Bobre:
Taking another coaches players matters a lot less if you're succeeding Calipari...or Coach K...or Boeheim...or Calhoun...etc. When you are taking NORM ROBERTS' players and having them play the best ball St. John's has played in a decade, that probably deserves MORE credit than taking his own players, who are more talented than Norm's ever were.
No reasonable individual was EXPECTING a NCAA tourney appearance this year. Yes, we were all hoping for it if all had come, but when you have to fill 9 spots and your goal is a championship and a final four, you have to take risks. Some of the risks clearly did not turn out, but let's not forget the man has dealt with prostate cancer recovery all year.
If Lavin is back next year, this team will make the NCAA tourney. I don't care if we fill the rest of the roster with Jakarr, Obekpa, etc. or if we fill it with 5 guys of Greene/Godsgift's caliber, the foundation is already set for this team to be very good next year with Harkless and D'Angelo leading the charge. If the recruits dont come for next season, no big deal. If Lavin has consistently done ONE thing successful in his entire career, it's been recruiting. I'll give him a reprieve if 18 yr olds get scared and dont committ while he's not game coaching. They'll come in bunches next year when he's back on the sidelines (and personally, I do think we get a couple really damn good ones for next year...and already have in Branch).
You want facts? Lavin has coached us for 1 season and we made the NCAA tourney with a bunch of guys, many of which, talentwise, should probably never have had the roles they did on a Big East team. Lavin got the best NY recruit in a LONG time to stay home, and that player is projected to be a lottery pick next year. He recruited 2 of the top 7 scoring frosh int he nation. Stick to the facts and you'll be just fine.