Wednesday Thoughts

It is Wednesday and I have watched a lot of basketball from the front row in my home. Much of what I have seen was expected, but some things were not.

Never expected to see Tennessee lose 2 in a row even without Bruce Pearl. Losing to Florida at home last night was very unexpected. Received text messages from a number of friends who follow the sport closely and they were equally surprised. What does all this backsliding do for the tenure of Bruce Pearl as Coach at Tennessee? Will it give the school reason to find “Cause” to terminate his contract?

Honestly for what he is being punished for, the NCAA needs to look in the mirror and realize they are making a huge thing over something minor while other schools are purchasing homes and cars for recruits families, as well as providing employment opportunities for relatives. But here they go making Bruce Pearl a villain while other folks are committing major infractions. Does the NCAA really care?

This is why it is so hard to get in touch with the NCAA regarding thoughts and feelings. I even knew two ex police investigators who attempted to get jobs but could never even make contact. They are like a secrete society, harder to get to than the CIA. They just continue to make money and act like dictators looking only at convenient infractions and often looking the other way when powerful programs commit violations.

I guess everyone can see I support Bruce Pearl and hope he comes back and gets his team together. And yes I do know he was a whistle blower years ago!

Locally St. Johns takes on a very good Syracuse team tonight in Madison Square Garden. After losing to Notre Dame on the road in their previous game, this is a very important game not only because winning is better than losing, but because it will establish St. Johns as actually being back or on the way back to where they were years ago. . This is a game that should have the Garden rocking like the days of Berry and Mullen. Like when Mel Davis and Billy Schaeffer were doing it big. Like when Matt Brust was diving through people. Like when Frankie Alagia was throwing passes around his neck to Beaver Smith cutting to the basket.  I really am glad St. Johns is getting better despite what some might think. St. Johns has always been the college team of New York City and that is my hometown. Adding to that is my true respect for both Tony Chiles, and Mo Hicks. One thing I will also point out is Lavin hired the best staff he could regardless of anything but what they brought to the table. They have it covered recruiting wise from the east coast to the west coast, and have superb teachers and coaches on the bench.

Rutgers might have lost a game yesterday vs. UConn, but they are really on the right track. They continue to compete and get better! I also like the way Mike Rice coaches and encourages his players. Mike also was smart enough not to get caught up politically and hired two guys who could recruit NYC and The DC area regardless of background and ethnicity. He hired the best for the job!  Funny on TV the RAC looks pretty state of the art for a college facility. Just imagine if they made real improvements!

Seton Hall played a pretty good game in the last outing against Syracuse. I really felt the toughness of Seton Hall finally showed up. I watched and yes Willard seems to be a good coach. Again I say with experience he will be even better. But until than they have a long hill to climb. And that is not an endorsement for him to hire Fred Hill Jr. Although that is far from a bad idea! Last I heard Fred Hill was really liked on the SHU campus. Could be a huge pick-up if it ever happened because we know Fred has connections he hopefully did not lose when his personality completely changed as a Head Coach. 

With Hazell back in the line-up, Seton Hall becomes a much better team. A team others now fear and look at differently.

People are really watching Manhattan, Monmouth, Delaware, Marist, and a few others regarding possible openings after the season. Looks like Cincinnati has turned it around and baring a late season breakdown, the coaching situation should not change.  Georgia Tech remains interesting. But can anyone win big there in a league with Carolina, Duke, and Maryland? Georgia Tech is a harder job than folks realize despite them being in the ACC. Regardless the line is forming in the rear with people very interested.  Tennessee mess around with Bruce Pearl and he might go there if Hewitt ever leaves!

Boston College is doing pretty good but I expected them to do well this season. Not sure if they would not have same results with Al Skinner there but Steve Donohue is doing a great job. Steve is one of the very good guys despite not giving my guy Ramon minutes when he played at Cornell! Good thing Ramon studied hard because he is now a practicing Attorney doing quite well. Some say he will be the first Dominican American mayor in New York City years from now.  

Best staff in NY Metro area (not counting Head Coaches) for recruiting is Hofstra! They have a Big East Staff who would do well anywhere. Problem is they are in the CAA and have to be able to evaluate a bit different than they did in the past. Easy to identify the top 200 kids but now you have to find the top 400 and kids who fit what you are attempting to do. 

On the HS front I am really looking forward to the Teaneck vs. Cardozo game at Ramapo College in New Jersey on January 23, 2011. That game will have some great talent on both teams.  I am going to this game even if there is a blizzard.

Good HS games in Springfield Mass coming up. Should I go or should I watch on TV? Well I will watch one way or another.

Lastly. Wagner College has it going on!  Looks very attractive to me for kids looking for a good situation. The place is close and facilities not bad. My honest guess is Bobby Hurley will be coaching there soon because Danny will get another job if he wants one.  Will Monmouth reach out to him?Manhattan? Or will he just wait for an A10 or Big East  job. I know it is early but you can see they will get it done at Wagner College.

I Have Something To say!

