March 1999 Elite Eight or 2018-19?

A little clickbaity, but what front court would you rather have between the March 1999 team and this team? Both teams were guard and wing heavy.

March 1999:  a banged up SR Ty Grant, FR Donald Emanuel, JR JUCO Transfer Albert Richardson.

2018-19:  5th Year SR Marvin Clark, 3rd year JR Sedee Keita, FR Josh Roberts, and FR Marcellus Earlington.

'99 if for no other reason than Ty Grant was a tough, lunch pail guy which is exactly what you need from your low post guys. This group is more versatile though with Clark.

'99 if for no other reason than Ty Grant was a tough, lunch pail guy which is exactly what you need from your low post guys. This group is more versatile though with Clark.

That whole team was like that. They had 18 OFFENSIVE rebounds in the Ohio State Elite Eight game. 18! That is college basketball at its finest. Gang rebounding teams are so tough to beat.

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

Was gonna say the same thing. Can’t list Clark and not Artest.

I do think having the 3 headed SF attack is going to be huge, and not having any 1 of them would make a big difference. They can cover up spots 1-4 and I would be surprised if we didn’t see a Ponds, Dixon, LJ, Heron, Simon lineup at some point.

Mike Jarvis doesn’t get much credit around here. He was a very good game coach.

Quote from: Poison on October 14, 2018, 08:06:04 AM

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

Was gonna say the same thing. Can’t list Clark and not Artest.

I do think having the 3 headed SF attack is going to be huge, and not having any 1 of them would make a big difference. They can cover up spots 1-4 and I would be surprised if we didn’t see a Ponds, Dixon, LJ, Heron, Simon lineup at some point.

That would be a fast line up. I wonder how seriously they'll take defense. That's what put the Artest teams over the edge. They put a body on you. Simon will. I think Ponds will, but Clark has to build on the strong February he had. He wasn't a BE defender most of the season.

Mike Jarvis doesn’t get much credit around here. He was a very good game coach.

That's partly because he wasn't as good of a coach or talent evaluator as Fran, and partly because the University needed someone to blame for Pittsburgh, and even though he was long gone when it happened, it was easy for the them to hang it all on him.

Jarvis was an Ohio State win away from being right there with Lou Carnesecca.

Quote from: Johnny23 on October 13, 2018, 06:56:16 PM

'99 if for no other reason than Ty Grant was a tough, lunch pail guy which is exactly what you need from your low post guys. This group is more versatile though with Clark.

That whole team was like that. They had 18 OFFENSIVE rebounds in the Ohio State Elite Eight game. 18! That is college basketball at its finest. Gang rebounding teams are so tough to beat.

So are teams with a stable of 6'9 and 6'10 bulls under the boards. Unfortunately this current team doesn't have that luxury so we have no choice but to rely on a team rebounding approach.

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

Great point. The '99 team had five guys on the court who could rebound and bring the ball up.

Our current team (which I have never watched play) reminds more of the Barkley team without arrtest.
I am aware on paper we have more depth. But we are going to win this year (in my opinion) with ponds, Simon, and heron playing close to 40. Just like postell, Barkley, and bootsey did 20 years ago.
That team shared the basketball like no St. John’s team that I ever saw. Like others said they all rebounded. Role players like Jessie and Emanuel played their ROLES. Chudney stepped up when he had to.
That hasn’t happened so far under mullin. We can’t have non shooters think they are gunners. Everyone needs to box out. Not rocket science. Team needs to tighten up. We have 2 of the best scores in the league. Let them score.
The 2000 team even played zone at times. To rest guys and keep players out of foul trouble.
This team is to talented not to be good. Hopefully we get a decent effort from the staff.

Quote from: Poison on October 14, 2018, 08:06:04 AM

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

Great point. The '99 team had five guys on the court who could rebound and bring the ball up.

Ditto re both comments.  The team played as a unit with an attitude and their pride seemed to be in their desire to shut down the opponents while sharing the scoring as the 5 starters averaged double figures.  They might have had a better record if Tyrone had not hurt his hand and missed 9 games.  As to Artest/World Peace, he was not the tallest front court player but he had great lower body strength and an ability to get into position to rebound and not be moved; phenomenal physicality and an attitude that the "ball was his".

The 1998-1999 team proved that you did not need a great center/power forward to win; the current team matches up on paper in size with them; now it is a question of what is in the hearts and minds--must have the attitude of team success first/share the rock.  In the leadup to this season, HOPE is higher than it has been in a number of seasons.  Run MJS.

1998-99 team was a fantastic we can only wish this team plays like that squad. Barkley and Bootsy big difference makers. Ron was all word that year. I just wished we would’ve got play UConn in Natl’Semi-Final thought 3rd time would’ve been the charm. Hate Scoonie Penn to this day!

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

That's my whole point😉 That team played forwards up front and won. Paging Justin Simon.

This team can only approach its ceiling by playing like the 98-99 team. Relentless on the glass with a  gang rebounding mindset. How do you keep 6'5 220 Heron, 6'5 215 Simon, 6'7 230 Clark, 6'6 200 Figueroa, and a beast rebounding PG like Ponds all of the glass? Answer, you don't. Only they can do that.

Quote from: Poison on October 14, 2018, 08:06:04 AM

Artest was a better frontcourt player than anyone you listed. Postell, Jessie and Thornton all rebounded.

That's my whole point😉 That team played forwards up front and won. Paging Justin Simon.

The 98-99 team didn’t have depth but they had great talent and defined roles. Barkley was a true point. Bootsy was a shooter. But up and down the roster, these guys played tough no matter the opponent. I’d love to see this new group of talent bring that same energy to the court for every game, but that is asking a lot. Simon and Heron seem to have that toughness. I don’t know who else does.

SCOONIE PENN FOULED ERICK BARKLEY

The 98/99 team had a toughness this team has yet to demonstrate. No one on this team comes close to matching Grant’s toughness inside. Arrest was one of the best two-way players we’ve ever had. That was a really good team, to bad Grant got hurt.

SCOONIE PENN FOULED ERICK BARKLEY

100%

1998-99 team was a fantastic we can only wish this team plays like that squad. Barkley and Bootsy big difference makers. Ron was all word that year. I just wished we would’ve got play UConn in Natl’Semi-Final thought 3rd time would’ve been the charm. Hate Scoonie Penn to this day!

not sure if we would have beaten UConn and duke that year.  I still thought we have lost