Mullin's handling of the last four minutes

[lloyde dobler]

His team is as bad as PJ's first one and may have set a league record tonight for air balls. So when Willard pulls all of his guys out his response is to press and trap like he hadn't done all night? Not sure what that proves. False hustle in my book.

Thoughts?

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Nope. He is trying to get them some confidence. Totally fair.

 

[williaza01]

Nope. He is trying to get them some confidence. Totally fair.

I thought it was very odd watching him coach tonight. I know he has no team to work with. But it doesnt even look like he is coaching. He also has like a weird almost happy look to him during the game

 

[Bobbie Solo]

All I know is that it's Coaches vs Cancer Week and all the coaches are supposed to wear sneakers. What he wore was at best a slip on boat shoe. Unacceptable!

 

[Pirate64]

His team is as bad as PJ's first one and may have set a league record tonight for air balls. So when Willard pulls all of his guys out his response is to press and trap like he hadn't done all night? Not sure what that proves. False hustle in my book.

Thoughts?

He's just giving them a workout I think. He's awfully relaxed. And yes I thought the same thing- reminds me of PJ's early days.
But PJ never relaxed or smiled when were getting thumped.
It's as if Chris was coaching a rec league team and he couldn't wait to take them out for ice cream after the game.

 

[Pesto Pirate]

While walking by him as his team was coming out from the second half, I nicely paid him a compliment that I thought he looked like he was still at his playing days body weight. He then gave me a stare look back like I had just told him I was sleeping with his wife! (I guess it must be really tough coaching a team looking for your first Big East win eight games into the schedule's season - I still think none the less he was both a fantastic college and pro player who will eventually get the job done at St. John's!) GO PIRATES!

 

[Piratz]

His team is as bad as PJ's first one and may have set a league record tonight for air balls. So when Willard pulls all of his guys out his response is to press and trap like he hadn't done all night? Not sure what that proves. False hustle in my book.

Thoughts?

I thought it was bizarre. I think his entire demeanor was odd.

 

[Bud Boomer]

False hustle in my book too. And wow is St. John's bad. Since kenpom came into existence, there has never been a Big East team as bad as this St. John's team (not even Jerry Wainwrights DePaul teams).

 

[halltheway]

I think it gives his team a poor attitude of loosing. He should be pissed off and not taking the loss like it's nothing....nothing to smile about.

 

[seton1996]

Coaching style very weird, doesn't seem to do much coaching during game. Also noticed timeouts he would walk around while the assistants were talking to players and only jump in after good amount of time passed.

Did find pressing our team when we clearly called off the horses to be s little low class. Maybe he was trying to cover spread?

 

[shu09]

His team is as bad as PJ's first one and may have set a league record tonight for air balls. So when Willard pulls all of his guys out his response is to press and trap like he hadn't done all night? Not sure what that proves. False hustle in my book.

Thoughts?

I'll take it a step further. It was a scummy move. Call off the dogs and play out the string like Seton Hall did. I think Willard even looked his way with about two minutes left and had a look on his face like, "you're kidding, right?"

 

[ArtieLange9]

Pressed with some of his starters in there to boot. Def low class. Kudos to Willard for keeping his cool. Guessing it will be in the pep talk for the return visit?

 

[the1ndonly]

Total non issue. It's not his job to worry about getting our scout team guys some happy moments.

 

[ArtieLange9]

Lets agree to disagree. If he wanted to press with the last 5 guys on his team, so be it.

 

[Vegas pj]

Nope. He is trying to get them some confidence. Totally fair.

Bingo!

 

[Vegas pj]

I'll take it a step further. It was a scummy move. Call off the dogs and play out the string like Seton Hall did. I think Willard even looked his way with about two minutes left and had a look on his face like, "you're kidding, right?"

Call of the dogs? Those SJU dogs were toothless. Their 5 is out for the year. Hs backup's claim to fame is he can actually jump and kiss the rim. Their bench is no better than are bottom 5. I'm wondering why Ant,honey didn't get any PT.

 

[Bluebeard]

I noticed at one point mid to late 2nd half as the Pirates had another transition basket with the score about +25, the camera went on the St John's bench and both Mullen and Mitch Richmond were sitting staring straight out with no emotion or reaction. I thought to myself, do these guys know they are coaching a game? They looked like bored St John's fans wishing they didn't have to watch the team getting their ass kicked.

 

[catholicman]

I noticed at one point mid to late 2nd half as the Pirates had another transition basket with the score about +25, the camera went on the St John's bench and both Mullen and Mitch Richmond were sitting staring straight out with no emotion or reaction. I thought to myself, do these guys know they are coaching a game? They looked like bored St John's fans wishing they didn't have to watch the team getting their ass kicked.

They looked exasperated but resigned to their fate this year!

 

[pmulcahy96]

I had no problem with it at all. Vegas pj nails it in regards to St. John's talent. This is the Big East, a conference not meant to play patty cake or dole out happy endings.

