Cragg can not get over his Duke training--totally different beast at St Johns-- And you are right TheHall87 , Zach never liked the Anderson hire and has attacked him since he started.
St. John’s must move on from Mike Anderson after another lost season
- Thread starter Halldan1
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Agree, but the vast majority of coaches inherit issues (typically because the previous coach underperformed).
Its not been a good run for them.
Was an odd late in the game plug n play with anderson...cluess who many wanted and francesa endorsed left with health problems
Yes, usually that's the reason jobs come open in the first place.
In SJU's case the rebuilds have been especially challenging. It's fairly common knowledge that Lavin and Mullin left/were pushed because their next season would have been a struggle.
In 2003-04, Jarvis' last year when Kevin Clark took over after six games, they finished 6-21.
Mullins' first year, 2015-16, they were 8-24.
Anderson did well to go 17-15 that first year after Mullin in 2019-20.
We talk about Willard's (and by extension SHU's) NCAA failures. They haven't won a tournament game since 2000 and have only made four appearances since then. It's been tough for a long time in Queens.
I remember being concerned when SJU hired Anderson. Mostly because some PirateCrew posters were convinced he was such a great hire and would quickly turn St John’s into a better program than the pirates.
Swing and a miss.
Swing and a miss.
I thought his style was perfect for city ballers. Another reason for my mendoza line coach opinions
If Pitino goes to St. John’s, they then play all Big East games at the Garden…likely in front of big crowds, play some high level OOC games there also, will almost assuredly win immediately.
If I’m St. John’s, it’s a no brainer. He’d have that City alive for the Johnnies again, harkening back to his days with the Knicks.
Worth every Penny of that 10 million in my mind.
I would agree but no way will St. johns take that 10 mill hit
I might not disagree…just saying if I were them I’d do it.
Restore the team to glory…get everyone pumped up…much easier to hire his replacement at that point.
And one thing is undeniable about Pitino…he wins everywhere he goes…and with the proper venue (NYC?) and league (Big East, no longer limited to a one bid league) will eventually get a chance to make big noise (in a normal time I might say 2-3 years; in this environment of free agency, as soon as 1).
I’m taking the field, my money is on neither Tommy Amaker to Gtown or Pitino to St John’s happens.
They have screwed up every hire and/or are cursed. But if I’m them in getting in with any big donors and getting Pitino on board. The morality police have long left college basketball except in extreme circumstances.
Still shocked Anderson hasn’t worked out better. Comparing Norm Roberts to him is laughable. Anderson has been a really good to solid coach wherever he’s been. Roberts was another one of these assistants who didn’t succeed.
If Lavin doesn’t get sick there I bet the last decade looks very different for them. But again that place is cursed.
Agree with you. Those programs have been too messed up for too long. It’s a shame. Without knowing the financials, the only hope for SJU is probably the new Prez shu09 mentioned because I recall one of our Providence posters saying he was well respected, is a basketball guy and did really good things up there.
Actually Brazillier asked the toughest questions. Questions no other reporter would ask the thin skinned Willard.
I admired him for that.
I'm with you on this. That Braziller didn't like the hire is more a function of a stopped clock being right twice a day. The guy has had a fantastic career; given that and his buyout, it makes more sense to give the guy what he needs to be successful and a couple more years. If it was Rutgers, they would just railroad the guy!
Not only is he well respected and understands the importance of sports, it was his father who came up with the Big East name as owner of a PR agency in Providence that Gavitt was working with.
See how Shanley does there. He inherited Cragg and Anderson.
They have some deep rooted fundamental issues that only new leadership can resolve. This is the 20th full season since Jarvis was fired as he had them in 3 Tournaments in 5 years, won the NIT in another, and won the 2000 BET. But what a mess he had.
They are under .500 as a program since, close to 100-games under .500 in the BE RS and have only made 3 NCAA Tournaments. Lavin was the only one with a winning record overall or in conference and made two of their NCAAT appearances.
They have some deep rooted fundamental issues that only new leadership can resolve. This is the 20th full season since Jarvis was fired as he had them in 3 Tournaments in 5 years, won the NIT in another, and won the 2000 BET. But what a mess he had.
They are under .500 as a program since, close to 100-games under .500 in the BE RS and have only made 3 NCAA Tournaments. Lavin was the only one with a winning record overall or in conference and made two of their NCAAT appearances.
Jarvis best roster was with fran players...first year elite 8...1st weekend bounce year 2...recruited hatten very exciting individual player had an nit run and then scandal
Wow great tidbit. I’m a devoted follower and lover of the Old Big East, even though I was too young for some of the earliest years, and have never read that. If it was in O’Neill’s book I glossed over it or didn’t appreciate the connection.
Second this. Remember too that Zach was the one who asked Willard to comment on the Maryland rumors after the TCU game and broke that whole story for everyone. Jerry and several others avoided the question even though the subject was hanging in the air very obviously. I respect that he valued the story more than the personal relationship.
JP, who was house ridden at the time because of the COVID situation outright told me how much he admired Braziller because he was the only reporter (and I have to include myself) that had the guts to ask that tough question.
Willard was not an easy person to talk to in media sessions as he was guarded and did not respond well to anything that wasn't positive in nature. It got to the point that most every one of us just stopped asking pertinent questions if they weren't positive because we all knew how that would play out.
Braziller rarely played that game and although he was an acquired taste I did admire him in that capacity.
No idea. Clearly he doesn't enjoy dealing with the media. But at Maryland I have no doubt he doesn't have the same latitude that he did here.
A shame, really, because when he wanted to be he could be incredibly charming. But he's not a social creature and seldom shows that side to reporters.
A shame, really, because when he wanted to be he could be incredibly charming. But he's not a social creature and seldom shows that side to reporters.
Not to take anything away from Zach, but also seems a little easier for him to ask those tough questions because his job doesn’t depend on covering the team day-to-day.
Of course. Entities like a major newspaper/NY Post have protection that someone like myself as a blogger doesn't have.
Zack pisses off Willard and nothing would happen. I do the same or any other blogger as well and that would certainly end in a different way.
I remember many years ago that Adam Zagoria was a beat reporter for SNY during the Gonzo years. He really got under Bobby's skin and because of that was banned from the post game media sessions by Gonzo. SNY contacted the Big East to complain and eventually Zagoria was granted entry to the post game sessions again.
This explains why Zags still has the access he does despite a penchant for asking questions that make the entire press room cringe. He’s big enough that he isn’t worried about repercussions and he’s already fought back and won when the school tried to put the hammer down. It finally makes sense.
I recall Mike Vaccarro commenting unflatteringly about Willard being self important and an entitled son of a coach. At the time thought that was unfair. In the right setting he can be very pleasant and fun. I guess at work he’s like many of the rest of us- stressed out.
Maybe Mike V. was using a burner handle on PirateCrew…. This was the same stuff the alleged sister of a former coach would rant about. 🤣
Shanley may just have to suck it up. I don’t think SJU has the money to buy him out and may be hurting financially overall. Esteban was a huge supporter of basketball at Seton Hall but now he’s at DePaul and while they are slightly better the still remain firmly planted in the basement of the Big East.
Didn’t know a University President could take a sabbatical. That would mean he’s coming back though, no?
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