NY Post: How St. John’s can make next season a year to remember

https://nypost.com/2018/03/10/how-st-johns-can-make-next-season-a-year-to-remember/

Hard to disagree with any of this. I like that he mentions the newfound stability of the program (if Ponds stays and if there are no surprise transfers -- two very important but realistic if's). It's something I haven't fully appreciated or thought about. But, we are St. John's.... so we'll see

Not really anything the people like us who follow the program on a daily basis don't know but a good piece for casual NYC sports fan to maybe keep an eye on this team next year

As a avid fan, it’s tough to always say “wait till next year” but I really like the kids Mullin has coming back and coming in. Maybe on paper none are difference makers by themselves, but play along side upper class men and a few are going to be better than anyone expected. Just need to coach them up.

As a avid fan, it’s tough to always say “wait till next year” but I really like the kids Mullin has coming back and coming in. Maybe on paper none are difference makers by themselves, but play along side upper class men and a few are going to be better than anyone expected. Just need to coach them up.

+1

As a avid fan, it’s tough to always say “wait till next year” but I really like the kids Mullin has coming back and coming in. Maybe on paper none are difference makers by themselves, but play along side upper class men and a few are going to be better than anyone expected. Just need to coach them up.

*i really like the kids Mullin has coming back if they come back, because that’s not a lock.

As a avid fan, it’s tough to always say “wait till next year” but I really like the kids Mullin has coming back and coming in. Maybe on paper none are difference makers by themselves, but play along side upper class men and a few are going to be better than anyone expected. Just need to coach them up.

As a little kid I was raised in a Brooklyn Dodger family where "wait until next year" was the mantra--then came 1955 and heaven.  Now a long suffering Redmen/Met/Ranger fan and I have those words tattooed in my my heart but when it comes (1969/1986/1994), it is sooooooooooo sweet.  Thought about that saying as an appropriate tombstone memorial.

The piece is actually a pretty weak piece.  First off the last relevant team was the team AFTER the Final 8 team.  Is he forgetting the 99-2000 team went 12-4, beat UCONN in the BE Final winning its first conference Tourney title since 1986 and got a 2 seed in the NCAA's?  Not sure how you forget that team.

Secondly the assistant coach stuff has been written about for awhile.  I am not sure we should expect anything major.  The Jim Ferry thing doesn't excite me.  I mentioned Ollie only to show how he should think outside the box.  The fact is we need someone with some recruiting ties, Ferry doesn't bring anything to the table in that area.  He is a yawner.  Go to Masiello at Manhattan and offer him a sizable check to resign from Manhattan and bring him SJU.  Again just throwing stuff up against a wall.  And for those who say why would Mas leave Manhattan as HC? Because if you look at the last 3 years his program has done nothing, 9-11, 5-15, 9-9 in League and in 7 years he has zero MAAC regular season titles and 1 second place and 1 3rd place.  I understand he won 2 tourney titles but anyone can get hot over a few game.  My point is he is not exactly killing it and I don't think he is getting a call for a high major job anytime soon.  Again just want to see some names out of the box.  Otherwise just roll with the staff you have.

Third does he really think the talent level is the same here as that stretch of SJU basketball, 98-2000 where he thinks a season like 98-99 is possible next year?  Really?  I am not convinced it is better than the 2013-14 Lavin team that I agree underachieved but had serious depth and talent.  The 98-99 team not only was loaded but was coming off a 2nd place finish in the BE from the prior year.  Similarly after the 98-99 team the 99-2000 team still had big time talent and added Glover.  This current team is NOT loaded, not coming off an NCAA year and has had 3 straight years of complete irrelevance.  Now having said that clearly Zach heard the same thing I did, 2 year plan.  Because he would not be writing this piece if he did not expect but more importantly was not TOLD that the expectation next year is to make a HUGE leap.  But here is where we need to keep this piece for reference.  Because again he is saying next year has the chance to put SJU at a level they have not reached in 2 decades.  So that means he expects the team to be better than the 2 NCAA teams under Lavin the 2002 NCAA team under Jarvis and the other NIT teams.  That's fine.  I sure as hell hope he is right, but that is a QUANTUM leap.  He is banking on a lot of improvement.  So here is my point, if SJU is sitting at 6-7 with some close losses and there is a piece by Zach next year talking about how SJU has shown marked improvement I want people to reference this piece today, because that is not what the expectation we should have next year in year 4.  No way.  And now it is written that we should expect a LOT more.

