2025-26 Preseason Practice

[RedtheGOB]

You two guys, either get a room or take it to the short guy thread.

In all honesty though we have 4 cupcakes to start the season. We should see real fast just how athletic and mobile both Kyle and Suare are. Then we'll know how they matchup against the bigs at the top of the league in Vegas.

Just a reminder that Lemoyne scored 82 on us opening night, Colgate 72 and Youngstown 73 in regulation our first 3 games. Our first 4 games the teams we're playing should be struggling to get into the 60's until garbage time. If Q4 teams are still easily dropping 70-80+ points on us early on then alarm bells should be ringing.

 

[baggerbob]

The nature of NIL, early pro departure and easy transfers ensure we'll never have that again.

Opponents good enough to really generate fear, now they go pro too quickly to get that existential dread and corresponding hate going. What we had for Ewing, Mourning and Motumbo won't come back.

The best we can do these days is 9 years of Bacot.

Yes one and done DC , Billy, would have gone, but outside of those 2, until Melo the others weren't good enough.

 

[hoopsupstate]

In all honesty though we have 4 cupcakes to start the season. We should see real fast just how athletic and mobile both Kyle and Suare are. Then we'll know how they matchup against the bigs at the top of the league in Vegas.

Just a reminder that Lemoyne scored 82 on us opening night, Colgate 72 and Youngstown 73 in regulation our first 3 games. Our first 4 games the teams we're playing should be struggling to get into the 60's until garbage time. If Q4 teams are still easily dropping 70-80+ points on us early on then alarm bells should be ringing.

It might depend on the pace of the game. If SU is scoring 90-95 points, the number of possessions are higher and teams could score more. Usually, if SU is scoring a lot of points it’s coming off turnovers and good defense.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

In all honesty though we have 4 cupcakes to start the season. We should see real fast just how athletic and mobile both Kyle and Suare are. Then we'll know how they matchup against the bigs at the top of the league in Vegas.

Just a reminder that Lemoyne scored 82 on us opening night, Colgate 72 and Youngstown 73 in regulation our first 3 games. Our first 4 games the teams we're playing should be struggling to get into the 60's until garbage time. If Q4 teams are still easily dropping 70-80+ points on us early on then alarm bells should be ringing.

Let’s be real, last year’s team was assembled from spare parts from mid-major programs. This year they went out and assembled quality parts from high major programs. If we start this year similar to last year it means Red is the problem. I expect large blowouts vs the cupcakes to start the year. Anything less will be a red flag.

 

[richmondcuse03]

Really impressed by Donnie’s interviews and commentary from yesterday. Great kid to root for.

 

[Niastri]

In all honesty though we have 4 cupcakes to start the season. We should see real fast just how athletic and mobile both Kyle and Suare are. Then we'll know how they matchup against the bigs at the top of the league in Vegas.

Just a reminder that Lemoyne scored 82 on us opening night, Colgate 72 and Youngstown 73 in regulation our first 3 games. Our first 4 games the teams we're playing should be struggling to get into the 60's until garbage time. If Q4 teams are still easily dropping 70-80+ points on us early on then alarm bells should be ringing.

In throwing out a bunch of stats in this post, all are in conference when referencing players who transferred from major colleges.

Putting the defense in perspective, last season, Jaquan Carlos led the team in steal% at 2.2, Cuffe was at 2.1. Nobody else was at 2% on the team. Third place was Majstorovic at 1.8%

McLeod, often injured, led us in block% at 7.3, Majstorovic was second at 2.1% and Chris Bell was at 2.0

We were terrible at stealing the ball and terrible at blocking shots. We were 18th in conference in blocked shots, 17th in turnovers forced, and 16th in steals. We gave up the 15th most points, mostly because we didn't give up many second chance points.

Looking at the transfers in:

William Kyle at UCLA averaged 2.0 and 10.2
Ibrahim Souare at GT averaged 1.0 and 4.0
Nait George at GT averaged 1.7 and 1.8
Nate Kingz at Oregon St averaged 1.6 and 2.1

Putting those numbers in perspective, all of them blocked shots better than Lampkin last season. The worst of them, the incoming point guard, would have been fourth in last years team at Block%

The worst of them, Kingz, would have been the fourth best at getting steals on last years team.

We are going to be massively better on defense than last year, based on the talent we had transfer in. It's hard to exaggerate how bad we were defensively once Freeman was injured. The only thing we did well defensively was rebound.

