, regardless of the record, brings out those old feelings of the past, the old stalwart program that was New York's Team. I can feel the change. It's coming and it feels good. Go Redmen! :lst: 
 
 
Most important thing is these kids didn't mail it in and give up. I hate Duke more than anything and it kills me when we lose to them.

good discussion -

I don't save my "hate" for Duke but spread it around to cover UConn, Syracuse, Villanova as well.

all the best
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