Went to the game at Carnesecca tonight, my buddy is an assistant at St. Thomas Aquinas but I am a college hoops junkie and would have gone regardless. Final score I believe was 90-58, when I walked into the gym STAC was up 22-6, it was ugly for the Johnnies from start to finish, apparently the SJU cheerleaders dropped a cheerleader at the beginning of the game as well.
First off, same ol' St. John's, their fans have gotten so used to it it doesn't even strike them as odd anymore, but obviously you have kids ineligible. Lovett and Yakwe, both freshmen, I don't think Lebron could have helped them tonight, but again, same ol' St. John's, ineligible kids right off the bat. This kinda nonsense has been going on at St. John's for DECADES.
Secondly, more people in the stands were showing emotion than Mullin was. At first I described him as cool, calm and collected, by the end of the game I was wondering if he was awake. The only St. John's coach to show any emotion was Slice, but even in the 2nd half he looked half asleep. My buddy who I was with, and who follows St. John's the way we follow Villanova, brought up the fact Mullin was not doing any in game coaching, not at all, and it made me grateful for Jay and his "teaching moments." Even my buddy's girlfriend, who knows as much about basketball as I do about building a spaceship, was saying why is he just sitting there, and why does he have his legs stretched out on the court half the game. I am sure once the season begins Mullin will look more lively, but as a coach, he looked lost and like he had already given up hope.
PS - Mullin needs to get either longer pants or longer socks because I was staring at his pasty white Irish legs half the game.
Third, St. John's players who seemed OK, or at least seemed like they have played the game of basketball before, were Mussini, the Italian PG, Christian Jones, who has lost a lot of weight, and Malik Ellison. Regardless, our guys would eat these guys' lunch for them. My buddy was saying Lavin, as much as you want to rip the guy, had these guys hustle a lot more than Mullin did.
Conclusion: Gotta give Mullin time, he was dealt a hard hand to play when you lose your Top 6 guys. I think they are eventually gonna be OK, but it is going to take 3 or 4 years to see progress. Regardless, Mullin, we love ya buddy, I know you haven't coached before, but at least pretend to play the part.
Jay will need to call the dogs (or should I say cats) off EARLY on SJU this year or else it will make last year's blood bath in Philadelphia look like a close game.
I am rooting for Mullin and St. John's but man oh man, they got a lot of work to do. I know it was an exhibition, but I know what I saw, and it was not good.
