Mustapha cleared...

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Johnnies gonna be good!

[brewcity77]

Wow, that's shocking. Didn't seem like there was any reason for him to be approved. Seems likely, though. Ponds posted it on his Instagram, but subsequently deleted it.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Anyone have a source other than a deleted Instagram post?

[Jay Bee]

Wow, that's shocking. Didn't seem like there was any reason for him to be approved. Seems likely, though. Ponds posted it on his Instagram, but subsequently deleted it.

There was another one just over a week ago at UNI I was familiar with... when that one got approved, it became apparent there was a good chance for Heron. NCAA has basically said, “screw the bylaws as written and screw what we said a few years ago, we’re doing it differently this year”

<shrug>

If we needed** Koby I’d go after it, but the roster is filled to the brim as is

[brewcity77]

Weird. Guess the last thing to expect from the NCAA is consistency. Interestingly, now not only did Ponds delete his IG post, but the first outlet to report it on Twitter citing the deleted post (and they did note the deletion) also deleted their tweet. Maybe it's not done yet?

[Jay Bee]

Weird. Guess the last thing to expect from the NCAA is consistency. Interestingly, now not only did Ponds delete his IG post, but the first outlet to report it on Twitter citing the deleted post (and they did note the deletion) also deleted their tweet. Maybe it's not done yet?

Or Chrissy and Co got mad at the bois for spouting off about it.

I do fear we're very near the world of 'transfer and play immediately, anyone, for any reason'. Don't like it.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I did not hear itfrom a Ponds tweet.

[Herman Cain]

I did not hear itfrom a Ponds tweet.

Will be great for the Big East if it is finalized.

https://nypost.com/2018/09/26/chris-mullin-sees-st-johns-as-group-hes-been-waiting-for/

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Latest word from Heron himself is that he is not cleared. Could be a smokescreen because he or the school want to do an official release. Think MSK is correct and this gets done.

[Billy Hoyle]

There was another one just over a week ago at UNI I was familiar with... when that one got approved, it became apparent there was a good chance for Heron. NCAA has basically said, “screw the bylaws as written and screw what we said a few years ago, we’re doing it differently this year”

<shrug>

If we needed** Koby I’d go after it, but the roster is filled to the brim as is

A few years ago the NCAA got rid of any waivers except for extreme mitigation (some approved were where there was retaliation against a player who defended her coach against allegations by her teammates). The main reason was abuse by schools in seeking these waivers. Part of the idea too was "if you have to move closer to him because mom has cancer and needs to be driven to treatment then playing sports your first year isn't the best thing for you to be doing."

The NCAA, however, peeled back on those based on what they have seen over that time and decided that in legitimate cases like the UNI kid (claim was that mom moved with him to Cali but dad could not because of health issues so they had to move back) and, possibly Heron (I don't know full details) they'd be flexible once again.  There has to be mitigation though.

Sorry, but Milwaukee isn't close enough to Toronto even if there were health or family issues (which there are not) for McEwen.

[Jay Bee]

A few years ago the NCAA got rid of any waivers except for extreme mitigation (some approved were where there was retaliation against a player who defended her coach against allegations by her teammates). The main reason was abuse by schools in seeking these waivers. Part of the idea too was "if you have to move closer to him because mom has cancer and needs to be driven to treatment then playing sports your first year isn't the best thing for you to be doing."

The NCAA, however, peeled back on those based on what they have seen over that time and decided that in legitimate cases like the UNI kid (claim was that mom moved with him to Cali but dad could not because of health issues so they had to move back) and, possibly Heron (I don't know full details) they'd be flexible once again.  There has to be mitigation though.

Sorry, but Milwaukee isn't close enough to Toronto even if there were health or family issues (which there are not) for McEwen.

You’ve got the UNI facts wrong, but yeah, the medical claim for Heron is more difficult but there could be other angles or something as goofy as “flights back are much cheaper!”

[Billy Hoyle]

You’ve got the UNI facts wrong, but yeah, the medical claim for Heron is more difficult but there could be other angles or something as goofy as “flights back are much cheaper!”

The Courier says otherwise.

[Jay Bee]

The Courier says otherwise.

No it doesn’t. You misread. His dad isn’t a part of the story, bud.

[Herman Cain]

Jay Wright on The Johnnies...
https://nypost.com/2018/10/01/why-jay-wright-is-buying-into-the-st-johns-hype/

Also it is good news for the Big East that The Post has started following St. Johns in depth again.

[NorthernDancerColt]

Jay Wright on The Johnnies...
https://nypost.com/2018/10/01/why-jay-wright-is-buying-into-the-st-johns-hype/

Also it is good news for the Big East that The Post has started following St. Johns in depth again.

