Different perspective on St. Johns

[Jet915]

Everyone calm down. FS1 isn't gonna be cut. Fox has multiple long term contracts and they have to show the programming somewhere. I would be shocked if Fox did not get a cut of the Big Ten when it comes up next year. That will greatly enhance the visibility of the Big East as the fanbase will be similar (as opposed to UFC and Nascar fans).

[NJRedman]

A SANE perspective on St. John's

This program was once on the same level that Syracuse and UConn are now. Carnesecca might not be much but when you have Madison Square Garden as your home court in New York City, you should be able to sell yourself to recruits.

SJU has not won a tournament game since 2000. They made it in 2002, lost in the first round to Wisconsin, then made it in 2011 and got their doors blown off by Gonzaga in the first round. Yes, Steve Lavin was the coach in 2011, but the players were all Norm's.

I am not going to start talking about complete animals like Abe Keita in recent years, or St. John's rich history of JUCOs and Prop 48s, but I will tell you, that when the New Big East was formed we NEEDED teams to step up and St. John's looked like they were going to be one of them. They haven't.

They miss the tournament and get killed in the NIT by Robert Morris on their home court in the first round. They then lose Sampson, Obepka and Hooper. Hooper might be the most over-rated 3 point shooter in Big East history, but he is a loss. Now there is talk of possibly 2 others transferring, and Steve Lavin couldn't be found. Rumors are he already has his feelers out and is contacting California schools.

Lavin, who St. John's fans still talk about like he is a master recruiter, which is LAUGHABLE, has NOBODY coming in for 2014. NOBODY. This was a guy who KNEW he was losing players, and was unable to get ONE commitment for the class of 2014. Just not good at all.

After next year when they lose guys like Pointer, Greene, Branch, Harrison, they are in even BIGGER trouble. Are they going to rely on transfers and JUCOs again?????? What if none of them come?

If I were in charge at St. John's. FIRE LAVIN. UCLA fans warned of this, and everything they said would happen, has happened. The fact there are again, already rumors that he has been contacting other programs should be reason enough. Another NCAA tournament for St. John's is nowhere in sight. Again, get rid of Steve, and start over.

I know for SJU fans at this point, the last thing you want to do is start over again, but Steve has been a flake and you need somebody who is going to bring consistency back to Queens. Lavin is not doing that.

This is the perspective of a fan of the Big East of 25+ years, and somebody who sees about 7 St. John's games a year live. No offense to some of you new members, because you aren't used to what we used to have in the Big East, but back then, when Syracuse, UConn, Louisville, etc. were walking through that door every other night tea, a team like St. John's could be at the bottom of the conference and NOBODY would care. We were still elite. NOW, the Big East needs all the help it can get, St. John's, having tradition, NYC, and MSG, we were hoping would really step up and try to return to their former glory. They have done the complete opposite, and have everybody scratching their heads about what the hell is happening in Queens.

I thought you said a SANE perspective?

[ChestRockwell85]

A SANE perspective on St. John's

This program was once on the same level that Syracuse and UConn are now. Carnesecca might not be much but when you have Madison Square Garden as your home court in New York City, you should be able to sell yourself to recruits.

SJU has not won a tournament game since 2000. They made it in 2002, lost in the first round to Wisconsin, then made it in 2011 and got their doors blown off by Gonzaga in the first round. Yes, Steve Lavin was the coach in 2011, but the players were all Norm's.

I am not going to start talking about complete animals like Abe Keita in recent years, or St. John's rich history of JUCOs and Prop 48s, but I will tell you, that when the New Big East was formed we NEEDED teams to step up and St. John's looked like they were going to be one of them. They haven't.

They miss the tournament and get killed in the NIT by Robert Morris on their home court in the first round. They then lose Sampson, Obepka and Hooper. Hooper might be the most over-rated 3 point shooter in Big East history, but he is a loss. Now there is talk of possibly 2 others transferring, and Steve Lavin couldn't be found. Rumors are he already has his feelers out and is contacting California schools.

