Would we have been better with LJ?

Probably yes from a talent perspective as well as depth.  That said, we don't miss him nearly as much as I thought we would.  He's been successful at Oregon too though, so all indications are he'd have helped us here.  He's definitely helping Oregon be a better team. 
 
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For sure. Can never have enough guys that can put the ball in the basket.
Proven scorer. This year we've had way too many scoring droughts, especially when Champ/Posh were getting a breather.
 
If he bought into CMA and the system sure. 
But that's a big IF. And I don't think he would have 
 
I dont miss him. Big talent for sure but if he was going to buy into the system he would have stayed
 
I agree with Moose. Would he have been willing to accept his role here and not try and do too much like last year? The answer is clearly no and that's why he left. From a talent perspective yes we would be better on paper. But from a team chemistry perspective who knows. 
 
Aside from our interior issues that have popped up throughout the year. I think our next biggest weakness was defense on the wing. Cole was a step behind the rest of the guys. Williams is a little on shorter side to guard the 3 ideally. LJ was a stud in CMAs defense and he would also help us on the glass.

Those who question LJ being willing to take a lesser role on offense certainly have a reason to believe that. I happen to think he did a lot of that stuff out of necessity. Not all of it, but a lot. The year with ponds he tried to do much less and I think Posh could have aided in that same way. Regardless, we're better off for it now going into next year.  
 
Not sure LJ ever wanted to be "the man" here, and he's certainly taken a secondary
role at Oregon. So my feeling is that he would have played whatever role CMA needed from him, and we'd be a better team with him. 
 
I don't think this team would have been better with LJ, it would have slowed the progress of Champagnie.  A lot of the shots Champ is getting now LJ would have been taking and Champ is just a better shooter and better player.  LJ was addition by subtraction for this team. 

And I'm not knocking LJ at all, he's a good player, the situation he is in now is perfect for him.  He's a guy that's the 3rd or 4th best player on a good team.  Which is exactly what he is at Oregon.  As LJ showed last year he's not really good at being a primary scorer or a focal point of an offense, he's more of a complimentary guy that gets his baskets by steals, slashing, and wide open shots.  Him being the elder guy at St. John's and guy that's expected to carry the team was just not a good situation for him.  
 
This is an irrelevant question.

LJ did not need StJohn's to have a successful season.

st.John's did not need LJ to have a successful season.

life moves on.
 
Figgy  has the talent ti play in any League in the Country .  You don't lose talent like his and not feel it .  He did a lot of things well but , with Herron being injured for so much of the season last year , he had to do a lot ., He's a good defender ,,rebounder and Shooter , even if streaky .  CMA 's offense is even less structured than Mullins . And , I think the basic issue was Figgy was a Mullin Recruit and not , CMA .  Hey , it's nobody's fault . Divorces in College BB is common place and this year with , more lenient rules will accelerate .  Transfers will be abundant .  So , yes , Figgy would have made us better . P
 
Obviously, we would have had more talent and depth had LJ stayed at St John's
But I think we have a more cohesive team without him
 
we are sju" post=424029 said:
No
Champagnie would not have been able to improve as much as he did

It's not just Julian, Dylan and Marcelus' minutes and development would have suffered if LJ stayed.  He was a very good player for us, but under Anderson there were times when he disappeared in games for us.  
 
Click to expand...
 
Yes we would have been better IMHO. Substitute Cole starting for LJ.  LJ was a good wing defender, and decent rebounder.  I disagree he wouldn't have accepted playing second fiddle as he  did it here his first year and with a heathy a Heron, would have done it last year.  

Anderson has proven he can distribute minutes and I have no doubt he would have figured it out.  Lastly, LJ was not shown the door, he chose to leave.  Anderon was willing and was expecting him to come back prior to him entering the transfer portal.  Therefore he wasn't concerned about him buying in and if he didn't, he wouldn't have been shown the bench.
 
All good comments except it's not irrelevant.   At this point in the season we'd love to have Posh and also nearly all winning teams have 3 guys you can count on night in night out.   CMA has assembled a very good ensemble cast but you wonder if LJ would have been a good fit as one of the big 3.
 
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