Sal Renaldi

@hoops_mike I totally disagree. Ian showed flashes. Playing a new position and limited minutes, he never really got into a rhythm. I expect a huge progression his junior year, as a player, and a leader who's settled and locked in.

I disagreed w Rick Pitino regarding RJ Luis and I was correct. I again disagree w Rick about retaining Ian Jackson. I honestly feel he will regret this decision. I know he got Ian for a discount based on his resume. Ian had 5/6 decent games all year 🤷‍♂️. 🏀

@RealRobReinhart What a dumb, idiotic statement!! Maybe it's him, who lacks the "passion"!! Good riddance. In Rick we trust!!!! Go Storm!!!

I’m told top transfer Massamba Diop chose Gonzaga over St. John’s because of NIL opportunities and fan passion. “Something about Gonzaga really impressed me. Maybe it was the fans. St. John’s fans don’t really pay attention to basketball that much, so I wanted to go to a place where basketball is the main focus.” Sources say the Johnnies were outbid by about 2:1.

@SJUDave I just feel a bit jilted. After learning about all of his agents Zaga ties, were we EVER in the running??? Playing in NYC, MSG , and an opportunity to "own" both, I mean who could pass up that opp. I feel like SJU was simply used as a bargaining chip, and a price drive.

I think Johnnie fans are obviously upset. This was the big fish. But this staff made the biggest offer, took Diop to MSG for a workout, offered him the starring role, all the bells and whistles. The Gonzaga ties from Diop’s agent clearly were too hard to break #sjubb

@SJUDave Exactly correct!

@ayedeegs The issue with high school recruits, is if they aren't ready, they don't impact. If they are, they leave quickly (better deal / NBA). Not sustainable anymore. It's a rebuild ea yr from now on either way.

The biggest problem currently with #sjubb is Pitino’s refusal to recruit out of high school. Every year he has to fully rely on the portal and revamp 85% of his roster. St. John’s simply isn’t getting these top guys in the portal. Build through HS and then supplement with portal.

@SJUDave I think once things shake out with some large studs in the Euro Leagues, and their NBA draft dream letdowns (2nd round - G League), as well as all of the money that we just saved on Diop) we'll be able to secure quality there, but it probably won't be until the end of May.

This is basically worst case scenario for St. John’s. Early interest in Flory Bidunga, he goes to Louisville. Moustapha Thiam was on a visit, ends up at Michigan. There was interest in Najai Hines he ends up at UConn. And now Massamba Diop to Gonzaga. Time to regroup #sjubb

@SJUDave My apologies for questioning you on Diku!! You the man!!

Transfer Portal *technically* doesn’t open until the day after the national championship game. Then it's a 15-day period starting April 7th until 21st, to put your name in. The list of players in the portal will be 4x as long as players NOT in the transfer portal at this rate.

@SJUDave Not at all, Dave I love your posts! Keep it up, Bro!

@sal87979 Do you think I’m just lying to you because I have nothing else to do?

Sadiku Ibine Ayo has entered the transfer portal. He's the first St. John's player to enter. Expect more as exit interviews began today. Ayo, a captain at St. John's and a Rick Pitino all-time favorite will look for a larger role in his final year of eligibility. #sjubb

@SJUDave My research suggested that he played to many games his first year to qualify for another year of eligibility. Plus, he's a team captain, and very close to Rick. Cant imagine him leaving.

@sal87979 Was injured his first year at St. John’s. Has another year of eligibility.

@SJUDave At the very least. Bare minimum second or third team. Not just an "honorary mention". St. Johns continues to receive no national respect. Now it's time to show the country, what the East already knows, and just ball 🏀 !!!! Lets go!!!!

Zuby Ejiofor was robbed. How is he not an All-American? Ejiofor is the only player in Big East HISTORY to win: Player of the Year. Defensive Player of the Year. Most Outstanding Player of the Big East Tournament. Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  This is nonsense. #sjubb

@SJUDave @EyeonStormPod So perfectly said!! Nice job!

Regarding St. John's being given a 5 seed by the Committee - this is a long "War and Peace" should have saved it for @EyeonStormPod rant, but 17 Ken Pom, 15 Torvik, KPI 10, Evan Miya 12...they should have been a 4. #sjubb Now 4 and 5 may not have a huge difference to some, but the way the committee favors play in the first 40 days of the season over the last 65 or so, needs to be changed, especially in this NIL Transfer Portal era where you're dealing with all new rosters year over year. But as a whole...the St. John's fan base is and should be disappointed. I think St. John’s fans are fiercely loyal and passionate, so there’s a bias like with all fans, but most of us fans certainly understand the idea that your full body of work matters. St. John’s beating Ole Miss and Baylor does nothing to erase losing to Alabama, Iowa State, Auburn, Kentucky. I think the disappointment is two fold: first - it’s clear that the committee did not value what St. John’s did to UConn in the Big East Tournament title game all that strongly. Nor did they really care much that a 28-6 Red Storm team that won the Big East Conference outright and the Big East tournament AND were winners of 19 of their last 20 games. They seem to put far more weight on how St. John’s faired in November and December rather than give any credit for the team getting much better and doing so consistently. Now obviously a down Big East effects that, but it seems like the committee may have the scale of what matters tilted far too heavily on the non conference schedule. The second part of the St. John’s fan base’s disappointment is the location: there was growing optimism that a 4 seed would put them in convenient Philadelphia. Or at worst a favorable 5 seed would put them in a quick plane ride away Tampa…getting sent to San Diego 2500 miles away for a New York fan base makes for logistical and travel nightmare. It’s far away, there’s a time difference, it’s expensive…so any shot of a crowd impact is gone. Coach Pitino has said he feels for the fans because they won't be able to make it in droves. The fact that NO team in the last 25+ years has swept their conference regular season and conference tournament championships and received less than a 3 seed is just insane that Pitino's club gets the short end of the stick. Again, I get it, they didn't have enough quality non conference wins, and the plethora of wins in the Big East didn't mean much because only 2 of the opponents were of dancing caliber. But the fact is their metrics were incredibly strong from day 1 and still are, yet it didn't matter. Goal Posts continue to be moved by the committee. Anyway lengthy rant over - obviously nothing you can do - doesn't matter because we're playing Northern Iowa, on Friday, in San Diego. Nothing I'm writing here matters, it's just venting but the mission at hand and that's beating the Panthers and everyone else that comes along the way. As always, GO JOHNNIES.

@KevinConnelly24 Impossible!!!!

I feel like it's very hard to miss this many shots in a row #sjubb

@RepoleStable @StJohnsBBall Thank you, Mike!!!!! Let's do it!!!

I haven’t been this fired up about a St John’s basketball game in 25 years. @StJohnsBBall March Madness is upon us!!!!! Let’s F$&kin Go!!!!!❤️🙏💪 #SJUBB Need some help and advice… My 9yo daughter Gioia wants to go to tonight’s game that will start at 10pm. Not sure if I let her go whether that makes me a bad parent or great parent. 😂😂🤣 Should I let Gioia come to tonight’s 10pm game???

@EdKullStJohnsAD Let's do it!!!!! Great job, Ed!

DM me …. let’s go Johnnies!!!!