6th Man of St. John's Basketball

St. John's Red Storm => In The Jungle... => Topic started by: paultzman on June 06, 2017, 09:26:21 AM

Title: Mussini Gone
Post by: paultzman on June 06, 2017, 09:26:21 AM
https://twitter.com/sportando/status/872077400175247360
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: stjohnnie75 on June 06, 2017, 09:36:15 AM
Dang it
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Save The Hero on June 06, 2017, 09:40:37 AM
Gonna be hard to replace his 43% three point shooting. Interest in Trimble makes sense now. Wish Mussini luck.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: MCNPA on June 06, 2017, 09:46:28 AM
Good shooter and nice player.  We will be fine without him though..  his minutes would have dropped a lot.  Good luck to him.  Now let's land Trimble.  A kid who looks like he can physically be more ready for Big East play.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 06, 2017, 10:19:56 AM
Good shooter and nice player.  We will be fine without him though..  his minutes would have dropped a lot.  Good luck to him.  Now let's land Trimble.  A kid who looks like he can physically be more ready for Big East play.

Really this thread and all like it should end with the above post. Pretty much sums up the Frederico Mussini experience in 5 sentences.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: fordham96 on June 06, 2017, 10:42:57 AM
He's a good kid who was a nice little sniper off the bench.  Wish him well.

Simon, Ponds, Lovett.  Simon was a Rivals.com #24, Scout.com #27: Ponds was a Rivals.com #32 and Scout.com #51: Lovett was Rivals.com #62 and Scout.com #78.  I am not a ratings lover but that is pretty good and in the case of Ponds and Lovett they are already All-Big East Freshmen quality players. 
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 06, 2017, 10:43:03 AM
Yakwe is all that's left from the first class. Is he next?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 10:58:27 AM
Who is the first guard off the bench?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: prjohnnies on June 06, 2017, 11:01:10 AM
If you start three guards your first sub for that group is likely a wing.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 11:02:09 AM
If you start three guards your first sub for that group is likely a wing.

Which is why this is going to hurt
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: jumpinjohnny on June 06, 2017, 11:21:08 AM
Good luck to the young man!
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: ras on June 06, 2017, 11:28:10 AM
Needed Mussini for depth. Have to have 4 guards. Hopefully Trimble will work out.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 06, 2017, 11:39:20 AM
Who is the first guard off the bench?

Holifield? Not seriously expecting it, but I'd like to see the staff develop more players than the last guy did. Maybe as a junior he's learned enough to contribute at this level? Still, it's not likely.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Paulywood44 on June 06, 2017, 11:53:25 AM
Surprising news considering he was at the golf outing yesterday. Wish him well in Italy. As for us, I certainly wont lose sleep over this. Ponds and Lovett need to be on the court for us to be successful. It hurts depth a little bit. Hopefully we can get Trimble to fill his role. Definitely not the 3pt shooter moose is, but will likely be a huge upgrade defensively.

Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 06, 2017, 11:58:47 AM
I guess I don't see this being as big of a loss as some others do. I definitely would have preferred to see Mussini stay but I don't think losing him changes all that much as far as my expectations for the upcoming season. In order for this team to take the next step the number one priority will be being much better on the defensive end and as much as Mussini improved on that end last year he is still a liability there.

I also don't understand the fretting surrounding who the first guard off the bench will be. We still have a ton of lineup versatility in the backcourt even without Mussini. I figure all 3 of Lovett, Ponds and Simon will start and at least 2 of those 3 will be on the court for the vast majority of games. We then have Ahmed, Wilson and Clark that can all play the 3 when one of those guys is on the bench.

I like Mussini and wish him well, and do hope he would have come back for one more year but this is not the end of the world. Let's not forget that in our two most impressive wins last year (@Syracuse, vs Butler) Mussini didn't play at all.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: thetruth8734 on June 06, 2017, 12:30:27 PM
If we don't land another guard I think they should start:

PG-Lovett
SG-Ponds
SF-Ahmed
PF-Clark
C- Owens

With Simon as the first guy off the bench and getting starter minutes. The three guards can all play together during the games, but I think it would be wise to have one come off the bench so if one gets into foul trouble, or needs rest it makes it easier. If we land Trimble and he earns minutes and slides into Mussini's old role then we could go back to starting Ponds, Lovett and Simon.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 12:38:50 PM
If we don't land another guard I think they should start:

PG-Lovett
SG-Ponds
SF-Ahmed
PF-Clark
C- Owens

With Simon as the first guy off the bench and getting starter minutes. The three guards can all play together during the games, but I think it would be wise to have one come off the bench so if one gets into foul trouble, or needs rest it makes it easier. If we land Trimble and he earns minutes and slides into Mussini's old role then we could go back to starting Ponds, Lovett and Simon.

I don't think Simon came here to come off the bench
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: rlogazino on June 06, 2017, 12:39:40 PM
I think it will be based on who we are playing. Going small with Lovett/Ponds/Simon/Ahmed/Clark or large with Ponds/Simon/Ahmed/Clark/Owens
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: JohnnyJungle on June 06, 2017, 01:43:13 PM
This is why Ellison should have stuck it out. smh
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: MCNPA on June 06, 2017, 01:44:53 PM
This is why Ellison should have stuck it out. smh

True... he's wasting time sitting out a year at this point, for no reason.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: derk on June 06, 2017, 01:49:31 PM
If we don't land another guard I think they should start:

PG-Lovett
SG-Ponds
SF-Ahmed
PF-Clark
C- Owens

With Simon as the first guy off the bench and getting starter minutes. The three guards can all play together during the games, but I think it would be wise to have one come off the bench so if one gets into foul trouble, or needs rest it makes it easier. If we land Trimble and he earns minutes and slides into Mussini's old role then we could go back to starting Ponds, Lovett and Simon.

