New Coach

Is it fair to see how the timeline unfolded as the information comes out as to what transpired before everybody comes to a conclusion that Cragg got played and has dropped the ball? What if he  and Chris were in discussions that would have brought him back under the conditions of staff changes that everyone he wanted and Chris balked? What if Chris wanted an unreasonable extension coming off what everyone here thought was a huge underacheiving season and when told no he quit without telling Cragg while he was in flight home?

Plausible scenarios 79. I am not one critical of Cragg at this point so under those scenarios I would give less credit to Cragg. First one for thinking CM deserved to stay on, second one for misreading the person CM is.

Is it fair to see how the timeline unfolded as the information comes out as to what transpired before everybody comes to a conclusion that Cragg got played and has dropped the ball? What if he  and Chris were in discussions that would have brought him back under the conditions of staff changes that everyone he wanted and Chris balked? What if Chris wanted an unreasonable extension coming off what everyone here thought was a huge underacheiving season and when told no he quit without telling Cragg while he was in flight home?

That's a lot of what ifs. What if Cragg has no idea what he's doing because he's been cocooned in bubble wrap for 30 years ? Everyone thinks he's a genius because he came from dook. What could he possibly have done re dook basketball except say yes Coach Schrewshrwnski, no Coach Shrewshrenski?

That's a lot of what ifs. What if Cragg has no idea what he's doing because he's been cocooned in bubble wrap for 30 years ? Everyone thinks he's a genius because he came from dook. What could he possibly have done re dook basketball except say yes Coach Schrewshrwnski, no Coach Shrewshrenski?

Its actually not. Ask your more 'reliable" posters.

That's a lot of what ifs. What if Cragg has no idea what he's doing because he's been cocooned in bubble wrap for 30 years ? Everyone thinks he's a genius because he came from dook. What could he possibly have done re dook basketball except say yes Coach Schrewshrwnski, no Coach Shrewshrenski?

This is far more likely.

If Mullin gets run out of town after a 21-win season that culminated in a tournament berth, what happens to an AD that blew the most important hire in St. John’s history?

Its actually not. Ask your more 'reliable" posters.

You don’t pay 5 mill in buyouts, burn bridges to the face of the program and several plast players, and risk a total rebuild to hire a 60 year old who hasn’t coached above the MAAX and hasn’t won a tournament game (even as an at large) in nine seasons.

We do this every four years.

This is far more likely.

If Mullin gets run out of town after a 21-win season that culminated in a tournament berth, what happens to an AD that blew the most important hire in St. John’s history?

why is this hire anymore important then the last few..?

why is this hire anymore important then the last few..?

Because we are all closer to death.

Its actually not. Ask your more 'reliable" posters.

I don't believe anyone here has inside information about anything, you included (no offense), and certainly not concerning contract negotiations between the AC and HC. But then I'm a cynic. What's much more likely to me is that the people involved tell versions of the truth that present themselves in the best light and people who are inclined to believe that based upon their personal prejudices do.

Its actually not. Ask your more 'reliable" posters.

Foad doesn't believe any posters.

Foad doesn't believe any posters.

To be fair I don't even trust myself.

This is far more likely.

If Mullin gets run out of town after a 21-win season that culminated in a tournament berth, what happens to an AD that blew the most important hire in St. John’s history?

The most important hire was Lou's replacement and we messed that up and pretty much messed up every once since

Fran
Jarvis
Roberts
Lavin
Mullin 

A variety of things happened on each hire but none really have worked out.   

Iona alum and fan here.  See a deep lack of knowledge about Cluess, Iona, and the MAAC on this forum, which is understandable given that you guys don't care about Iona and the MAAC.  Happy to answer any questions about Cluess.  I recommend this article as a primer on the guy.  It's a fairly long read, but compelling and well worth it.  It will give you insight to his psyche and character, and his relationship with St. John's.

http://www.espn.com/story/_/id/7350224/iona-gaels-tim-cluess-keeps-brothers-memories-alive

Iona alum and fan here.  See a deep lack of knowledge about Cluess, Iona, and the MAAC on this forum, which is understandable given that you guys don't care about Iona and the MAAC.  Happy to answer any questions about Cluess.  I recommend this article as a primer on the guy.  It's a fairly long read, but compelling and well worth it.  It will give you insight to his psyche and character, and his relationship with St. John's.

We already have a token Iona fan, thanks for the condescension though. 

We already have a token Iona fan, thanks for the condescension though.

Didn't intend for it to be condescending; sorry it came off that way.  Honestly wouldn't expect anyone here (other than a hoops junkie) to know much about Iona/MAAC. Not applying for the job token Iona poster.  Have a good one.