Lavin, who St. John's fans still talk about like he is a master recruiter, which is LAUGHABLE, has NOBODY coming in for 2014. NOBODY. This was a guy who KNEW he was losing players, and was unable to get ONE commitment for the class of 2014. Just not good at all.

After next year when they lose guys like Pointer, Greene, Branch, Harrison, they are in even BIGGER trouble. Are they going to rely on transfers and JUCOs again?????? What if none of them come?

If I were in charge at St. John's. FIRE LAVIN. UCLA fans warned of this, and everything they said would happen, has happened. The fact there are again, already rumors that he has been contacting other programs should be reason enough. Another NCAA tournament for St. John's is nowhere in sight. Again, get rid of Steve, and start over.

I know for SJU fans at this point, the last thing you want to do is start over again, but Steve has been a flake and you need somebody who is going to bring consistency back to Queens. Lavin is not doing that.

This is the perspective of a fan of the Big East of 25+ years, and somebody who sees about 7 St. John's games a year live. No offense to some of you new members, because you aren't used to what we used to have in the Big East, but back then, when Syracuse, UConn, Louisville, etc. were walking through that door every other night tea, a team like St. John's could be at the bottom of the conference and NOBODY would care. We were still elite. NOW, the Big East needs all the help it can get, St. John's, having tradition, NYC, and MSG, we were hoping would really step up and try to return to their former glory. They have done the complete opposite, and have everybody scratching their heads about what the hell is happening in Queens.

I thought you said a SANE perspective?

How was anything I said incorrect? I grew up in St. John's country. My Aunt and Uncle both went there. I like the Johnnies. I don't want to bash the program but to say you have been disappointing and have done nothing to help the Big East is pretty accurate. But seriously though, not looking to start a pissing match, but how was anything I said wrong or not SANE? I think if you take off the rose colored glasses, what I said is pretty spot on. An educated answer would be nice.

[stever20]

Everyone calm down. FS1 isn't gonna be cut. Fox has multiple long term contracts and they have to show the programming somewhere. I would be shocked if Fox did not get a cut of the Big Ten when it comes up next year. That will greatly enhance the visibility of the Big East as the fanbase will be similar (as opposed to UFC and Nascar fans).

Fox may get some of the Big Ten, but it's not a guarantee that many games would wind up on FS1. Far more likely is that Fox NETWORK would get the games. I don't think for basketball Big Ten has a limited number of games available with their Big Ten network and CBS already taking a lot of the games. They aren't going to just leave ESPN high and dry.

FAR more important for FS1 is the NBA.

[ChestRockwell85]

PS - Phil Greene now leaving too.......

[NJRedman]

A SANE perspective on St. John's

This program was once on the same level that Syracuse and UConn are now. Carnesecca might not be much but when you have Madison Square Garden as your home court in New York City, you should be able to sell yourself to recruits.

SJU has not won a tournament game since 2000. They made it in 2002, lost in the first round to Wisconsin, then made it in 2011 and got their doors blown off by Gonzaga in the first round. Yes, Steve Lavin was the coach in 2011, but the players were all Norm's.

I am not going to start talking about complete animals like Abe Keita in recent years, or St. John's rich history of JUCOs and Prop 48s, but I will tell you, that when the New Big East was formed we NEEDED teams to step up and St. John's looked like they were going to be one of them. They haven't.

They miss the tournament and get killed in the NIT by Robert Morris on their home court in the first round. They then lose Sampson, Obepka and Hooper. Hooper might be the most over-rated 3 point shooter in Big East history, but he is a loss. Now there is talk of possibly 2 others transferring, and Steve Lavin couldn't be found. Rumors are he already has his feelers out and is contacting California schools.

