Jon Rothstein 10 least appreciated players in college basketball

If you don’t get back on d, I’m calling out your effort. I don’t care if it’s Eugene Lawrence or Shamorie Ponds.

Lack of effort is why we folded. Providence and Xavier had less talent, but they out-hustled us.

Desperately needed another ball handler last year. Losing Dixon hurt because he was able to assume some of the load off of Shamorie. Not surprised Ponds completely broke down towards the end. Even at the beginning of conference play Shamorie struggled to close out games. Being the only true play maker on a team is tough. That chinese food didn't help either.

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.

I disagree and history would say otherwise.

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.

This is insane. The team was deeply flawed. Can you name one front court that was worse than ours in a power 6 conference? How about the Big East in the last ten years? You can’t.

And what about a backup PG? Or s second ball-handler?

The only way they could win a tournament game was for both Heron and Ponds to be on fire and Clark to be the be on fire and hitting the glass. That’s a big ask.

This is insane. The team was deeply flawed. Can you name one front court that was worse than ours in a power 6n conference? How about the Big East in the last ten years? You can’t.

And what about a backup PG? Or s second ball-handler?

The only way they could win a tournament game was for both Heron and Ponds to be on fire and Clark to be the be on fire and hitting the glass. That’s a big ask.

Not up for a back and forth about insanity, but conversely, but your logic, coach Mullin had a good year last season?

but conversely, but your logic, coach Mullin had a good year last season?

You bet your a$$ he did.  He took this moribund, sad sack program to the Ncaa tournament.  That's as good as it gets for our beloved program.

Desperately needed another ball handler last year. Losing Dixon hurt because he was able to assume some of the load off of Shamorie. Not surprised Ponds completely broke down towards the end. Even at the beginning of conference play Shamorie struggled to close out games. Being the only true play maker on a team is tough. That chinese food didn't help either.

The Chinese food. LOL

You bet your a$$ he did.  He took this moribund, sad sack program to the Ncaa tournament.  That's as good as it gets for our beloved program.

What did Mullin do last year to make anyone think HE had a great year. If anything, they made the tournament despite him.

What did Mullin do last year to make anyone think HE had a great year. If anything, they made the tournament despite him.

Look St. John's had a good year last year.

The expectations were should have been better than good.

The reality was we should have done slightly better than we did.

You bet your a$$ he did.  He took this moribund, sad sack program to the Ncaa tournament.  That's as good as it gets for our beloved program.

Ok cool.  For a guy who said his calling card would be player development to have, in year 4, two guards with obvious baby fat and others who got winded late (recruiting played a big factor there in lack of depth), this was not what any of us wanted or expected.

But as Dave said, turn the page.

Ok cool.  For a guy who said his calling card would be player development to have, in year 4, two guards with obvious baby fat and others who got winded late (recruiting played a big factor there in lack of depth), this was not what any of us wanted or expected.

But as Dave said, turn the page.

Mullin was worse in player development than any coach. Even worse than Norm and Mahoney.

Not up for a back and forth about insanity, but conversely, but your logic, coach Mullin had a good year last season?

In fairness to Coach Mullin, he was every bit as good as Willie Randolph in 2007.

Ok cool.  For a guy who said his calling card would be player development to have, in year 4, two guards with obvious baby fat and others who got winded late (recruiting played a big factor there in lack of depth), this was not what any of us wanted or expected.

The proof is in the pudding.  You either make the tournament or you don't. Mullin did.  The other sour grapes your bringing up is just window dressing.

If anything, they made the tournament despite him.

Yeah, and Mrs. A got pregnant despite me. It's not possible.

I normally wouldn't post this but, a friend of mine is an assistant coach at Christ the King. He was telling me that the Christ the King coaching staff loves the new staff at St. Johns. Said they are very hard working and always around and in contact. Coach Arbitello is specifically very close with Van Macon. They were invited to a St. John's practice and said that Coach Anderson runs everything and is on top of everyone. They said its really nice to see since last year Mullin did not run a thing at practice and wasn't even there for the full practice. Said that Anderson seems to be very close with his players and there truly is a family atmosphere that Anderson has built already.