The piece is actually a pretty weak piece.  First off the last relevant team was the team AFTER the Final 8 team.  Is he forgetting the 99-2000 team went 12-4, beat UCONN in the BE Final winning its first conference Tourney title since 1986 and got a 2 seed in the NCAA's?  Not sure how you forget that team.

Secondly the assistant coach stuff has been written about for awhile.  I am not sure we should expect anything major.  The Jim Ferry thing doesn't excite me.  I mentioned Ollie only to show how he should think outside the box.  The fact is we need someone with some recruiting ties, Ferry doesn't bring anything to the table in that area.  He is a yawner.  Go to Masiello at Manhattan and offer him a sizable check to resign from Manhattan and bring him SJU.  Again just throwing stuff up against a wall.  And for those who say why would Mas leave Manhattan as HC? Because if you look at the last 3 years his program has done nothing, 9-11, 5-15, 9-9 in League and in 7 years he has zero MAAC regular season titles and 1 second place and 1 3rd place.  I understand he won 2 tourney titles but anyone can get hot over a few game.  My point is he is not exactly killing it and I don't think he is getting a call for a high major job anytime soon.  Again just want to see some names out of the box.  Otherwise just roll with the staff you have.

Third does he really think the talent level is the same here as that stretch of SJU basketball, 98-2000 where he thinks a season like 98-99 is possible next year?  Really?  I am not convinced it is better than the 2013-14 Lavin team that I agree underachieved but had serious depth and talent.  The 98-99 team not only was loaded but was coming off a 2nd place finish in the BE from the prior year.  Similarly after the 98-99 team the 99-2000 team still had big time talent and added Glover.  This current team is NOT loaded, not coming off an NCAA year and has had 3 straight years of complete irrelevance.  Now having said that clearly Zach heard the same thing I did, 2 year plan.  Because he would not be writing this piece if he did not expect but more importantly was not TOLD that the expectation next year is to make a HUGE leap.  But here is where we need to keep this piece for reference.  Because again he is saying next year has the chance to put SJU at a level they have not reached in 2 decades.  So that means he expects the team to be better than the 2 NCAA teams under Lavin the 2002 NCAA team under Jarvis and the other NIT teams.  That's fine.  I sure as hell hope he is right, but that is a QUANTUM leap.  He is banking on a lot of improvement.  So here is my point, if SJU is sitting at 6-7 with some close losses and there is a piece by Zach next year talking about how SJU has shown marked improvement I want people to reference this piece today, because that is not what the expectation we should have next year in year 4.  No way.  And now it is written that we should expect a LOT more.

Wouldn’t the most responsible decision be to hire a top assistant who is currently a top assistant? Every time St.John’s makes a hire, they always avoid the obvious answer because they think they have a better idea. This isn’t a group that can think outside the box.

The team has a real chance next year if they can commit to the glass, specifically on the offensive end. We ranked #263 in offensive rebounds this past season and #205 total rebounds. That's disgusting. We've been around 200 for Mullins tenure and not much better during Lavin's. It's clear neither coach stressed it. Norm was mostly near Lavin but had two top 50 years and I never felt like he deemphasized it...I just don't think he was good at anything.

Jarvis stressed rebounding over just about everything. Our 1998-999 team was #3 in the country in offensive boards and #2 overall without a player over 6'8. That is why they made that run. They were so tenacious on the glass it was cazy. It covered up many weaknesses including coaching. The following year they dropped to #68 offensive rebounding and #96 total rebounding and got upset in the second round. Jarvis had them back at #10 and then #1 overall for offensive rebounding Hatten's two years.

There is no reason Simon, Clark, Keita, Owens, Williams, and Ponds can't compete on the offensive glass like Eric King, Anthony Glover, et al.

I think Simon has top ten national offensive rebounding potential. I don't understand how Ponds can draw 2-3 and sometimes 4 guys on his drives and we don't have a single guy within 10 feet of the rim for when he barely misses. Those are tailor made chippies.

