New Coach

Funny the same people who used the argument for Cluess "he wins everywhere he goes" are against this hire. Anderson literally won everywhere he has been and against actual competition, not just against Siena and Quinnipiac.

This is a head and shoulders better hire than Cluess.

Cluess is 60, and has not proved anything in Div 1 basketball in my opinion. People are in love with his NCAA invites however he recruits kids that are somewhat troubled and bigger than the MAAC. Good for him but he would have a hard time replicating that in the Big East. We can't take more chances. We got a safe hire and may have gotten lucky here. 

I didn't omit anything and my statement was factual. SJU finished 7th in the BE this past season. Whereas your statement is purely opinion and not rooted in fact.

You didn’t omit anything? How about a 12-1 non-conference record. How about a committee of disinterested D-1 administrators ruling that St. John’s had the fourth best resume after examining the totality of the circumstances?

Cluess is 60, and has not proved anything in Div 1 basketball in my opinion. People are in love with his NCAA invites however he recruits kids that are somewhat troubled and bigger than the MAAC. Good for him but he would have a hard time replicating that in the Big East. We can't take more chances. We got a safe hire and may have gotten lucky here.

Cluess is definitely proven in Div 1 basketball. 6 tourneys in 9 years backs that up. Fact.

Whether he could succeed at the Big East level of D1 bball is an entirely different question. Based on his track record I sure as hell would've loved to take the chance on him.

Mike Anderson = high floor, low ceiling.

You didn’t omit anything? How about a 12-1 non-conference record. How about a committee of disinterested D-1 administrators ruling that St. John’s had the fourth best resume after examining the totality of the circumstances?

Clearly you didn't read my original post and it shows. Of course I didn't omit anything. However you and your Mullinite buddy want to add to the narrative and change it in your favor. That's entirely different.

Mullin finished 7th in the BE this past season. That is a fact. You nor anyone can dispute that. To say they were the 4th best team in the conference is not a fact, it's yours or his opinion.

Arkansas fan here. Anderson is a class act and our fans really liked him as a person. You'll never have to worry about him getting you in hot water with the NCAA.

He definitely improved us from the mess we were in with Pelphrey before he got here. We had just went 2-14 in the SEC a few years prior and were in APR hell. After 8 years though he had never gotten past the first weekend of the tournament, things had gotten a little stagnant and it was probably best for both sides to move on with our attendance declining and us having a new AD. Teams like A&M, Auburn and LSU going further in the tournament probably didn't help either when they don't have the tradition, facilities and fan support that we feel we have (even though LSU and Auburn might not have exactly been playing by the rules). Fans were also frustrated about him missing out on some blue chip in-state players in recruiting like Malik Monk, Archie Goodwin and KeVaughn Allen who all left for other SEC schools.

He had us consistently average to above average/pretty good but we were never great or truly terrible like Vanderbilt was this past season. Some feel his style may be a little outdated but it is really fun to watch when it is working. Not sure how he'll fit in NYC but maybe he can find a few guys like Kareem Reid. Overall I'm not sure why he wasn't able to replicate his success at UAB and Missouri here but there are definitely worse coaches out there. He did get some bad luck draws with some loaded North Carolina teams in the tournament a few times and honestly came close to knocking them off a few years ago if not for a controversial call late in the game.

Arkansas fan here. Anderson is a class act and our fans really liked him as a person. You'll never have to worry about him getting you in hot water with the NCAA.

He definitely improved us from the mess we were in with Pelphrey before he got here. We had just went 2-14 in the SEC a few years prior and were in APR hell. After 8 years though he had never gotten past the first weekend of the tournament, things had gotten a little stagnant and it was probably best for both sides to move on with our attendance declining and us having a new AD. Teams like A&M, Auburn and LSU going further in the tournament probably didn't help either when they don't have the tradition, facilities and fan support that we feel we have (even though LSU and Auburn might not have exactly been playing by the rules). Fans were also frustrated about him missing out on some blue chip in-state players in recruiting like Malik Monk, Archie Goodwin and KeVaughn Allen who all left for other SEC schools.

He had us consistently average to above average/pretty good but we were never great or truly terrible like Vanderbilt was this past season. Some feel his style may be a little outdated but it is really fun to watch when it is working. Not sure how he'll fit in NYC but maybe he can find a few guys like Kareem Reid. Overall I'm not sure why he wasn't able to replicate his success at UAB and Missouri here but there are definitely worse coaches out there. He did get some bad luck draws with some loaded North Carolina teams in the tournament a few times and honestly came close to knocking them off a few years ago if not for a controversial call late in the game.

