State of St. John's

[SJHooper]

I know this season would be really tough. I knew we'd get smacked around. But man, even the worst major conference teams rebuilding or not, injuries or not should be able to beat teams like STAC, Incarnate Word, Fordham, and NJIT. Ok I'll give you NJIT they are always a pest with everyone it seems, but STAC/IW losses are terrible. Being blown out by them is just absolutely brutal. Yes STAC was an exhibition but it still gives perceptions and headlines and perception is everything to recruits. IW absolutely smashed us. Fordham owned us. Now we have NJIT at home and they shot 60% from 3 and really never gave us a chance.

I trust Mullin and co. but man I'm getting really scared. Our program has been mediocre to bad for a long time and now we are setting records being so bad. IW had not won against a D1 opponent until they played us. NJIT had never beaten a Big East team until today. Don't think STAC ever beat a D1 team either. If we don't see drastically better results next year, I will really be concerned. Next year we will have depth with essentially mostly 4 star recruits. Apologies to the Big East dragging the name through the mud. Embarrassing.

[NovaBall]

As bad as you are this, you beat the Orange at the garden. All good with me. Conference okay starts soon enough so your losses now only help other teams.

And that ine win versus syracuse was more than depaul has given the big east in the past decade.

[jfan]

After you beat Syracuse, I thought things had turned around. The last stretch of games has been surprising and puzzling. There is more talent there than is showing now and they seem lost. Maybe all they need is to play other BE teams to find motivation.

[stever20]

The thing that you hate to say, but you have to say it. Was everything with the St John's win over Syracuse(and yes, the Georgetown win over Syracuse)- St John's, or was it Syracuse not being that good?

[SJHooper]

So many SJ fans are killing me for being pissed after these blowouts vs. marginal D1 or even closer to D2 teams. My point is that even in the worst year ever with new coaches, freshmen, etc. you should still beat the IW/STAC's of the world. You can have low expectations and realize it's a huge rebuild but still expect them to beat these bums.

Next year will really show us if we are on the right track or not. We get LoVett (our true starting PG), Ponds (4 star recruit just dropped 40 points in a NYC tourney), Owens (more size), and likely Freudenberg (6'8 top shooter in Germany), and Ahmed (one of top JUCO players). With that squad, if we are still losing these types of games I will really panic. Not saying we will be ranked next year but we should see clear and obvious talent next year. The 3rd year is the key year we should be rolling back to the tourney. Ellison has looked terrible...expected way more from him. Williams is made of glass and is out for the year after having 2 surgeries on his shoulder prior. He might be beyond repair at this point. He's also slow as a sloth. Johnson is a Senior transfer from Pitt and looks like he belongs in the MAAC.

I have some hope but this is really opening my eyes. What a grueling process.

[BEhomer]

talent wins. any rebuilding job starts with recruiting and mullin and his staff has done a yeoman's work of recruiting so far. they are missing a ballhandler right now but they will have two very good ones next year. I look at their potential roster next year and their talent level is as good as any BE team.

[hoops22]

After you beat Syracuse, I thought things had turned around. The last stretch of games has been surprising and puzzling. There is more talent there than is showing now and they seem lost. Maybe all they need is to play other BE teams to find motivation.

Unfortunately you're wrong, there really isn't that much talent. I hate to keep blaming Lavin, but really, this is mostly attributable to him. He went "all in" with Briscoe and Diallo, feeling if he got those two, other big names would follow. But when he struck out, there was no plan B and the die was cast for this season. We had three players returning from last year, who had nearly invisible roles on last years team. Everyone was thrilled when Mullin came in and restored the roster in such a short time, with players we all thought were serviceable. But you know who wasn't impressed? The Big East coaches themselves, who projected St. Johns to finish last, even behind perpetually disappointing Depaul. The coaches knew what to expect, and at this point most of us have come to understand what they already knew.

I feel bad for these players, because I believe they play hard, and give their best effort. But they lack some of the basic talents good basketball players possess, like quickness and leaping ability. No coach can teach that. There was litle chance of being good this year, but not having LoVett available was the final nail in the coffin, because we have no one that can dribble and protect the basketball. However, there are three key components in place for next year. LoVett and Yawke from this years team, and Ponds who will be here next season. (He scored 40 in some tournament game over the weekend) A couple of other guys on this years team are question marks ability wise, we'll have to wait and see. But the real key to succcess will be Slice and Abdelmassih earning their paychecks by bringing in a top notch class, now that they have a full season to work on getting some elite recruits. Personally, I will continue to root for the team and not have any illusions about what is in store the remainder of this season. You think you've seen ugly? Wait till Xavier gets a hold of us. The Vanderbilt game was a sneak preview of what to expect. But there's no sense in moaning about it anymore. It's going to be brutally painful for a year or two, but hopefully the right staff is in place to turn things around, and turn them around in a big way.

[DemonLS]

Nova,

You continue to be an ass about DePaul! This thread is talking about St Johns and you still have to bring up DePaul.

My comment to you is to focus on the top teams in the conference doing well in the Tournament like your Nova Wildcats. If your team underperforms once again in the Dance, then that hurts the Big East more than DePaul being a bottom dweller!!!!

Everyone needs to stop annointing Mullins as the next Coach K until he coaches his first 10 collegiate games! And in no way am I criticizing him.

Seriously, Nova....were you picked on as a kid? You need help.

[marquette]

St. John's has had some tough losses to bad competition this year, but Fordham (9-1) and NJIT (7-5) aren't that bad. NJIT played PC within 7. The win over Syracuse may not be as impressive as most years, but it is a name that people recognize. I am not saying that I think St. John's is a good team, just that we don't need to jump on every single loss as the end of the world. Let's give Mullin a shot to grow and improve, the guy is in his first head coaching position.

[Jet915]

Mullin gets a pass this year. I expect some improvement next year and hopefully NCAA contender by year 3. They beat Syracuse so it wasn't a complete loss. After they lost to that DIII school, I wasn't expecting much really....Once conference season starts, I hope they lose every game though.