Good Morning:

We will have an opportunity to watch many College Basketball games on TV over the  weekend so I will have a lot to say on Monday. I  Really want to see how Seton Hall University bounces back from the loss to Louisville last week. Will they compete harder? Will they execute better? Will the end result be favorable? When many of you read this you will already have the answers.

Also anxiously waiting to see St. Johns play against Notre Dame. That game will be a huge test for St. Johns and if they win it will be a tremendous momentum builder and something that could provide confidence as they compete the rest of the season.

Now I need to address a few people who I will not call by name. Seems they are attempting to compare what I do with bloggers and writers who earn significant money for talking about hoops and recruiting. Well, on one hand that is a compliment for anyone to even think I should be considered in the same sentence or breath as those who do it professionally. On the other hand to put my writing style down because I misspelled coaches names on previous blog posts is their right but I hardly think it has anything to do with the message I am delivering.

One poster in particular gets on me every time I write something, making it it seem as if I am writing in ebonics or a style no one can understand. Now there could be errors due to me doing these blogs quick enough to have time to do the things that actually pay the bills. But my blog posts seem far from as bad as some make them seem. But I will never tell a person I cannot be criticized or evaluated. I put it out there, so I have to take what comes with the territory. I really am not offended as much as I am surprised because I read Dick Young articles and blogs where he has misspelled names, and on occasion provided wrong information. Does that mean I do not enjoy what he writes? NO! But I am also no Dick Young and could only achieve what he has in my dreams, if writing was something I ever wanted to pursue. I read all the basketball stories in papers and on the internet and if I pointed out all the errors I see over a 6 month period it would fill up the centerfold of the New York Daily News. However, despite the mistakes, I enjoy reading the blogs and articles from each and every person writing about the game I love.

As far as me? I am really not a writer as many of you (especially that nice person who continues to find fault in how I write)  Realize. Than again I never knew that I had to be close to perfect to express my opinion about basketball stuff on the internet for free in a way very few others will. Not just the bad writing or grammar! I am talking about saying it as I see it and not being concerned about coaches liking what I say or expressing my opinion. Heck I have even lost friends based on me talking about their teams. At least one head coach in the ACC, and one ex head coach  in the BE stopped speaking to me and one had me on a short list of people his staff could not communicate with. Well, the one in the ACC was sorta a very good friend and the ex Big East Coach was a friend who I really liked.  But anyone who knows me will tell you I call it as I see it and from what I have seen there is a lot of things wrong in the world of college basketball.

So lets go back to Seton Hall University. Lets also look at Rutgers during the prior 4 years. What is the common denominator? They both have/had the wrong staff make-up. Rutgers should have hired a few guys I know who wanted to work there. Those guys would have got it done on the teaching, coaching, and recruiting fronts. Instead the Head Coach hires people he was very comfortable with. Unfortunately they were not the correct people for Rutgers to be successful.  Thus we saw the further decline of Rutgers. After all the coach prior to the last coach understood he made a mistake by not hiring a local guy and that was why Fred Hill was hired at the right time for Fred Hill.  But I will not even talk about that.!

Now we have Seton Hall who is attempting to win with a talented but very inexperienced coaching staff that has to go against seasoned big time college basketball experts. Remember it is not just about the X and Os of the game. It is also about building and maintaining relationships. It is also  about not forgetting who you were prior to your current position. I always say what comes around goes around and you never know who knows who! A good example is the many parents I know who currently have division 1 talented sons and daughters. So yes I think the Seton Hall Staff is talented. I Just feel they are in need of that  barracuda of an assistant coach with s reputation of getting it done.  And trust me, it is not all about facilities and academic tradition in the year 2011. Seton Hall should have snatched Wayne Morgan before he went to Hofstra as an assistant coach. He would have really get it done for them.  And this is for SPK who I did take to dinner years ago but he forgot. Guys like Julius Allen, and Robert Holford could save a program as assistant coaches. Trust me these guys are 100 times better and more qualified than 75% of the assistants currently working but cannot get an opportunity.

And speaking of Hofstra I again turn to the Seton Hall poster who gets on me for spelling the name of the ex Hofstra and current Fordham Head Coach wrong. I guess it is more important to him than the person in question because that coach, who I know well has read my blog and has never complained. I am sure he would whether have me say good things about him and spell his name wrong, than say bad things and spell his name right.

Lastly,  I again say I am not a professional writer and have never claimed to be a professional writer. If I worked for one of the magazines, The Newark Star Ledger, a scouting service paying me, or just receiving financial benefits, I would have a proof reader and an editor to make sure my blog was correct with names spelled right etc. Unfortunately this is a hobby I love, enjoy, and do because I have something to say that others often will not. So if my grammar, misspelled words, or anything else associated with my blog turns you off I understand you not reading it. In the meantime, I promise again to try to do a better job of proof reading between working from New Jersey to the Carolinas on projects that actually pay the bills. Maybe I can get an editor to volunteer lol.

