Newsday’s Reaction To Mike Cragg’s Hiring Mike Anderson

The New York media has been skeptical of Mike Cragg’s hiring of Mike Anderson for the St. John’s job but they also seem to be withholding judgement.

Cragg, who was at Duke for 30 years before taking the A.D. job at St. John’s, obviously has a wide window into Dukedom. He was at Duke near the beginning of Mike Krzyzweski’s rise and in this article from Newsday, he reveals that Pitt coach Jeff Capel, who played for and later assisted Coach K at Duke, was the one who suggested Anderson to him.

He also sought Coach K’s opinion - why would you not? And Krzyzewski endorsed the hire enthusiastically.

And honestly, if the GOAT says Anderson could get it done in New York, who would you listen to, the Post and Newsday or K?

Now the key is how Anderson adapts to the City, what kind of staff he puts together and what kind of a roster he can put together for his first season.

If he can hit the ground running and at least have a team that works hard and earns respect, he can start winning over the skeptics.

No doubt that would make Cragg, who wisely turned off social media recently, very happy.