I don't think Simon came here to come off the bench

As long as he gets starter minutes I don't see the problem. 25 -30 minutes seems about right.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: paultzman on June 06, 2017, 02:25:33 PM
Hmm
Per Zach B
Look for St. John's to play big at times. Staff feels confident it can go with Sidney Wilson or Bashir Ahmed for stretches at the 2. #sjubb
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 03:18:01 PM
Hmm
Per Zach B
Look for St. John's to play big at times. Staff feels confident it can go with Sidney Wilson or Bashir Ahmed for stretches at the 2. #sjubb

Staff doesn't have much of a choice
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 06, 2017, 03:20:09 PM
Are there are any grad transfer guards left?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 06, 2017, 03:26:27 PM
Hmm
Per Zach B
Look for St. John's to play big at times. Staff feels confident it can go with Sidney Wilson or Bashir Ahmed for stretches at the 2. #sjubb

Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world honestly. A lineup of Simon, Ahmed, Clark, Yakwe and Owens can really cause problems on the defensive end with their length and athleticism. Wouldn't like to see a lineup like that get extended minutes but wouldn't mind it for a 4 minute stretch here and there
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 06, 2017, 03:31:47 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 06, 2017, 03:39:28 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 03:46:30 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Johnny23 on June 06, 2017, 03:49:44 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

He's a hybrid PF/SG. It's the latest trend.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 03:57:53 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

He's a hybrid PF/SG. It's the latest trend.

Actually,  I watched a 14 second highlight clip, I see alot of Manute Bol in his game
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 06, 2017, 04:01:06 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Yeah most BE teams have a HS all American as there 4th guard. If Owens gets hurt would be worst thing. That is where we have least depth.  We will have 3 legit BE guards which is very Villanovan but most teams do not have that kind of depth.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: TONYD3 on June 06, 2017, 04:15:36 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Yeah most BE teams have a HS all American as there 4th guard. If Owens gets hurt would be worst thing. That is where we have least depth.  We will have 3 legit BE guards which is very Villanovan but most teams do not have that kind of depth.

Villanova guards play defense. Lovett, ponds, and Ahmed don't. Mussini was not a good defender but he tried.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: valgoth on June 06, 2017, 04:46:13 PM
We have 3 guards who will play big minutes. Even if all 3 do start you can bring a forward off the bench for one of them and play conventional. We have enough guards. Would have been nice to have a shooter off the bench as a specialist but Mussini was only going to play 15 mins.

We have enough guards because players never get hurt.

Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

He's a hybrid PF/SG. It's the latest trend.

Actually,  I watched a 14 second highlight clip, I see alot of Manute Bol in his game

manute bol?  i saw some ticky burden
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 06, 2017, 05:00:48 PM
There goes the season.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 06, 2017, 05:07:21 PM
Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

Wasn't Truck Bryant a three star? Why yes he was.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-may-24-2008-p-30/

Troll or get the fVck out.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 06, 2017, 05:10:00 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 06, 2017, 05:20:47 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 05:23:00 PM
Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

Wasn't Truck Bryant a three star? Why yes he was.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-may-24-2008-p-30/

Troll or get the fVck out.


Are you allowed to say "Fvck" on redmen? Or the boys over there still have you on a leash?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 06, 2017, 05:28:28 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 06, 2017, 05:33:51 PM
Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

Wasn't Truck Bryant a three star? Why yes he was.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-may-24-2008-p-30/

Troll or get the fVck out.

Are you allowed to say "Fvck" on redmen? Or the boys over there still have you on a leash?

You can say fvck anywhere. Ask Ricky Smith if you don't believe me.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 05:35:35 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Apparently Trimble can play center, so we are good
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 06, 2017, 05:38:10 PM
Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

Wasn't Truck Bryant a three star? Why yes he was.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-may-24-2008-p-30/

Troll or get the fVck out.

Are you allowed to say "Fvck" on redmen? Or the boys over there still have you on a leash?

You can say fvck anywhere. Ask Ricky Smith if you don't believe me.

I saw on Braziller twitter that Smith wasn't allowed to post on that site. Fake news?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 06, 2017, 05:48:00 PM
What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't.

Mussini was a key defensive piece no doubt. We will miss his lock down defense.

Quote
This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You misspelled three.

Quote
You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Not to minimize Mussini leaving because I agree about continuity, but he left because he wasn't going to play and he wasn't going to play because he's not very good. If Simon and Clark aren't BE players the season is not going to be good and if Mussini's fourth guard minutes were going to make or break the season the season's already broken.

Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 06, 2017, 05:49:17 PM
Lol and now we have a  3 star being compared to everyone from Corliss Williamson to Truck Bryant

Wasn't Truck Bryant a three star? Why yes he was.

https://newspaperarchive.com/cumberland-times-news-may-24-2008-p-30/

Troll or get the fVck out.

Are you allowed to say "Fvck" on redmen? Or the boys over there still have you on a leash?

You can say fvck anywhere. Ask Ricky Smith if you don't believe me.

I saw on Braziller twitter that Smith wasn't allowed to post on that site. Fake news?