I sincerely hope you folks understand it is just a blog and I also hope you are enjoying what you read even if you disagree with me.  And for the person who always puts me down. I have re-done my prior blog post (notice I never say article).  Still not perfect but hopefully not as bad as you described. Please read below:


Seton Hall

So some Seton Hall fans were confused about my last post?  Ok than please look at the video of the game vs. Louisville. Like I said,  the coaches at Seton Hall are not experienced YET to handle the BE. Why would the Head Coach even smile and joke with the opposing coach after a blowout loss? I do not care that it was his Mentor, the guy he worships, his God Father, or his 2nd Dad. Get your butt into the locker room and teach your team about competing! He should not even be talking to the Louisville staff until after the season. What is Seton Hall the Louisville JV Team? Please!

I really am not surprised that SHU lost big on the road to a traditional power team. What does surprise me is their lack of competiveness or as many coaches often say: getting after it! Guys on the Big East level should be playing hard and building towards the future every time they take the court.

As far as me saying they are a long way from getting it done at SHU, and than saying look for them to make a run? All I am saying is they will make a run and win games when Hazell returns. They still are under achieving and not competing hard. When will it get better? Seton Hall has to get it together and this needs to happen soon. Now here goes where folks become confused again. I still feel Coach Willard will be a good coach at Seton Hall. He just needs a seasoned staff to assist him. If he does not do this, he will have a hard HILL to climb in more ways than I am hinting.


Rutgers

Rutgers looks like a great choice for kids compared to its sister school at this time. Like comparing Carolina/Duke and Clemson.

Went back and forth between games and it seems to me that Coach Rice has his kids competing! Just imagine how good they will be with the young talent coming in. I was very impressed at how the Rutgers team went after Marquette and played so hard.

Though they lost the game, they competed until the end. No moral victory, but continued improvement that everyone can see.


HS Basketball

No one in New Jersey will beat St. Patrick’s high school of Elizabeth this season. No one! They are way too good, well coached, and talented for teams to even be close. They also just happen to have some of the best players I ever saw, who just decided to attend a school miles from their homes for the sake of it lol.

St. Anthony's, always the people’s choice, is rated 2 in the state of NJ. I feel a lot of teams can beat them and some will. Again, Bob Hurley must be so grateful regarding Myles Mack and Kyle Anderson. Funny after writing my last post I thought about St. Anthony's minus Mack and Anderson. They would still be a top school because the system is such a good one and the defense is always tremendous. But having two highly recruited transfers sure helps them win a lot of games.

Good to see the new Teaneck High School Boys basketball Team. What a talented group of non-recruited players very worthy of a high state ranking.

Getting ready to attend the Prime Time Shootout. Hey what happened? It's not at the Trenton Arena? Did they spread out and grow too soon? Does anyone care? Where is Bobby Jacobs when you need him?

Still missing the old Doc Turner HS Classic in Harlem NYC. Great event and very competitive!

More Basketball

Seton Hall

So Seton Hall fans are confused about my last post. Ok than please look at the video of the game vs Louisville. Like I said the coaches at Seton Hall are not experienced YET to handle the BE. Why would the Head Coach even smile and joke with the opposing coach after a blowout loss? I do not care that it was his Mentor, or the guy he worships, or his God Father, or his 2nd Dad. Get your butt into the locker room and talk and teach your team about competing. He should not even be talking to the Louisville staff until after the season. What is Seton Hall? The Louisville JV Team? Please!

I really am not surprised that SHU lost big on the road to a traditional power team. I am more surprised that they did not compete! Sad is the way to put it. Guys should be playing hard and building towards the future.

As far as me saying they are a long way from getting it done at SHU and than saying look for them to make a run? All I am saying is they will make a run and win games when Hazell returns. They still are under achieving and not competing hard. When will it get better? Seton Hall has to get it together. Now here goes where folks become confused again. I think Willard will be a good coach at Seton Hall. He just needs a seasoned staff to assist him. If he does not do this, he will have a hard HILL to climb in more ways than I am hinting.
 

Rutgers

All I will say is Rutgers looks like a great choice for kids compared to its sister school at this time. Like comparing Carolina/Duke or attending Clemson.

Went back and forth between games and it seems to me that Coach Rice has his kids competing! Just imagine how good they will be with the young talent coming in. I was very impressed at how the Rutgers team went after Marquette and played so hard.

Though they lost the game, they competed until the end. no moral victory but continuos  improvement.


HS Basketball

No one in New jersey will beat St. Patricks this season. No One! They are way too good, well coached,  and talented. They also just happen to have some of the best players I ever saw who just decided to attend a school miles from their homes for the sake of it lol.

St. Anthony's, always the peoples choice is rated 2 in the state of NJ. I feel a lot of teams can beat them and some will. Again Hurley must be so grateful regarding Myles Mack and Kyle Anderson. Funny after writing my last post I thought about St. Anthony's minus Mack and Anderson. They would still be a top school because the system is such a good one and the defense is always tremendous. But having two highly recruited transfers sure helps them win a lot of games.

There are a lot of teams capable of beating St. Anthony's but no one should beat St. Patricks. No One!

Good to see the new Teaneck. Again very talented and worthy of their state ranking.

