Zags: Mustapha Heron transferring

[Huskybass]

You're just not familiar with the situation if that's what you think. They lost their entire rotation following the 2015 season.

I'm not prepared to call Mullin some prodigy, but there's a reason that job was available to him despite the complete absence of coaching experience - any coaching experience - until then. It was a total shot in the dark on the part of St. John's, and while nobody's penciling him into the Hall of Fame, there's reason to think things could be a whole lot worse given what a disaster Lavin was. Blaming him for their record these last couple years would be like slamming Hurley for going 8-24 his first two years at Rhode Island. They were a decent team last year that got bit by injuries in a really tough league. Do I think they're going to vault all the way up to first this year? Probably not, but if you add Heron to a core already consisting of Ponds, Simon, and Clark, you've got something in a year where there's no longer a prohibitive favorite.

Two things you dont seem to grasp:
Ollie was a terrible head coach;
Mullin is also a terrible head coach. His record is 12-42 in the Big East.

 

[superjohn]

Moral high ground has nothing to do with it. This is about not wanting to call one of your own guys into your office and tell him to start packing three months in advance of the fall semester. They're not stocks.

As I said, I'd much rather them pay players under the table than continue to authorize the most corrupt organization in sports. UConn sent a pretty clear message a couple months ago about where their allegiances fall and it's not with anybody not making them money.

What?

 

[UofCT]

If UConn had a lax team heron could take one of those ships and then walk onto the basketball team...

 

[champs99and04]

Two things you dont seem to grasp:
Ollie was a terrible head coach;
Mullin is also a terrible head coach. His record is 12-42 in the Big East.

I don't think you grasp the fact that Danny Hurley went 8-24 in the damn A-10 over his first two years at Rhode Island.

I'd also think you could grasp the concept of trajectory given the fact that the guy we just fired looked like a Hall of Famer two (or even four) years in.

 

[Fishy]

Mullin is an awful coach.

He’s further exposed by the fact that he has surrounded himself with equally poor staffers - Mitch Richmond and Greg St. Jean are clueless.

Roster turnover, impressively inept in-game performance, losses by the bushel - Mullin will be on a bar stool next to Ollie by this time next year.

 

[champs99and04]

He might be a terrible coach. I can see how some of those things could tip you off like they did with Ollie.

But good players cover up a lot, and I'm not sure a blind appraisal of the win/loss record tells the whole story here. They weren't as bad last year as their record indicated (unlike UConn), and while losing a lot of close games can be a sign of bad coaching (see basically every UConn team of the post-Bazz era), it's also a trend that's liable to reverse itself in small samples. St. John's was within shouting distance of teams like URI, Providence, and Syracuse prior to the tournament last year - assuming they can leap from 74th to say, 50th, this year, one would think Mullin's got a decent shot at keeping his job.

 

[superjohn]

I don't think you grasp the fact that Danny Hurley went 8-24 in the damn A-10 over his first two years at Rhode Island.

I'd also think you could grasp the concept of trajectory given the fact that the guy we just fired looked like a Hall of Famer two (or even four) years in.

Our old coach took over a veteran group with an all-world leader at point guard. I've always given him credit for his first two seasons but once it was his program it became pretty clear pretty quickly he didn't have a clue what he was doing.

Mullin didn't have the luxury of taking over a veteran team with an all-world leader at point guard and it's pretty clear he has no clue what he's doing. Like our old coach Mullin has surrounded himself with do nothing assistants who are his
buddies and like our old coach he's trying to save his job by bringing in transfers. Not at all a good recipe.

 

[uconnbill]

No offense, but who cares if he is not coming to UConn especially if he is going to that crap show in Queens. He can be the man there on a terrible team.

 

[champs99and04]

Our old coach took over a veteran group with an all-world leader at point guard. I've always given him credit for his first two seasons but once it was his program it became pretty clear pretty quickly he didn't have a clue what he was doing.

Mullin didn't have the luxury of taking over a veteran team with an all-world leader at point guard and it's pretty clear he has no clue what he's doing. Like our old coach Mullin has surrounded himself with do nothing assistants who are his
buddies and like our old coach he's trying to save his job by bringing in transfers. Not at all a good recipe.

I don't know if I'd say he took over a veteran group (DeAndre and Boat had only played two seasons between them at that point, both of which were fractured for different reasons), but I take your point. It was a team of self-driven guys, most of whom had played for Calhoun. I still give Ollie a lot of credit for that championship as well, but it's fair to say he's unproven at running a program in all aspects.

With Mullin, there might be some ancillary evidence that his current trajectory is unsustainable, but the trajectory still is what it is and I'm willing to keep an open mind on him until he proves incapable of managing actual talent. The victories over Duke and Nova last year bought him at least another season, even if the retention issues you mentioned need to be resolved.