Fvcking A.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 06, 2017, 05:50:58 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Simon is a guard. We have 3 guards. Yes, 4 would be nice but we have 3 and it's not the end of the world because we have 3 other guys that can play the 3. UNC played only 3 guards the entire tournament. Kansas played 3 guards all season. It's a disappointing loss but not the end of the world
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: redslope on June 06, 2017, 05:53:30 PM
Buona Fortuna Muss.  I enjoyed the effort you always gave to St. John's and the positive attitude you maintained.  I knew you would not stay 4 years as your BB future lies with your "home" team.  I look forward to following your progress over the years to come.  You come a district of Italy with good foods but what surprised me most was the bottle of Lambrusco I bought and drank to celebrate your original signing.  Paid for a good one and still like it.  CIAO RICO.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: HowCouldUBeSoHarkless on June 06, 2017, 07:53:21 PM
Good luck to a good dude!
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Courts603 on June 06, 2017, 08:13:11 PM
Good luck in Italy. Only LoVett and Yakwe left of the fab 5.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: redstorm212 on June 06, 2017, 08:42:38 PM
Always gave 100%. Gotta respect that.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Johnny23 on June 06, 2017, 09:20:43 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

This. It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model. I really hope it works but an odd way to build out the roster for sure while neglecting critical areas of need.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 06, 2017, 09:32:18 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Simon is a guard. We have 3 guards. Yes, 4 would be nice but we have 3 and it's not the end of the world because we have 3 other guys that can play the 3. UNC played only 3 guards the entire tournament. Kansas played 3 guards all season. It's a disappointing loss but not the end of the world

Please don't compare this mess to UNC.  There is a difference between playing a short rotation and having no depth. UNC probably had some top 100 "scrub" ready behind the rotation guys.  We have Elijah Holifield. 

We have an excellent core and it won't matter once again because we can't fill in the roster.  What part of that is different than Lavin? How is it possible for us to simultaneously be the smallest team in the league and only have 2-3 guards?

Bash doesn't have the handle to play big minutes at guard...not even close.  Sid at the two as a freshman?  That's a fvcking joke right there. Why can our staffs never finish off a goddamn roster? Lavin gets Harrison/ Branch/Greene/Jordan/Sampson and can't pickup a big or PG.  Now we're going to waste our time with Ponds, the best player we've had in 20 years, because we don't have a backup center or adequate depth at guard?  What a pitiful reason to waste a season.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 06, 2017, 11:45:57 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Simon is a guard. We have 3 guards. Yes, 4 would be nice but we have 3 and it's not the end of the world because we have 3 other guys that can play the 3. UNC played only 3 guards the entire tournament. Kansas played 3 guards all season. It's a disappointing loss but not the end of the world

Please don't compare this mess to UNC.  There is a difference between playing a short rotation and having no depth. UNC probably had some top 100 "scrub" ready behind the rotation guys.  We have Elijah Holifield. 

We have an excellent core and it won't matter once again because we can't fill in the roster.  What part of that is different than Lavin? How is it possible for us to simultaneously be the smallest team in the league and only have 2-3 guards?

Bash doesn't have the handle to play big minutes at guard...not even close.  Sid at the two as a freshman?  That's a fvcking joke right there. Why can our staffs never finish off a goddamn roster? Lavin gets Harrison/ Branch/Greene/Jordan/Sampson and can't pickup a big or PG.  Now we're going to waste our time with Ponds, the best player we've had in 20 years, because we don't have a backup center or adequate depth at guard?  What a pitiful reason to waste a season.

I agree the lack of big man depth is concerning and something that could/should have been better addressed by this staff, but there is no reason to be super worried about the guard depth. 3 solid guards is fine as long as you have 1 or 2 others that can play the 3 which we have in Ahmed, Clark and Wilson. Also, nobody would ask Ahmed to play big minutes at guard but maybe a 4 minute stretch here and there can't hurt.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: carmineabbatiello on June 07, 2017, 12:08:09 AM
Bad news.   :(

Even with the two transfers from real programs - Fellini, MalikIV and Darien would have been contributors on this years model.

Kid had a great stroke from downtown which will be missed.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 07, 2017, 12:23:25 AM
Buona Fortuna Muss.  I enjoyed the effort you always gave to St. John's and the positive attitude you maintained.  I knew you would not stay 4 years as your BB future lies with your "home" team.  I look forward to following your progress over the years to come.  You come a district of Italy with good foods but what surprised me most was the bottle of Lambrusco I bought and drank to celebrate your original signing.  Paid for a good one and still like it.  CIAO RICO.

How did you know he wouldn't stay 4 years? We say that about guys who are on the NBA radar from day one. This kid? It's a disgrace to the game of basketball that there's a pro league actually willing to pay him to play.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: KJ_Django on June 07, 2017, 01:51:40 AM
Good luck in Italy. Only LoVett and Yakwe left of the fab 5.

Ah The Fab Five that won us Five Games
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Wods317 on June 07, 2017, 07:47:59 AM
Good luck in Italy. Only LoVett and Yakwe left of the fab 5.

Ah The Fab Five that won us Five Games

This is fair. A lot of roster turnover isn't good but for the most part we are replacing the players we have lost with better players. The talent level is much higher but I do agree with some that have roster continuity is important but winning I think will help with a lot of things.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: redslope on June 07, 2017, 08:59:53 AM
Buona Fortuna Muss.  I enjoyed the effort you always gave to St. John's and the positive attitude you maintained.  I knew you would not stay 4 years as your BB future lies with your "home" team.  I look forward to following your progress over the years to come.  You come a district of Italy with good foods but what surprised me most was the bottle of Lambrusco I bought and drank to celebrate your original signing.  Paid for a good one and still like it.  CIAO RICO.

