Sun. March 3, 2019 (2) Big East Games....

[cu blujs]

Doesn't St. John's have some good HS recruits as well? Why would Simon leave? Is he not happy? He may see a more featured role for himself there if Ponds and Clark are gone, I would think. Clark is good at times, and disappears other times. I think he's fairly easily replaced. Perhaps with that group gone you will have a more mentally stable group that doesn't get stupid technical, foul willy-nilly and melt down when things go against them. Despite the talent of Ponds (who I tend to think won't get drafted) and Heron, maybe it will actually be a good, fresh start for Mullin without them. Trying to find some positives for you.

[SJUBBALL]

Doesn't St. John's have some good HS recruits as well? Why would Simon leave? Is he not happy? He may see a more featured role for himself there if Ponds and Clark are gone, I would think. Clark is good at times, and disappears other times. I think he's fairly easily replaced. Perhaps with that group gone you will have a more mentally stable group that doesn't get stupid technical, foul willy-nilly and melt down when things go against them. Despite the talent of Ponds (who I tend to think won't get drafted) and Heron, maybe it will actually be a good, fresh start for Mullin without them. Trying to find some positives for you.

I agree. MullinMayhem is just spewing BS. Simon won’t leave. Heron maybe. But I agree maybe it’s time for a new face of the St. John’s team. Ton of new players coming in, time for the Ponds era to end

[stever20]

Doesn't St. John's have some good HS recruits as well? Why would Simon leave? Is he not happy? He may see a more featured role for himself there if Ponds and Clark are gone, I would think. Clark is good at times, and disappears other times. I think he's fairly easily replaced. Perhaps with that group gone you will have a more mentally stable group that doesn't get stupid technical, foul willy-nilly and melt down when things go against them. Despite the talent of Ponds (who I tend to think won't get drafted) and Heron, maybe it will actually be a good, fresh start for Mullin without them. Trying to find some positives for you.

I agree. MullinMayhem is just spewing BS. Simon won’t leave. Heron maybe. But I agree maybe it’s time for a new face of the St. John’s team. Ton of new players coming in, time for the Ponds era to end

with grad transfers, you never know. It's tough to say any graduated player will stay for sure in this day and age. Especially one who is a 5th year player already due to a transfer.

[MullinMayhem]

If you want to believe our roster will be good next year without Ponds, Clark, and quite possibly Heron and Simon, then that's your right. Nonsensical, but your right to say.

[Hall2012]

If you want to believe our roster will be good next year without Ponds, Clark, and quite possibly Heron and Simon, then that's your right. Nonsensical, but your right to say.

You never know. Who thought SHU would be even remotely close to the bubble right now after what they lost from last year? You've just gotta wait and see who steps up.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Who would have thought Georgetown would be sitting in 3rd place at 8-8 several months ago. Wow what a wild season it has been.

so much about college hoops is luck. I mean this year isn't that much different than prior years... I mean this year you take-
Georgetown knocking off Syracuse- Battle's shot at end not going in
Providence knocking off UMass
St John's beating Seton Hall- ref game
Creighton beating Marquette- last second regulation shot not counting for Marquette

and right now the Big East is looking like 5 locks right now. With Providence just needing a home win vs Butler to probably seal their bid as well..

what's happened this year is always the danger of the round robin.

You can't play that what-if game. It's the Butterfly Effect...had the Jays won in Omaha, then they'd probably not be as motivated in game 2 and the G. Eagles would be very motivated and focused for the game in Milwaukee. The net could have easily still been a split. Same with SJU/SHU.

[MullinMayhem]

SHU has experienced coaches, we don't. Big difference. Our recruiting for HS kids has been awful with few exceptions. We have gone all-in on the transfer/JUCO strategy and while it works every once in a blue moon (Nevada), it's almost never a good way to succeed long-term nor is it sustainable. Lavin had to have gotten commitments from like 12 4 star kids in his time while Mullin has gotten maybe 3-4 at most. Should be noted that Lavin had 5 years and this is Mullin's 4th...but see no reason to think current trends will be any different especially if we miss the tourney or barely make it only to lose immediately.

[Redmen23]

SHU has experienced coaches, we don't. Big difference. Our recruiting for HS kids has been awful with few exceptions. We have gone all-in on the transfer/JUCO strategy and while it works every once in a blue moon (Nevada), it's almost never a good way to succeed long-term nor is it sustainable. Lavin had to have gotten commitments from like 12 4 star kids in his time while Mullin has gotten maybe 3-4 at most. Should be noted that Lavin had 5 years and this is Mullin's 4th...but see no reason to think current trends will be any different especially if we miss the tourney or barely make it only to lose immediately.

Many here don't get it because they don't follow the program as closely. Your point about coaching is dead on. SJU has the least experienced coaching staff in the league and it's clearly showed for almost 4 full seasons now. It is not going to miraculously get better next year. In fact they will finish bottom half of the BE next year. Now is the best time to make a move and bring in a real HC and staff. We will see what Cragg does.

[XUFan09]

It would be a bad move to fire a guy after four years when he inherited a terrible roster and has steadily improved the team each year, especially when he's a famous alum. You give a guy in that situation the normal five years (a transition year and a full recruiting cycle) if for no other reason than to show prospective coaching candidates that you will be understanding and give them flexibility in the job. You made your bed by hiring a coach with no experience. Now lie in it.

Coaches like a good opportunity but they like security too. What would make a prospective coach worry about the latter is the thought that SJU Hall of Famer and former Dream Team member Chris Mullin had to start with garbage and still only got four years. Under those circumstances, what would an outside coach get if they started with some decent players?

Also, to head off the potential argument, coming to a mutual separation agreement is just a nice way of firing a guy, and that's how outside coaches would see it too. Steve Lavin was fired; it was just amicable.

[adoraz]

If Chris/Mitch/GSJ aren't putting in the recruiting effort NOW, after being embarrassed for 4 years, then they never will. As we see in sports, generally teams more desperate for a W go all out on the floor. Same applies to coaches and recruiting.

Aside from taking summers off, not showing up to HS gyms, etc, the staff has mainly focused on transfers. Transfers sometimes work but generally have baggage and don't. Transfers also take significantly less recruiting time than high school kids. You can recruit a transfer for just a few days while some recruits take years. There's a reason other coaches don't build their teams around this low hanging fruit.

We were all hoping the names Mullin and Mitch would carry them, but that only modestly worked at the beginning and now their coaching record is the main thing recruits see. If we sneak into Dayton and lose, then Chris needs to step down. Simple as that.