Are we still underrated?

Rush the Court did some power rankings the other day and we check in at #10. Justly?

http://rushthecourt.net/2010/08/16/summer-school-in-the-big-east/

10. St. John’s: St. John’s is in a good position for new head coach Steve Lavin  as the Johnnies are loaded with seniors. Ten, to be exact, with eight expected to see significant minutes in the Johnnies rotation. This group isn’t just experienced, either, they are fairly talented as well. DJ Kennedy is as underrated as anyone in the league, averaging 15 points, six boards, and three assists last year. Dwight Hardy (who can heat up as quickly as anyone in the league, save Jeremy Hazell), Paris Horne, and Malik Boothe make up the rest of the Johnnies back court. Anthony Mason, Jr., graduated, but with Justin Brownlee, Sean Evans, Justin Burrell, and Rob Thomas all returning, Lavin will have a lot of big, athletic bodies at his disposal. The x-factor may end up being freshman Dwayne Polee, a 6’7 bean pole with athleticism for days. Norm Roberts  had his flaws as a coach, but one thing he got his club to do was to play all out for 40 minutes. If Lavin can get this group to defend and hit the glass, they have the experience, the depth, and a legitimate first-team all-conference player. This is the year for St. John’s to make a run at the tournament. When this class leaves, it may be awhile before they are back in the mix.

this article didnt acknowledge lavin when they mentioned the conference's new coaches. i guess sports writers dont fact check

Joe Mazzulla has been at West Va for 12 years

This writer is spewing the same junk all of the other clueless writers have been spewing.

Norm always gave a poorly spoken, but heartfelt post game interview. His consistency in any regard as a coach ended there.

To say that we played "all out" for 40 minutes under Norm is maddening. This team quit every 3rd game.

I'd buy that they played all out for one half last year. Just the wrong half.

I love Scoop Jardine this year

Has Joe Mazulla been there 12 years, because it really seems that way. Or did they have a different guy with similar name.

Joe Mazzulla has been at West Va for 12 years

What do we get from Polee? Will he factor?

Defense and rebounding from Polee. He scores on putbacks and in transition.

10th in the conference?  Is this a joke?  AT WORST we are 9th and that is with an incredibly disappointing season.  I think we could make a big push for the top five, probably settling at six or so. 

I think Polee will give us more than some expect.  I don't think he'll be a world beater, but he could excel running out of a zone defense and forcing opposing teams to give up early on the offensive boards. 

Justly?

No. We have the chance to be very good. Assuming that new staff displays a level of technical competence (system, game coaching, etc) that old staff lacked, I see two issues. One, was Boothe's play in the second half of the season a true indication of his ability - that is, did he finally get it and is he finally healthy. Because he played very well - or at least well enough - down the stretch. Two, with new staff can the seniors overcome the culture of losing that results from having gotten their brains beaten in for three years. My gut says yes and yes.

The issue may not be that we're underrated, but that others are overrated. There's a lot of talent gone - Harangody, Monroe, Hayward, etc - that the writer assumes is easily replaced. Outside of the upper eschelon  - Nova, PU, SU and maybe WV - it looks wide open.

Quote from: Dave on August 18, 2010, 04:44:10 PM

Justly?

No. We have the chance to be very good. Assuming that new staff displays a level of technical competence (system, game coaching, etc) that old staff lacked, I see two issues. One, was Boothe's play in the second half of the season a true indication of his ability - that is, did he finally get it and is he finally healthy. Because he played very well - or at least well enough - down the stretch. Two, with new staff can the seniors overcome the culture of losing that results from having gotten their brains beaten in for three years. My gut says yes and yes.

The issue may not be that we're underrated, but that others are overrated. There's a lot of talent gone - Harangody, Monroe, Hayward, etc - that the writer assumes is easily replaced. Outside of the upper eschelon  - Nova, PU, SU and maybe WV - it looks wide open.

Interesting observation on the possibility of others being overrated and SJU correspondingly underrated.

Still, it will take time to drum out some of the bad habits that almost all of our players have acquired. It's also going to take perseverance on the part of the staff to re-tool them in such a short amount of time.

I don't expect to see the finished product on the floor until late December. Just in time.

I am really excited to be playing St. Mary's, but we have to win. Fans are drinking the cool aid. I am sure the players are to. We have to show up against St. Mary's and win the Alaska. We do well out west then come home and play usual St. Francis, LIU, and Fordams. We should (could) be undefeated or close to it. Arizona St. will be tough. Maybe have some top 25 votes before Big east season. If this happens we make the tournmanent. If not I think we struggle again.