This years team is going to do all those little things that add up to defensive stops better than last year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Sanogo started for them their first title with Hurley. He was 6’9” 240. Similar size to Kyle.

They had Clingan, too. He was a legit 7 footer, wasn't he?

 

[Cusefan0307]

They had Clingan, too. He was a legit 7 footer, wasn't he?

Yes, but he was the backup for them that season and played just 13 mpg.

 

[sufan59]

I appreciate your optimism. This is the fork in the road season for Red. Either he has the chops or he doesn't. Hoping it's option 1.

I think this might finally be the season where Red has the right balance of both the skilled and athletic players to work with to make for a special season. The first season it was a lot of athleticism, not enough skill. The second season was mostly mid major athleticism with a few exceptions, but decent skill, just not a fit at all from a basketball philosophy standpoint and in the power conference level. I do think while we may not think fondly of several of our grad transfers last season. It was who the staff could afford and I think that especially if this season goes well, they deserve credit for starting the culture renovation this program needed to do things the right way. You do not hear the stories from year 2 that you were hearing from year 1. Despite year 1 being more successful. I’m intrigued because it seems like we have the guys and the talent to do what Red has been talking about wanting to do when he first got the job.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[orangecuse]

I appreciate your optimism. This is the fork in the road season for Red. Either he has the chops or he doesn't. Hoping it's option 1.

Undoubtedly...hope springs eternal.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[MikeSU02]

I said over and over Donnie wasn’t going anywhere. I’m glad he made that clear. And 2 facts I know, he took 1/3 of the money to come to cuse and took 1/3 of the money to stay with cuse… he’s a great kid and he will have a huge year this year..

In terms of this year, I think this is the most important year in Syracuse basketball program history. I have exceedingly high hopes for this team because of the talent level. This team isn’t based off potential. This team has players. Real players.
Red will have to learn to manage minutes but this team is stacked. WHEN he wins a lot of games this year, recruiting will explode. They crushed it in offseason and this is the year everything turns the corner

Appreciate the optimism and I'm probably sitting at like 80% of where you are.

Love the off season. In reality, I would give Red et al like an A-/B+ for the off season and the new team. Can't argue - they did great and you will never shoot the moon and that is ok.

If you see Donnie live, you can absolutely see why he should make the NBA. His jumper needs a little fixing for the next level more than this one and obviously he has to stay healthy, but he is fluid, big, has immense talent and knows the game.

The only two questions I have are tied together: how will Red's coaching be when the ball is tipped and we get punched in the mouth and what is JJ's role, because he has to be more judicious in his choices/more efficient. Not knocking him, I mean channeling his talent to the right avenues.

As it pertains to what I'm measuring success against, which making the NCAAT (and ideally where we aren't sweating the bubble), I think the talent is there. I think the way the talent fits in terms of players complimenting each other is there and, to me, it does matter that this off season has been drama free in the reports from camp.

I think we make the NCAAT. I think Red gets it done: part by growing as an HC and part by having more options to success than he had last year. The one caveat I'd say is that I would guess that a guy or two may not quite hit the highs we want and that's just life that every team faces. But I really like the construction of this team.

To me, we've reacted as well to last year's debacle about as well as could be asked. Stoked for this year.

 

[Todoubled23]

Luke is giving all time great avatar opportunities

 

[Oakland]

Appreciate the optimism and I'm probably sitting at like 80% of where you are.

Love the off season. In reality, I would give Red et al like an A-/B+ for the off season and the new team. Can't argue - they did great and you will never shoot the moon and that is ok.

If you see Donnie live, you can absolutely see why he should make the NBA. His jumper needs a little fixing for the next level more than this one and obviously he has to stay healthy, but he is fluid, big, has immense talent and knows the game.

The only two questions I have are tied together: how will Red's coaching be when the ball is tipped and we get punched in the mouth and what is JJ's role, because he has to be more judicious in his choices/more efficient. Not knocking him, I mean channeling his talent to the right avenues.

As it pertains to what I'm measuring success against, which making the NCAAT (and ideally where we aren't sweating the bubble), I think the talent is there. I think the way the talent fits in terms of players complimenting each other is there and, to me, it does matter that this off season has been drama free in the reports from camp.

I think we make the NCAAT. I think Red gets it done: part by growing as an HC and part by having more options to success than he had last year. The one caveat I'd say is that I would guess that a guy or two may not quite hit the highs we want and that's just life that every team faces. But I really like the construction of this team.