Lavin, who St. John's fans still talk about like he is a master recruiter, which is LAUGHABLE, has NOBODY coming in for 2014. NOBODY. This was a guy who KNEW he was losing players, and was unable to get ONE commitment for the class of 2014. Just not good at all.

After next year when they lose guys like Pointer, Greene, Branch, Harrison, they are in even BIGGER trouble. Are they going to rely on transfers and JUCOs again?????? What if none of them come?

If I were in charge at St. John's. FIRE LAVIN. UCLA fans warned of this, and everything they said would happen, has happened. The fact there are again, already rumors that he has been contacting other programs should be reason enough. Another NCAA tournament for St. John's is nowhere in sight. Again, get rid of Steve, and start over.

I know for SJU fans at this point, the last thing you want to do is start over again, but Steve has been a flake and you need somebody who is going to bring consistency back to Queens. Lavin is not doing that.

This is the perspective of a fan of the Big East of 25+ years, and somebody who sees about 7 St. John's games a year live. No offense to some of you new members, because you aren't used to what we used to have in the Big East, but back then, when Syracuse, UConn, Louisville, etc. were walking through that door every other night tea, a team like St. John's could be at the bottom of the conference and NOBODY would care. We were still elite. NOW, the Big East needs all the help it can get, St. John's, having tradition, NYC, and MSG, we were hoping would really step up and try to return to their former glory. They have done the complete opposite, and have everybody scratching their heads about what the hell is happening in Queens.

I thought you said a SANE perspective?

How was anything I said incorrect? I grew up in St. John's country. My Aunt and Uncle both went there. I like the Johnnies. I don't want to bash the program but to say you have been disappointing and have done nothing to help the Big East is pretty accurate. But seriously though, not looking to start a pissing match, but how was anything I said wrong or not SANE? I think if you take off the rose colored glasses, what I said is pretty spot on. An educated answer would be nice.

You calling his recruiting skills "laughable". He recruited 2 out of the last 3 BE rookies of the year with Jordan finishing second this season in voting for that honor. He might not be able to coach but he sure as hell can recruit. So yes, like I said. I thought you said you were offering a sane perspective.

Who said anything about a pissing match? You seem to be quite defensive about one single sentence I wrote compared to your soliloquy.

[ChestRockwell85]

OK, understood, but the fact you have 3 guys leaving and Lavin had nobody coming in until now didn't say much. Rumor is Adonis Delarosa will commit. If so, great pick up by St. John's. Kid is a load and since he went to Christ The King, it is nice to see Lavin get a local kid.

A lot of what I post on here directed at St. John's might sound like I am constantly attacking the program. It is more that St. John's has an unbelievable basketball history, it would only benefit the Big East if they can become a constant Top 25 team once again. I get frustrated as a person who cares about the conference that they have underachieved.

Again, I honestly go to about 7 St. John's games a year. I make it to about 2 Villanova games a year (more if they are playing at MSG) and I root for the Johnnies. I think it would be great to have them playing at a high level again and this way we can shut up all the Syracuse fans calling Syracuse "New York's Team."

[SJU87]

It'll take some time to rebuild St. John's. Lavin basically has had one recruiting class since coming here and sometimes a recruiting class doesn't pan out. Look at North Carolina and the recruits they get and they've been up and down .
I hope St. John's doesn't fire coaches like George Steinbrenner fired managers. Lavin can recruit and that's his biggest strength. Just be patient. Jim Calhoun didn't build the UCONN program overnight.

[notkirkcameron]

I would be shocked if Fox did not get a cut of the Big Ten when it comes up next year.

Considering Fox Entertainment owns 51% of the Big Ten Network, yea, that would be a humdinger.

[stever20]

I would be shocked if Fox did not get a cut of the Big Ten when it comes up next year.

Considering Fox Entertainment owns 51% of the Big Ten Network, yea, that would be a humdinger.

Really that fact is completely meaningless. The Big Ten is going to do what is best for the Big Ten. PERIOD.