Branch gets pulled after one bad pass and pointer gets to play all game after making about fifteen stupid plays a game
Xavier game
- Thread starter tom in salem
- Start date
Spot on. We lost this game in the first 5 minutes of both halves. You just had the feeling when X started 0-11 and we only opened up a 7 point lead that it would come back to bite us. You have to step on a team like X when they start like that, especially in their building where they are so tough.
Rysheed played 0 minutes in the first five minutes of each half, and that stretches where he was not on the floor is where we lost the game is not a coincidence. Unless there was a disciplinary reason, there is not an articulable justification for him not to be starting and helping us get off to quick starts in both halves. None whatsoever.
tom in salem
Well-known member
team shot 50% from 3.
that wan't today's problem.
STJ11Redmen
Active member
Was at work and just watched the game on tape and what stuck out to me was we lost the game in the minutes Phil Greene played to start both halves. I've never seen a basketball player literally dribble in cricles quite like Phil does. Sheed should have been in there. Also our big men need to man up, they ate us up in the paint.
X had 4 points at the 10 minute mark of the first half. 66 the rest of the way.
A lot of that had to do with them not making shots, but why did we completely abandon the 3-2 with Sampson at the top? That was giving them fits, Sampson is very disruptive from the foul line to the top of the key with his length.
I thought Lavin had the right idea going bigger today and playing the 3-2, just should have been Obekpa instead of Gift. Jordan, Harrison, Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa. You can't understate how much the landscape changes for the opposing offense when Obekpa is providing resistance at the rim.
A lot of that had to do with them not making shots, but why did we completely abandon the 3-2 with Sampson at the top? That was giving them fits, Sampson is very disruptive from the foul line to the top of the key with his length.
I thought Lavin had the right idea going bigger today and playing the 3-2, just should have been Obekpa instead of Gift. Jordan, Harrison, Sampson, Sanchez, and Obekpa. You can't understate how much the landscape changes for the opposing offense when Obekpa is providing resistance at the rim.
Obviously most of us see that. There must be a reason Lav does not. Is it a blind spot, loyalty to Phil or an attitude/practice issue with Branch? For a guy who was proclaimed the "most improved" by SL earlier, he sure is on a short leash. Puzzling & a potential negative if this trend continues.
To go on an international trip and play a handful of exhibition games and a couple of laughers on the OOC schedule, it is inexcusable to not have a set rotation entering conference play when your team has no injuries or suspensions to adjust for.
There's not a team in the nation that will find any success mixing and matching starting lineups and rotations. Doesn't matter how deep or talented a team they are. Players have to be used to each other on the court knowing each other's tendencies.
SJU is basically runaway train without a conductor. It can stay on the track for a long stretch by sheer momentum but it will eventually crash.
There's not a team in the nation that will find any success mixing and matching starting lineups and rotations. Doesn't matter how deep or talented a team they are. Players have to be used to each other on the court knowing each other's tendencies.
SJU is basically runaway train without a conductor. It can stay on the track for a long stretch by sheer momentum but it will eventually crash.
tom in salem
Well-known member
Agreed.
two 6'8" guys who like the perimeter.
NYCShowtime
Member
I just have a difficult time understanding why these guys can't play team basketball... it is ridiculous watching D, Jordan, Branch, Greene, etc. bring the ball up the court and shoot a low percentage shot without passing. It seems like it happens all the time. Does Lavin condone this type of play? He must cause it happens multiple times a game. Aside from when we are weaving, we look like a bunch of random players that just met and are playing pickup ball... And I am sorry, DLo scoring 21 points but on 7-20 shooting is not good... he continues to take a ridiculous amount of low percentage shots.
Lavin's first year we looked so much more of a cohesive unit, running amazing pick and rolls, back door passes and open looks.... Do you guys remember how many open layups we had when we beat Duke that year?? It was amazing... Was it all Dunlap? Or is it Lavin? Or is it that these players are not coachable? Regardless the reason, it is so frustrating... We try to play like an NBA team with guys that are not NBA players...
Aside from the first 7 minutes of the game, Xavier looked far superior in terms of basketball smarts and discipline.
I was initially excited when we got Lavin but a friend of mine from UCLA said back then you will eventually hate him before you know it, he is a used-car salesman... I definitely don't hate him, but I am really getting sick of this from this team.
Lavin's first year we looked so much more of a cohesive unit, running amazing pick and rolls, back door passes and open looks.... Do you guys remember how many open layups we had when we beat Duke that year?? It was amazing... Was it all Dunlap? Or is it Lavin? Or is it that these players are not coachable? Regardless the reason, it is so frustrating... We try to play like an NBA team with guys that are not NBA players...
Aside from the first 7 minutes of the game, Xavier looked far superior in terms of basketball smarts and discipline.
I was initially excited when we got Lavin but a friend of mine from UCLA said back then you will eventually hate him before you know it, he is a used-car salesman... I definitely don't hate him, but I am really getting sick of this from this team.
MBoutchatski
Member
ive been lurking here for a while and finally got incensed enough to sign up and post.
I haven't been this frustrated with a loss in a while. I guess im just sick and tired of getting OUT-COACHED almost every single game against teams with much less talent than us.
Ive read through a lot of the comments and I basically share most of the same sentiments. I'd like to add that Jakarr Sampson is the most frustrating player to watch in the 19 years ive followed this team. He cost us the syracuse game imo and when we were down 5 today, after the jordan steal, he screwed up an easy fast-break which could have helped us steal this game. Im sure hes a nice kid, but he's the most selfish player ive seen put on a st. john's uniform.
Lavin can bring in all the top 100 recruits, all the juco all-americans he wants but he will never be a winning coach. Outside of Syracuse, what team has more talent than us on our schedule?
Im sure very few will agree with me, but St. John's will never have a shot of being a top team again until they move on from mr. hollywood.
I haven't been this frustrated with a loss in a while. I guess im just sick and tired of getting OUT-COACHED almost every single game against teams with much less talent than us.
Ive read through a lot of the comments and I basically share most of the same sentiments. I'd like to add that Jakarr Sampson is the most frustrating player to watch in the 19 years ive followed this team. He cost us the syracuse game imo and when we were down 5 today, after the jordan steal, he screwed up an easy fast-break which could have helped us steal this game. Im sure hes a nice kid, but he's the most selfish player ive seen put on a st. john's uniform.
Lavin can bring in all the top 100 recruits, all the juco all-americans he wants but he will never be a winning coach. Outside of Syracuse, what team has more talent than us on our schedule?
Im sure very few will agree with me, but St. John's will never have a shot of being a top team again until they move on from mr. hollywood.
Well said by you both. We'll hear about making adjustments, correctible issues, and hitting our stride in February. While all of those things may be true, we could be performing better than we are right now in almost every game if the coaching staff - not the players - would address this one simple issue. What they think makes us different than most every team in the country - especially the top ones - in terms if having a rotation I have no idea, but it's not helping us win games.
MBoutchatski
Member
Outside of Jordan, whose book is still yet to be written, is there one player on this team who has actually gotten better? Sampson and Dom have regressed, Obekpa has zero offensive ability, Branch doesn't even get a fair shake, Phil is still a human treadmill.....and for all of harrisons gaudy stats, he's still not the player he can be.
BOB BARKER
Member
As stated already,game lost in first half when 9-0 should be 15-0....and in second half start,when x scores 9 straight and controls games thereafter....at this point no ncaa,no one leaving for the pros...Lavs needs to play scorers......SJ cant score,cant win........Wisc,PSU,X less athletic but can score....And no one wants to play inside.....