How did you know he wouldn't stay 4 years? We say that about guys who are on the NBA radar from day one. This kid? It's a disgrace to the game of basketball that there's a pro league actually willing to pay him to play.
It is the way that European athletic clubs work (soccer/basketball/hockey/etc.)..  They develop players from the time they are 9/10 years old.  His club pays their expenses for years and then when they are ready they bring them on to the professional team.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: cjfish on June 07, 2017, 09:16:31 AM
Guard depth will be a problem if there is an injury.  I was looking forward to Mussini having a nice season off the bench.  Eillison and DW transfers were a minor bump if Mussini stayed.  Now the 3 transfers as a whole are a major loss.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Wods317 on June 07, 2017, 09:31:33 AM
He would have been a very nice piece off the bench. I liked Mussini overall and I think he would have been even more efficient this season. I hope we can add another player like Trimble for depth.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Moon Mullen on June 07, 2017, 09:50:31 AM
He will be missed.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 10:01:19 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 10:14:48 AM
5k post. You guys on this board have truly been blessed :)
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Johnny23 on June 07, 2017, 10:24:52 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

It remains to be seen if Mullin's method will work better than Lavin's. This year will be a big measuring stick for CM and his ability to build a winning program. I'm cautiously optimistic.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 11:09:54 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

It remains to be seen if Mullin's method will work better than Lavin's. This year will be a big measuring stick for CM and his ability to build a winning program. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I agree except not with the part where you call what Lavin did a method.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 11:21:31 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

It remains to be seen if Mullin's method will work better than Lavin's. This year will be a big measuring stick for CM and his ability to build a winning program. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I agree except not with the part where you call what Lavin did a method.

Rank their first year on the job:
A) Jarvis- Elite 8 team
B) Mahoney- Takes Louie bench guys to 2nd round and unleashes David Cain
C) Lavin- Ends the 20 year Norm drought by making the tourney. Recruits bunch of tip 100 kids.

I would have to go A /C/ B
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 11:22:11 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

It remains to be seen if Mullin's method will work better than Lavin's. This year will be a big measuring stick for CM and his ability to build a winning program. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I agree except not with the part where you call what Lavin did a method.



Rank their first year on the job:
A) Jarvis- Elite 8 team
B) Mahoney- Takes Louie bench guys to 2nd round and unleashes David Cain
C) Lavin- Ends the 20 year Norm drought by making the tourney. Recruits bunch of top 100 kids.

I would have to go A /C/ B
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 07, 2017, 11:25:59 AM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

Losing Mussini when you combine it with losing Sima, Freudenberg, Ellison and Williams is meaningful. The staff didn't have to develop them all into stars to be considered a success after fielding a team in 2 months, but they've developed no one.

And Lavin's guys left to play in the league, or at least try to. Mullin's guys are just leaving. Not the same thing.

Have to hope that they really do have studs ready to play next year. We'll see.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: carmineabbatiello on June 07, 2017, 12:24:42 PM
He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. 

That's false.  He did that one thing better than all on our team and almost all in the conference:

3-POINT FG PCT Cl G 3FG FGA Pct.
1. HOWARD, Markus-MU Fr 31 82 150 . 5 4 7
2. HUFF,Cole-CU Sr 35 62 134 . 4 6 3
3. LINDSEY, Jalen-PC Jr 32 74 161 . 4 6 0
4. HAUSER, Sam-MU Fr 32 63 139 . 4 5 3
5. ROWSEY, Andrew-MU Jr 32 71 159 . 4 4 7
6. MUSSINI, Federico-SJU So 30 56 131 . 4 2 7
7. WOODSON, Avery-BU Sr 34 75 178 . 4 2 1
8. ZIERDEN,Isaiah-CU Sr 35 41 99 . 4 1 4
9. PRYOR, Rodney-GU Sr 32 84 204 . 4 1 2
10. HART,Josh-VU Sr 36 74 183 . 4 0 4
11. THOMAS,Khyri-CU So 35 46 117 . 3 9 3
BERNARD, Malcolm-XU Sr 38 46 117 . 3 9 3
13. BRIDGES,Mikal-VU So 36 44 112 . 3 9 3
14. CARRINGTON, Khadeen-SHU Jr 33 63 165 . 3 8 2
15. LOVETT, Marcus-SJU Fr 30 50 131 . 3 8 2
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: ras on June 07, 2017, 12:40:11 PM
He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. 

That's false.  He did that one thing better than all on our team and almost all in the conference:

3-POINT FG PCT Cl G 3FG FGA Pct.
1. HOWARD, Markus-MU Fr 31 82 150 . 5 4 7
2. HUFF,Cole-CU Sr 35 62 134 . 4 6 3
3. LINDSEY, Jalen-PC Jr 32 74 161 . 4 6 0
4. HAUSER, Sam-MU Fr 32 63 139 . 4 5 3
5. ROWSEY, Andrew-MU Jr 32 71 159 . 4 4 7
6. MUSSINI, Federico-SJU So 30 56 131 . 4 2 7
7. WOODSON, Avery-BU Sr 34 75 178 . 4 2 1
8. ZIERDEN,Isaiah-CU Sr 35 41 99 . 4 1 4
9. PRYOR, Rodney-GU Sr 32 84 204 . 4 1 2
10. HART,Josh-VU Sr 36 74 183 . 4 0 4
11. THOMAS,Khyri-CU So 35 46 117 . 3 9 3
BERNARD, Malcolm-XU Sr 38 46 117 . 3 9 3
13. BRIDGES,Mikal-VU So 36 44 112 . 3 9 3
14. CARRINGTON, Khadeen-SHU Jr 33 63 165 . 3 8 2
15. LOVETT, Marcus-SJU Fr 30 50 131 . 3 8 2

MU has some good shooters.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 01:04:40 PM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

It remains to be seen if Mullin's method will work better than Lavin's. This year will be a big measuring stick for CM and his ability to build a winning program. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I agree except not with the part where you call what Lavin did a method.

