Malik Ellison

Early starting lineup will be LoVett, Ellison, Bashir, Yakwe, Sima

Mussini and Owens first off the bench.

Ponds and Freudenberg next in rotation.

Alibegovic spot minutes.

Doubt Williams ever returns. Most likely becomes hardship candidate.

Hoping Ponds replaces mussini in short order.

Early starting lineup will be LoVett, Ellison, Bashir, Yakwe, Sima

Mussini and Owens first off the bench.

Ponds and Freudenberg next in rotation.

Alibegovic spot minutes.

Doubt Williams ever returns. Most likely becomes hardship candidate.

Agree Dave

Early starting lineup will be LoVett, Ellison, Bashir, Yakwe, Sima

Mussini and Owens first off the bench.

Ponds and Freudenberg next in rotation.

Alibegovic spot minutes.

Doubt Williams ever returns. Most likely becomes hardship candidate.

Would be a solid starting five defensively but not a great shooting bunch.  Lot of shooting coming off the bench though.

Quote from: Dave on July 26, 2016, 12:25:52 AM

Early starting lineup will be LoVett, Ellison, Bashir, Yakwe, Sima

Mussini and Owens first off the bench.

Ponds and Freudenberg next in rotation.

Alibegovic spot minutes.

Doubt Williams ever returns. Most likely becomes hardship candidate.

Hoping Ponds replaces mussini in short order.

I think Ponds minutes will increase as season develops. Potentially even starts.

It's a real good thing the team is getting to a place where all freshman aren't relied upon too heavily.

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

How many backcourts in the Big East would you take over St. John's at this stage?

Dave, what's your take on Lovett's defense?

Quote from: TONYD3 on July 26, 2016, 08:57:39 AM

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

How many backcourts in the Big East would you take over St. John's at this stage?

I like the backcourt plenty with Lovett, ponds, and Ahmed playing . I hope Ellison can back up all 3 spots.

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

Ellison and Mussini are not "good" players?  Compared to players on what teams? Duke and Kentucky?   They were freshman who both needed to put muscle on, learn the game, etc.  To be declaring they are not good players is ridiculous.

Dave, what's your take on Lovett's defense?

Don't have a take. It seems like he's buying into the team and excited to see him take the floor.

Quote from: Dave on July 26, 2016, 09:03:15 AM

Quote from: TONYD3 on July 26, 2016, 08:57:39 AM

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

How many backcourts in the Big East would you take over St. John's at this stage?

I like the backcourt plenty with Lovett, ponds, and Ahmed playing . I hope Ellison can back up all 3 spots.

So how many backcourts would you take over Mussini and Ellison? Please do share.

Dave; Why do you think Williams wont be back, Injury?

I saw Ellison on the F train not to long ago. The dude is a tower, I'm not a small guy myself but he definitely looked like a basketball player.

Quote from: TONYD3 on July 26, 2016, 08:57:39 AM

we may have depth but they are not great or even good players. Not expecting ponds to be all conference but I am hoping and expecting he will pass mussini and Ellison almost immediately.

I

Ellison and Mussini are not "good" players?  Compared to players on what teams? Duke and Kentucky?   They were freshman who both needed to put muscle on, learn the game, etc.  To be declaring they are not good players is ridiculous.

We were 1-18last year. Most of our guys were not good. Mussini and Ellison could improve tremendously and we could 4-14. Just because they got better doesn't mean they were good. Good means better then average. Good means winning games .
Declaring mussini and Ellison good or even decent big east players is even more ridiculous to me. Ponds is a top 50 player- he is not competing with Kentucky players he is competing with 1-18 guards.
I like Yawke I think he will be good. Not close to great this year. I like sima. I hope he is good (meaning he is as good as the player be is playing against much of the time). That was not the case last year when we played decent teams.
Everyone else from last year is well below average. Again 1-18. Most games were not close. Ponds, Ahmed, And Lovett are huge additions. Leftovers are hopefully on the bench or much improved . Being positive is fine. I remember some good moments from last year. I also remember giving up 50 plus in the 1st half plenty.
We were last in conference last year. I think most of you thought we could have been better. I don't . I think if we played 50 conference games we may have not won another game. We beat DePaul . I enjoyed it. But I think they were much better then us.
I am excited for the new guys to come in and assert themselves.

Yakwe is better than good.  He was better than good last year.  He averaged over 7/5 and was best shot blocker in the league and he didn't even play beginning of season.  He surely can refine his game, but he's much better than good already, and has upper level athleticism.   

Quote from: Dave on July 26, 2016, 12:25:52 AM

Early starting lineup will be LoVett, Ellison, Bashir, Yakwe, Sima

Mussini and Owens first off the bench.

Ponds and Freudenberg next in rotation.

Alibegovic spot minutes.

Doubt Williams ever returns. Most likely becomes hardship candidate.

Hoping Ponds replaces mussini in short order.

I hope so too because his ceiling is higher.  I really hope Ponds adds so,e weight.  He's super smooth and talented but his lithe build was noticeable even in those All Star games this spring.  He needs to get his body ready for D1. 

No doubt, Ellison had a very rough freshman year as he took time to recover from his injuries and was forced to play too many minutes against superior competition.  Despite this, his stats clearly improved towards the end of the season.

He is supposed to be a real gym rat who works constantly on his game, looks totally jacked in the team's workout photo posted on line, and has the family genes to grow even bigger and stronger still.  Would not be surprised to see him morph into a physical forward who retains the ability to slash to the hoop by his senior year.  With our changing roster and increased competition for playing time, he may not end his college career with us, but he is on an upward trajectory and will be a significantly improved player by his senior year, wherever he plays.

His father was a national POY and an NBA stalwart.  Don't sell this kid short.

No doubt, Ellison had a very rough freshman year as he took time to recover from his injuries and was forced to play too many minutes against superior competition.  Despite this, his stats clearly improved towards the end of the season.

He is supposed to be a real gym rat who works constantly on his game, looks totally jacked in the team's workout photo posted on line, and has the family genes to grow even bigger and stronger still.  Would not be surprised to see him morph into a physical forward who retains the ability to slash to the hoop by his senior year.  With our changing roster and increased competition for playing time, he may not end his college career with us, but he is on an upward trajectory and will be a significantly improved player by his senior year, wherever he plays.

His father was a national POY and an NBA stalwart.  Don't sell this kid short.

I don't disagree with your assessment of Malik. No one knows what a freshman will turn into. But Pervis was an NBA bust and is on the short list for worst #1 pick of all time.

I'm a believer in Ellison's game. He came on strong by the end of the season. Specifically like his ability to get to the basket and play under control. Would like to see him shoot it a little more consistently and hopeful he worked on that part of his game.

Quote from: Lycidas on July 26, 2016, 11:45:43 AM

No doubt, Ellison had a very rough freshman year as he took time to recover from his injuries and was forced to play too many minutes against superior competition.  Despite this, his stats clearly improved towards the end of the season.

He is supposed to be a real gym rat who works constantly on his game, looks totally jacked in the team's workout photo posted on line, and has the family genes to grow even bigger and stronger still.  Would not be surprised to see him morph into a physical forward who retains the ability to slash to the hoop by his senior year.  With our changing roster and increased competition for playing time, he may not end his college career with us, but he is on an upward trajectory and will be a significantly improved player by his senior year, wherever he plays.

His father was a national POY and an NBA stalwart.  Don't sell this kid short.

I don't disagree with your assessment of Malik. No one knows what a freshman will turn into. But Pervis was an NBA bust and is on the short list for worst #1 pick of all time.

+1