Always got a kick out of the dichotomy of Posts and Times.....the elite and liberal Washington Post/New York Times and its more tabloid-esque bros Washington Times/ New York Post. Still think the powers that be aren't playing us all?
                                                                                           

[Herman Cain]

Always got a kick out of the dichotomy of Posts and Times.....the elite and liberal Washington Post/New York Times and its more tabloid-esque bros Washington Times/ New York Post. Still think the powers that be aren't playing us all?
                                                                                         

Back in the pre internet day, people used to read the WSJ and NY Times on the train ride in and then the Post afternoon edition on the ride home. Page six was a must. 

[nyg]

Per Evan Daniels, he is clear to play. 

[Herman Cain]

Per Evan Daniels, he is clear to play.

https://redstormsports.com/news/2018/10/13/mens-basketball-mustapha-heron-granted-legislative-relief-waiver-by-ncaa.aspx

[brewcity77]

Will definitely make the Johnnies a tougher out. Have to think they probably are a top-half team in the league now.

[Galway Eagle]

Wasn't St. John's defense almost as bad as ours?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wasn't St. John's defense almost as bad as ours?

No.  They were elite defensivly. Their offense was almost as bad as our defense

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Umm told you.  This has been know for a while now.

[Billy Hoyle]

Will definitely make the Johnnies a tougher out. Have to think they probably are a top-half team in the league now.

More like favorite.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Best quote I've heard about this. "With Heron getting cleared they've got four really good players. Problem is all four think they're the best player."

I've got SJU as the 3rd best team in the BEast. They have enough talent to win it but I'm not sure how all the pieces fit together. I could see a nightmare scenario for them where they end up in the NIT despite NCAA level talent because of balance and coaching. We'll see.  I think we split the season series with them with the home team winning big in each game. Too bad if true,  I'm tired of losing Big East openers.

[Herman Cain]

Best quote I've heard about this. "With Heron getting cleared they've got four really good players. Problem is all four think they're the best player."

I've got SJU as the 3rd best team in the BEast. They have enough talent to win it but I'm not sure how all the pieces fit together. I could see a nightmare scenario for them where they end up in the NIT despite NCAA level talent because of balance and coaching. We'll see.  I think we split the season series with them with the home team winning big in each game. Too bad if true,  I'm tired of losing Big East openers.

Mullins is a very competitive guy. With these key pieces in place he will make sure the players work toward the greater good. If they don’t play together and everyone starts chucking , the scenario you outline is definitely possible.

[brewcity77]

More like favorite.

Favorite to win the league? LOL no.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Favorite to win the league? LOL no.

Agreed, but this makes a clear top 3 now along with us & Villanova. And to me it looks like the gap between Nova (favorite) and St. John's (3rd) is far less than between St. John's and the 4th (Providence?). The Johnnies' top end talent is the best in the league, but their bench will likely bite them a few times.

I wouldn't be surprised if any of Villanova, Marquette, or St. John's won it. I would definitely be surprised if anyone else did.

[wadesworld]

Mullins is a very competitive guy. With these key pieces in place he will make sure the players work toward the greater good. If they don’t play together and everyone starts chucking , the scenario you outline is definitely possible.

Lol. So Mullins could stear them in the right direction and they could be good or he could not and they could be bad.

Thanks for the analysis.

[Nukem2]

Agreed, but this makes a clear top 3 now along with us & Villanova. And to me it looks like the gap between Nova (favorite) and St. John's (3rd) is far less than between St. John's and the 4th (Providence?). The Johnnies' top end talent is the best in the league, but their bench will likely bite them a few times.

I wouldn't be surprised if any of Villanova, Marquette, or St. John's won it. I would definitely be surprised if anyone else did.

Folks are undervaluing the Friars.

[brewcity77]

Agreed, but this makes a clear top 3 now along with us & Villanova. And to me it looks like the gap between Nova (favorite) and St. John's (3rd) is far less than between St. John's and the 4th (Providence?). The Johnnies' top end talent is the best in the league, but their bench will likely bite them a few times.

I wouldn't be surprised if any of Villanova, Marquette, or St. John's won it. I would definitely be surprised if anyone else did.

Heron is great, but St John's lost a lot and Mullin has yet to show he can coach his way out of a wet paper bag. I think this gets the Johnnies to the top-half of the league, but still behind Nova, MU, Providence, and Butler.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Folks are undervaluing the Friars.