Getting ready to attend the Prime Time Shootout. Hey what happened? It's not at the Trenton Arena? Did they spread out  and grow too soon? Does anyone care? Where is Bobby Jacobs when you need him?

Still missing the old Doc Turner HS Classic in Harlem NYC. Great event and very competitive!

Basketball Stuff

It is Tuesday and a lot of basketball stuff to talk about. Lets start with our local "Big Time Teams."  Yes we will talk about Hofstra, Fordham, etc. because they are doing better than expected. Of course those teams are not really the elite programs in the area but worthy of praise.

Our elite programs continue to be St. Johns, Seton Hall, and Rutgers.

Interesting watching St. Johns play with the Head Coach easily wearing a red tie symbolic of the St. Johns school colors. What a nice and easy thing to do! How one former local coach could go out of his way not to do this is mind boggling to say the least.

Well St. Johns seems to be back and The Garden was rocking for the game yesterday vs Georgetown. Of course we all know by now that St. Johns won the game and seems to be again the elite team in the NY metro area. The interesting thing is despite inconsistent play this season, they are currently undefeated in the Big East and gaining great momentum. It seems as if St. Johns will be hard to go against on the court as well in recruiting battles in the next few years.

Personally I love seeing the Garden rock! Nothing like the Garden for great games. I just look forward to the day when Seton Hall and Rutgers will be huge Garden games similar to the NC/Duke/NC State rivalries in the ACC.

Seton Hall has got to get it together and fast. Not just the team, and coaches, but the university itself. This is a great time to get the entire program in check from facilities to marketing and promotions.  Develop the fan base nowise you grow with a very young and very inexperienced coaching staff for the BE level.

Honestly I still feel the staff in place at SHU is not  capable of getting it done on the BE level at this time. I am not even sure it is as good as last seasons Rutgers staff.  Not saying The Head Coach has to go, but he sure needs to evaluate the personnel working with him. Please do not take this as me saying the coaches are not good. I am only saying they are not experienced enough YET to get it done on that level.  All of the Seton Hall Coaches have tremendous upside! EVERY SINGLE ONE! But Seton Hall needs results now because if they do not get them soon, they could become the Providence to UConn that exists in New England.

Game and talent wise missing Hazell has to hurt. Take away 20 points from any team and it would be devastating. When and if he comes back it could become interesting. I look for SHU to make a serious run to end with a winning record.

Looking at Rutgers all signs point to positive results in the next few years. However they seem to be getting great recruits on paper but I wonder if they will develop into bonfire outstanding BE players.  One thing for sure is they will play hard, and get better under Mike Rice. And if they get that RAC fan base back it could mean many great year in Piscataway.

Speaking of the RAC I have to say how great it will be to see that building re-done and possibly re-configured. 9000 seats is all they need and I love the fact it could be a hard ticket to get. Remember they can always play a game or two at the Medowlands and MSG.

Back to some others. Looks as if Tom Picora could make Fordham a serious contender despite the old gym they try to market as a Palestra Type building lol. Fordham needs to understand they really need a new building seating around 8000. Again maybe the Bronx Boro President and NYC Council can build something together that Fordham can play games at.

Surprised Hofstra has done as well as they have after losing Coach Picora. But than again when I look at the staff at Hofstra, the Assistants, Wayne Morgan and Steve Demeo, are better than 75 percent to the BE Assistants. And both have OUTSTANDING NY and NJ connections.

Iona? All I can say is I heard the guy can coach!!! He sure is proving it!

Manhattan? Many folks are watching that situation closely.

Monmouth? See Manhattan

Delaware? See Monmouth

High School Basketball has been on my mind a lot. Just read where St. Benedicts is getting a very good point guard to transfer in to help them win some games. What is wrong with that picture? It is like they are calling up a kid from the minors to help out! Recruiting? Did the kid just go through a book of schools and decide Newark NJ is the place for him?

Honestly they might need more than that. How does a team with a number of division 1 prospects and signees even lose to a team like Scotch Plains on Sunday in a game at Teaneck HS as part of the Playaz Basketball program New Years Jump Off? Are you kidding me or did Derrick Character and Lance Thomas play under assumed identities? I have always been a fan of the coach at St. Benedict's and I am sure he will get it together. But bringing in a hired gun midway through is hardly the answer. Maybe it should start with committing to defense! or passing to the open man! Or how about competing!

Watched Hackensack HS, a true sleeping giant in NJ based on area talent, play Hudson Catholic which has a number of high rated younger players. Still remember the Hackensack coach as a tough little point guard. I hope he realizes the potential of his program and makes basketball a priority for his players year round.

Hudson Catholic did win the game and I was very impressed with a number of players especially Reggie Cameron, a 6 ft 8 inch versatile player with great ball and passing skills. And by the way he is a tremendous perimeter shooter. Only a Sophomore, his potential is great! Loved how he played the game! Hudson Catholic also has a very tough Sophomore guard in Kavon Stewart, who according to many is the top rated sophomore point guard in New Jersey.

Hackensack has tremendous youth also. Watch out for their superb freshmen Rashad Flaures (sp) who could be very special and might be one of best ever from Hackensack.

