For those who are burying Cooney thinking

[Knicks411]

I wouldn't say I'm burying Cooney, but my expectations have definitely been taken down a little.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

My small association to fame, but I've spoken to Trevor and he's as confident as ever going into this year. I haven't lost doubt in him whatsoever. People give him a hard time for the last play of the Final Four. Feel bad for the kid sometimes.

For me, a lot of the disappointment in the MI game came from his not shooting earlier. I think he hit his first. And I was thinking this could be our unexpected game-changer. Kind of like the Canadian guy on MI that went nuts the game before ours.

I think Cooney went just one for one for the game. He hits the first and doesn't shoot again? I think it could have changed the game if he got hot. And he may have been and we just don't know it.

I wouldn't be nearly as tough on him if SU were the National Champs and he had gone 4-6 and 3-5 in the last two.

 

[suhoops4life]

Greg Kohls went from a seldom used sophomore player (only 38 points), to becoming one of the most prolific scorers in Syracuse basketball history. He averaged 22.1 points per game as a jr. His 26.7 points per game during his senior year is the second best effort (by Dave Bing) of any Syracuse player ever.

And he has 3 years left, three

Greg Kohls was MONEY, from deep!

 

[AlaskaSU]

both the Kid and GMac were all time greats with ice water in their veins. Lets not get carried away by comparisons.

 

[moqui]

I wouldn't say I'm burying Cooney, but my expectations have definitely been taken down a little.

It's funny, I'm the opposite of everyone else. I did not have high hopes for Cooney coming in; didn't think he had the athleticism to either create his own shot or to defend on the perimeter. When he showed the ability to do both - and do them pretty well - I became a fan. His shooting will come around, I'm sure, to at least the mid 30s. So while everyone else has had their expectations lowered, mine are raised - I happen to think he has the starting job just about locked up, because he has by far the most program experience and I think JB will want to pair experience with the freshman point. But regardless of who starts, I just can't see anyway he doesn't play major minutes as a key part of the backcourt rotation.

 

[RF2044]

It's funny, I'm the opposite of everyone else. I did not have high hopes for Cooney coming in; didn't think he had the athleticism to either create his own shot or to defend on the perimeter. When he showed the ability to do both - and do them pretty well - I became a fan. His shooting will come around, I'm sure, to at least the mid 30s. So while everyone else has had their expectations lowered, mine are raised - I happen to think he has the starting job just about locked up, because he has by far the most program experience and I think JB will want to pair experience with the freshman point. But regardless of who starts, I just can't see anyway he doesn't play major minutes as a key part of the backcourt rotation.

Astute, across the board.

 

[Townie72]

I think comparing this kid to one of the all time greats in SU hoops history is silly. I'd be more than happy with him if he is a capable 1 and/or 2 backup and gives that extra spark on defense along with hitting some 3's when the team needs them.

Oh, I'd be happy too.

But I just haven't seen any basis for that optimism.

If he doesn't achieve these modest benchmarks you set up, then what? A bench player as a junior or senior? Transfer?

 

[HOFCeluck]

If Cooney had played like GMac or Triche did in their freshman years then I would feel better about SU's sg position for this coming year. But he didn't.

Gerry McNamaras freshman year is kind of a high standard.

 

[Gabjon]

Does anyone know what Cooney has been doing basketball wise this summer?

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[moqui]

Does anyone know what Cooney has been doing basketball wise this summer?

fishing

 

[007]

fishing

That has worked before.

 

[syr02esq]

I said he was a bust last year. I stand by that assessment. Now hit me with some negative rep points for this.

 

[SarasotaPaul]

I hope he turns it on this year but some of those misses last year had to make you wonder. A better shooter than GMac? I liked his effort on D but as a two guard on a team that often struggled to find the rim, his O was terrible. If you didnt lose some confidence in him than I love your optimism but I am doubting your vision care specialist's competence.

I use the same vision care specialists as GMac and the rest of the staff. Not snide , just humorous hopefully, but who do you use?

 

[Francis03]

Does anyone know what Cooney has been doing basketball wise this summer?

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I read earlier this month that he was planning to play in one of those tourneys in Philly. Not sure if he actually did or not.

 

[Garbs]

Cooney's career path will be very similar to Rautins', maybe a little better if we are lucky.

