Need to keep things in perspective
-There has been a tremendous change over in personnel from the players to the AD. Things look like they were thrown together because they probably were and this left little time to properly resource this event.
-For the first time in 30 years there is an SJU President that cares about the program and is heavily investing in the program by his hiring actions
-Not saying The event is not important, but it will not make or break a season or turn away recruits in large numbers...If the team wins consistently people will show up. The LBS game at CA last year in Dec before Christmas was packed and there was a buzz in the stands...SJU was ranked at the time. The fans were great at the last home game at MSG. Winning will cover up most worts in a program. Midnight madness is a cherry on top of a program not the sundae.
This could of, should of, been handle better, but to let one school sponsored party throw a wet blanket on the start of a season seems silly. Maybe this will encourage more students to show up, maybe it won't . In either case I am confident that SJU will make proper adjustments in the future. I am confident that we have an administration that actually cares about the program and will continue to invest in it. I am also confident that this administration will make mistakes and will leave us scratching are heads, but they will make these mistakes because they are trying to make the school better.
This isn't the same old same old, there is a new administration and they have already done more then the previous regime...Let's show a little patience and faith. You don't have to agree with ever decision, just don't condemn the school for a possible mistake.
You said the new administration has already more than the previous "regime". Just asking, but how so?
Last year, I attended an open practice at MSG. That was best St.John's related event that I have ever been to, and it's not close. This year, they're having a Red/White type game at Carnesecca Arena at 12:30 on Halloween. That's a big step down IMO.
-This administration has made basketball a priority again.
-The fact that Dr. G did not take the safe route and got rid of Lavin, when that would have been the safe choice to extend him.
-Coach Mullin didn't come here for free, especially when he had to move his family from the Bay Area. The staff is top notch, which is also a pretty penny.
-As the rest of the school is curtting their budget it seems like basketball got whatever they wanted. I'm ok with that because the pay back will be ten fold once they really getting going.
-This year's midnight madness just seems like a big asterisks compared to all the things this administration has down.
-Did the previous regime stop doing midnight madness for awhile?
The last administration just changed the names of the team without looking for a compromise...I think the name change caused more damage then this midnight madness.
-In general the previous regime let this program rot and would be perfectly O.K. With the results that Lavin was doing because they were above 500 and they would occasionally make a tournament. Dr. G bet the house in his first fully year to get this program going again.