 

[Halldan1]

They looked exasperated but resigned to their fate this year!

Well said. In the post game Mullin looked like a beaten dog. He had the same look that KW had after the Marquette debacle at the Garden last season.

The toll of a long losing streak is really getting to him.

Clearly although he would never say it I have no doubt he can't wait for this season to end and for the rebuilding to start.

 

[pmulcahy96]

Spot on Dan. A media member told Mullin "look at the bright side, you don't have to sit through a baseball season".

 

[HallLine69]

They looked exasperated but resigned to their fate this year!

That's how I read it, too, catholicman,

 

[Section112]

That's how I read it, too, catholicman,

Me too. Looked like he wanted to be anywhere but at the game.

By making his players press he actually did our subs a big favor and will help their development. It wasn't the usual garbage time. Thanks Chris!

 

[simone84]

Reminds me a lot of what's going on in New Brunswick. Hopefully Seton Hall takes notice.

Can you imagine firing Lavin for that clown? Spare me the rebuilding nonsense. Seton Hall has been "rebuilding" for the better part of a decade and has never been close to as bad as that St. John's team.

 

[TomD82]

I thought it was very odd watching him coach tonight. I know he has no team to work with. But it doesnt even look like he is coaching. He also has like a weird almost happy look to him during the game

That is very accurate about Mullin does not look like he is coaching the team. During at least 1 TO he was talking to the ref for most of the time. He didn't even go into the huddle until the TO was almost over and it looked like his AC maybe Slice was addressing the team the entire time. What happened to one voice coaching a team?

 

[lloyde dobler]

If playing the last four minutes like that is a way of gaining confidence, then you aren't doing the team any favors. It's FALSE confidence, if any confidence is gained from that all, which is also debatable.

Maybe he does turn things around there, but I don't see how people are just assuming it will happen because he's Chris Mullin and the school is St John's.

 

[Halldan1]

Can you imagine firing Lavin for that clown? Spare me the rebuilding nonsense. Seton Hall has been "rebuilding" for the better part of a decade and has never been close to as bad as that St. John's team.

Are to kidding? Did you take into account the roster he was left with when he was hired late in the spring recruiting period.

How about a little perspective and patience before you bury "that clown"!

 

[williaza01]

IMO and I can be VERY wrong. He looks like he doesnt even care this year. Like "not my players not my problem" and from what ive read and seen he has a very arrogant feel to him regarding their recruiting success for next year. I see major flaws in this. As we know it takes time and every other team is getting players too. It is hard to make huge jumps. So I think that perceived attitude is dangerous.

Also, I think he has the same mentality as some of their fans. i.e.: Were big bad st johns we play in the Mecca. It is not 1985 anymore. Im 27, an avid sports fan who has respect for the history of all sports and I could care less about Mullin or St Johns. I just think its dangerous to think "it will just happen because im Chris Mullin and this is st johns"

Once again I could be way off. I hope St Johns is good last nights game could be fun. But after seeing last night it was very bizarre and troublesome.

 

[SHUSource]

I wasn't able to see a single second of the game. I was on a train for the second half, so maybe I'd feel differently about this if I had seen the game, but:

I'm fine with what Mullin did. The game was already decided, after we really poured it on in the second half (I was following via Game Tracker). I think it was like 70-48 at one point, which just looks terrible in the papers the next day. Willard did the right thing, emptying the bench, but I have no problem with Mullin then capitalizing on that to make the score look a little better the next day (which it does, for sure).

The guy is in a tough spot, with a depleted roster that he inherited. I have no idea if he's a good coach or not - who can really tell with this roster? - but it seems like his team has played hard for him all year long. Maybe they have bought in, and everyone - players and coaches - knew this was going to be a rough year, so just bear with it? they will be back before Rutgers, I think, as bad as they are right now.

 

[donnie_baseball]

Are to kidding? Did you take into account the roster he was left with when he was hired late in the spring recruiting period.

How about a little perspective and patience before you bury "that clown"!

Consider the clown who said it.

We had a third-teamer out there bombing threes, I'm OK if they want to put a press on and make the subs work a bit.

 

[Bud Boomer]

Are to kidding? Did you take into account the roster he was left with when he was hired late in the spring recruiting period.

How about a little perspective and patience before you bury "that clown"!

Mullin deserves plenty of criticism, talent notwithstanding. And his coaching is very much in question IMO. To put it in perspective, our worst team under Willard was comparable talent-wise to SJU, yet we finished more than a HUNDRED spots better than SJU is currently ranked on kenpom.

