While I do think 0-9 is an anomaly, it doesn't make it hurt any less. Realistically I think we've played well enough to be 3-6 currently. However, you are what your record says.
I see three glaring issues with this team that unfortunately I don't see getting much better.
1.) Coaching. Mullin, Richmond, Etc look lost. They struggle throughout games, but during crunch time they fold just as bad as the players. The talent of our players keeps the games close, but most of these games, while the scores look competitive, the result was never in doubt. I get that they are all novice coaches, but I would have hoped to see more improvement 3 years in than what I've seen.
2.) None of our players have killer instinct. I hate to say it but Ponds is not cut out to be the leader of a winning team. Examples: behind the back passes for turnovers when the team is 0-7, and launching halfcourt 3s early in the shot clock when you're 0-8 out of frustration. He's far too nonchalant, and he hasnt shown me he really even cares about winning. Its almost like hes treating his time here as an audition for the NBA, nothing more. Talented, but give me Dwight Hardy or D'Angelo Harrison any day.
3.) Depth. It really kills us every game when Amar has to play. He would struggle for minutes at Siena but he's unfortunately a role player for us. This is one problem that potentially could improve with Keita, Roberts, Diakite coming on board, but I'm not banking on it.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
1) Coaching. Bad Xs and Os. Simple fundamentals are lacking; most of the team cant guard a big east ball handler 1 on 1, there's overhelp, poor rotation, mad scrambles, despiration blocks attempts and finally a wide open lane for teams to feast on offensive rebounds. This season is the movie groundhog day. We're ranked 328th out of 351 in D1 rebounding margin. We're dead last in big east 3 point shooting. We're being coached for a different era of basketball. Ponds isn't Iverson, Simon isn't Dwayne Washington, Owens isn't Mutombo.
2) Killer Instinct. This board loves to draw comparisons to Villanova and it's laugh out loud funny. Other than Ponds, SJU's regulars would be limited to mop-up duty for Jay Wright. Ponds would be the 2nd guy off the bench. And it's not due to lack of skill but rather effort, intensity, and overall basketball IQ. The team looked better with Ponds on the bench and Simon running things with some urgency last night. I miss Harrison, Pointer, Horne and Greene. Ahmed and Clark should be forced to watch tape of those guys.
3) Depth aka recruiting, recruiting, recruiting. The revolving door of transfers and jucos and foreigners to fill voids is embarrassing. We can barely get 3* talent to commit here, and when they do, it's a 50/50 chance they develop into big east starter talent.
The 2 teams that have made the NCAA tournament recently had more than one player that could run the offense with success. 14/15 - Jordan, Branch, Greene; 10/11 - Hardy, Boothe, Horne. Those were team players for the most part. Ponds, Ahmed, Lovett are me first 1-on-1 wannabe mixtape ballers. The closest player we have to a floor general is Simon.
We should look to replicate teams that have success nationally and within the big east. That means ball handlers who can shoot, but also take quality shots. Guards that can actually defend 1-on-1 and hit the glass hard on every shot, and bigs that know how to contribute offensively within 10 feet of the basket when asked to do so. Tough to win a single game when you have 2 players on your team that fit the above criteria (Ponds & Simon)