Same day saw St. Anthony's beat a decent Plainfield team with some pretty good big players but lacking guard play. Just too much Kyle Anderson and Myles Mack! Have to wonder where St. Anthony's would be if Patterson catholic did not close. Yes Bob Hurley has done great things in Jersey City and helped many kids over his career. So his blessing in what would be a down year is getting 2 instate high major transfers.  A huge joke at the game was folks saying Hurley is so powerful he had Paterson Catholic closed down to get the two best players lol.

Well this St. Anthony's team like others b4 them will compete hard and play to the final buzzer. But it is far from being one of the best teams until they get the traditional St. Anthony's defense in gear.

Lastly on St. Anthony's. I love Kyle Anderson because he is like a pony still developing. I honestly feel he will be the greatest college player ever to attend St. Anthony's and unlike many others play a long time in the NBA! Again I say I can get 10 points at my age playing with him lol.

Myles Mack is a very good HS player. Based on size, and PG skills I saw, I am eager to see what he does at Rutgers. Seems like a great kid and he competes hard. I did see him make more plays than usual this day and that was quite encouraging.

Last game had two traditional powers go head to head. Teaneck vs Seton Hall Prep led by tremendous senior Sterling Gibbs who signed with The University of Maryland in the ACC. Well Teaneck has been up and down inn past years based on many kids in the town deciding to attend local Catholic Schools for a short period. Well, it seems like the kids have decided to now start staying home and what a difference this makes.

Teaneck totally demolished Seton Hall Prep in a game that was over after the first 8 minutes. This was a different Teaneck team than the one I saw at Seton Hall during the Hoop Group Event. The main reason is the coaches have gone back to the drawing board to teach defense and push for players to compete harder, I really like the Teaneck Staff. Just hope they embrace the local feeder biddy league and keep the pipeline running strong.

Teaneck might just have 4 or 5 Division 1 caliber players on the roster. 6 ft 10 JR. Neville Finches will be a super high major college player. All he does is run, dunk, pass, block shots, play hard, and win! This guy could be a stud! Funny story about this kid who is the reason I went to the games. I had heard about this kid from Jon Cano, who contributes to this blog. Had no idea who he was or who his parents were. I walk into the gym and his dad calls me and says I need to meet his son who loved the workouts we did with his older brother years ago. I laughed and asked who his son was. Up comes a grinning Neville Finches who just might be 6 ft 11! He reminded me about sitting and watching us work with kids. Good thing about this kid is his mom, dad, and brother understand he needs to work on things. And trust me, when he does, he will be very very very special!

Also like a kid named Shakir Lindsey, who Jim Solmon nicknamed little dynamite. Kid is super skilled and can shoot the lights out. When I found out who his family is, including NYC Playground legend and CCNY graduate Mike Richardson, I knew where the toughness came from! Kid is very good and playing for the right guy in Jerome Smart as is all the other kids. These kids will excel under Coach Smart. By the way Shakir Lindsey is only a sophomore.

Add Chris Jones to the D1 list. Only a junior but already around 6 ft 4 with guard skills. Just needs to compete harder and play tougher. Kid looks like typical Teaneck kid. Well groomed and a bit passive but very very talented! Trust me I know the look lol. This talented jr. is a definite D1 prospect for at least a mid major CAA program. He could be 6 ft 7 when it is all done.

Add to this list the older son of ex Iona player Tony Hargraves who will grow and is an important part of the team. Guy can really play but is accepting a lessor role for the good of the team.  The toughest kid on the team is Joel Hernandez who can do it all as well. Tough defender, passes, shoots, and competes. This is a guy who will become the eventual leader of this team.  I would not be surprised to see this sophomore become a super player in the next few seasons.

Now looking at the box scores you will not be impressed. But trust me this is the most talented Teaneck HS team in many years and they all are mainly underclassman. This year will be inconsistent at times. But next season, they might be top 3 in the state and compete for a Tournament of Champions Title! Out if state tournaments better call quick!

Monday Morning

What a weekend in local College basketball! lets start with Seton Hall University.  Never thought they would get off to such a bad start despite losing Hazell for the first part if not the entire season. Thought they had a good enough and tough enough point guard in Theodore, good players on the front line in Pope and Robinson, and very good young talent.  Honestly I am not surprised, I am stunned!  This team should never lose to Richmond or other similar teams. What player on Richmond was even recruited by a Big East Team?

Well here goes folks rolling eyes at me again and people hurling insults. But I have to be honest with my thoughts and feelings. Seton Hall, The Seton Hall Community, The Seton Hall Alums, and the Subway Seton Hall Fans deserve much better than they are receiving.

Lets start with the talent. I still say the talent is above average and capable of a post season tournament. Will it happen? Well it sure does not seem it will at this point. But anything can happen.

How about the coaches? I feel they have to take some of the blame because they have not done the job YET! I say yet because they can still get it together. But what are they really capable of doing? Are they the right guys for this job? Honestly I love the loyalty Willard showed with his hires. He also wanted folks he felt he could trust and that is understandable. But to bring a mid level MAAC staff to a Big program in a major media market was shocking. At least Willard's Dad could have provided necessary stability and insight!  But what is in place at SHU is a result of SHU not being committed to competing at the highest level basketball wise.