Iona alum and fan here.  See a deep lack of knowledge about Cluess, Iona, and the MAAC on this forum, which is understandable given that you guys don't care about Iona and the MAAC.  Happy to answer any questions about Cluess.  I recommend this article as a primer on the guy.  It's a fairly long read, but compelling and well worth it.  It will give you insight to his psyche and character, and his relationship with St. John's.

http://www.espn.com/story/_/id/7350224/iona-gaels-tim-cluess-keeps-brothers-memories-alive

He won a bunch a games in the 29th hardest conference in division 1 and hasn't recruited a player better then 311th since 2010... we got it.

Is it fair to see how the timeline unfolded as the information comes out as to what transpired before everybody comes to a conclusion that Cragg got played and has dropped the ball? What if he  and Chris were in discussions that would have brought him back under the conditions of staff changes that everyone he wanted and Chris balked? What if Chris wanted an unreasonable extension coming off what everyone here thought was a huge underacheiving season and when told no he quit without telling Cragg while he was in flight home?

The problem with this is the thought of Mullin not being the coach for the 19-20 season has been a very realistic one since February. Cragg had a couple months to come up with plans for every possible situation, including this one. Maybe his original plan is still attainable and in the process of getting done. Or maybe he has no idea what he's doing. Maybe it's something in between.

We'll see how it shakes out but if it ends up being Cluess than this was a major failure by Cragg. He left a cushy job at Duke to turn the basketball program around here and his first major move is to hire a 60 year old dude with not even mid-major coaching experience that hasn't proven he can succeed when his players aren't head and shoulders above the competition?

The MAAC is on the fringe of even being a mid-major at this point and is probably a low-major. It's closer to the NEC than the A10. This would be a two step jump for a guy whose style of play doesn't translate well to high-major D1 college basketball.

People can point to Kevin Willard, Ed Cooley, Fran McCaffery etc that went from the MAAC to a high major and have been successful. The difference is all 3 of those guys were assistants at high-major schools before becoming head coaches at the lower level. They knew what high-major college basketball was already. Cluess doesn't.

He won a bunch a games in the 29th hardest conference in division 1 and hasn't recruited a player better then 311th since 2010... we got it.

So this is precisely what I was referring to earlier.  The MAAC's decline to the 29th ranked conference by whatever metric that is using is a recent one.  Perhaps the last two or three years, brought on by a recent spate of transfers out of the conference to higher conferences.    It wasn't the 29th ranked conference during Cluess's entire tenure. 

Iona alum and fan here.  See a deep lack of knowledge about Cluess, Iona, and the MAAC on this forum, which is understandable given that you guys don't care about Iona and the MAAC.  Happy to answer any questions about Cluess.  I recommend this article as a primer on the guy.  It's a fairly long read, but compelling and well worth it.  It will give you insight to his psyche and character, and his relationship with St. John's.

http://www.espn.com/story/_/id/7350224/iona-gaels-tim-cluess-keeps-brothers-memories-alive

Thanks for posting, brought back a lot of memories. Don't worry about Foad's response, he doesn't like anyone, but is very funny at the same time.

The problem with this is the thought of Mullin not being the coach for the 19-20 season has been a very realistic one since February. Cragg had a couple months to come up with plans for every possible situation, including this one. Maybe his original plan is still attainable and in the process of getting done. Or maybe he has no idea what he's doing. Maybe it's something in between.

We'll see how it shakes out but if it ends up being Cluess than this was a major failure by Cragg. He left a cushy job at Duke to turn the basketball program around here and his first major move is to hire a 60 year old dude with not even mid-major coaching experience that hasn't proven he can succeed when his players aren't head and shoulders above the competition?

The MAAC is on the fringe of even being a mid-major at this point and is probably a low-major. It's closer to the NEC than the A10. This would be a two step jump for a guy whose style of play doesn't translate well to high-major D1 college basketball.

People can point to Kevin Willard, Ed Cooley, Fran McCaffery etc that went from the MAAC to a high major and have been successful. The difference is all 3 of those guys were assistants at high-major schools before becoming head coaches at the lower level. They knew what high-major college basketball was already. Cluess doesn't.

Very fair point. I have no knowledge of what happened I just want to give Cragg the benefit of the doubt but you raise so excellent points. Lets see how this plays out as the facts come out but so far the optics of his preparation or lack of isnt great

Iona alum and fan here.  See a deep lack of knowledge about Cluess, Iona, and the MAAC on this forum, which is understandable given that you guys don't care about Iona and the MAAC.  Happy to answer any questions about Cluess.  I recommend this article as a primer on the guy.  It's a fairly long read, but compelling and well worth it.  It will give you insight to his psyche and character, and his relationship with St. John's.

http://www.espn.com/story/_/id/7350224/iona-gaels-tim-cluess-keeps-brothers-memories-alive

Some things
 -Tell us about his recruiting and if he has had any success acquiring national talent, 4 stars etc.

-Also about his system- many of us have not been happy with the recent SJU systems of just heaving up the 3 balls with little attention to a front court and poor rebounding. I fear he is more of the same- you cannot win in the BE consistently (or nationally) with that system.

-Why have bigger programs largely avoided him?