The team has a real chance next year if they can commit to the glass, specifically on the offensive end. We ranked #263 in offensive rebounds this past season and #205 total rebounds. That's disgusting. We've been around 200 for Mullins tenure and not much better during Lavin's. It's clear neither coach stressed it. Norm was mostly near Lavin but had two top 50 years and I never felt like he deemphasized it...I just don't think he was good at anything.

Jarvis stressed rebounding over just about everything. Our 1998-999 team was #3 in the country in offensive boards and #2 overall without a player over 6'8. That is why they made that run. They were so tenacious on the glass it was cazy. It covered up many weaknesses including coaching. The following year they dropped to #68 offensive rebounding and #96 total rebounding and got upset in the second round. Jarvis had them back at #10 and then #1 overall for offensive rebounding Hatten's two years.

There is no reason Simon, Clark, Keita, Owens, Williams, and Ponds can't compete on the offensive glass like Eric King, Anthony Glover, et al.

I think Simon has top ten national offensive rebounding potential. I don't understand how Ponds can draw 2-3 and sometimes 4 guys on his drives and we don't have a single guy within 10 feet of the rim for when he barely misses. Those are tailor made chippies.

Owens needs to be in the weight room all off season. He gets pushed out of position and out muscled for rebounds too much.

Quote from: fordham96 on March 10, 2018, 09:41:10 PM

The piece is actually a pretty weak piece.  First off the last relevant team was the team AFTER the Final 8 team.  Is he forgetting the 99-2000 team went 12-4, beat UCONN in the BE Final winning its first conference Tourney title since 1986 and got a 2 seed in the NCAA's?  Not sure how you forget that team.

Secondly the assistant coach stuff has been written about for awhile.  I am not sure we should expect anything major.  The Jim Ferry thing doesn't excite me.  I mentioned Ollie only to show how he should think outside the box.  The fact is we need someone with some recruiting ties, Ferry doesn't bring anything to the table in that area.  He is a yawner.  Go to Masiello at Manhattan and offer him a sizable check to resign from Manhattan and bring him SJU.  Again just throwing stuff up against a wall.  And for those who say why would Mas leave Manhattan as HC? Because if you look at the last 3 years his program has done nothing, 9-11, 5-15, 9-9 in League and in 7 years he has zero MAAC regular season titles and 1 second place and 1 3rd place.  I understand he won 2 tourney titles but anyone can get hot over a few game.  My point is he is not exactly killing it and I don't think he is getting a call for a high major job anytime soon.  Again just want to see some names out of the box.  Otherwise just roll with the staff you have.

Third does he really think the talent level is the same here as that stretch of SJU basketball, 98-2000 where he thinks a season like 98-99 is possible next year?  Really?  I am not convinced it is better than the 2013-14 Lavin team that I agree underachieved but had serious depth and talent.  The 98-99 team not only was loaded but was coming off a 2nd place finish in the BE from the prior year.  Similarly after the 98-99 team the 99-2000 team still had big time talent and added Glover.  This current team is NOT loaded, not coming off an NCAA year and has had 3 straight years of complete irrelevance.  Now having said that clearly Zach heard the same thing I did, 2 year plan.  Because he would not be writing this piece if he did not expect but more importantly was not TOLD that the expectation next year is to make a HUGE leap.  But here is where we need to keep this piece for reference.  Because again he is saying next year has the chance to put SJU at a level they have not reached in 2 decades.  So that means he expects the team to be better than the 2 NCAA teams under Lavin the 2002 NCAA team under Jarvis and the other NIT teams.  That's fine.  I sure as hell hope he is right, but that is a QUANTUM leap.  He is banking on a lot of improvement.  So here is my point, if SJU is sitting at 6-7 with some close losses and there is a piece by Zach next year talking about how SJU has shown marked improvement I want people to reference this piece today, because that is not what the expectation we should have next year in year 4.  No way.  And now it is written that we should expect a LOT more.

Wouldn’t the most responsible decision be to hire a top assistant who is currently a top assistant? Every time St.John’s makes a hire, they always avoid the obvious answer because they think they have a better idea. This isn’t a group that can think outside the box.

Because current top assistants at high majors already have the same job and probably make more money.  Why would they leave?  You need to find good people who are hungry who you think would be willing to take the job.

