Would we have been better with LJ?

[monte]

I think some of you guys are inadvertently underestimating CMA as a coach, by thinking LJ wouldn't have fit in seamlessly with this team. Just as he has with Duarte, etc at Oregon. Last year's team did not have the scoring power of this years team. Last year's team did not have Posh, Wusu,
Moore and Cole. LJ was expected to do more then he was capable of and comfortable with. I have absolutely zero doubt that had he come back this year, CMA would have had figured out how to best utilize his talents to benefit the team, and we would have been an even better team because of it. 

 

[beast of the east]

I think some of you guys are inadvertently underestimating CMA as a coach, by thinking LJ wouldn't have fit in seamlessly with this team. Just as he has with Duarte, etc at Oregon. Last year's team did not have the scoring power of this years team. Last year's team did not have Posh, Wusu,
Moore and Cole. LJ was expected to do more then he was capable of and comfortable with. I have absolutely zero doubt that had he come back this year, CMA would have had figured out how to best utilize his talents to benefit the team, and we would have been an even better team because of it. 


I dont think there is any question that CMA and MC prefer he stayed.  None whatsoever, but he did leave voluntarily.   They still all keep in touch and like him
 

 

[espken]

The site has been beaten over the head with "we need talent."
LJ is talented and CMA/staff would have made it work for the better.

 

[Knight]

Who is LJ?   /media/kunena/emoticons/cool.png

 

[Amaseinyourface]

I think some of you guys are inadvertently underestimating CMA as a coach, by thinking LJ wouldn't have fit in seamlessly with this team. Just as he has with Duarte, etc at Oregon. Last year's team did not have the scoring power of this years team. Last year's team did not have Posh, Wusu,
Moore and Cole. LJ was expected to do more then he was capable of and comfortable with. I have absolutely zero doubt that had he come back this year, CMA would have had figured out how to best utilize his talents to benefit the team, and we would have been an even better team because of it. 

Not to mention the end of last year was similar to this year in sense of whole team approach. LJ was already taking step back while Williams, Marcellus, and Chanp were stepping forward.

 

[monte]

I think some of you guys are inadvertently underestimating CMA as a coach, by thinking LJ wouldn't have fit in seamlessly with this team. Just as he has with Duarte, etc at Oregon. Last year's team did not have the scoring power of this years team. Last year's team did not have Posh, Wusu,
Moore and Cole. LJ was expected to do more then he was capable of and comfortable with. I have absolutely zero doubt that had he come back this year, CMA would have had figured out how to best utilize his talents to benefit the team, and we would have been an even better team because of it. 

Not to mention the end of last year was similar to this year in sense of whole team approach. LJ was already taking step back while Williams, Marcellus, and Chanp were stepping forward.

Very good point Amase. 
 

 

[Demo]

If he bought into CMA and the system sure. 
But that's a big IF. And I don't think he would have 

Isn't that the reason he left?

 

[RodinCA]

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

I totally agree.  I think that is one of the biggest reasons for our success this year - our team chemistry.  LJ is super talented but, he took a lot of forced shots that were out of rhythm from the flow of the game.  Bottom line is he moved on.  He felt he could have more of an impact elsewhere.

 

 

[MainMan]

It's a no-brainer that LJ would've helped us, especially on the low block.
But we can't go back 30 years. 
And if I had to choose, I'd say Stacey Augmon would've made an even better fit. 

 

[Section3]

I think LJ could have thrived under CMA and, yes, we would have been better. Him, Posh and Dunn at the head of a full court press would have wreaked havoc. That said, and I could be wrong, I don't think  LJ was happy with being yanked and left on the bench as was the case a number of times last year. Whether that played into his decision - who knows?

 

[Moose]

The site has been beaten over the head with "we need talent."
LJ is talented and CMA/staff would have made it work for the better.

Wasn't that what happened last year?  They tried it out.  Each side asked eachother out a few times.  Then when we all thought things were good one dumped the other like a runaway bride?

If LJ left before ever playing for CMA I think that's a valid point but he played and it didnt work out.

 

[SJUFAN2]

Absolutely 

I don't know that its cut and dry.   I seriously doubt Champagnie would be where he is today with figgy getting 30+min a nitght, hoisting 30 footers off a pump fake, and 20 foot floaters 4 or 5 times a game.