 

[Guapo]

Lol Auburn

Deserves more likes.

 

[Mokum]

That is what they are speculating on the SJ board.

But keep in mind that there isn't much precedent for out of state schools. Which should be our angle, It's more likely to be granted to an instate school.

Don't they also consider the size of the state?

 

[Edward Sargent]

People are familiar with mass transit right?

You can take a choo-choo from West Haven to NY these days.

No you will need to take at least two choo choos. Metro North/Amtrak from West Haven to Grand Central is approximately 1: 45 and then connecting to Douglaston Queens is another 1:15, a three hour trip provided all goes right.

 

[jimva]

No you will need to take at least two choo choos. Metro North/Amtrak from West Haven to Grand Central is approximately 1: 45 and then connecting to Douglaston Queens is another 1:15, a three hour trip provided all goes right.

You can get the R in Grand Central which takes you close to SJ campus, but I would say 2.5-3.0 hours from West Haven is about right. Could probably drive there as fast or quicker.

 

[mauconnfan]

The drive to Storrs vs Jamaica Queens from West Haven isn't close and the variables to NY are crazy. Remember it's winter time for the most part too. Storms, traffic etc etc it's not close but it's up to the kid, his mom and dad so nothing we can do. He'd be a nice addition to this years team and would no doubt impact the W's L's but not a lot Hurley can do I am sure it's almost out of his hands.

 

[gtcam]

Two things you dont seem to grasp:
Ollie was a terrible head coach;
Mullin is also a terrible head coach. His record is 12-42 in the Big East.

I think Champs has said KO did a terrible job coaching
The thing you and some others have to grasp is the fact that KO is gone and beating a dead horse is asinine
Stop the skipping record

 

[UConNation]

I think Champs has said KO did a terrible job coaching
The thing you and some others have to grasp is the fact that KO is gone and beating a dead horse is asinine
Stop the skipping record

What's a record?

 

[freescooter]

I don't know if I'd say he took over a veteran group (DeAndre and Boat had only played two seasons between them at that point, both of which were fractured for different reasons), but I take your point. It was a team of self-driven guys, most of whom had played for Calhoun. I still give Ollie a lot of credit for that championship as well, but it's fair to say he's unproven at running a program in all aspects.

With Mullin, there might be some ancillary evidence that his current trajectory is unsustainable, but the trajectory still is what it is and I'm willing to keep an open mind on him until he proves incapable of managing actual talent. The victories over Duke and Nova last year bought him at least another season, even if the retention issues you mentioned need to be resolved.

I don't know if I'd say he took over a veteran group (DeAndre and Boat had only played two seasons between them at that point, both of which were fractured for different reasons), but I take your point. It was a team of self-driven guys, most of whom had played for Calhoun. I still give Ollie a lot of credit for that championship as well, but it's fair to say he's unproven at running a program in all aspects.

With Mullin, there might be some ancillary evidence that his current trajectory is unsustainable, but the trajectory still is what it is and I'm willing to keep an open mind on him until he proves incapable of managing actual talent. The victories over Duke and Nova last year bought him at least another season, even if the retention issues you mentioned need to be resolved.

Ollie is “unproven” in running a program. Wow! Just Wow.

Mullins got the Johnnies job to sell a few tickets. Hiring a former star player with little or no coaching experience is rarely a successful move. Both Mullin and Ollie are fine examples.

 

[businesslawyer]

If UConn had a lax team heron could take one of those ships and then walk onto the basketball team...

No. It doesn't work that way. A scholarship athlete in a non-revenue sport can't walk on to the football or basketball teams.

 

[the Q]

Moral high ground has nothing to do with it. This is about not wanting to call one of your own guys into your office and tell him to start packing three months in advance of the fall semester. They're not stocks.

As I said, I'd much rather them pay players under the table than continue to authorize the most corrupt organization in sports. UConn sent a pretty clear message a couple months ago about where their allegiances fall and it's not with anybody not making them money.

Most of them aren't Hurley's guys.

And there's no question Heron would be a nice upgrade to the roster.

 

[UConnStats]

Visiting SJU today, tentative visit to BC this weekend. He will commit today though.

 

[mauconnfan]

Visiting SJU today, tentative visit to BC this weekend. He will commit today though.

BC? That makes no sense whatsoever. I'm in WesMass on the way up to BC and still at least 90 minutes short and close to the same from West Haven. To almost have put himself into the draft and then suddenly willing to sit out a year is so damn strange.

Oh well, next.

 

[Vancat]

Geez, why does he hate us so much?

 

[mauconnfan]

Geez, why does he hate us so much?

