St John vs UMass - 11/24

As I watched the last few minutes of the Arizona St. game, I thought SJU looked mentally broken.  Then to be down early in the second half today.  I have to give the coaching staff a "well done" for bringing the team back mentally.  To pull out a win by breaking Umass, the same way SJU was broken yesterday was incredible.  Hopefully this is a launching pad for more success.

1) CMA's philosophy to play the 2nd unit extended minutes over the first 6 games paid off today. He was waiting to see who from this group would rise up, Earlington has earned heavy minutes and now so has Caraher, both pleasant surprises. The 2nd unit is gaining confidence in live time which will only help us in conference play.

2) Josh is going to be scary the older he gets. I can't wait to see how much Steere will help him.

3) The Heron disappearance has been perplexing. Hopefully a good week of practice and two cupcakes before West Virginia will get him back in gear.

4)Gotta shore up the free throw shooting.

I do applaud the staff for getting guys minutes/experience early in the season. However today I think it was individual performances of Caraher and Roberts that uplifted us to victory. Caraher doesn't see the floor unless Heron isn't in foul trouble and LJ ankle/fouls aren't forced to the bench.

I still want to see more from the staff in game from lineup combos, inbound plays, half court sets, and switching of defenses. It's been pretty loose let 'em go. There are successful coaches like that for instance Bob Huggins doesn't even install an offense till conference play and focuses all on defense. It's early but want to start seeing some of CMA signature stamps

I do applaud the staff for getting guys minutes/experience early in the season. However today I think it was individual performances of Caraher and Roberts that uplifted us to victory. Caraher doesn't see the floor unless Heron isn't in foul trouble and LJ ankle/fouls aren't forced to the bench.

I still want to see more from the staff in game from lineup combos, inbound plays, half court sets, and switching of defenses. It's been pretty loose let 'em go. There are successful coaches like that for instance Bob Huggins doesn't even install an offense till conference play and focuses all on defense. It's early but want to start seeing some of CMA signature stamps

CMA opened the 2nd half with Dunn and the regular starters. I teeter on whether he's more valuable as the sixth man or in the starting lineup. His assist to turnover ratio is 9:8 right now, can't have that in your starting PG. When Steere joins the fray the rotations and depth will become more defined.

Congrats on a nice win, 5-2 not a terrible start with new head ciach.

Congrats on a nice win, 5-2 not a terrible start with new head ciach.

It's not terrible but it's not good either considering the competition. 4 of the 5 wins were against complete cupcakes and the other win was against the projected 10th place team in the A10. 0-2 in toss up games.

UMass had two decent players and they were freshmen. We win this game 10/10 times with even Norm Roberts coaching.

There is no “blueprint to the season.” It is simply whether Anderson keeps his .500 streak alive and how much experience the underclassmen can get for next year.

Pains me to agree but you're right. This team is nowhere near a bubble team and if that's the expectation set for this team then everybody is going to end up extremely disappointed.

This season needs to be about continuing to develop key parts of the future like Roberts, Champagnie, Steere, Williams and Earlington. Those guys can all become very nice pieces as upperclassmen.

Pains me to agree but you're right. This team is nowhere near a bubble team and if that's the expectation set for this team then everybody is going to end up extremely disappointed.

This season needs to be about continuing to develop key parts of the future like Roberts, Champagnie, Steere, Williams and Earlington. Those guys can all become very nice pieces as upperclassmen.

Last year during our magical 12-0 from memory, i think we played well in 2 games. Rutgers and a cupcake. This team has plenty of work to. I would be happy if they got on the NIT bubble. If heron starts playing like he can. This team could surprise people. Plenty of time to get better.

Last year during our magical 12-0 from memory, i think we played well in 2 games. Rutgers and a cupcake. This team has plenty of work to. I would be happy if they got on the NIT bubble. If heron starts playing like he can. This team could surprise people. Plenty of time to get better.

Yes, as I said last year we can certainly get better but so will every other team. We won't be terrible but we're staring at 6-12 or 7-11 Big East record.

Last year during our magical 12-0 from memory, i think we played well in 2 games. Rutgers and a cupcake. This team has plenty of work to. I would be happy if they got on the NIT bubble. If heron starts playing like he can. This team could surprise people. Plenty of time to get better.

It’s ridiculous to say to say that we are a bubble team or that we’re nowhere near a bubble team.

Coach needs and should be given time to see what he has, and what adjustments can be made.

So far, the two 2nd team All BE returnees have shat the bed. None of that is on Coach Anderson.