My friend also stated that they really need Dunn to get cleared because he has been really playing well in practice. Hard nosed defender, really can control the game, can get to the rim, and will be a good piece for us this year.

Last thing he said was that Nate Tabor was enrolled at Christ The King in the beginning of the year, but actually left the school because of some issues and he does not even know where he went.

I normally wouldn't post this but, a friend of mine is an assistant coach at Christ the King. He was telling me that the Christ the King coaching staff loves the new staff at St. Johns. Said they are very hard working and always around and in contact. Coach Arbitello is specifically very close with Van Macon. They were invited to a St. John's practice and said that Coach Anderson runs everything and is on top of everyone. They said its really nice to see since last year Mullin did not run a thing at practice and wasn't even there for the full practice. Said that Anderson seems to be very close with his players and there truly is a family atmosphere that Anderson has built already.

My friend also stated that they really need Dunn to get cleared because he has been really playing well in practice. Hard nosed defender, really can control the game, can get to the rim, and will be a good piece for us this year.

Last thing he said was that Nate Tabor was enrolled at Christ The King in the beginning of the year, but actually left the school because of some issues and he does not even know where he went.

Thanks for sharing. It’s nice to hear that CTK appreciates CMA and staff. If we are being objective (and usually, we aren’t) Mullin had the same early momentum.

The answer lies in the right balance of kids staying and leaving town. Some were never going to stay no matter was coaching, and who was returning. Kenny Smith went to NC. Mark Jackson came here. We lost, but won our share.

As long as CMA sticks with our local basketball community and shows them that his interest is in building teams from that community, St.John’s will their share of talent.

In regards to Dunn, yes, they need to get him cleared. Different staff. Same story. The University has the clout that they have.

I normally wouldn't post this but, a friend of mine is an assistant coach at Christ the King. He was telling me that the Christ the King coaching staff loves the new staff at St. Johns. Said they are very hard working and always around and in contact. Coach Arbitello is specifically very close with Van Macon. They were invited to a St. John's practice and said that Coach Anderson runs everything and is on top of everyone. They said its really nice to see since last year Mullin did not run a thing at practice and wasn't even there for the full practice. Said that Anderson seems to be very close with his players and there truly is a family atmosphere that Anderson has built already.

My friend also stated that they really need Dunn to get cleared because he has been really playing well in practice. Hard nosed defender, really can control the game, can get to the rim, and will be a good piece for us this year.

Last thing he said was that Nate Tabor was enrolled at Christ The King in the beginning of the year, but actually left the school because of some issues and he does not even know where he went.

Thanks for sharing. I have mixed feelings on CTK and other local relationships.

I think the high school coaches have way too much entitlement with providing little return value in this era.

However I also think the past few staffs haven't cultivated those relationships enough to keep them from turning negative.

I do think the "old school" mentality of Anderson and his local recruiting approach will play well to local high school coaches.

I don't know if that will pay dividends in terms of landing top talent but I can see these guys being happy with him at least for short term.

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.

Coach Mullin’s did a great job except we had no size or depth. Can’t make that shit up. Whose fault is that?
If last years team had a decent coach they would have competed for the big east championship and absolutely done damage in the tournament.
For those who thought effort was always there, the players and coaches admitted that they were going through the motions after multiple losses.

I refuse to correspond civilly with the fans of other basketball programs that don't have the common decency to spell the name of our favored son correctly.

Coach Mullin’s did a great job except we had no size or depth. Can’t make that shit up. Whose fault is that?
If last years team had a decent coach they would have competed for the big east championship and absolutely done damage in the tournament.
For those who thought effort was always there, the players and coaches admitted that they were going through the motions after multiple losses.

One POV is that Keita’s injury killed the season, however, I don’t think it’s ever fair to blame a season on an injury or injuries unless there are a Yankee-like amount of them.

This team had no depth. As much as we are struggling for PG depth, Anderson’s group in year one already has more balance. Either Mullin and co didn’t realize how to put the roster together or didn’t bother to. All of us knew that we needed big men. Why didn’t the coaches?