I like where this team is right now.  

 

[espken]

The site has been beaten over the head with "we need talent."
LJ is talented and CMA/staff would have made it work for the better.

Wasn't that what happened last year?  They tried it out.  Each side asked eachother out a few times.  Then when we all thought things were good one dumped the other like a runaway bride?

If LJ left before ever playing for CMA I think that's a valid point but he played and it didnt work out.

This is all subjective, but each season is different. Maybe this years team would have been more successful with LJ than last. Personel makes a difference. Maybe LJ thought this years team could not compete nationally like Oregon could. Answers we'll never know. 

 

[monte]

Absolutely 

I don't know that its cut and dry.   I seriously doubt Champagnie would be where he is today with figgy getting 30+min a nitght, hoisting 30 footers off a pump fake, and 20 foot floaters 4 or 5 times a game.

I like where this team is right now.  

Except that's not what LJ is doing this year with more talent around him. So I believe it's fair to expect that he would have played more under control this year with less pressure on him to score. Just as he's doing at Oregon. Do I think Champ would have led the Big East in scoring is LJ were here? No I don't. Maybe he would have averaged 16-17 PPG. But that same thing would have happened if Cole scored more. Do I think we would have been a better team if LJ was here, yes I do. 


 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Would the team have been deeper and more talented? Hard not to say yes. Would their record have been better and the season more enjoyable? No one knows for sure but I loved this season and this is my favorite Johnnies team since the first Lavin team. I am more than fine the way things worked out. 

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Absolutely 

I don't know that its cut and dry.   I seriously doubt Champagnie would be where he is today with figgy getting 30+min a nitght, hoisting 30 footers off a pump fake, and 20 foot floaters 4 or 5 times a game.

I like where this team is right now.  

Question wasn’t whether or not champ would still be the BE leading scorer.

 

[redmannorth]

Absolutely 

I don't know that its cut and dry.   I seriously doubt Champagnie would be where he is today with figgy getting 30+min a nitght, hoisting 30 footers off a pump fake, and 20 foot floaters 4 or 5 times a game.

I like where this team is right now.  

Question wasn’t whether or not champ would still be the BE leading scorer.

we are much better off without LJ, he didn't want to be here, he left and we are the better team for it. Wusu and Dunn took the minutes and made good productive use of them for the good of the team, something LJ would have not done. Cole had some very good games and continues to improve. 
Team chemistry is far more important than talent and while our talent level continues to improve we have a ton of team chemistry. For the first time in ages the sum was greater than the individual parts. Clearly a case of addition by subtraction. 

 

[Amaseinyourface]

Absolutely 

I don't know that its cut and dry.   I seriously doubt Champagnie would be where he is today with figgy getting 30+min a nitght, hoisting 30 footers off a pump fake, and 20 foot floaters 4 or 5 times a game.

I like where this team is right now.  

Question wasn’t whether or not champ would still be the BE leading scorer.

we are much better off without LJ, he didn't want to be here, he left and we are the better team for it. Wusu and Dunn took the minutes and made good productive use of them for the good of the team, something LJ would have not done. Cole had some very good games and continues to improve. 
Team chemistry is far more important than talent and while our talent level continues to improve we have a ton of team chemistry. For the first time in ages the sum was greater than the individual parts. Clearly a case of addition by subtraction. 

North, love and respect you but clearly we disagree on this. Remember our chemistry at end of the last year? 

Question, would every team always be better off without someone who didn’t want to be there? That would mean no team ever gets worse when a guy transfers out. Someone like Tariq clearly didn't want to be at SJU and we would have been better off with him. LJ in his first year at sju was the epitome of a good teammate. This year at Oregon he is making big sacrifices. I don't know why you would look at last year alone and paint him as a guy who isn't capable of being a team player.  

 

[JohnnyFan]

Since we're kicking around the hypothetical.......you put Justin Simon on this roster and we are dancing strong!

 

[Andrew]

In a hypothetical world we would have had more talent and would have started the season faster. I dont think LJ was an unselfish player. He did what he thought was needed for the team. Anderson clearly wanted him to stay. He played very well in the Georgetown and Creighton games in the Big East tournament when we started to click. That said we may be better next season because he did not return. The extra minutes that guys like Wusu and Moore picked up will pay off down the road.