Keita Injury

Has anyone heard anything?

Has anyone heard anything?

No, and I don't expect to hear anything until Thursday, at the earliest.  No reason for them to make any declarations now, about a game that is still 4 days away.

In fact, if we do get any news over the next few days, that would probably be a bad sign, because it likely means that he is seriously hurt.

Zach Braziller
@NYPost_Brazille
Sedee Keita out 4-6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. #sjubb

Zach Braziller
@NYPost_Brazille
Sedee Keita out 4-6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. #sjubb

Uggghh

At least Roberts gets to practice with the first unit a bit and will be prepared as a rotation player. Hopefully the staff can find him 5-6 minutes around the tv timeouts when the opponents first teamers sit.

Keita only played 14 minutes total in 2 games and Roberts still only has played 4 minutes. He will see more time for sure but bet they mostly stay small.

Keita only played 14 minutes total in 2 games and Roberts still only has played 4 minutes. He will see more time for sure but bet they mostly stay small.

Zach B
Asked Chris Mullin if this means a bigger role for Josh Roberts and was noncommittal, depends on how game goes. Said he hasn’t played much because there are better players ahead of him. #sjubb

Pretty clear the staff has no confidence in Roberts right now

This is not good.

So Clarke's the center now?  Is it too late to get Owens back?

Owens so far at Texas Tech:

10 minutes, 5 pts, 2 boards, 6 blocks
23 minutes, 9 pts, 7 boards, 1 block
19 minutes, 3 points, 3 boards, 3 blocks

Has shot the ball only 11 times in 3 games.

Averaged 30 minutes per game, 8.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 2.8 bpg at SJU last season.

Owens so far at Texas Tech:

10 minutes, 5 pts, 2 boards, 6 blocks
23 minutes, 9 pts, 7 boards, 1 block
19 minutes, 3 points, 3 boards, 3 blocks

Has shot the ball only 11 times in 3 games.

Averaged 30 minutes per game, 8.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 2.8 bpg at SJU last season.

Proverbial “Grass is always greener”

Pretty clear the staff has no confidence in Roberts right now

Mullin saying he hasn't played much because there's "better players ahead of him" is hilarious.  What players are ahead of him at his position? Why couldn't Roberts and Earlington get a few minutes in the scrimmage or the exhibition game? At 6'7 220 Marvin Clark is better suited to be playing the stretch four.  Now we're forced to go very small with Clark being our only center and playing 6'5 LJ and Heron at the 4 because Roberts (and Earlington) aren't ready. 

Mullin saying he hasn't played much because there's "better players ahead of him" is hilarious.  What players are ahead of him at his position? Why couldn't Roberts and Earlington get a few minutes in the scrimmage or the exhibition game? At 6'7 220 Marvin Clark is better suited to be playing the stretch four.  Now we're forced to go very small with Clark being our only center and playing 6'5 LJ and Heron at the 4 because Roberts (and Earlington) aren't ready. 

If amar was still here he would get 15 minutes. If these 2 are so bad. Why are they here?

Pretty clear the staff has no confidence in Roberts right now

Yeah, I don't either. Odd that on the one hand everyone says we need four year players and on the other that four year players who aren't ready to contribute two games into their careers are wasted scholarships.

If amar was still here he would get 15 minutes. If these 2 are so bad. Why are they here?

Well Tony now you're getting to the real crux of the argument but I try not to gripe about recruiting considering the old codgers don't think it matters that the golden boy only recruits 3 stars and transfers.  The fact Eric Mussleman and Nevada were able to beat us out for Jordan Brown offering him 13 mins a game when we could've offered him as many mins as he wants makes me sick. 

If amar was still here he would get 15 minutes. If these 2 are so bad. Why are they here?

Yeah, he's 23 and would be a seventh year senior. So he might get some burn in the preseason. And then second semester he could start collecting social security.

If amar was still here he would get 15 minutes. If these 2 are so bad. Why are they here?

Big men take longer to develop. It's crazy that has to be mentioned in 2018. The polish kid from Wisconsin did nothing as a freshman and he was a lottery pick. David West was redshirted as a freshman at Xavier and he went on to be a perennial NBA all-star. Justin Patton was redshirted at Creighton. There are hundreds of more examples.