I and no one should be blaming Willard for anything except not putting together a better staff. Sorry, just my opinion! But SHU and the head folks are the ones who let this proud program down. Why play in a state of the art building that seats over 18,000 with no higher attendance expectations than 10,000 a game. They should be pissed at the number and looking for a marketing team to fill the arena up. Why settle for a coach at salary they offered when they needed a media darling with outstanding skills to take over this program. This SHU program had all the ingredients that a very good hire could have turned into a true NCAA contender. Good guard play, plus athletic and skilled front court guys, plus heart, could just be the correct formula once you add very good and experienced coaching and motivation.

So the staff is what it is, and the arena is where it is, and the talent level is what it is and I doubt it will be better after this season, so what is next?  I will wait until halfway through the BE season before actually saying what I feel needs to happen although I know what will definitely happen one way or another!


Rutgers is doing a much better job than folks thought they would. Recruits are interested and committing although I am not convinced some are real program changers are good program maintainers if you know what I mean. From what I have seen it will still be about development at Rutgers and I feel Mike Rice and his Staff will develop those players and by the 2012 season we will see a totally different Rutgers program.

Now I still feel they are not getting it done administration wise. Where are the plans for the practice facility? Where are the REAL plans for the RAC renovation project? When will it actually start? Who do they have in place marketing wise to start getting fans out. This team has only lost 2 games and could actually be undefeated at this time, though the schedule thus far is far from a real competitive one.

Looking forward to the North Carolina game this week. I honestly feel Rice will have them playing hard enough to steal the game or at the least be very competitive. In fact I will be stunned to see this team, despite the lack of fire power, be blown out against anyone.

Looking at St. Johns I see they only have 3 losses. Not bad but I expected them to have zero loses at this time with a veteran team back.  The losses are to St. Mary's, St. Bonaventure, and Fordham.  All three were winnable games and the Red Storm should be undefeated at this point.

Well now it is almost time for the Big East Season to kick in. Games against the top teams should be competitive and they should be able to handle the local challenges. If this SJU team does not make it to a post season invite, it should be considered a bad season in Jamaica Estates.

Attendance wise, something I always look at, they seem to be where they were last season. Thought the on campus arena would average at least 5000 a game if not sell out for the season. At this point games at MSG might just be similar to past years. And boy do many of us hunger for the days when SJU packed the Garden and proved college basketball could sell in NBA cities.  

Saw St. Patricks play on TV the other day and finally caught Michael Gilchrist in action. Well, I was really impressed with him and the entire roster of future scholarship athletes. I now see what everyone means by him not excelling in one on one all-star type games. In a team setting he is OUTSTANDING! Playing with others trying to gain reps, he might look a bit lost based on the selfish play of others.

Would love to see a charity double header at Rutgers, The Pru Center, or Medowlands involving St. Anthony's, St. Benedict's, St. Patrick's, another Private/Catholic School and 4 of the top Public Schools in NJ in a 3 day tournament for charity. The New Jersey Challenge! Wow.

Or maybe the 4 best from NYC and NJ in a tournament.  Not a showcase, a tournament! Where is Bobby Jacobs when we need him?  lol

Lastly on a sad note it is so unfortunate that Jeremy Hazel was shot in the arm while visiting home for the holidays. What are we doing about this violence and how can we prepare our youngsters to be aware of the hate and opportunistic folks looking to get to them.  Person might have just been jealous of who hazel is and what he has accomplished thus far.

College Basketball.......Wow!

Looking at box scores from last night shows either parity is really here or some teams are just under achieving. Lets look at some scores that stand out:

Siena over Georgia Tech

Citadel over University of South Carolina

Dayton over Seton Hall

Those 3 scores were not part of the plan when those games were scheduled. They were supposed to be easy wins and nothing else. Now those games become extremely hurtful in the eyes of fans and the NCAA if there was a post season option on the table.

At Georgia Tech everyone must be confused from the Administration and Coaches to the fans and players. Everyone knows Paul Hewitt is a very good coach, but what is going wrong down there with the close games and loses to teams they should be destroying? I for one think the one and done has done that program in. If Paul Hewitt can get some 4 star and even 3 star players and they stay for 4 years, watch out! he is at his best with players he has a chance to develop. These one and done or even guys already with advisors looking at the NBA are very hard to coach or jell as a team. heck even Kentucky with 5 first round NBA draft choices did not win an NCAA Championship.  Hope Paul Hewitt gets another year to right this sinking ship that is in a major media market and very important to the status of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Citadel beats The University of South Carolina or was that South Carolina State? I would understand if it was South Carolina State. But from the box it says South Carolina! Maybe I need to check it again. However if it is South carolina there are a lot of folks very upset inColumbia South Carolina today. None of he South Carolina schools are supposed to be The major University except Clemson on occasion. What a Horrible loss! People are thinking about all the money spent on that great arena, practice facilities, fan support, etc.