Rautins' Freshman year: 20 GP, 8mpg, 2.9ppg, 0.9rpg, 0.7 apg, 0.3spg, 37% FG, 50% FT, 32% 3pt
Cooney's Freshman year: 39 GP, 11mpg, 3.4ppg, 0.8rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.7spg, 32% FG, 73% FT, 26% 3pt

Note: Rautins played mostly the cupcake portion of the schedule

 

[Gabjon]

I read earlier this month that he was planning to play in one of those tourneys in Philly. Not sure if he actually did or not.

Yeah I'm a little concerned that we haven't heard more about is summer, only because these days everything is public

 

[dfnj]

He's definitely no GMac. He's reminds me of Southerland as in being a head case but eventually getting better each year. My hope is by the time TC is a senior he calms down a bit and is capable of contributing at a high level.

The one thing I thought about TC last season was the number of times he tripped when driving low with the ball. I think TC is suffering from what weight lifters call "chicken legs". TC is spending too much time in the weight room developing his upper body and not enough time developing his legs. I think he's top heavy which is why he trips a lot. Just a thought.

 

[RF2044]

I said he was a bust last year. I stand by that assessment. Now hit me with some negative rep points for this.

Define "bust." Because I'd say that assessment is bunk. In every respect but one he was better than expected, across the board, in terms of what he delivered on the court.

It just so happened that that one aspect was the thing that most people focus upon--shooting.

It certainly isn't unprecedented for frosh to struggle shooting the ball, only to right the ship as they gain experience. Calling him a bust is absurd at this stage of his career.

 

[dfnj]

Define "bust." Because I'd say that assessment is bunk. In every respect but one he was better than expected, across the board, in terms of what he delivered on the court.

There were a couple of games where he had great hands on defense. I think he had five steals in one game. Good defense will get him playing time. He has the talent for offense hopefully he will deliver.

 

[SmilinBob]

Oh, I'd be happy too.

But I just haven't seen any basis for that optimism.

If he doesn't achieve these modest benchmarks you set up, then what? A bench player as a junior or senior? Transfer?

If he doesn't achieve them then I'd say we have a heck of a team that could push him to the back depths of the bench. Each year will bring its own dynamics and all we know is who will be playing for the Orange in 13/14 so I have no clue what's going to happen in the future.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah I don't think a bust is fair. But I will also say the fact that he red-shirted is part of the reason I am more down on him. If last year was his true freshmen year, I'd be a little less concerned. But the fact that he had a year off to work on his game, and still was a little underwhelming last year concerns me a little. No reason to write him off.

 

[dfnj]

But the fact that he had a year off to work on his game, and still was a little underwhelming last year concerns me a little.

I agree. But we Orange fans are little spoiled by Fab and Dion each making such a huge improvement from freshmen year to sophomore year. TC really played like a freshmen on offense. The competition at this level is much greater than HS ball in Delaware. There's an equal chance TC becomes a down-the-line bench warmer. There are a lot of talented guys playing for the Orange these days. The recruiting has been terrific!

If TC wants to become a factor he's got to cut down on the body building of the upper body and concentrate on doing leg work.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah I don't think a bust is fair. But I will also say the fact that he red-shirted is part of the reason I am more down on him. If last year was his true freshmen year, I'd be a little less concerned. But the fact that he had a year off to work on his game, and still was a little underwhelming last year concerns me a little. No reason to write him off.

That's fair I think.

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[Sgt Cuse]

I don't mean to be burying Cooney for his career. Yes, he may follow a Rautins or D Nichols type career. But my concern is for SU's '13-'14 sg. Rautins or D Nichols as sophmores, stunk. Is that really what we have to trot out there?

I was hoping silent MG could beat that low threshold. But MG's going for 0 points on 0-4 shooting against Northern Colorado and Lycoming level talent isn't very reassuring.

We're staring at our worst sg situation in the past decade.

 

[RF2044]

I don't mean to be burying Cooney for his career. Yes, he may follow a Rautins or D Nichols type career. But my concern is for SU's '13-'14 sg. Rautins or D Nichols as sophmores, stunk. Is that really what we have to trot out there?

I was hoping silent MG could beat that low threshold. But MG's going for 0 points on 0-4 shooting against Northern Colorado and Lycoming level talent isn't very reassuring.

We're staring at our worst sg situation in the past decade.

Rautins didn't stink as a sophomore--he was the sixth man, played a ton, and was quite effective in his first year garnering playing time.

And I'm not sure that DNic "stunk" his sophomore year, either. He began the season as a starter and did OK for getting his first steady dose of PT, then injured his back, lost his starting job, and never was able to work his way back into the rotation--to the chagrin of many. I'd say that his sophomore season got derailed by injury more than he "stunk."