Rank their first year on the job:
A) Jarvis- Elite 8 team
B) Mahoney- Takes Louie bench guys to 2nd round and unleashes David Cain
C) Lavin- Ends the 20 year Norm drought by making the tourney. Recruits bunch of tip 100 kids.

I would have to go A /C/ B

Mahoney won a tournament game. Lavin did not.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: carmineabbatiello on June 07, 2017, 01:43:31 PM
He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. 

That's false.  He did that one thing better than all on our team and almost all in the conference:

3-POINT FG PCT Cl G 3FG FGA Pct.
1. HOWARD, Markus-MU Fr 31 82 150 . 5 4 7
2. HUFF,Cole-CU Sr 35 62 134 . 4 6 3
3. LINDSEY, Jalen-PC Jr 32 74 161 . 4 6 0
4. HAUSER, Sam-MU Fr 32 63 139 . 4 5 3
5. ROWSEY, Andrew-MU Jr 32 71 159 . 4 4 7
6. MUSSINI, Federico-SJU So 30 56 131 . 4 2 7
7. WOODSON, Avery-BU Sr 34 75 178 . 4 2 1
8. ZIERDEN,Isaiah-CU Sr 35 41 99 . 4 1 4
9. PRYOR, Rodney-GU Sr 32 84 204 . 4 1 2
10. HART,Josh-VU Sr 36 74 183 . 4 0 4
11. THOMAS,Khyri-CU So 35 46 117 . 3 9 3
BERNARD, Malcolm-XU Sr 38 46 117 . 3 9 3
13. BRIDGES,Mikal-VU So 36 44 112 . 3 9 3
14. CARRINGTON, Khadeen-SHU Jr 33 63 165 . 3 8 2
15. LOVETT, Marcus-SJU Fr 30 50 131 . 3 8 2

MU has some good shooters.

That 55% is ridiculous.  That's got to be some kind of record.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 02:58:07 PM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team. He inherited a team that went 6-12 in conference as sophs and juniors -- a team that showed no growth whatsoever going from 8 sophs to 10 juniors (adding Brownlee and Hardy) even with getting back their highest rated recruit and 5th year senior, Mase Jr. Lavin added Polee, and Dunlap designed a defense and system specifically to suit their abilities.

Lavin also landed top recruits like this staff. Dom and Jordan were top 35,  Harrison, Sampson, and Harkless were top 50 (and Branch was 52), and Obekpa and Garrett were top 75. Even in his last year he rounded up #57 Brandon Sampson and a very quality player in Samir Doughty -- who, ironically, may be playing together soon at LSU.

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick, was that he couldn't complete the roster. Between (mostly) poor planning and risk-taking, we played shorthanded every single season. Ineligibility, transfers, and players leaving to go pro left him scrambling. Well, RF and Mussini went pro (and Lovett tried), Williams, Jones, and Ellison transferred out (Amar tried last year), and Lovett was ineligible. So the staff scrambled last minute to add a three-star kid we were never eben mentioned with before May. How is that different from Lavin?

Missing the tournament and losing a year with an absolute star like Ponds because you don't have a backup big and a fourth guard would be completely inexcusble.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 03:33:11 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 03:42:12 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 03:46:10 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 03:46:21 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 03:46:23 PM
It does seem eerily similar to the Lavin recruiting model..

Yeah, no it doesn't. Lavin inherited a tournament team and had one good recruiting class followed by nothing. Mullin inherited nothing and threw together a haphazard team that he's now recruiting over. So that's kind of the opposite of the Lavin model.

There's not a team in the BE that would sweat Mussini leaving. He's not that good at the one thing he does well to make a difference anywhere. If we're sweating it they're to win 12 games again, with or without someone who might be the best eighth man in the big east.

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team. He inherited a team that went 6-12 in conference as sophs and juniors -- a team that showed no growth whatsoever going from 8 sophs to 10 juniors (adding Brownlee and Hardy) even with getting back their highest rated recruit and 5th year senior, Mase Jr. Lavin added Polee, and Dunlap designed a defense and system specifically to suit their abilities.

Lavin also landed top recruits like this staff. Dom and Jordan were top 35,  Harrison, Sampson, and Harkless were top 50 (and Branch was 52), and Obekpa and Garrett were top 75. Even in his last year he rounded up #57 Brandon Sampson and a very quality player in Samir Doughty -- who, ironically, may be playing together soon at LSU.

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick, was that he couldn't complete the roster. Between (mostly) poor planning and risk-taking, we played shorthanded every single season. Ineligibility, transfers, and players leaving to go pro left him scrambling. Well, RF and Mussini went pro (and Lovett tried), Williams, Jones, and Ellison transferred out (Amar tried last year), and Lovett was ineligible. So the staff scrambled last minute to add a three-star kid we were never eben mentioned with before May. How is that different from Lavin?

Missing the tournament and losing a year with an absolute star like Ponds because you don't have a backup big and a fourth guard would be completely inexcusble.

This is as close as I have come to agreeing with you on a basketball post.
Only issue is I think Mullin and staff are still trying to figure out the best way to attain talent at ST John's, which outside of a few anomalies does not appear to be easy. He has increased talent every year and if we win 17-20 I think he is right on target.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 03:47:58 PM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 07, 2017, 03:47:59 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 04:19:52 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 04:24:55 PM


Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.



This is my problem. We left the season with RF, Williams, Alibegovic, Owens, Clark and Yakwe for next year,  and to a poster we all agreed we needed at least one grad transfer big. Not only didn't we get one, we didn't get a high school big either and we lost two guys. WTF?