It's all about the expectation level. As the Arkansas Pres said in his statement about Anderson that he thanked him for his contributions but they needed someone who could compete for SEC and NCAA titles.

Whereas the expectation level at SJU is far different. No one in their right mind is expecting Big East or NCAA titles. However a guy who could at least take this team to middle of the pack in conference would be a welcome change.

So in this regard, Anderson seems like a decent get especially for a program as moribund as St. John's for almost two decades now.

It's all about the expectation level. As the Arkansas Pres said in his statement about Anderson that he thanked him for his contributions but they needed someone who could compete for SEC and NCAA titles.

Whereas the expectation level at SJU is far different. No one in their right mind is expecting Big East or NCAA titles. However a guy who could at least take this team to middle of the pack in conference would be a welcome change.

So in this regard, Anderson seems like a decent get especially for a program as moribund as St. John's for almost two decades now.

Sounds like a good "safe" bet but not the type who is a program changer or more then a middle of the pack coach.

It's all about the expectation level. As the Arkansas Pres said in his statement about Anderson that he thanked him for his contributions but they needed someone who could compete for SEC and NCAA titles.

Whereas the expectation level at SJU is far different. No one in their right mind is expecting Big East or NCAA titles. However a guy who could at least take this team to middle of the pack in conference would be a welcome change.

So in this regard, Anderson seems like a decent get especially for a program as moribund as St. John's for almost two decades now.

Expectations were a little wild in Arkansas. They hadn't been to the Sweet Sixteen since 1996 but were anticipating that Mike Anderson would have them back to 1994 levels of success like they had under Nolan Richardson when they won a national title and lost to UCLA in the championship game the next year. It was always going to be extremely difficult to replicate that. He won't have the same shadow hanging over him at St. John's. And when that wasn't the case (at UAB and Mizzou), he did well.

It's all about the expectation level. As the Arkansas Pres said in his statement about Anderson that he thanked him for his contributions but they needed someone who could compete for SEC and NCAA titles.

Whereas the expectation level at SJU is far different. No one in their right mind is expecting Big East or NCAA titles. However a guy who could at least take this team to middle of the pack in conference would be a welcome change.

So in this regard, Anderson seems like a decent get especially for a program as moribund as St. John's for almost two decades now.

I think competing for Big East titles is the goal. A sweet 16 would be a goal as well. 

I think competing for Big East titles is the goal. A sweet 16 would be a goal as well. 

Being in a basketball conference, in a basketball school out of NYC, and playing at the Garden, maybe the thing to really help him make that transition and become successful.

States schools have resources, but basketball is always second tier compared to Football. When Mullin was successful the Garden and Cuty was buzzing. If Anderson can bring stability and success to the program Cragg can get the resources that his vision needs.

Cluess story one have been great if he was the coach, but Anderson will be another unique success story. 

Looks like a good hire to me.  All the best.

Being in a basketball conference, in a basketball school out of NYC, and playing at the Garden, maybe the thing to really help him make that transition and become successful.

States schools have resources, but basketball is always second tier compared to Football. When Mullin was successful the Garden and Cuty was buzzing. If Anderson can bring stability and success to the program Cragg can get the resources that his vision needs.

Cluess story one have been great if he was the coach, but Anderson will be another unique success story. 

Anderson also looks like someone Cragg could work well with.

The news conference will be interesting to see the dynamic between Bobby, Oliva and Cragg ... and with Cragg and Anderson ...

Looks like a good hire to me.  All the best.

thanks for your insights into Cluess and Iona over past week, best to the Gaels!

Everything that we have been longing for over the past 15 years has been answered with this hire.

Anyone got a link to the press conference?

apparently can be streamed on: RedStormSports.com

Anderson also looks like someone Cragg could work well with.

Exactly, and it seems like Cragg either picked him and was on with him. SJU might have Forest Gump their way to success despite all their efforts to fail.

It’s time to be catiously optimistic.

We are in the kid business, fellas

https://twitter.com/MarleyPaul22/status/1119290764595539968


Marley Paul
‏ @MarleyPaul22

Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa have both joined Mike Anderson on stage during his introductory press conference. #sjubb