Friars could be great or terrible. Again, they have a lot of talent but balance is a concern. Not positional balance like SJU but skill balance. The Friars have a lot of slashers but no shooters. They lost 81% of their 3P shooting from last season to graduation. Markus Howard has 23 more career 3PM than their entire roster put together. They only have one guy with a career 3P% above 35% (36.8% for Isaiah Jackson) and only two above 33% (Jackson and 34.4% for Emmitt Holt). Not only that but their two top 50 freshman are not known as knockdown shooters, in fact, one of Duke's big weaknesses is his shot. If they don't figure out how to address that, I see teams packing the paint and neutralizing guys like Diallo and Watson. Plus the word is that Holt is not at the same level that he was prior to last season's injury.

Personally, I have them 5th (with Butler 4th) in the Big East. If Holt gets healthy and Diallo or someone else develops an outside shot, they could exceed that. But I could also their lack of shooting cause them to miss the tourney.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Heron is great, but St John's lost a lot and Mullin has yet to show he can coach his way out of a wet paper bag. I think this gets the Johnnies to the top-half of the league, but still behind Nova, MU, Providence, and Butler.

Who did st johns lose??

[Dr. Blackheart]

Folks are undervaluing the Friars.

Agree

[Boone]

No way the Friars will be 'terrible.'

[Herman Cain]

Heron is great, but St John's lost a lot and Mullin has yet to show he can coach his way out of a wet paper bag.I think this gets the Johnnies to the top-half of the league, but still behind Nova, MU, Providence, and Butler.

It took a considerable degree of coaching skill to beat Villanova and Duke last year , without Lovett.

[brewcity77]

Who did st johns lose??

Lovett, Owens, Yakwe, Ahmed, and Alibegovic.

[Jay Bee]

It took a considerable degree of coaching skill to beat Villanova and Duke last year , without Lovett.

It took Brunson going 2/11 3FG and Nova shooting 8/33 for 24.2% eFG% (Nova was 4-3 when shooting 30.8% 3FG% or worse); and it took Grayson Allen going 1/7 FG and a huge game from Ponds.

They're a flipped team - bad offense, good defense last year.. this year people are counting on a great offense, but expecting bad defense.

I'm trying to see where the great offense is.. they've got a roster where - on a given night - they can be sensational. Not sure how consistent it'll look on the court.

But.. a very tough team to project, imo.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Lovett, Owens, Yakwe, Ahmed, and Alibegovic.

😂😂😂

Are u kidding me?! Or you just post stuff and expect people to accept with blind faith?
U realize u named a solid starter a guy that was outmatched and that left because of the transfers that were coming in?  Another guy would didnt play after thanksgiving and two others that got walk on type minutes.
  Please

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

It took Brunson going 2/11 3FG and Nova shooting 8/33 for 24.2% eFG% (Nova was 4-3 when shooting 30.8% 3FG% or worse); and it took Grayson Allen going 1/7 FG and a huge game from Ponds.

They're a flipped team - bad offense, good defense last year.. this year people are counting on a great offense, but expecting bad defense.

I'm trying to see where the great offense is.. they've got a roster where - on a given night - they can be sensational. Not sure how consistent it'll look on the court.

But.. a very tough team to project, imo.

Dont disagree with any of this, i will only add the yound talent they had last year is a year older and with the three transfers in they are considerably more talented and deeper than they were last year.

[brewcity77]

It took a considerable degree of coaching skill to beat Villanova and Duke last year , without Lovett.

Just like it took coaching skill to lose 11 straight Big East games? Mullin is 38-60 overall and 12-42 in conference play. His roster turnover makes Iowa State look like the model of stability. Maybe this year will be different, but he's shown nothing to indicate he's a Big East caliber coach yet.

[Herman Cain]

Just like it took coaching skill to lose 11 straight Big East games? Mullin is 38-60 overall and 12-42 in conference play. His roster turnover makes Iowa State look like the model of stability. Maybe this year will be different, but he's shown nothing to indicate he's a Big East caliber coach yet.

Losing Lovett contributed heavily to the 11 game losing streak. The offset was the team regrouped and finished the season competitive. They have been 2-2 against MU the last two years. Mullin has been able to put together a talented team on paper for this year.  I am not ready to write him off as a Big East level coach yet. 

[brewcity77]

He could get there. He's not there yet. I'm not ready to view them as a top-3 program until he shows he at least has NCAA chops.

[Herman Cain]

He could get there. He's not there yet. I'm not ready to view them as a top-3 program until he shows he at least has NCAA chops.

I  agree with this analysis.

[Herman Cain]

I thought this post from the Johnny Jungle site sums up their fan base point of view..
http://johnnyjungle.com/forum/index.php?topic=11008.msg298465#msg298465

[Golden Avalanche]

Keep seeing people refer to Mullin as the coach of St. John's. That's weird since he's not the one in charge.

[jesmu84]

https://www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/is-the-mustapha-heron-transfer-going-to-change-how-the-ncaa-rules-on-transfer-eligibility