Zach's analysis-best-chance-in-years

Zach's comments about ponds come directly from coaching staff.

Was told that Chris showed incredible restraint in not trying to influence Ponds as he attended NBA workouts and CM knew what the results would be. He instead sat with ponds and went over the written reports generated by the workouts and reviewed what ponds needs to improve to get to nba.

It was stressed to ponds that his scoring numbers are not important to nba but efficiency is.. raise shooting percentage, low turnovers, and winning will impress nba execs.

In this case it has been exactly what we hoped chris would be - the guy who has starred in the nba and can tell a kid what it takes to get there, and try to help him achieve it.
 
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Exactly what I’ve always thought Chris (and Mitch) ‘have’ that would be important—even critical—to a top HS/college basketball talent.
Not the Calipari, ‘I run an NBA-factory, take a number, kid’, but keen advice about the steps necessary to make the leap.
Very cool. Thanks Beast.
 
St John’s Redmen Shirt looks great too! Would like to get one , rather than Red Storm . Anyone know where I might ?
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=295734]Zach's comments about ponds come directly from coaching staff.

Was told that Chris showed incredible restraint in not trying to influence Ponds as he attended NBA workouts and CM knew what the results would be. He instead sat with ponds and went over the written reports generated by the workouts and reviewed what ponds needs to improve to get to nba.

It was stressed to ponds that his scoring numbers are not important to nba but efficiency is.. raise shooting percentage, low turnovers, and winning will impress nba execs.

In this case it has been exactly what we hoped chris would be - the guy who has starred in the nba and can tell a kid what it takes to get there, and try to help him achieve it.[/quote]

Really?

What I was hoping for was a coach who, along with a solid aggressive staff, could sell SJU as a destination school for great players. And when he got those players here he and his staff could prepare them to excel on the court and thus prepare them to make the best decisions for themselves off the court.

And to keep this up continually as SJU became a legitimate destination school for some of the area and country's best talent.

I'm not sure what anyone else's expectations were but that was mine 3 1/2 years ago.

One kid in 3 years, who probably isn't ready for the NBA anyway, makes some favorable comments about the staff in a pre-season article and that is what we have been waiting for with a coach at SJU? No, sorry.
 
[quote="fordham96" post=295963][quote="Beast of the East" post=295734]Zach's comments about ponds come directly from coaching staff.

Was told that Chris showed incredible restraint in not trying to influence Ponds as he attended NBA workouts and CM knew what the results would be. He instead sat with ponds and went over the written reports generated by the workouts and reviewed what ponds needs to improve to get to nba.

It was stressed to ponds that his scoring numbers are not important to nba but efficiency is.. raise shooting percentage, low turnovers, and winning will impress nba execs.

In this case it has been exactly what we hoped chris would be - the guy who has starred in the nba and can tell a kid what it takes to get there, and try to help him achieve it.[/quote]

Really?

What I was hoping for was a coach who, along with a solid aggressive staff, could sell SJU as a destination school for great players. And when he got those players here he and his staff could prepare them to excel on the court and thus prepare them to make the best decisions for themselves off the court.

And to keep this up continually as SJU became a legitimate destination school for some of the area and country's best talent.

I'm not sure what anyone else's expectations were but that was mine 3 1/2 years ago.

One kid in 3 years, who probably isn't ready for the NBA anyway, makes some favorable comments about the staff in a pre-season article and that is what we have been waiting for with a coach at SJU? No, sorry.[/quote]

WTF does your diatribe have to do with Mullin exercising restraint in not advising his star player of his chances in NBA workouts, or aobut Mullin's NBA contacts who spoke with him about the written assessments from those workouts, or Mullin's first hand knowledge of what it takes to make the NBA. By comparison, Coach K, Pitino, Boeheim, etc were all hacks as players who have no first hand knowledge of what you have to do to impress the NBA about your own abilities.

Really, your stuff is about as tiresome and perpetually negative about this team. If you indeed go to Fordham, why don't you buy season tickets there and truly sit through as the "fan" you are and watch pitififul basketball. In the meantime, at least try to remain on topic and focus instead of just looking for negative shit to write.
 
Zach B
Will have more later, but caught up with Chris Mullin ahead of tomorrow’s first practice. He’s very high on LJ Figueroa. “He’s a little like Shamorie at the forward position.” Believes he’s a playmaker and scorer. #sjubb

In speaking to Zach recently he noted that staff knew LJ was good, but he has really impressed them beyond initial expectations. My buddy Panther called this early. Am excited to see him.
 
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Good for you Beast. You are calling out the right people. Some are just ignorant and others like Fordham96 are just loud mouth bullies.
 