Quote from: Marillac on March 11, 2018, 01:43:43 AM

The team has a real chance next year if they can commit to the glass, specifically on the offensive end. We ranked #263 in offensive rebounds this past season and #205 total rebounds. That's disgusting. We've been around 200 for Mullins tenure and not much better during Lavin's. It's clear neither coach stressed it. Norm was mostly near Lavin but had two top 50 years and I never felt like he deemphasized it...I just don't think he was good at anything.

Jarvis stressed rebounding over just about everything. Our 1998-999 team was #3 in the country in offensive boards and #2 overall without a player over 6'8. That is why they made that run. They were so tenacious on the glass it was cazy. It covered up many weaknesses including coaching. The following year they dropped to #68 offensive rebounding and #96 total rebounding and got upset in the second round. Jarvis had them back at #10 and then #1 overall for offensive rebounding Hatten's two years.

There is no reason Simon, Clark, Keita, Owens, Williams, and Ponds can't compete on the offensive glass like Eric King, Anthony Glover, et al.

I think Simon has top ten national offensive rebounding potential. I don't understand how Ponds can draw 2-3 and sometimes 4 guys on his drives and we don't have a single guy within 10 feet of the rim for when he barely misses. Those are tailor made chippies.

Owens needs to be in the weight room all off season. He gets pushed out of position and out muscled for rebounds too much.

If he shows up under 230 that is inexcusable. Eat until it hurts and then eat some more.

Quote from: Poison on March 10, 2018, 10:44:57 PM

Quote from: fordham96 on March 10, 2018, 09:41:10 PM

The piece is actually a pretty weak piece.  First off the last relevant team was the team AFTER the Final 8 team.  Is he forgetting the 99-2000 team went 12-4, beat UCONN in the BE Final winning its first conference Tourney title since 1986 and got a 2 seed in the NCAA's?  Not sure how you forget that team.

Secondly the assistant coach stuff has been written about for awhile.  I am not sure we should expect anything major.  The Jim Ferry thing doesn't excite me.  I mentioned Ollie only to show how he should think outside the box.  The fact is we need someone with some recruiting ties, Ferry doesn't bring anything to the table in that area.  He is a yawner.  Go to Masiello at Manhattan and offer him a sizable check to resign from Manhattan and bring him SJU.  Again just throwing stuff up against a wall.  And for those who say why would Mas leave Manhattan as HC? Because if you look at the last 3 years his program has done nothing, 9-11, 5-15, 9-9 in League and in 7 years he has zero MAAC regular season titles and 1 second place and 1 3rd place.  I understand he won 2 tourney titles but anyone can get hot over a few game.  My point is he is not exactly killing it and I don't think he is getting a call for a high major job anytime soon.  Again just want to see some names out of the box.  Otherwise just roll with the staff you have.

Third does he really think the talent level is the same here as that stretch of SJU basketball, 98-2000 where he thinks a season like 98-99 is possible next year?  Really?  I am not convinced it is better than the 2013-14 Lavin team that I agree underachieved but had serious depth and talent.  The 98-99 team not only was loaded but was coming off a 2nd place finish in the BE from the prior year.  Similarly after the 98-99 team the 99-2000 team still had big time talent and added Glover.  This current team is NOT loaded, not coming off an NCAA year and has had 3 straight years of complete irrelevance.  Now having said that clearly Zach heard the same thing I did, 2 year plan.  Because he would not be writing this piece if he did not expect but more importantly was not TOLD that the expectation next year is to make a HUGE leap.  But here is where we need to keep this piece for reference.  Because again he is saying next year has the chance to put SJU at a level they have not reached in 2 decades.  So that means he expects the team to be better than the 2 NCAA teams under Lavin the 2002 NCAA team under Jarvis and the other NIT teams.  That's fine.  I sure as hell hope he is right, but that is a QUANTUM leap.  He is banking on a lot of improvement.  So here is my point, if SJU is sitting at 6-7 with some close losses and there is a piece by Zach next year talking about how SJU has shown marked improvement I want people to reference this piece today, because that is not what the expectation we should have next year in year 4.  No way.  And now it is written that we should expect a LOT more.

Wouldn’t the most responsible decision be to hire a top assistant who is currently a top assistant? Every time St.John’s makes a hire, they always avoid the obvious answer because they think they have a better idea. This isn’t a group that can think outside the box.