Credit to CFC where credit is due:

- A similar all-conference teamless lineup that came in and immediately gave Asu momentum yesterday, won the game today with a second half run.  His hand was forced by foul trouble from his top two...but it worked.

- Second half adjustments? Down 1 at the half...won going away by 15.

- DC harnessed his inner Chris Mullin, a slow white forward, and won us the game.

Credit to CFC where credit is due:

- A similar all-conference teamless lineup that came in and immediately gave Asu momentum yesterday, won the game today with a second half run.  His hand was forced by foul trouble from his top two...but it worked.

- Second half adjustments? Down 1 at the half...won going away by 15.

- DC harnessed his inner Chris Mullin, a slow white forward, and won us the game.

Hey, Mullin was a great player here, but he never hit threes like Caraher

Watched the second half again.

Caraher, Earlington, Roberts, Champagnie, Rutherford and yes, even Williams sparked this victory.

Williams made crisp passes half court, and played defense. He came up with loose balls, and didn't lose his man. Hoping he uses this solid effort off the bench to build some momentum.

Roberts is clearly the most improved player on this team. He's probably the most improved sophomore we've had since Lavor Postell. The entire team, especially Heron, need to focus on getting Roberts the ball.

Shocking that for these two games, Heron has been the worst player on our team. If this keeps up he needs to be benched. He kills the team's momentum if his shot isn't falling, because it's so easy to rattle him. He plays like a freshman. I still see some punk leftover in Heron from the Mullin era. He gets called for an offensive foul, like he often does, and he's sitting there on the floor in disbelief. How about get up, and next time pass the damn ball?

Watched the second half again.

Caraher, Earlington, Roberts, Champagnie, Rutherford and yes, even Williams sparked this victory.

Williams made crisp passes half court, and played defense. He came up with loose balls, and didn't lose his man. Hoping he uses this solid effort off the bench to build some momentum.

Roberts is clearly the most improved player on this team. He's probably the most improved sophomore we've had since Lavor Postell. The entire team, especially Heron, need to focus on getting Roberts the ball.

Shocking that for these two games, Heron has been the worst player on our team. If this keeps up he needs to be benched. He kills the team's momentum if his shot isn't falling, because it's so easy to rattle him. He plays like a freshman. I still see some punk leftover in Heron from the Mullin era. He gets called for an offensive foul, like he often does, and he's sitting there on the floor in disbelief. How about get up, and next time pass the damn ball?

Williams was huge in the five point stretch that put us up for good.

- great defense forces shot clock violation.
- assist that sprung ME free for the tie. 
- steal and dove for ball which looked like a for sure tie up, wrestled it free and that led to Caraher’s corner 3 for the lead and we never looked back.

I said on the other board that I’m not as sure as I was about his overall game but I am sure that he is not moving the same. He’s running all most hunched over.  When he gets healthy, if his struggles continue then we have more reason for concern. 

LJ played one of the best 7 point games I’ve seen. He was everywhere on the court and sans a few dumb fouls I thought he played great.

Williams was huge in the five point stretch that put us up for good.

- great defense forces shot clock violation.
- assist that sprung ME free for the tie. 
- steal and dove for ball which looked like a for sure tie up, wrestled it free and that led to Caraher’s corner 3 for the lead and we never looked back.

I said on the other board that I’m not as sure as I was about his overall game but I am sure that he is not moving the same. He’s running all most hunched over.  When he gets healthy, if his struggles continue then we have more reason for concern. 

LJ played one of the best 7 point games I’ve seen. He was everywhere on the court and sans a few dumb fouls I thought he played great.

Williams isn't 100%. I see that, too. Incredibly, as poor as his shot has been, he played much better than Heron, and he needs to play over him.

UMass had two decent players and they were freshmen.

Tre Mitchell had 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight turnovers. That would have been a historic triple double.

And the excellent FT shooting continues: 59 percent yesterday. For the year one player > 75 percent and six < 70 percent including LJF - who's 50 percent from three - at 58 percent.

Hey, Mullin was a great player here, but he never hit threes like Caraher

Boy, but how he could have!

Williams isn't 100%. I see that, too. Incredibly, as poor as his shot has been, he played much better than Heron, and he needs to play over him.

Are you familiar with the term "knee jerk reaction"?

Are you familiar with the term "knee jerk reaction"?

Heron ain't Gil Scott. He's Alpha Bangura.

And the excellent FT shooting continues: 59 percent yesterday. For the year one player > 75 percent and six < 70 percent including LJF - who's 50 percent from three - at 58 percent.

Felix once shot 80 percent for the season. Remember that? I know you do. Sample size Foady.