by hoops22 » Fri Dec 18, 2015 10:37 pm
Look, anyone who has watched St. Johns closely this year, isn't totally surprised by tonight. The sad news is, this simply is not a good basketball team. Be thankful we got the gift that was the Syracuse game. Why Cuse came in with such an idiotic game plan who knows? But they didn't pressure the ball, let us take open threes from long range, and couldn't make shots themselves, so it added up to a win for us. Thank God for all that. But when you trap the ball,extend the defense and cut off the passing lanes the Johnnies are in big trouble. There is no one that can get to the basket, break down defenders, or protect the basketball. The man to man defense is embarassing. Mussini was getting beaten so badly by his man tonight, that he rarely was still in the camera angle by the time the ball was shot. Losing by 16 to Fordham, 22 to Incarnate Word, 32 to that D2 team in the pre season, struggling to eke out a win against an ice cold shooting Niagara team, needing a miracle at home against Rutgers, tells you all you need to know.
The truth is, if Mullin is to return St.johns to the top 25, very few of the players we saw playing tonight will have any meaningful role on that team.Yakwe will, he just turned 18 in October, and has a huge upside. Sima hopefully will, but he has to keep improving. But the rest of the team will likely be little more than role players. LoVett and Ponds will both add the quickness and scoring punch the team currently lacks. Owens is hopefully as good as advertised, but we'll have to see him play before we know for sure. Beyond that, hopefully there will be key signings we're currently in the running for and some good transfers that become available. I believe Mullin will get us there, but we're likely at least two years away before this team will make any serious noise. In the meantime, all you can do is be patient, and be appreciative when you get a gift like the Syracuse game. Those will be few and far between.