SHU (2013) (kenpom 122)
Mayaan (Fr) (2*, NR)
Cosby (So) (3*, NR)
Edwin (Jr) (3*, NR)
Mobley (Jr) (2*, NR)
Teague (Jr) (2*, NR)

SJU (2016) (kenpom 253)
Mussini (Fr) (2*, NR)
Johnson (Sr) (3*, Rivals 120)
Mouvica (Jr) (2*, NR)
Jones (Jr) (2*, NR)
Yawke (Fr) (3*, NR)

 

[SHUBigT]

What he did by pressing was stress out those that bet the spread on the game. For all that pressing and trapping SJU still lost by almost 20. I can only imagine how bad the score could've been if Seton Hall actually played the first ten minutes of the game.

 

[Seton75]

Reminds me a lot of what's going on in New Brunswick. Hopefully Seton Hall takes notice.

Can you imagine firing Lavin for that clown? Spare me the rebuilding nonsense. Seton Hall has been "rebuilding" for the better part of a decade and has never been close to as bad as that St. John's team.

When mullin got the job the kids were signed and he didn't have a team, after the two good kids left, he literally did not have enough players. So this is different than most situations, like ru where it seems to just be incompetance. His behavior looked odd with so much smiling and laughing. He gets some more talent next year. Let's see if he can do better.

 

[Halldan1]

Mullin deserves plenty of criticism, talent notwithstanding. And his coaching is very much in question IMO. To put it in perspective, our worst team under Willard was comparable talent-wise to SJU, yet we finished more than a HUNDRED spots better than SJU is currently ranked on kenpom.

SHU (2013) (kenpom 122)
Mayaan (Fr) (2*, NR)
Cosby (So) (3*, NR)
Edwin (Jr) (3*, NR)
Mobley (Jr) (2*, NR)
Teague (Jr) (2*, NR)

SJU (2016) (kenpom 253)
Mussini (Fr) (2*, NR)
Johnson (Sr) (3*, Rivals 120)
Mouvica (Jr) (2*, NR)
Jones (Jr) (2*, NR)
Yawke (Fr) (3*, NR)

Forget the ratings. Just watch the ability of the players at this level. If you think these teams were even remotely comparable regarding talent and experience you could not be more wrong.

Way too early to criticize Mullin.

BTW add Oliver near 8 PPG and Smyth 5 PPG to the Hall roster. Not great players but clearly better than most on SJU's team.

Auda was also on the team but was injured and only played 5 games.

 

[Bud Boomer]

Forget the ratings. Just watch the ability of the players at this level. If you think these teams were even remotely comparable regarding talent and experience you could not be more wrong.

Way too early to criticize Mullin.

BTW add Oliver near 8 PPG and Smyth 5 PPG to the Hall roster. Not great players but clearly better than most on SJU's team.

Auda was also on the team but was injured and only played 5 games.

I don't even need the ratings to explain what I've seen from St. John's this year. They are inexplicably bad. And it ain't just talent. I seriously doubt St. John's has worse players than UNC Asheville, Cal Poly, North Dakota State, and High Point, all of whom would be significant neutral court favorites over St. John's this year. Mullin is doing a horrible job.

 

[SHUSource]

Forget the ratings. Just watch the ability of the players at this level. If you think these teams were even remotely comparable regarding talent and experience you could not be more wrong.

Agreed. The stars may align, in a manner of speaking, but those kids we had were much more talented than these kids now at SJU.

 

[wpc75]

I have watched St Johns several times and the third assistant Greg St Jean who maybe only 26 is the one doing the most in the huddles. I have said it before-Mullin does not realize the time and effort that he will have to put in. I would be surprised if he makes it to year 3.

 

[simone84]

Are to kidding? Did you take into account the roster he was left with when he was hired late in the spring recruiting period.

How about a little perspective and patience before you bury "that clown"!

Please. That's the excuse bad coaches use. His team is not even remotely competitive. One of my favorite excuses is "once he gets his players in there look out." We've been hearing that garbage at Seton Hall for a decade.

They fired a guy who went to the dance twice (one being in his last year) and hired a coach who has put them in position to be one of the worst teams in Division 1 basketball.

 

[400SOAVE]

When Mullen played at SJ with Carnesecca coaching, they would have poured it on and tried to beat the Pirates by 40-50 points.

They would have not thought twice about pounding us into the ground, humiliating SHU and discarding us like dogs.

Bill Raftery has commented about this.

If I was coaching SHU last night I would have full-court pressed until the last second. I would have poured it on just the way Mullen would pour it on when he was in college. I would have run up the score as much as possible.

And when they would inevitably complain, I would have reminded them and said, "Payback is a @#%&, aresholes."

 

[lloyde dobler]

The worst example of a Carnsecca/Mullin team needlessly pounding an opponent came in the 1985 Big East tournament against Providence.

It was Joe Mullaney's last game as a coach. It was a done deal that he was retiring to end a long, classy career in college, the NBA, and then college again. St. John's held absolutely nothing back in destroying a PC team that was going through a bad phase, just like St John's is right now. It was sad to see Mullaney bow out like that, and Carnesecca, for whatever reason, made it happen.