Dayton comes to New Jersey and beats a Seton Hall Team that has TALENT! Come on what is going on here? They returned some very good players who should be able to hold it down until Hazell returns from his injury. I mean they have really good talent and it makes no sense losing at home to Dayton. At Dayton I could better understand because that is a great A10 Program with a cult like following. They sell out that arena and when folks pass, the tickets are willed to family members. Just a great program!  Makes me wonder if I was a player rated 4 stars would I choose such a program over places like SHU, St. Johns, Rutgers, Providence, And South Florida? On another note when will SHU wake up and get a true marketing firm to see tickets to the games. How do you not have 8000 season tickets sold with all the businesses in the greater Newark area?  Seton Hall needs major assistance! Coaching wise? Please do not start me. From recruiting on down there seems to be a serious void. Willard might be a premier coach one day soon, but he has a long climb to get there. Big question is what would be the case if Bobby Gonzales was still the coach? ummmmmm! Just wondering!

It is about that time where coaches at schools start looking at what jobs might just become available. And boy have I heard some interesting stuff including jobs in BE, ACC, A10, SEC, Colonial, MAAC, and even the Northeast Conference. Speaking of the Northeast Conference there is a lot of interest in Monmouth! Folks are eagerly watching that sleeping mid major giant. Ditto The University of Delaware! Maybe Mike Brey will say the heck with this and go back to the Blue hens! I doubt that but Delaware has all the tools to be a major mid major power! Just a great place! I do hope Monte Ross will get it together because he is qualified. But the way it is going he makes folks hungry for a return of David Henderson who believe it or not is an OUTSTANDING TEACHER and COACH. Just did not have the public relation skills needed to follow a great PR guy like Mike Brey.

I wonder along with many others what will happen in Atlanta. No not with the housewives, although I would like to know that as well. but with the basketball program at Georgia Tech. According to many friends down there, folks want change but those who know the game only want Paul Hewitt to recruit more 4 year players to give the program experience for the 1 or 2 early NBA entrees they tend to get often.  And even Stevie Wonder knows Paul Hewitt can flat out coach! but again, they are getting very restless in Atlanta!

High School Basketball

Planning on getting around this season to see many HS basketball games. If you know of some good ones anywhere between NYC and Myrtle Beach SC please email me at LFBall@aol.com. In the meantime I will be in NY, NJ, and Pa. checking out games and players. I promise to kept real and tell it as I see it. After all, there are a lot of over hyped and over rated kids as well as many more under rated and under hyped players out there. My job? Find them!

Everyone please watch out for Trinity catholic in Connecticut. Just enrolled is a huge 7 ft 4 Freshmen from Africa with skills and the ability to run the court. I am sure UConn is already there. Kid lives in  Portchester NY, which is close to Stanford Connecticut, with legal guardian. And guess what? his 13 year old brother is coming next year and he is already 7 ft 2!

Well over and out. See you at a game near you!

HS and College Basketball

Greetings fellow basketball junkies! It is a pleasure to again be able to find time to give my thoughts on the sport we all love so much. But before getting into stuff that will again have coaches and fans rolling their eyes at me, let me do an official shout out to all those scouting services who consistently get out to games all over the country covering games.

People such as Jay Gomes of NJHoops, Chuck Meeger, Ed Butler (Saw you Ed but you were busy as usual) Robert "Rebel" Boyd who pisses folks off because he tells it like it is and loves helping all the kids, Steve  who has helped hundreds of kids over he years, and all the others who are grinding all season getting information out to colleges and fans. We all know the Tom Konchalski (sp) and Bob Gibbons type guys and they too are very much appreciated, but the other group does it year in and year out with very few folks actually knowing them.

Now many who have followed my thoughts know I have been hard on certain services over the years based on them not actually understanding talent or ever playing or coaching the game. But after all these years they must know something by now and based on what I see, they really are doing a great job identifying talented players. So a special shout out to all of them!

Went to see the games at Seton Hall last Sunday and was somewhat but not overly impressed with what I saw. Interesting to see a video camera pointed at the court in the SHU basketball offices above the gym. Not sure if it was taping games or there for practices.  But interesting nonetheless!

St Anthony's vs Gil St. Bernard's School

Legendary Coach Bob Hurley vs New Coach Mergin Sina! It was a pretty good game throughout but their was no answer for 6 ft 8 Jr. Kyle Anderson! He is so good he looks bored on the court. He was like a giant playing with ants. He could do a;most anything he wished to do. Inside or outside, he did it effortlessly. I still think if he was 6 ft 2 he would still be a top level player. He was joined by a very stretched 5 ft 10 Sr. Myles Mack who has a long way to go to become a good Big East Player! Sorry, it is just how I feel! He does not pressure the ball, does not seem like a pest on the court or a good on the ball defender which he needs to be at his height, and looks to score more than he looks to make plays. Remember this is based on the few times I have seen him play. Division 1? Yes!!!  Not convinced he is a Big east Type yet!

