It’s never an ideal thing when a team loses a first-team all-conference player, but that’s what happened to St. John’s last week when LJ Figueroa opted to transfer for his final season of college basketball.
Nevertheless, if Mike Anderson’s history is any indication, it shows that the totality of his pieces always usurps one individual talent.
Anderson has never had a losing season in 18 years as a head coach and has only had five players — DeMarre Carroll (Missouri), Kim English (Missouri), Marcus Denmon (Missouri), Bobby Portis (Arkansas), and Daniel Gafford (Arkansas) — drafted during that time.
What does that mean?
Elite conditioning, quality depth, and the discipline needed to sustain a frenetic pace for 40 minutes have all been major factors in his ability to take UAB, Missouri, and Arkansas to the NCAA Tournament.
The same thing is what’s going to have to happen at St. John’s.
The overall effectiveness of the Red Storm’s rotation as a collective unit is ultimately what’s going to determine if Anderson can make this program one that can consistently be one that finishes in the top five of the Big East.
That doesn’t mean that players won’t potentially develop into all-league players.
It doesn’t mean that versatile forward Julian Champagnie — who averaged 9.9 points and 6.5 rebounds last season as a freshman — doesn’t have a chance to become an All-Big East player as a sophomore.
But it does mean that history has proven that Anderson’s system and style of play is what has ultimately allowed him to not finish below .500 in 18 years as a head coach.
Deeply entrenched confidants in Jamaica quietly feel confident about the Red Storm’s incoming recruiting class for next season which features several players — Vince Cole (JUCO), Posh Alexander, Dylan Wusu, Isaih Moore (JUCO), and GW grad transfer Arnaldo Toro — that should add depth to St. John’s pressing attack.
With Figueroa and Mustapha Heron now both gone, St. John’s will enter Year Two under Anderson with only one double-figure scorer (Rasheem Dunn) returning from last year’s team that won 17 games.
Will the new additions be enough to offset Figueroa’s departure and put the Red Storm into the NCAA Tournament picture in 2021?
That’s to be determined, but the philosophy is simple: next man up.
Johnny Juzang enhances UCLA’s depth on the wing
Depth won’t be a problem for Mick Cronin next season.
The NCAA’s decision to grant a waiver last week for Juzang — a transfer from Kentucky — means that the Bruins will have a bevy of options to put in between point guard Tyger Campbell and big men Jalen Hill and Cody Riley.
While UCLA waits on whether or not Chris Smith will return to school after he declared as an early entrant to the 2020 NBA Draft, the Bruins still have four other returning players in addition to he and Juzang — Jaime Jaquez, Jake Kyman, Jules Bernard, and David Singleton — who stand between 6-4 and 6-9. All four of those players averaged double-figure minutes last season. This doesn’t include incoming freshman Jaylen Clark, a hard playing 6-5 wing who should fit right in with Cronin’s no nonsense philosophy.
One of main reasons for UCLA’s turnaround in the middle of last season was due to Cronin’s decision to scrap playing a dual big lineup with Riley and Hill on the floor together and go with the 6-6 Jaquez as a mobile, bouncy four-man.
This type of versatility will be enhanced next season, especially if Smith returns to school. If that happens Cronin would boast eight players on his roster that stand between 6-4 and 6-9, giving him the type of defensive length at multiple positions that he desperately craves.
UCLA is in position to be the preseason favorite in the Pac-12 if Smith returns to school.
Moussa Cisse’s decision will have a direct impact on the 20-21 college basketball season
How could it not?
The five-star big man announced last week that he plans to reclassify from the 2021 class to 2020 and will be eligible to play next season. Cisse is expected to make his college choice in the next few days from a list that includes Florida State, Kentucky, Memphis, Georgetown, LSU, and Georgia.
The 6-11 Cisse has been compared by multiple well embedded moles to former Texas Tech forward Tariq Owens and will have an immediate impact defensively at the front of the rim next season.
If he opts for Kentucky or LSU, either team could instantly become the favorite to win the SEC in 20-21 ahead of Tennessee.
Both teams along with Florida State are currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45.
This and That:
– The NCAA needs to clarify what’s specifically required when student athletes apply for a COVID waiver seeking immediate eligibility. If it doesn’t, there’s going to be nothing except questions when certain kids are cleared to play next season and others aren’t. This again brings up the same question: why did the NCAA even get into the waiver business in the first place?
– Another NCAA issue: the NBA appears to be headed towards resuming play in late July, which means that the NBA Draft likely won’t be held until late September or early October. What does this mean for the early entry withdrawal deadline for the 2020 NBA Draft? Is the NCAA going to give kids approximately 30 days to withdraw like normal even though most academic curriculums will start in August? This is another issue that needs to be addressed quickly.
– The eight teams slated to play in the 2020 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas are still proceeding that the event is on as scheduled despite the current circumstances in the world, according to multiple sources. The eight-team field features Duke, Creighton, Memphis, Utah, Texas A&M, Wichita State, Ohio State, and West Virginia.
– Kentucky and Notre Dame are starting a multi-year series on December 12th at Rupp Arena. There will be a neutral site game between the two programs in 2021 at an undisclosed location and a return game in South Bend in 2022.
– Several power conference programs are offering approximately one-third less than normal when it comes to guarantee games for next season, according to multiple sources. This is crippling for mid-major programs who depend on this revenue to stay afloat. Another effect of the coronavirus.