SH and Xavier were already much bigger and wider than us and they added big men. We had Zanna right in our backyard...a kid that did damage to our frontline and we don't even offer? We let Williams walk? For what? He had great size and he was with it of for no other reason than neutralizing Tyler "I will destroy St. John's" Wideman. Wideman ate our "bigs" alive.

Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 07, 2017, 04:25:03 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 07, 2017, 04:35:11 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 04:36:46 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Home game for them 
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: jr49 on June 07, 2017, 04:39:31 PM
This is why Ellison should have stuck it out. smh
This year he plays based on performance. He might not have gone for that.


Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 07, 2017, 04:40:09 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Home game for them 

Gonzaga is in Denver?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 04:46:04 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Home game for them 

Gonzaga is in Denver?

Spokane, Washington but definitely within driving distance to Denver

I believe 40% of the arena weres Zags fans     

We had less than 100 but good to see Chucky Sproling come rolling in   
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 07, 2017, 04:47:09 PM

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Gonzaga is no mid major
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 04:49:02 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 07, 2017, 04:52:48 PM
So say this game was played in Washington DC, how many SJU fans travel? I would still bet more Gonzaga fans
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 07, 2017, 04:53:23 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.

So Gonzaga is a high major?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 04:55:40 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.

So Gonzaga is a high major?

I think so
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 04:56:19 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.

So Gonzaga is a high major?

Obviously. The proper question is whether or not they are a blue blood.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marco Baldi on June 07, 2017, 05:10:10 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.

So Gonzaga is a high major?

Obviously. The proper question is whether or not they are a blue blood.

St. John's or Gonzaga?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 05:12:53 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

Maybe it was Dunlap but the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players. That right there put us in the tourney. Again whether that was a Dunlap thing or simple blind squirrel situation Lavin gets credit for it. If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Lavin's first year with Norm's kids was one of the best squads to root for. I was there in Denver to watch them. 

And if Kennedy doesn't get hurt we probably have a better seed and maybe win a game or two.

We got the worst possible draw against Gonzaga whose fans filled up the Pepsi Center. We would have been a 4 seed with DJ (I think we fell to a 6)   

Yep, and then Seton Hall got that same exact draw as a 6 in Denver against Gonzaga in the 16 tourney

No use complaining about losing to an 11 seed mid major

Only in your reality is Iona a big team and Gonzaga a mid-major.

So Gonzaga is a high major?

Obviously. The proper question is whether or not they are a blue blood.

St. John's or Gonzaga?

We suck.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 05:13:08 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 07, 2017, 05:14:16 PM
If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Not convinced. Add some more exclamation points.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 05:39:25 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.

It was also the most unbalanced roster modern college basketball has ever seen. It required Lavin to take risks just like Mullin and staff had to do with what Lavin left them. That doesn't excuse either staff from finishing off the roster competently. We will lose at least two games this year due to lack of size at center and PF even if everything goes right.

If I am to give Norm credit for anything, the man did fill in his roster competently after inheriting Showtime, Hamilton, and some misfits. He just couldn't get the top recruits. That is the hard part. It's June and we have nine scholarship players for next year -- one being Amar.

Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: sju89tr on June 07, 2017, 06:26:50 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.

It was also the most unbalanced roster modern college basketball has ever seen. It required Lavin to take risks just like Mullin and staff had to do with what Lavin left them. That doesn't excuse either staff from finishing off the roster competently. We will lose at least two games this year due to lack of size at center and PF even if everything goes right.

If I am to give Norm credit for anything, the man did fill in his roster competently after inheriting Showtime, Hamilton, and some misfits. He just couldn't get the top recruits. That is the hard part. It's June and we have nine scholarship players for next year -- one being Amar.



Do you really need more than 9 players

Look at the elite 8 team, we had around 7 serviceable guys
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: goredmen on June 07, 2017, 06:30:14 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.

It was also the most unbalanced roster modern college basketball has ever seen. It required Lavin to take risks just like Mullin and staff had to do with what Lavin left them. That doesn't excuse either staff from finishing off the roster competently. We will lose at least two games this year due to lack of size at center and PF even if everything goes right.

If I am to give Norm credit for anything, the man did fill in his roster competently after inheriting Showtime, Hamilton, and some misfits. He just couldn't get the top recruits. That is the hard part. It's June and we have nine scholarship players for next year -- one being Amar.



Do you really need more than 9 players

Look at the elite 8 team, we had around 7 serviceable guys

Agreed. Generally teams don't play more than 8 or 9 guys anyway. In this era of college basketball where every kid wants to play 30 mpg it's tough to get 10 or 11 solid kids on a roster at a time
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Poison on June 07, 2017, 07:22:54 PM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 

That starting line up can if Yakwe returns rebound the ball like Tyrone Grant, Ahmed is a Lavor Postell clone and Clark Jr. is Anthony Glover.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: carmineabbatiello on June 07, 2017, 10:54:16 PM
the single greatest thing Lavin has ever done regarding basketball was realizing that Norm's 6th and 7th men from the previous season were his two best basketball players.

You must add the caveat "at St. Johns".  His elite 8 and 4 sweet sixteen appearances are greater things.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Amaseinyourface2 on June 07, 2017, 11:02:02 PM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 

That starting line up can if Yakwe returns rebound the ball like Tyrone Grant, Ahmed is a Lavor Postell clone and Clark Jr. is Anthony Glover.

I was watching those games the other day on ESPN classic and was hoping Ahmed could play like Postell. Dude was playing like it was last game of his life.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 11:35:52 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.