Certain kids and especially certain parents have ideas on programs and conferences. If we look closely I'm thinking dad doesn't feel the AAC is good for his kid, only a hunch though.

 

[HawkHusky]

If he goes BC and gets a waiver, I'm about certain this board will implode (rightfully so).

 

[Blaneylover]

Mullin is an awful coach.

He’s further exposed by the fact that he has surrounded himself with equally poor staffers - Mitch Richmond and Greg St. Jean are clueless.

Roster turnover, impressively inept in-game performance, losses by the bushel - Mullin will be on a bar stool next to Ollie by this time next year.

I agree with all of this.

The funny thing about coaching is that merely having been a great player doesn't make you a great (or even competent) coach. Ted Williams often spoke of his high level of frustration he endured when he managed the Washington Senators. There are some notable exceptions, of course. Larry Bird and Tom Heinsohn (NBA), Steve Alford and Bobby Hurley (NCAA), and Tony Gwynn (NCAA) and Joe Torre and Don Mattingly (MLB) were outstanding players who went on to some coaching success. It seems to me that the elite coaches/managers, if they played at all, were grinders. Bobby Knight, and Coach K (and Coach Calhoun, for that matter) were all average college players who found greatness with a whistle. Here's hoping that Dan Hurley is destined to join them.

With regard to Heron, he is an outstanding college player who would immediately become our second best player. Nevertheless, I am not fond of the idea of freeing up a scholarship to get him. Also, I am suspicious of (1) how he got to Auburn in the first place and (2) of why he now wants to leave. I will say that he has been an unbelievable role model for kids in the Waterbury (CT) area. He does clinics and spends a great deal of time with our young people.

I imagine that the "I want to be nearer to home" excuse for the waiver might play more if he was actually in CT, but....who knows?

 

[businesslawyer]

If he goes BC and gets a waiver, I'm about certain this board will implode (rightfully so).

Why? The point of allowing hardship waivers isn't to drive kids to UConn. To think there isn't a difference in how often he could visit his Mom at BC compared to Auburn is just really dumb.

 

[Candyman]

A few things here,

1. Mom is legit sick but also he wants more shots and wont happen next year.
2. Didn't get an invite to combine and legit thought he would. Got advice from a few teams that what he needs to work on.
3. He is not interested in the AAC, never really considered UConn, however doesn't matter because...
4. UConn has no scholarships and Hurley is not interested in creating one. Only way for him to come here is if he doesnt play basketball for a year and transfer in next year, Juco route. Its not feesible.
5. He has been in contact with St. John's for a while now and will end up there for sure.
6. Any other school mentioned he isn't really interested in, but in case something happens with St. Johns needs to look at all options.

I wish him the best and hope he gets the waiver and can play next year.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

A few things here,

1. Mom is legit sick but also he wants more shots and wont happen next year.
2. Didn't get an invite to combine and legit thought he would. Got advice from a few teams that what he needs to work on.
3. He is not interested in the AAC, never really considered UConn, however doesn't matter because...
4. UConn has no scholarships and Hurley is not interested in creating one. Only way for him to come here is if he doesnt play basketball for a year and transfer in next year, Juco route. Its not feesible.
5. He has been in contact with St. John's for a while now and will end up there for sure.
6. Any other school mentioned he isn't really interested in, but in case something happens with St. Johns needs to look at all options.

I wish him the best and hope he gets the waiver and can play next year.

Then why did UConn reach out to him if they don't want to make room for him and he has never had interest here?

 

[Candyman]

Then why did UConn reach out to him if they don't want to make room for him and he has never had interest here?

I can't tell you why they reached out to him I am just going by what Hurley said last night. Nope he never really had any interest in playing int he AAC like most Top 25 players coming out of high school.

 

[WrenchFan69]

A few things here,

1. Mom is legit sick but also he wants more shots and wont happen next year.
2. Didn't get an invite to combine and legit thought he would. Got advice from a few teams that what he needs to work on.
3. He is not interested in the AAC, never really considered UConn, however doesn't matter because...
4. UConn has no scholarships and Hurley is not interested in creating one. Only way for him to come here is if he doesnt play basketball for a year and transfer in next year, Juco route. Its not feesible.
5. He has been in contact with St. John's for a while now and will end up there for sure.
6. Any other school mentioned he isn't really interested in, but in case something happens with St. Johns needs to look at all options.

I wish him the best and hope he gets the waiver and can play next year.

He's not getting more shots at St. John's next year either though. Ponds is going to chuck, rightfully so, plus Justin Simon and Mikey Dixon. I bet he starts but won't be the star. Apparently he's going to meet with Tyson Wheeler from Fairfield tomorrow, I'd be happy to see him there