Hoops Report Non Top 50 Reviews

I would like to say that a lot of writers out there write previews and don't do their homework.  Which is understandable, it's hard to really get a feel for every team.  But it's reprehensible to not acknowledge that there are things the writer doesn't know about, or to not leave room for some wild cards.  I'm posting this for the St. John's review, but the Marquette review (link) is egregious - they list a raw redshirting freshman project as the starting center. 

The St. John's preview (at the end of this page: http://www.thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=140).  Note a glaring mistake or three??:

St. John's Red Storm
Last Season: 11-19 (5-13)
Key Losses: Eugene Lawrence and Larry Wright
Head Coach: Norm Roberts

Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Malik Boothe 5-9 So.
SG: D.J. Kennedy 6-6 So.
SF: Anthony Mason Jr. 6-7 Sr.
PF: Justin Burrell 6-8 So.
C: Tomas Jasiulionis 6-11 Sr.
Key Reserves: Paris Horne 6-3 So. SG, Sean Evans 6-8 So. PF, Dele Coker 6-10 So. C, Quincy Roberts 6-5 Fr. SG, Tyshwan Edmondson 6-3 Fr. PG

St. John's is certainly far from the NCAA tournament. In fact, the Red Storm will be battling this year to make the Big East tournament.

Anthony Mason Jr. and Justin Burrell will provide this team with a forward combo that is likely to lead this team if they hope to have any success. The team has size, but it's the talent that is in question. The team isn't very deep and will likely be relying on its incoming talent to change their fortunes. Unfortunately, that talent isn't that impressive.

Expect the Red Storm to show improvement with their stars returning. However, there won't be enough improvement to get them anywhere special.

If we dont make the Big East tournament this year Im gonna be really, really, really pissed!

-So I guess this guy doesn't know every team makes the Big East Tournament.

-I think we'll be relying more heavily on our returning talent than our incoming talent.

-No Mention of Phil Wait

Seton Hall Pirates
Last Season: 17-15 (7-11)
Key Losses: Brian Laing, Jamar Nutter, Larry Davis
Head Coach: Bobby Gonzalez

Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Eugene Harvey 6-0 Jr.
SG: Paul Grause 5-11 Sr.
SF: Jeremy Hazell 6-5 So.
PF: Robert Mitchell 6-6 Jr.
C: John Garcia 6-9 Jr.
Key Reserves: Melvyn Oliver 6-11 Fr. C, Jordan Theodore 6-0 Fr. PG, Mike Davis 6-11 So. C, Jordan Theodore 6-0 Fr. PG

Last season Seton Hall played well in spurts. The Pirates knocked off Louisville and then battled through an otherwise mediocre season. Of their seven players who saw quality minutes, four are returning.

Gone is leading scorer Brian Laing who never seemed to step off the court (38.3 mpg). However, the team can replace his production with Robert Mitchell. Mitchell, who sat out last season due to transfer restrictions, will be ready to go this year. He was last seen in a Duquesne uniform, where he averaged a team high 16.4 ppg to go along with his 5.4 rebounds per contest.

Look for a much improved team this year. The Seton Hall Pirates are capable of making a tournament run, but are off the radar due to their transfer losses and unimpressive season last year.[/b]

How does this team improve? How is this team poised to make a tournament run?

They lost 3 of their better players. They don't have size, they don't have shooters. I think they are one of the worst teams in the conference.

Seton Hall will implode IMO, alot of character issuse on that team with a schizo coach. The 25 year old Hazzell can shoot though. Are their 2 kids named Jordan Theodore on this team?

-So I guess this guy doesn't know every team makes the Big East Tournament.

-I think we'll be relying more heavily on our returning talent than our incoming talent.

-No Mention of Phil Wait

No mention of Rob Thomas, as well.  I wouldn't say the team isn't deep...with a couple of stars in the fold that would be a pretty interesting bench.  But man, they've got to work hard to get to that Big East Tournament!

They missed the TCI incoming player as well; and if Melvyn Oliver makes an impact it'll be at the food court.  Not saying he's gonna have weight problems but he's too big to play at that pace.  And if they slow down, Harvey and Gause will find themselves less useful than they think they are now.

...if Melvyn Oliver makes an impact it'll be at the food court. 

Great line.

Shawn Albin = nice person... and his "analysis"(especially on SJU & SHU) is absolute NONSENSE.. .. peace!

Shawn Albin = nice person... and his "analysis"(especially on SJU & SHU) is absolute NONSENSE.. .. peace!

Can we refrain from the name calling? I don't know how many times I have to tell you.

You can say you think he is uninformed, not intelligent on the subject, he has no idea what he is talking about, etc. Lets not call the guy a nice person though. I'm sure if you were covering college basketball around the country you wouldn't know everything about every team. Does that give anyone to have the right to call you a nice person?

Would I publish stuff that I feel I'm uncertain about...no

Quote from: oldred10 on August 27, 2008, 10:21:01 AM

Shawn Albin = nice person... and his "analysis"(especially on SJU & SHU) is absolute NONSENSE.. .. peace!

Can we refrain from the name calling? I don't know how many times I have to tell you.

You can say you think he is uninformed, not intelligent on the subject, he has no idea what he is talking about, etc. Lets not call the guy a nice person though. I'm sure if you were covering college basketball around the country you wouldn't know everything about every team. Does that give anyone to have the right to call you a nice person?

Would I publish stuff that I feel I'm uncertain about...no

Give me a break JJ..  ... since when did nice person become a "bad word"... i'm not addressing a "fellow" poster, i'm talking about a guy who obviously has NO idea what he's talking about when it comes to college hoops & the Big East in general... specifically when it comes to Seton Hall "making a tournament run".. lol ... and saying SJU "has no depth" when this is our DEEPEST team in 8 years & failing to even mention Thomas or the 7'1 Wait... in my book the word "nice person" fits the ball in his case.. ... And truthfully, i thought u meant not using words like that toward posters on this board... But if unknown bloggers & self proclaimed "writers" are off limits so be it... i think that's pretty ridiculous but whatever u say... it's ur show.. .. peace!

You have a valid point and normally I wouldn't say anything but I just want to show you how you tend to go about things sometimes and how you could do it differently. There is no need to be insulting or to name call someone. Its pretty simple. You will garner more respect if you refrained from name calling but when everyone is a bozo, clown, nice person, etc. you tend to lose credibility.