It was also the most unbalanced roster modern college basketball has ever seen. It required Lavin to take risks just like Mullin and staff had to do with what Lavin left them. That doesn't excuse either staff from finishing off the roster competently. We will lose at least two games this year due to lack of size at center and PF even if everything goes right.

If I am to give Norm credit for anything, the man did fill in his roster competently after inheriting Showtime, Hamilton, and some misfits. He just couldn't get the top recruits. That is the hard part. It's June and we have nine scholarship players for next year -- one being Amar.



Do you really need more than 9 players

Look at the elite 8 team, we had around 7 serviceable guys

The short answer to that is no, but, again, having 9 guys is a helluva lot different than playing 9 guys. Boeheim played 7-8 regularly some years, but he plays exclusively zone to keep players fresh and out of foul trouble and he always had a full capable roster. There were always times he had to go to that depth to stay in a game.

Our center could only play 18.8 mpg last year when we needed him to play 35. Alibegegovic and Clark have crazy fouls per minute stats as well. What if Yakwe has another first half like this last season that renders him virtually useless?
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on June 07, 2017, 11:38:47 PM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 

That starting line up can if Yakwe returns rebound the ball like Tyrone Grant, Ahmed is a Lavor Postell clone and Clark Jr. is Anthony Glover.

I was watching those games the other day on ESPN classic and was hoping Ahmed could play like Postell. Dude was playing like it was last game of his life.

That was the last wing we've had that played that hard on the glass. He crashed the offensive glass with reckless abandon and it broke teams backs. Nobody can deal with three guys crashing glass like Artest, Grant, and Postell.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: mjdinkins on June 08, 2017, 01:17:12 AM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 

That starting line up can if Yakwe returns rebound the ball like Tyrone Grant, Ahmed is a Lavor Postell clone and Clark Jr. is Anthony Glover.

I was watching those games the other day on ESPN classic and was hoping Ahmed could play like Postell. Dude was playing like it was last game of his life.

That was the last wing we've had that played that hard on the glass. He crashed the offensive glass with reckless abandon and it broke teams backs. Nobody can deal with three guys crashing glass like Artest, Grant, and Postell.

Postell's style of play is something that you either have or don't have in you.  Unfortunately, I don't think Ahmed has that in him.  That's not a knock on Ahmed, but that's just not his make up.  I've said before Postell and Artest were blue-collar players, but they both were quite talented (I loved Grant's play, but he wasn't as talented as Artest and Postell).

It was fun watching that group play starting around late December '97 (beating Notre Dame on the road) 'til their Elite 8 run in March of '99.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: newsman13 on June 08, 2017, 08:53:30 AM
I think staff must go with Lovett, Ponds, Simon, Ahmed, and Yawke with Clark, Owens, Wilson, and Amar in that order off bench

Can't believe we can't find any grad transfer who can give some emergency minutes at 4/5.

Do need another guard 

That starting line up can if Yakwe returns rebound the ball like Tyrone Grant, Ahmed is a Lavor Postell clone and Clark Jr. is Anthony Glover.

I was watching those games the other day on ESPN classic and was hoping Ahmed could play like Postell. Dude was playing like it was last game of his life.

That was the last wing we've had that played that hard on the glass. He crashed the offensive glass with reckless abandon and it broke teams backs. Nobody can deal with three guys crashing glass like Artest, Grant, and Postell.

Postell's style of play is something that you either have or don't have in you.  Unfortunately, I don't think Ahmed has that in him.  That's not a knock on Ahmed, but that's just not his make up.  I've said before Postell and Artest were blue-collar players, but they both were quite talented (I loved Grant's play, but he wasn't as talented as Artest and Postell).

It was fun watching that group play starting around late December '97 (beating Notre Dame on the road) 'til their Elite 8 run in March of '99.
It was fun watching that team play relentless defense.  There were four NBA players on the squad.  Postell was on the Knicks for three years.  He joined the army a couple of years after 9/11.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: we are sju on June 08, 2017, 10:16:56 AM
If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Not convinced. Add some more exclamation points.

I can go Elaine Benes on you!
If Norm! Were coaching, Hardy and Brownlee! Would both be coming off the bench!
DJ Kennedy! Was more equipped to be a third option! Paris Horne! Was more of a role player!
If Kennedy and Horne! Were our two main options, as they were under Norm! We would not have made the tournament!
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Foad on June 08, 2017, 10:39:29 AM
If Norm was coaching that team we don't make the tourney!

Not convinced. Add some more exclamation points.

I can go Elaine Benes on you!
If Norm! Were coaching, Hardy and Brownlee! Would both be coming off the bench!
DJ Kennedy! Was more equipped to be a third option! Paris Horne! Was more of a role player!
If Kennedy and Horne! Were our two main options, as they were under Norm! We would not have made the tournament!

Yada yada yada, I disagree.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Moose on June 08, 2017, 04:01:23 PM

Lavin didn't inherit a tournament team.

[...]

Lavin's problem, besides not being able to coach a lick,


So he inherited a group of players who did not comprise a tournament team, added one player who averaged four points a game, and despite his "not being able to coach a lick," he made the tournament. That's quite a feat.

I understand you hate Lavin and I agree he proved himself to be a nitwit, but that tournament team was all about Dunlap. Without him, we probably win 8-9 conference games.

And I understand that you hate Norm and I agree he was a lousy coach but he left Lavin a roster with 10 seniors, most of whom went on to play professional basketball, plus your boy Malik Stith.

It was also the most unbalanced roster modern college basketball has ever seen. It required Lavin to take risks just like Mullin and staff had to do with what Lavin left them. That doesn't excuse either staff from finishing off the roster competently. We will lose at least two games this year due to lack of size at center and PF even if everything goes right.

