The Johnnies are our first real test

[Fordham_57]

I thought if we could take one of three games with Providence, Nova and Xavier, I would have been satisfied.

By saying the Johnnies are our first real test, I meant it is the key game in finding out in what direction we are heading. Are we going to collapse like last year or are we going to move forward and make it to The Dance.

We should and have to beat St John's. If not, all the feel good story of the early season will be thwarted and force us into desperation mode. A convincing win will solidify our position. After all, it's not a disaster losing to the # 4 & 5 ranked teams in the country. Losing to St John's would be. Frank

 

[simone84]

St. John's is really bad. We should steamroll them. They are not quite Rutgers bad, but not far off.

I think this team goes to the tournament this year. My hope is that if that happens Willard has the opportunity to move on. He's not a long term solution. Still an awful coach.

 

[Piratz]

St. John's is bad. They are in the very early stages of a rebuild and it isn't pretty. They are 7-12 overall and 0-6 in the Big East, having been outscored by an average of 15 points in conference games.

Per KenPom's statistcal ratings, their offense is literally one of the very worst in all of D1 college basketball.

We should blow their doors off on Wednesday night, even if we play with our heads firmly in our behinds at The Rock.

 

[Fordham_57]

St. John's is really bad. We should steamroll them. They are not quite Rutgers bad, but not far off.

I think this team goes to the tournament this year. My hope is that if that happens Willard has the opportunity to move on. He's not a long term solution. Still an awful coach.

I know they're bad, but I take no one for granted. Frank

 

[mjs428]

They're real bad plus they are without their2nd best player who got hurt but will likely be back for the game at St Johns

 

[catholicman]

As a long-suffering Seton Hall fan, I take nothing for granted. We cannot afford to under-estimate any opponent. If St. John's could beat Syracuse, then we had better not under-estimate them.

 

[Vegas pj]

As a long-suffering Seton Hall fan, I take nothing for granted. We cannot afford to under-estimate any opponent. If St. John's could beat Syracuse, then we had better not under-estimate them.

Strike me dead. On second thought not angood idea with the last 6 months ive had. but in the same thread I agree with this and Fordham's posts. It's a miracle.

 

[allthingsnova]

First real test , you've got to be kidding . If St. John's is a big test , you need to change schools .

 

[Pirate64]

Nova is right. The Johnnies stink this year. If it isn't a walk in the park for us, then we've made no progress at all.

But which out for the Italian kid- a selfless freshman shooter who- with more lasagna- we will hear about in years to come.

You heard it here first.

 

[HALL28]

We should win easily if we are supposed to be an NCAA tournament team. We must sweep SJU to get in. Remaining schedule too tough to drop 1 against them or DePaul and still make it.

 

[Piratz]

They defeated Syracuse with insane 3PT shooting and a strong game by their talented frosh center Sima, who has been out with a broken foot for the past few games too.

 

[Fzacsattac]

They defeated Syracuse with insane 3PT shooting and a strong game by their talented frosh center Sima, who has been out with a broken foot for the past few games too.

The Syracuse game was an anomaly. Their games against other Big East teams have not shown anything near what they did in the Syracuse game. Can they beat us? Of course if all the starters have the flu and are out-of-sorts then yes they can. This should be a double digit win.

First real test was Marquette! We should win the next three and if we lose one (hopefully not Creighton) we need to upset Butler away or Xavier at home.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

So we're taking St. John's for granted? Wow! Just kool that Seton Hall with Willard at the helm gets to take anyone for granted. Most of the posters on this board are just delusional. It's going on 11 years folks. But as Harvey Milk said so poignantly, "there is always hope."

And let's not be worrying about an extension, it's already been done.

 

[allthingsnova]

Not saying you should take St John's for granted , anything is possible , just saying that team should not be considered a test for your team . What is the test .? If win SH is a final four team , if lose turn in your sneakers . Beating St John's proves nothing.

 

[simone84]

So we're taking St. John's for granted? Wow! Just kool that Seton Hall with Willard at the helm gets to take anyone for granted. Most of the posters on this board are just delusional. It's going on 11 years folks. But as Harvey Milk said so poignantly, "there is always hope."

And let's not be worrying about an extension, it's already been done.