As far as I can tell Roberts is not strong enough yet to play big minutes. Like nearly all freshman he probably doesn't understand team defense at all at this stage. But he's big, he's athletic, seems to embrace the big man role, and he moves exceptionally well.

The difference between how a kid responds as a 12th or 13th man and getting the reps/attention/preparation of a rotation play can also be stark.

If amar was still here he would get 15 minutes. If these 2 are so bad. Why are they here?

Lets see
1985 Final Four team
10th man Terry Bross- had a nice fastball but really his only on court memory was getting called for BS goal tending in OT against Depaul @ Depaul in NCAA tourney. That is right AT Depaul in NCAA tourney.
11th man Steve Shurina-perhaps the greatest warmup shooter in history of basketball. Sady this never translated to actual games.

91 Elite 8 team
10th man Sergio Luyk- One of the first in great line of great white jump shooters that just never panned out for us. Call it the curse of Ron Rowan.
11th man Sean Muto- I think he had a cheesy mustache and a mullet.

99 Elite 8 team
10TH man Donald Emmanuel-became a serviceable big but did not get much run on the most aesthetically pleasing ST John's basketball team.
11th man Kareem Syed- He was fantastic on OZ and was even able to Kill Adebisi in a close quarters fight.

The point being that 10th and 11 men serve a purpose but generally aren't ready to contribute. This year is nothing different.

Lets see
1985 Final Four team
10th man Terry Bross- had a nice fastball but really his only on court memory was getting called for BS goal tending in OT against Depaul @ Depaul in NCAA tourney. That is right AT Depaul in NCAA tourney.
11th man Steve Shurina-perhaps the greatest warmup shooter in history of basketball. Sady this never translated to actual games.

91 Elite 8 team
10th man Sergio Luyk- One of the first in great line of great white jump shooters that just never panned out for us. Call it the curse of Ron Rowan.
11th man Sean Muto- I think he had a cheesy mustache and a mullet.

99 Elite 8 team
10TH man Donald Emmanuel-became a serviceable big but did not get much run on the most aesthetically pleasing ST John's basketball team.
11th man Kareem Syed- He was fantastic on OZ and was even able to Kill Adebisi in a close quarters fight.

The point being that 10th and 11 men serve a purpose but generally aren't ready to contribute. This year is nothing different.

You're making a valid point strictly looking down a bench at the number of players used but the problem is this team doesn't have any big men.  Going into the season we knew Keita and Clark could not be expected to play 100% of the mins at the 4 and the 5.  Small ball lineups could be used to spell one of the two but Roberts or Earlington were going to have to contribute at least a few mins in certain games when we needed extra big bodies out there.  Unfortunately, an injury now increases the need for one of them to be able to produce immediately.  It sounds like Mullin doesn't trust either of the kids and he's planning on just playing small.  Hopefully we don't lose a game because of not having enough girth on the court because with this schedule we really can't afford any early slip ups.

10th man Terry Bross- had a nice fastball but really his only on court memory was getting called for BS goal tending in OT against Depaul @ Depaul in NCAA tourney. That is right AT Depaul in NCAA tourney.

Plus he's a first team all time SJ sexual degenerate: Willie Glass, Bross, Grady Reynolds, E  Ingram and Abe Keita.

You're making a valid point strictly looking down a bench at the number of players used but the problem is this team doesn't have any big men.  Going into the season we knew Keita and Clark could not be expected to play 100% of the mins at the 4 and the 5.  Small ball lineups could be used to spell one of the two but Roberts or Earlington were going to have to contribute at least a few mins in certain games when we needed extra big bodies out there.  Unfortunately, an injury now increases the need for one of them to be able to produce immediately.  It sounds like Mullin doesn't trust either of the kids and he's planning on just playing small.  Hopefully we don't lose a game because of not having enough girth on the court because with this schedule we really can't afford any early slip ups.

Lack of decent big man on roster is valid complaint obviously.
I think what happens at ST John's is you try to recruit best players you can and sometimes position balance suffers. Happened at end with Lavin as well. Didn't Pointer start at Center in NCAA tourney?