Vaccaro nails it. For a guy with a .388 winning percentage he probably has more job security than any coach in the country. And that's fine, FOR NOW. But it needs to start changing next year. Again 2 year plan. First become relevant next year and then be right there with X and Nova in year 5.
Absolutely no reason for SJU not to be in that position a year from now. And I think Chris Mullin would agree.
https://nypost.com/2018/03/08/its-desperately-time-for-st-johns-to-be-great-again/
You keep saying that . Why do you think improvement is coming?
Let's be clear I am repeating what I was told, that is the expectation. I didn't say I personally was that optimistic or pessimistic.
There is no excuse to be in the 4th year at SJU and still be a country mile behind Villanova. Not when you fired the previous guy because he could not get you over the hump with regards to that. That is why the expectations are getting JACKED up next year. And they should. You want to make excuses about Lovett fine. But that is gone now. He wouldn't have been here past this year anyway.
That is what Vaccaro is saying, this 4th year is pivotal for a program that even Vac agrees should not be a second tier program in its own conference. No way. Again you fired the last guy because you thought he was not going to get you there (and that is absolutely reasonable). There is no need to keep making excuses for the next guy because his name is Chris Mullin.
If you are asking me personally do I think they have enough talent to make a sizable leap next year, I have my own questions about that. I definitely think they should improve but he needs to make SERIOUS improvement.
I agree with your outlook entirely. The team has to make the tournament next year, and I don't see a roster loaded with superior talent. Perhaps very good, but definitely not exceptional.
But to dismiss the Lovett departure as a footnote on the season, and therefore the perception of the program's trajectory, seems unfair to Mullin (who should rightly shoulder the blame in other departments). If Kyron Cartwright missed the whole season, Providence wouldn't make the tournament, for example. Same with, say, Carrington/Seton Hall and Foster/Creighton. Lovett was an absolutely critical piece of the puzzle for this season. We built the team around having two dynamic guards and, like most other teams would, struggled to adjust on the fly. Mullin is responsible for the backup plan for key players, and he clearly whiffed. Winning programs have either depth, a system that does not rely on spectacular talents, or both. I doubt we'll be in that position next year even if everybody returns. So lots of wood left to chop, and the pressure is on.