I'm as down on this program and Willard as anyone. St. Johns is awful though. It would be like losing to Troy at home. Crazier things have happened I guess.

Willard bought himself a helluva team. Doubt he'll ever do it again. The hope is that he dances with them this year and leaves like he's been looking to do. Some school out there will be dumb enough to think Willard turned around Seton Hall and offer him a job. It happens all the time.

 

[SPK145]

St. John's should not be a test, a pop quiz, or even homework.

Seton Hall should trounce them. Would he nice for Seton Hall to put a real ass-kicking on them, Big East homecourt disadvantage be damned!!!

 

[Vegas pj]

St. John's should not be a test, a pop quiz, or even homework.

Seton Hall should trounce them. Would he nice for Seton Hall to put a real ass-kicking on them, Big East homecourt disadvantage be damned!!!

So you're saying SH by 3. lol

 

[allthingsnova]

To quote the late Al Davis "just win baby"

 

[lloyde dobler]

That may have been the first time Harvey Milk was ever quoted on a basketball message board.

 

[Piratz]

St. John's was down 20 to Marquette with about 15-16 minutes to play yesterday, then made a furious comeback and got it down to 2 before losing.

Seems like Marquette was freaking out and doing everything they could to give it up from turnovers to missed FT's, but a credit to St. John's.

SJU has lost 10 consecutive games.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

No way The Hall should take SJU lightly.
If they do, they could lose.

Ask Syracuse.

NJIT beat them because they played hard and with passion all game long.

 

[Shuathelete]

Beating SJU doesnt mean we arent set to collapse. We could beat them by 20 and it wouldnt change anything.

That being said lets go beat them by 20.

 

[Burnsly]

We can beat just about anyone & also lose to anyone. I have a strange feeling that this game is going to be tougher than most think. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[Fordham_57]

We can beat just about anyone & also lose to anyone. I have a strange feeling that this game is going to be tougher than most think. Hopefully I'm wrong.

You have to be a little more positive than that. After all, we have only had one really bad game. Frank

 

[Burnsly]

Remember Wagner & Troy?

 

[catholicman]

Remember Wagner & Troy?

I agree with you. Throw Bradley in with that too. We only beat them by about 10. Wichita State just blew their doors off last week.

 

[Halldan1]

Any credit for a young team gaining experience and playing better?

This Hall team is not the same as the one that played in November/December.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

St. John's was down 20 to Marquette with about 15-16 minutes to play yesterday, then made a furious comeback and got it down to 2 before losing.

Seems like Marquette was freaking out and doing everything they could to give it up from turnovers to missed FT's, but a credit to St. John's.

SJU has lost 10 consecutive games.

Wally Rutecki and his crew ref'd game yesterday. 44 fouls and 52 free throws. I thought the 2nd half of the Hall/Nova game was officiated terrible in the 2nd half but 2nd half of Marq/John's was absolutely abysmal. Another Rutecki embarrassment. Only reason it kept St. John's around.

Hall should win by 20+ but agree just win and move on.

 

[Burnsly]

Any credit for a young team gaining experience and playing better?

This Hall team is not the same as the one that played in November/December.

Weds. evening should be a good barometer. As far as I am concerned, we still have not earned the right to take any Big East foe lightly.

 

[Halldan1]

Weds. evening should be a good barometer. As far as I am concerned, we still have not earned the right to take any Big East foe lightly.

No one said we would.

It just doesn't seem to me that many believe in this team and because of that keep looking for every reason to expect failure.

 

[catholicman]

No one said we would.

It just doesn't seem to me that many believe in this team and because of that keep looking for every reason to expect failure.

If you beat a dog and then give him a treat and then beat him again and again, he will be more cautious next time he is offered a treat. The Seton Hall fan base has been like a battered dog, always expecting to be beaten.

 

[Halldan1]

If you beat a dog and then give him a treat and then beat him again and again, he will be more cautious next time he is offered a treat. The Seton Hall fan base has been like a battered dog, always expecting to be beaten.

Again as noted many times before a good deal of our fans are blaming this team for the failure of others.

Can anyone really say they have watched this Pirate team play and not seen the difference?