[quote="AlBovino" post=295981]Good for you Beast. You are calling out the right people. Some are just ignorant and others like Fordham96 are just loud mouth bullies.[/quote]

Name calling now...

Well if you can be defined by people who don't like you, I would welcome that definition in your case...
 
[quote="fordham96" post=295963][quote="Beast of the East" post=295734]Zach's comments about ponds come directly from coaching staff.

Was told that Chris showed incredible restraint in not trying to influence Ponds as he attended NBA workouts and CM knew what the results would be. He instead sat with ponds and went over the written reports generated by the workouts and reviewed what ponds needs to improve to get to nba.

It was stressed to ponds that his scoring numbers are not important to nba but efficiency is.. raise shooting percentage, low turnovers, and winning will impress nba execs.

In this case it has been exactly what we hoped chris would be - the guy who has starred in the nba and can tell a kid what it takes to get there, and try to help him achieve it.[/quote]

Really?

What I was hoping for was a coach who, along with a solid aggressive staff, could sell SJU as a destination school for great players. And when he got those players here he and his staff could prepare them to excel on the court and thus prepare them to make the best decisions for themselves off the court.

And to keep this up continually as SJU became a legitimate destination school for some of the area and country's best talent.

I'm not sure what anyone else's expectations were but that was mine 3 1/2 years ago.

One kid in 3 years, who probably isn't ready for the NBA anyway, makes some favorable comments about the staff in a pre-season article and that is what we have been waiting for with a coach at SJU? No, sorry.[/quote]

Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.
 
[quote="we are sju" post=295992]
Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.[/quote]

Valid points. But at least most of the guys (okay, 60%) who've failed to achieve the unrealistic goals of some before had some level of success at the job elsewhere before they were hired.
 
I could care less who on this board dislikes me. The last thing I would want is to be friends with 90% of this board. I support Chris Mullin and St. John's basketball, not imbecilic fans.
 
[quote="austour" post=296004][quote="we are sju" post=295992]
Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.[/quote]

Valid points. But at least most of the guys (okay, 60%) who've failed to achieve the unrealistic goals of some before had some level of success at the job elsewhere before they were hired.[/quote]

Not to bash Lavin but was severely panned by fans and players alike while at UCLA and we hired him from TV where really no one was knocking down his door. Again outside Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, David Russell, Willie Glass or a clear successful upgrade I think he did just enough to get an extension.
Just saying I would not call grabbing a guy out of TV that long after his last job a success.
And I liked Lavin hire.

Question for you because I know you were against the hiring / firing at the time.
You think we would be in better shape at this point in time if Lavin was given an extension? Same? Worse?
I think we would have been maybe a little better first couple years but looking at a disaster by now.
 
[quote="we are sju" post=296007][quote="austour" post=296004][quote="we are sju" post=295992]
Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.[/quote]

Valid points. But at least most of the guys (okay, 60%) who've failed to achieve the unrealistic goals of some before had some level of success at the job elsewhere before they were hired.[/quote]

Not to bash Lavin but was severely panned by fans and players alike while at UCLA and we hired him from TV where really no one was knocking down his door. Again outside Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, David Russell, Willie Glass or a clear successful upgrade I think he did just enough to get an extension.
Just saying I would not call grabbing a guy out of TV that long after his last job a success.
And I liked Lavin hire.

Question for you because I know you were against the hiring / firing at the time.
You think we would be in better shape at this point in time if Lavin was given an extension? Same? Worse?
I think we would have been maybe a little better first couple years but looking at a disaster by now.[/quote]

A little bit better? If he was a little bit better 2 years removed from his first 5 years than Mullin was his first 2 years Lavin would have been fired. Period. That is the point you are missing. He wouldn't have been given a 5 year run with mediocre years to begin with. He would have had to produce VERY QUICKLY to justify any extension.

And if he somehow survived those first 2 mediocre/bad years and got a 3rd year without an NCAA tourney bid he would have been gone after this past year anyway.

So either he got this thing rolling BETTER than he already had or he was toast after a few years. He wouldn't be at SJU with a record anywhere near Mullin's current record after 2 or 3 years. The standard would have been entirely different and rightfully so.
 
And let's be clear and not re-write history and assume Mullin was the only choice after Lavin. 1A was Mullin and 1B was Danny Hurley. Now Danny had not turned URI totally around yet 3 years ago. He was considered a comer but was not the hottest commodity.

But I have the text messages and emails from people who know that he was ready to jump at the SJU job if they offered. As it turns out Chris was the first choice and when he said yes that was it.
 
[quote="AlBovino" post=296005]I could care less who on this board dislikes me. The last thing I would want is to be friends with 90% of this board. I support Chris Mullin and St. John's basketball, not imbecilic fans.[/quote]

I don't care about your ramblings or your idiotic statements of faith, just leave my name off your posts going forward.
 
