Jon Rothstein 10 least appreciated players in college basketball

LJ getting some attention

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4kh_EUBY9W/

I feel like LJ gets a ton of appreciation from every angle:  fans, media, opposing coaches, etc.

I feel like LJ gets a ton of appreciation from every angle:  fans, media, opposing coaches, etc.

As a good player but not the stud he is.

I feel like LJ gets a ton of appreciation from every angle:  fans, media, opposing coaches, etc.

I think he was somewhat under appreciated last year. He was arguably one of best newcomers in the country last year

True statement. Last year, all the hype went to Ponds, and secondary hype went to Heron.

Good for LJ, he is the guy with Mustapha to carry us.

I think he was somewhat under appreciated last year. He was arguably one of best newcomers in the country last year

He was quite good, but also took games off because he was not properly motivated.  Neither was Shamorie.  It is embarrassing that last year's team didn't finish with 25+ wins and a finish of the field of 32 at the least.  Just a huge f#cking shame.

He was quite good, but also took games off because he was not properly motivated.  Neither was Shamorie.  It is embarrassing that last year's team didn't finish with 25+ wins and a finish of the field of 32 at the least.  Just a huge f#cking shame.

If one guy didn’t take any games off last year it was LJ

It is embarrassing that last year's team didn't finish with 25+ wins and a finish of the field of 32 at the least.   

Embarrassing?  We had no size; no depth; no backup point guard; and a ripped power forward that played on the perimeter and committed two fouls on the pre-game layup line.

You are drastically over stating our talent last year.

Embarrassing?  We had no size; no depth; no backup point guard; and a ripped power forward that played on the perimeter and committed two fouls on the pre-game layup line.

You are drastically over stating our talent last year.

It was an incredibly embarrassing end to the season. As a fan, it was embarrassing to watch the team collapse the way they did.

I don’t know you could have watched the undefeated start, and the implosion that seemed to begin the second SH stole one, and not be embarrassed with how soft they finished the season. It’s as if they didn’t even care.

Embarrassing?  We had no size; no depth; no backup point guard; and a ripped power forward that played on the perimeter and committed two fouls on the pre-game layup line.

You are drastically over stating our talent last year.

Yes, embarrassing. That power forward got zero coaching except from st Jean. Robert's rode the pine when he could have helped with 15 mpg in the frontcourt.  The calling card of the regime was to be player development and training to keep guys in shape, and shamorie played with pudge on his frame all year and guys were not prepared properly

If one guy didn’t take any games off last year it was LJ

For the millionth time, he took the depaul game off at home when shamorie was hurt, for starters.  And I am not blaming him.  He was 20/21 in his first major college season. He had no one other than 1-2 talks with Mitch or st jean during timeouts telling him to get into it situationally or how to properly focus

It was an incredibly embarrassing end to the season. As a fan, it was embarrassing to watch the team collapse the way they did.

I don’t know you could have watched the undefeated start, and the implosion that seemed to begin the second SH stole one, and not be embarrassed with how soft they finished the season. It’s as if they didn’t even care.

If you want to call the late season swoon embarrassing - that's fine.  I like "disappointing" better as a description but to each his own.

But Talking heads 77 felt it was embarrassing not to finish with 26 wins and come up with our 1st Ncaa tournament win in nearly 2 decades.  That's when I thought it appropriate to point out the gaping flaws in last years lineup.

If you want to call the late season swoon embarrassing - that's fine.  I like "disappointing" better as a description but to each his own.

But Talking heads 77 felt it was embarrassing not to finish with 26 wins and come up with our 1st Ncaa tournament win in nearly 2 decades.  That's when I thought it appropriate to point out the gaping flaws in last years lineup.

I love the moniker.  Thank you.  It was embarrassing.  Pretty much any local coaches you speak with will tell you the same thing.

Put differently, given anderson or any good or better coach last year's roster, and you would have had 25 wins and a round of 32+ appearance.

If you want to call the late season swoon embarrassing - that's fine.  I like "disappointing" better as a description but to each his own.

But Talking heads 77 felt it was embarrassing not to finish with 26 wins and come up with our 1st Ncaa tournament win in nearly 2 decades.  That's when I thought it appropriate to point out the gaping flaws in last years lineup.

The greatest flaw was effort.

He was quite good, but also took games off because he was not properly motivated.  Neither was Shamorie.  It is embarrassing that last year's team didn't finish with 25+ wins and a finish of the field of 32 at the least.  Just a huge f#cking shame.

Last year’s team had one of the worst frontcourts in Big East history and no capable backup PG or secondary ball-handler.

The real shame to me is that the staff didn’t add a Malik Boothe type of PG and a big man that actually wanted to play down low.

Lol at the idea of Josh Roberts playing 15mpg last year.

Either way, love LJ. In addition to his physical talents he has a great feel for the game. I’m sure a lot of others hate it but I love watching him find his spot outside the arc on fast breaks, a shot he hits pretty often.

Lol at the idea of Josh Roberts playing 15mpg last year.

Either way, love LJ. In addition to his physical talents he has a great feel for the game. I’m sure a lot of others hate it but I love watching him find his spot outside the arc on fast breaks, a shot he hits pretty often.

Did Keita have more than 5 good moments all of last year?

The greatest flaw was effort.

I don't agree with this. Consistency or preparation was a flaw but the team didn't give up or fold. They battled back in a lot of games. They played hard.

I don’t think it was effort either. Consistency, preparation, lack of the leadership or direction needed for college kids and most fundamentally, in my view, the failure to recruit an able bodied front line and backup PG who wasn’t going to flake out. If you thought Roberts and Earlington were too raw to play, as may have been the case, you should have planned accordingly with serviceable guys. If Dixon was going to be the swing guard and backup PG, you need to make sure he is content with the role and stays so as not to dismantle the season. It seemed we were always a slot or two short and that speaks to the type of player you are recruiting and ability to keep them content on arrival.

PS - I still love Mullin and will always love Mullin.