Because current top assistants at high majors already have the same job and probably make more money.  Why would they leave?  You need to find good people who are hungry who you think would be willing to take the job.

Slice left a much better program for us.  Same with Matt. 

Money talks, as does Mullin and NYC and everyone loves a comeback story (and if at Johns rose to finer heights what a comeback story it would be).  We need to stop thinking so smallyime.  Slice was a great decision but him and Matt didn’t work out (or something). Find something else.

Perhaps Pitino wants back in the game? (LOL)

Quote from: Johnny23 on March 11, 2018, 09:01:08 AM

Quote from: Marillac on March 11, 2018, 01:43:43 AM

The team has a real chance next year if they can commit to the glass, specifically on the offensive end. We ranked #263 in offensive rebounds this past season and #205 total rebounds. That's disgusting. We've been around 200 for Mullins tenure and not much better during Lavin's. It's clear neither coach stressed it. Norm was mostly near Lavin but had two top 50 years and I never felt like he deemphasized it...I just don't think he was good at anything.

Jarvis stressed rebounding over just about everything. Our 1998-999 team was #3 in the country in offensive boards and #2 overall without a player over 6'8. That is why they made that run. They were so tenacious on the glass it was cazy. It covered up many weaknesses including coaching. The following year they dropped to #68 offensive rebounding and #96 total rebounding and got upset in the second round. Jarvis had them back at #10 and then #1 overall for offensive rebounding Hatten's two years.

There is no reason Simon, Clark, Keita, Owens, Williams, and Ponds can't compete on the offensive glass like Eric King, Anthony Glover, et al.

I think Simon has top ten national offensive rebounding potential. I don't understand how Ponds can draw 2-3 and sometimes 4 guys on his drives and we don't have a single guy within 10 feet of the rim for when he barely misses. Those are tailor made chippies.

Owens needs to be in the weight room all off season. He gets pushed out of position and out muscled for rebounds too much.

If he shows up under 230 that is inexcusable. Eat until it hurts and then eat some more.

+1000

Quote from: Marillac on March 11, 2018, 01:07:52 PM

Quote from: Johnny23 on March 11, 2018, 09:01:08 AM

Quote from: Marillac on March 11, 2018, 01:43:43 AM

The team has a real chance next year if they can commit to the glass, specifically on the offensive end. We ranked #263 in offensive rebounds this past season and #205 total rebounds. That's disgusting. We've been around 200 for Mullins tenure and not much better during Lavin's. It's clear neither coach stressed it. Norm was mostly near Lavin but had two top 50 years and I never felt like he deemphasized it...I just don't think he was good at anything.

Jarvis stressed rebounding over just about everything. Our 1998-999 team was #3 in the country in offensive boards and #2 overall without a player over 6'8. That is why they made that run. They were so tenacious on the glass it was cazy. It covered up many weaknesses including coaching. The following year they dropped to #68 offensive rebounding and #96 total rebounding and got upset in the second round. Jarvis had them back at #10 and then #1 overall for offensive rebounding Hatten's two years.

There is no reason Simon, Clark, Keita, Owens, Williams, and Ponds can't compete on the offensive glass like Eric King, Anthony Glover, et al.

I think Simon has top ten national offensive rebounding potential. I don't understand how Ponds can draw 2-3 and sometimes 4 guys on his drives and we don't have a single guy within 10 feet of the rim for when he barely misses. Those are tailor made chippies.

Owens needs to be in the weight room all off season. He gets pushed out of position and out muscled for rebounds too much.

If he shows up under 230 that is inexcusable. Eat until it hurts and then eat some more.

+1000

While I would love to see him develop ala Clark or even Simon, and I am sure TO would love to have more muscle BUT just eating may no be the answer.  As we are not his doctor, we do not know if he has a genetic issue,  overactive thyroid or a metabolism  issue. He has said in the past that he would like to add weight, don't blame him for the lack of success if you don't know the specifics.

Maybe Zach can re-write this article and tweak the parts about Owens moving over to power forward and continuity being a big part of the "comeback."

Maybe Zach can re-write this article and tweak the parts about Owens moving over to power forward and continuity being a big part of the "comeback."

+ 1