My take

I hate to say this and I  might have said it already, but I think coach needs to take a full leave of absence. No recruiting,no more travelling,no calls,no more acting GM,no basketball. I know nothing about the surgery, only what the posters that have also had it and  shared their experience with us. Some butal and intensive stuff with different recovery situations. Take the next few months off, get back in gameday shape and come back hard charging. Hopefully Lavin got his foot in the recruits living room the last few months, but nows the time for his staff to step up and close the deal. Hes working his balls off  for the program when its time to work on yourself. Coach needs to make a public statement saying he kicked cancers ass and will be on the bench game 1 of next season

In my  opinion lavin needs to (of course his health comes first, but if he is able to) finish the season on the sidelines. Maybe set a date to coach the last ten games of the season. If he doesnt coach again this season then this uncertainty will continue throughout the whole off season and unfortunately  we cannot afford that.

i am tending to agree with you now. Him being on the bench isnt going make us an NCAA or NIT team it looks like. The talent is there, but I think the short bench keeps us from playing man to man and the 3s are going to keep raining on us until we can find a shot blocker allowing us to extend out further to cover the 3's. Let Dunlap develop the kids, and focus on next year. Although with the Wood news today we still need to commit 4 kids minimum for next season.

He's not that sick that he can't go on recruiting trips, or he wouldn't be going.
I have to disagree with this idea. We aren't going to break any doors down with any coach and 6 newbies.

By putting himself out there, he is reinforcing the message that he is part of this program.

He's not that sick that he can't go on recruiting trips, or he wouldn't be going.
I have to disagree with this idea. We aren't going to break any doors down with any coach and 6 newbies.

By putting himself out there, he is reinforcing the message that he is part of this program.

He needs to be out there recruiting and land us 4-6 very good prospects for 2012.  Lavin has already said that the recruiting trips don't tax him much.  It's uber important for m to maintain a presence, both for the current team, media and recruiting.  He is certainly working on himself and his health first.  SJU's administration and fans will be patient with him.  He surely ows though, that recruiting is the lifeblood of tha program.  I'd love to land Branch and move forward with Sanchez, Gathers and Obekpa from there.  If we only landed those 4 we'd be money. 

I know nothing

Baldi you should have started and ended your post right there. Why don't you leave Lavin's health to the medical professionals

Coach Lavin needs to be part of the St. John's program in any capasity.  He needs to recruit 5 player that can help us next year.

What coach needs to do is take as much time as needed to get himself back to 100 %. What he can't do is succomb to the pressure of decommitting recruits, bad mouthing from other schools, a losing record etc. and come back without feeling 100 %. He gets the chance to get healthy - one time, before his health issue becomes a detriment to the program.

I can't blame any kid who decommits or who puts us on hold. When the time is right we will have enough kids interested in becoming part of our program to field a very good team next year. If the health issue slows down our progress by a year or two, so be it. I have every confidence that coach has the bona fides to turn this program around. So unlike when we had Norm, I still feel calm about the situation.

Quote from: Marco Baldi on January 05, 2012, 08:49:20 PM

I know nothing

Baldi you should have started and ended your post right there. Why don't you leave Lavin's health to the medical professionals

I am. You guys are the ones saying he needs to be out recruiting and being the face of St Johns basketball. The guy needs to get better

Here's a solid, level-headed article about Lavin and the status of the basketball program from Jeff Borzello. Lavin will get this ship straightened out sooner than later.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/34216876

lavin will be under more stress by taking a complete leave of absence. it will kill him more by being away from the game. he needs to be involved anyway he physically can.

Perspective:

Life is more important than Basketball.  Listen to Doctors. If he comes back after a year off the program will start from there.  He recruited a top 3 class in his first year.