[quote="fordham96" post=296011][quote="we are sju" post=296007][quote="austour" post=296004][quote="we are sju" post=295992]
Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.[/quote]

Valid points. But at least most of the guys (okay, 60%) who've failed to achieve the unrealistic goals of some before had some level of success at the job elsewhere before they were hired.[/quote]

Not to bash Lavin but was severely panned by fans and players alike while at UCLA and we hired him from TV where really no one was knocking down his door. Again outside Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, David Russell, Willie Glass or a clear successful upgrade I think he did just enough to get an extension.
Just saying I would not call grabbing a guy out of TV that long after his last job a success.
And I liked Lavin hire.

Question for you because I know you were against the hiring / firing at the time.
You think we would be in better shape at this point in time if Lavin was given an extension? Same? Worse?
I think we would have been maybe a little better first couple years but looking at a disaster by now.[/quote]

A little bit better? If he was a little bit better 2 years removed from his first 5 years than Mullin was his first 2 years Lavin would have been fired. Period. That is the point you are missing. He wouldn't have been given a 5 year run with mediocre years to begin with. He would have had to produce VERY QUICKLY to justify any extension.

And if he somehow survived those first 2 mediocre/bad years and got a 3rd year without an NCAA tourney bid he would have been gone after this past year anyway.

So either he got this thing rolling BETTER than he already had or he was toast after a few years. He wouldn't be at SJU with a record anywhere near Mullin's current record after 2 or 3 years. The standard would have been entirely different and rightfully so.[/quote]

Yes that was my point. After his first 2 seasons of theoretic extension I think we would have only been slightly better.
Then I think we would have hit rock bottom or he would have been fired by third or 4th year.
Everyone has bashed our coaches since Louie left. But what are we basing it on?
Yes I am more patient with Mullin because I had his poster on my wall but also because I doubt the next guy will be any better. And I happen to think we will be good this year so why bitch?
 
[quote="we are sju" post=296017][quote="fordham96" post=296011][quote="we are sju" post=296007][quote="austour" post=296004][quote="we are sju" post=295992]
Who is that guy?
Lavin? Nah two first round losses in 5 years and one NBA first round pick
Norm? Well he was a great guy I was repeatedly told but that doesn't fit the criteria you wanted.
Jarvis? Pretty close but everyone hated him
Fran? Again maybe but he was never going to stay around.
Mahoney?
So basically you want Louie back I guess.
People around here need to have more patience and lower their expectations.[/quote]

Valid points. But at least most of the guys (okay, 60%) who've failed to achieve the unrealistic goals of some before had some level of success at the job elsewhere before they were hired.[/quote]

Not to bash Lavin but was severely panned by fans and players alike while at UCLA and we hired him from TV where really no one was knocking down his door. Again outside Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson, David Russell, Willie Glass or a clear successful upgrade I think he did just enough to get an extension.
Just saying I would not call grabbing a guy out of TV that long after his last job a success.
And I liked Lavin hire.

Question for you because I know you were against the hiring / firing at the time.
You think we would be in better shape at this point in time if Lavin was given an extension? Same? Worse?
I think we would have been maybe a little better first couple years but looking at a disaster by now.[/quote]

A little bit better? If he was a little bit better 2 years removed from his first 5 years than Mullin was his first 2 years Lavin would have been fired. Period. That is the point you are missing. He wouldn't have been given a 5 year run with mediocre years to begin with. He would have had to produce VERY QUICKLY to justify any extension.

And if he somehow survived those first 2 mediocre/bad years and got a 3rd year without an NCAA tourney bid he would have been gone after this past year anyway.

So either he got this thing rolling BETTER than he already had or he was toast after a few years. He wouldn't be at SJU with a record anywhere near Mullin's current record after 2 or 3 years. The standard would have been entirely different and rightfully so.[/quote]

Yes that was my point. After his first 2 seasons of theoretic extension I think we would have only been slightly better.
Then I think we would have hit rock bottom or he would have been fired by third or 4th year.
Everyone has bashed our coaches since Louie left. But what are we basing it on?
Yes I am more patient with Mullin because I had his poster on my wall but also because I doubt the next guy will be any better. And I happen to think we will be good this year so why bitch?[/quote]

No we would have been better by year 2. He would have had to change his staff and kick up his recruiting as a condition.. I am not convinced we would be near Villanova, which was ultimately the goal. But yeah he could go 6-12 in year 1, 10-8 in year 2 and 3 after his mythical extension. But I wouldn't have been satisfied.

I find your post interesting about how you think SJU would be good this year, you said when Ponds was still potentially staying in the draft you thought best case he comes back we go 9-9 and bubble, he stays in and we finish last. Both LJSA and I said that would not be acceptable.
 
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