Think the NY papers are fawning just a little on Chris Mullin. LOL
Like with most new coaches he is seen as a breath of fresh air and is now enjoying his honeymoon period.
More Mullin magic: Jordan, Obekpa returning to St. John’s
By Howie Kussoy
April 23, 2015 | 2:52am
Rysheed Jordan (left) and Chris Obekpa will return to St. John's and play for new coach Chris Mullin. Photo: Getty Images; Neil Miller
Three weeks into his tenure as coach at St. John’s, Chris Mullin continues to reward his alma mater for its optimism.
After securing multiple player commitments — and the even more important additions of assistant coaches Barry “Slice” Rohrssen and Matt Abdelmassih to his staff — Mullin confirmed Wednesday night Rysheed Jordan will return to the Red Storm for his junior season, along with soon-to-be senior Chris Obekpa.
Though both players have had multiple disciplinary issues during their time at St. John’s, Mullin said Obekpa and Jordan have been “a pleasure dealing with so far,” during workouts over the past week.
Jordan and Obekpa will be the only players from this past season’s six-man rotation to return, with D’Angelo Harrison, Sir’Dominic Pointer, Phil Greene and Jamal Branch all graduating.
Jordan, the team’s most talented playmaker, was St. John’s second-leading scorer (14.1 points) and leader in assists (3.1), while Obekpa, the Red Storm’s defensive centerpiece, blocked 3.1 shots per game and also averaged seven rebounds.
“My thought with that, much like when you walk into a new situation as I did in the NBA, is that everything is from the first day forward, a clean slate and we forge our relationship from that day on,” Mullin said Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Basketball Writers awards dinner in Tarrytown. “I didn’t really sell them. I told them what I told you. ‘I’m here, I’m new. Whatever has happened in the past, good or bad, is in the past and we move forward.’ ”
Having been thrown into a new position in a new environment, Mullin has had no time to settle in, and despite all that’s been accomplished on paper, Mullin said he doesn’t feel like he has achieved anything yet.
“I’m always looking toward wins and losses,” Mullin said. “But in building from the ground up, I’m really happy about the staff additions. Starting where we did a few weeks ago, getting Barry and Matt was huge for me because I need guys with experience in the college basketball world, and they’ve been at every different level.
“Getting those guys with me right away has helped lead me because it’s all new to me. Each and every day has been a new adventure, so, having guys with experience has helped. I’ve got to really be patient with myself because things are being thrown at me. I don’t know what’s going on. I have to figure it out on the fly.”
Mullin said he is determining what additional staff positions need to be filled, relying on Rohrssen and Abdelmassih as “sounding boards.”
But back in his old dribbling grounds, Mullin said the feeling has been “natural,” and he has received warm welcomes from coaches throughout the city.
The Hall of Famer has needed no introduction when trying to land recruits who were born long after his prime as a player, but are dreaming of being where he was for 16 years.
“A lot of these kids — I don’t know if that’s changed, maybe they’re a little more verbal — a lot of their dreams are to play in the NBA [and] they want that secret how to play in the NBA,” Mullin said. “I know I can help them with their dream as far as navigating the right way to train, skill development, things like that, to reach their fullest potential.”
Like with most new coaches he is seen as a breath of fresh air and is now enjoying his honeymoon period.
More Mullin magic: Jordan, Obekpa returning to St. John’s
By Howie Kussoy
April 23, 2015 | 2:52am
Rysheed Jordan (left) and Chris Obekpa will return to St. John's and play for new coach Chris Mullin. Photo: Getty Images; Neil Miller
Three weeks into his tenure as coach at St. John’s, Chris Mullin continues to reward his alma mater for its optimism.
After securing multiple player commitments — and the even more important additions of assistant coaches Barry “Slice” Rohrssen and Matt Abdelmassih to his staff — Mullin confirmed Wednesday night Rysheed Jordan will return to the Red Storm for his junior season, along with soon-to-be senior Chris Obekpa.
Though both players have had multiple disciplinary issues during their time at St. John’s, Mullin said Obekpa and Jordan have been “a pleasure dealing with so far,” during workouts over the past week.
Jordan and Obekpa will be the only players from this past season’s six-man rotation to return, with D’Angelo Harrison, Sir’Dominic Pointer, Phil Greene and Jamal Branch all graduating.
Jordan, the team’s most talented playmaker, was St. John’s second-leading scorer (14.1 points) and leader in assists (3.1), while Obekpa, the Red Storm’s defensive centerpiece, blocked 3.1 shots per game and also averaged seven rebounds.
“My thought with that, much like when you walk into a new situation as I did in the NBA, is that everything is from the first day forward, a clean slate and we forge our relationship from that day on,” Mullin said Wednesday night at the Metropolitan Basketball Writers awards dinner in Tarrytown. “I didn’t really sell them. I told them what I told you. ‘I’m here, I’m new. Whatever has happened in the past, good or bad, is in the past and we move forward.’ ”
Having been thrown into a new position in a new environment, Mullin has had no time to settle in, and despite all that’s been accomplished on paper, Mullin said he doesn’t feel like he has achieved anything yet.
“I’m always looking toward wins and losses,” Mullin said. “But in building from the ground up, I’m really happy about the staff additions. Starting where we did a few weeks ago, getting Barry and Matt was huge for me because I need guys with experience in the college basketball world, and they’ve been at every different level.
“Getting those guys with me right away has helped lead me because it’s all new to me. Each and every day has been a new adventure, so, having guys with experience has helped. I’ve got to really be patient with myself because things are being thrown at me. I don’t know what’s going on. I have to figure it out on the fly.”
Mullin said he is determining what additional staff positions need to be filled, relying on Rohrssen and Abdelmassih as “sounding boards.”
But back in his old dribbling grounds, Mullin said the feeling has been “natural,” and he has received warm welcomes from coaches throughout the city.
The Hall of Famer has needed no introduction when trying to land recruits who were born long after his prime as a player, but are dreaming of being where he was for 16 years.
“A lot of these kids — I don’t know if that’s changed, maybe they’re a little more verbal — a lot of their dreams are to play in the NBA [and] they want that secret how to play in the NBA,” Mullin said. “I know I can help them with their dream as far as navigating the right way to train, skill development, things like that, to reach their fullest potential.”