Now the Guard that really impressed me was a stretched 6 ft. Soph. named Jaren Sina of Gil St. Bernards. Yes the coaches son! Remember the coach is every bit of 6 ft 6 or 6 ft 7 so this kid will have a growth spurt. But even if he does not, what a future he has in front of him. Kid smiled entire game and is way better than I ever imagined. He had Coach Mike Rice of Rutgers following his every move from a court side seat. You could tell he was very impressed. Also impressive was 5 ft 10 Alex Mitola who someone needs to recruit soon! He would be great in the Ivy, Colonial, MAAC. or Northeast conferences. Also keep an eye on 6 ft 7 Dominic Hoffman who is also a Jr.  They also have a 6 ft 8 transfer who will be eligible in 30 days and I hear he is pretty good. They might just be the team to beat in 2011-2012.

Interesting watching Coach Hurley lead his team to victory. Not an impressive bunch as in years past and judging by how calm Coach Hurley was, he understands the makeup and how he has to be more patient than ever before. This did not seem like the demanding Hurley. More like a nurturing Hurley who understands this will take time. Big question is if Paterson Catholic had stayed open, would they have beat St. Anthony's based on the current 2 best players would be in Paterson.


Teaneck vs Linden

New Coach Jerome Smart vs Almost legendary Phil Colicchio

This is game I really wanted to see. The new Teaneck HS Program under 1st year coach Jerome Smart. The word was Teaneck had beaten a lot of great programs in fall league ball. They looked great in warmups and thats when it all stopped.

Despite very good coaching including ex Paterson Catholic Head Coach Damon Wright, this team looked like the softest Teaneck team in the past 30 years. They also seemed not to play hard until the 4th quarter. I had heard Teaneck had at least 3 D1 prospects. On this day I did not see 1 D2 prospect on the team. Yes the uniforms were nice, warmups great. and the kids looked impressive until the whistle blew to start the game. It was all down hill.  One bright spot in the loss was Soph Shakir Lindsey who put on quite a show. Others do not deserve a mention.

For Linden it was all about Prigley Mallory and Rodney Sanders who controlled stuff along with the guards who all understood roles. Bad loss for Teaneck who went on and lost to a Hackensack Team on Tuesday with a new coach. Not a good day in the neighborhood for Teaneck!

St. Benedict's Prep vs St. Raymonds

Two good coaches and a lot of good talent. Some feel St. Raymonds might be the 2nd best team in NYC after Christ the King.

St. Benedicts had new coach Rashown McCleod  who will do a great job at the Newark Based school. Talent galore in many of the players. Loved Vaughn Grey who might have chosen his college a bit too soon. He was clearly the best guard I saw at Seton Hall all day.  In fact Rutgers and SHU will be upset about not recruiting him. I liked him much more than I like Myles Mack! I just wonder if he will stay with George Mason of the CAA over getting out and going to a big east type program? Ummmmmmmmmmm. Wherever he goes they will get a solid players and a solid citizen!

Glad to see St. Benedicts and Coach McCleod smart enough to embrace Brian Crawford as an Assistant Coach. Might be most important pickup for Coach McCleod for next 4 years based on Brian Crawfords expertise and connections. This will payoff huge! Loved Tyler Harris who will be a special player in college. His future is very bright and if you watch closely you will agree he will be better in college than in HS. And he is BIG! Got to be 6 ft 9 when it is all done. A great get for NC State!

For St. Raymonds it was a pleasure watching Jr. Daniel Dingle play. He is a Jr. who will choose the right school and be an impact college player. And yes he can play! Just another Dingle at St. Raymonds sent there by his Dad. This guy will be a high level recruit next year. Trust me on this! Joining him upfront was Nkereuwem Okoro who is as talented as Dingle. Another Jr. who will have The Parkchester section of the Bronx hopping with college coaches this and next year.


Did not watch the Seton Hall Prep vs Columbia game but was surprised to see Columbia won by a significant margin. Did meet the family of a player named Dallas Anglin and they were very impressive as a family. Nice to see that type of support on the HS level.


College Basketball

Nice to see John Morton at the games on sunday. What a classy guy who should be welcomed into every living room in America. I am stunned SHU did not attempt to get him back. He told me Fordham was doing well and said when they beat SJU grown men cried. Glad John is doing well and I am sure he will be a tremendous Head Coach in the near future.

St. Johns will be better next season  just not sure if they will be the NCAA team everyone predicts they will be. Losing to teams they have lost to is not a good sign for this once powerful program. But folks must be patient. And so must the SJU coaching staff. I guess it is time to actually buy that home Coach Lavin because you might just be around for a while.

Also want everyone to know I am and always will be a fan of both Tony Chiles and Mo Hicks. I do not know other SJU coaches but those two guys are folks anyone would trust with their sons. Both are Class with a capital C.

Rutgers will steal some games this season. Bank on  it!  Coach Rice seemed very approachable at the games. Not sure he was sincere but nonetheless seemed like a nice person.

Kansas State suspends players? Wow! Does anyone believe hanky panicky takes place there? Come on not at Kansas State with boosters and clothes! Is has to be a misunderstanding!