 

[sportsfantatic44]

Again as noted many times before a good deal of our fans are blaming this team for the failure of others.

Can anyone really say they have watched this Pirate team play and not seen the difference?

but how much better are we? 6th or 7th in the league? And that's with a very bad St. John's, DePaul, and Marquette (and to be fair is surprising how bad a year they have had so far) in the league. That's not actually some big time improvement. Creighton was picked worse than us and they have overachieved so far. Providence picked 6th in the league and they are a lock to make the tourney. Making the NIT is not over achieving. Not in Willard's 6th year.

Will find out how good we are in February......but if we are playing on Wednesday night again in the opening round of the BE tourney, well.....

 

[Burnsly]

I've definitely seen a difference; especially with rebounding & intensity. Still doesn't mean we should win by 20+ like another poster suggested.

 

[Piratefan2009]

Can anyone really say they have watched this Pirate team play and not seen the difference?

It's clear to me that Willard fans are trying to convince me of such.

Some things have changed, others have stayed the same.

From the coach:
~Somewhat better in-bounding plays this year
~Same garbage offense devoid of a half-court scheme and relying on "letting them play". A McD guard at the helm has improved the offense only slightly over Gibbs in his first year at the helm.
~Still no go to set plays for an easy bucket
~Same weave bringing the clock down to 10 seconds
~Same antics with players getting benched for unknown disciplinary reasons

From the team:
~Emergence of some players such as Nzei, Ish, and Desi
~A generally higher level of intensity, but still ridiculous highs and lows from game to game: come out punching against Prov, Marq and Nova; Mail it in to Xavier, Creighton, Depaul.
~Same issues with fundamentals as past teams when it comes to free throws, boxing out, help defense

It's even harder to "see the difference", because the weird Willard phenomena of your team actually getting worse in February and March. Normally, you would assume that wherever your team is now, they will be a little better at everything a month from now. Year after year after year that tenet has been broken by Willard teams. What I see on the court right now is pretty good, but there is enough of what I've seen in previous years still there to remember that past teams looked pretty good in January as well.

 

[The Crows Nest]

As a long-suffering Seton Hall fan, I take nothing for granted. We cannot afford to under-estimate any opponent. If St. John's could beat Syracuse, then we had better not under-estimate them.

Thats the problem with the players vs the fans.....players are only here on 4 year rotations....they haven't "seen it all"...for those of us who have been a fan for 30+ years...we have....so we know that we cannot take anyone for granted. Lets hope they take the same approach. Definitely has to be a win...but only will be if we approach it as a tightly contested game, and play hard. Dont show up, and they will make you pay.....thats high level college basketball...lessons available every game....

 

[Pirate64]

Thats the problem with the players vs the fans.....players are only here on 4 year rotations....they haven't "seen it all"...for those of us who have been a fan for 30+ years...we have....so we know that we cannot take anyone for granted. Lets hope they take the same approach. Definitely has to be a win...but only will be if we approach it as a tightly contested game, and play hard. Dont show up, and they will make you pay.....thats high level college basketball...lessons available every game....

Crows, Crows. 30+ years ? You call that suffering? Try having about 10 good seasons out of 56. You younger fellers have a long way to go.

Terrific post btw.

Remember our coach lost to St Peter's and FDU within a two week period a few years back. Fred Hill's comment : " Because we were the hunted" .

I think it's because we stunk on those nights.

Gotta beat the Johnnies or else.

 

[SJUBall]

While SJU is missing a lot of pieces this season, they can make any game competitive. SJU beat Syracuse, almost beat Marquette both at home and away, and was barely beaten by Xavier if it weren't for free throws. I think SJU might have even lead providence at the half until getting doors blown off in second half. SJU doesn't have enough horses. No true PG without Lovett, and Sima who was a very dynamic center is inured. Seton hall should definitely win this one, but despite overall record, SJU had made a game of it for 3/4 of the game against most teams. Usually lack of depth shows up and SJU losses are often from late game blowouts. Next year SJU will have a ton more talent, but the Hall should dispatch of SJU this season. Don't be surprised if SJU is pesky though.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

You're back, where you been?

 

[SJUBall]

You're back, where you been?

Been busy... Mom died, moved to a different region. To be frank...