If I am to give Norm credit for anything, the man did fill in his roster competently after inheriting Showtime, Hamilton, and some misfits. He just couldn't get the top recruits. That is the hard part. It's June and we have nine scholarship players for next year -- one being Amar.



Do you really need more than 9 players

Look at the elite 8 team, we had around 7 serviceable guys

The game is different now. Refs call everything and lately our players aren't smart enough to stay out of foul trouble
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on January 10, 2018, 03:05:53 AM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Simon is a guard. We have 3 guards. Yes, 4 would be nice but we have 3 and it's not the end of the world because we have 3 other guys that can play the 3. UNC played only 3 guards the entire tournament. Kansas played 3 guards all season. It's a disappointing loss but not the end of the world

Please don't compare this mess to UNC.  There is a difference between playing a short rotation and having no depth. UNC probably had some top 100 "scrub" ready behind the rotation guys.  We have Elijah Holifield. 

We have an excellent core and it won't matter once again because we can't fill in the roster.  What part of that is different than Lavin? How is it possible for us to simultaneously be the smallest team in the league and only have 2-3 guards?

Bash doesn't have the handle to play big minutes at guard...not even close.  Sid at the two as a freshman?  That's a fvcking joke right there. Why can our staffs never finish off a goddamn roster? Lavin gets Harrison/ Branch/Greene/Jordan/Sampson and can't pickup a big or PG.  Now we're going to waste our time with Ponds, the best player we've had in 20 years, because we don't have a backup center or adequate depth at guard?  What a pitiful reason to waste a season.
Bump
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: desco80 on January 10, 2018, 07:18:39 AM
I agree we're wasting this season away in part because of lack of depth.   But Ponds isn't the best player we've had in 20 years.  In reverse chronological order... Harrison, Hardy, Hatten, Cook, Barkley, Arrest ...were all better.   
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: Marillac on January 10, 2018, 08:33:27 AM
I agree we're wasting this season away in part because of lack of depth.   But Ponds isn't the best player we've had in 20 years.  In reverse chronological order... Harrison, Hardy, Hatten, Cook, Barkley, Arrest ...were all better.   

Cook would be a waste on this team. Nobody could catch his passes. We never saw Hardy or Hatten as sophs and Hardy wasn't even a starter as a junior on a 6-win Big East team. Harrison couldn't touch Ponds athletically.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: carmineabbatiello on January 10, 2018, 11:41:30 AM
I agree we're wasting this season away in part because of lack of depth.   But Ponds isn't the best player we've had in 20 years.  In reverse chronological order... Harrison, Hardy, Hatten, Cook, Barkley, Arrest ...were all better.   

Cook would be a waste on this team. Nobody could catch his passes. We never saw Hardy or Hatten as sophs and Hardy wasn't even a starter as a junior on a 6-win Big East team. Harrison couldn't touch Ponds athletically.

It's time for you to really look at the numbers and recognize that your Nba lock/"best player we've had in 20 years", who I like by the way, is part of the problem.

He's shooting 19% from deep.  That's only 2% more than Da Ali B.
Title: Re: Mussini Gone
Post by: SJUFAN on January 10, 2018, 12:09:30 PM
This is beginning to feel a lot like Lavin. Who cares if you land guys like Sid Wilson if you can't  take care of your basic roster needs. We don't have a center on the roster. We have two guards on scholarship and Justin Simon. We don't have one player over 235 lbs. Xavier wins consistently because they always have a full quality roster. This shorthanded  nonsense is getting old .

Our backup center is listed at 6'7 210.

I agree with the issues up front but what does that have to do with Mussini leaving? I am not going to go crazy about losing our 4th guard.

What happens if Ponds sprains his ankle...the season just ends? You can't have two guards and a player like Simon unless you play zone. We don't. This is NYC. We have quality guards growing on trees. How can we possibly go into the season with just two on the roster?

You need continuity and experience to be successful if you don't have Anthony Davis type talent. Mussini had 18-22 minutes waiting for him and you can't minimize that role. No team would ever win if they didn't have a handful of role players.

Simon is a guard. We have 3 guards. Yes, 4 would be nice but we have 3 and it's not the end of the world because we have 3 other guys that can play the 3. UNC played only 3 guards the entire tournament. Kansas played 3 guards all season. It's a disappointing loss but not the end of the world

Please don't compare this mess to UNC.  There is a difference between playing a short rotation and having no depth. UNC probably had some top 100 "scrub" ready behind the rotation guys.  We have Elijah Holifield. 

We have an excellent core and it won't matter once again because we can't fill in the roster.  What part of that is different than Lavin? How is it possible for us to simultaneously be the smallest team in the league and only have 2-3 guards?

Bash doesn't have the handle to play big minutes at guard...not even close.  Sid at the two as a freshman?  That's a fvcking joke right there. Why can our staffs never finish off a goddamn roster? Lavin gets Harrison/ Branch/Greene/Jordan/Sampson and can't pickup a big or PG.  Now we're going to waste our time with Ponds, the best player we've had in 20 years, because we don't have a backup center or adequate depth at guard?  What a pitiful reason to waste a season.
Bump

Rome wasn't built in a day, so they say. We are not wasting our time with Ponds, he is part of the rebuild process. Each year we have improved our roster, that's all we can ask for. There are flaws in the roster but each year it improves, the problem is, we are in the Big East and going up against established programs. This is already our third rebuild this millennium. The only time the cupboard wasn't bare when the next coach took over we were a top 25 team. The reality was we were hoping we could be a NCAA tourney team, and that is if we were at full strength. We are not good enough to withstand the loss of Lovett. Next year we will be in a even better position.