To me, we've reacted as well to last year's debacle about as well as could be asked. Stoked for this year.

I don't have much worry about JJ. We had limited options last season. He will adjust this season.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Yes, but he was the backup for them that season and played just 13 mpg.

"Back up" maybe. In 13 minutes, he put up 7 pts, 6 reb, 2 blocks, half an assist, and half a turnover. Sanogo was not really an All American.

And of course, Sanogo didn't get drafted and Clingan went with the #7 pick the next year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I said over and over Donnie wasn’t going anywhere. I’m glad he made that clear. And 2 facts I know, he took 1/3 of the money to come to cuse and took 1/3 of the money to stay with cuse… he’s a great kid and he will have a huge year this year..

In terms of this year, I think this is the most important year in Syracuse basketball program history. I have exceedingly high hopes for this team because of the talent level. This team isn’t based off potential. This team has players. Real players.
Red will have to learn to manage minutes but this team is stacked. WHEN he wins a lot of games this year, recruiting will explode. They crushed it in offseason and this is the year everything turns the corner

This is great news. We know you are close to Red.

Please suggest to him using Donnie at the high post, where he tried to use Eddie last year. Donnie is a much better fit at that spot.

He can pick and pop, pick and dive, shoot over shorter defenders from the foul line, or dribble drive to the rim.

THAT should be the offense this year. Ga Tech running off Donnie at the high post. Kingz on one wing to shoot, JJ on the other wing to drive.

Whoever the center is should be in the low block, contesting rebounds, looking for lob feeds and put-backs.

Lots of off-ball movement and back cuts.

That should be the base offense.

 

[MGraves5]

What's with Autrys short sleeved sweatshirt? I don't know that I've ever seen that

 

[Sherman20]

Yeah if this was a Boeheim coached team. I think we’d be feeling reallllly good about this year. If JB was on the sidelines I think this team finishes top 4 in the ACC and top 4/5 seed in the NCAA tourney. With Red on the sideline obviously I still think it’s an NCAA team but there is a lot more questions marks just because of Red tbh

I don’t know. Depends on what era Boeheim we’re talking about. He had really lost his fastball the last bunch of years, and the problem wasn’t just about his insistence on playing zone full time. He was set in his ways and stagnated in a number of areas, including running an increasingly stale and unimaginative offense.

 

[23Zone]

This is great news. We know you are close to Red.

Please suggest to him using Donnie at the high post, where he tried to use Eddie last year. Donnie is a much better fit at that spot.

He can pick and pop, pick and dive, shoot over shorter defenders from the foul line, or dribble drive to the rim.

THAT should be the offense this year. Ga Tech running off Donnie at the high post. Kingz on one wing to shoot, JJ on the other wing to drive.

Whoever the center is should be in the low block, contesting rebounds, looking for lob feeds and put-backs.

Lots of off-ball movement and back cuts.

That should be the base offense.

Completely agree. That would be lethal!

 

[Niastri]

In all honesty though we have 4 cupcakes to start the season. We should see real fast just how athletic and mobile both Kyle and Suare are. Then we'll know how they matchup against the bigs at the top of the league in Vegas.

Just a reminder that Lemoyne scored 82 on us opening night, Colgate 72 and Youngstown 73 in regulation our first 3 games. Our first 4 games the teams we're playing should be struggling to get into the 60's until garbage time. If Q4 teams are still easily dropping 70-80+ points on us early on then alarm bells should be ringing.

True, we should have a bunch of starters with 20-25 minutes played and the second team running up the score for another 12-17 before finishing with Zephir, Lobdell, Womack and Diawara (plus whoever needs more minutes) on the floor, still holding their own against the cupcakes.

We should be a lot better, winning by 30 against these low level teams would confirm what many of us think about this squad.

 

[Niastri]

I don’t know. Depends on what era Boeheim we’re talking about. He had really lost his fastball the last bunch of years, and the problem wasn’t just about his insistence on playing zone full time. He was set in his ways and stagnated in a number of areas, including running an increasingly stale and unimaginative offense.

JB's "motion" offense increasingly became an "isolation" offense the last few years.

The success of the 2-3 in forcing turnovers and frequent transition possessions carried us for a few years, but his coaching decisions in general became increasingly questionable as time went on.

Eventually it was hard to watch. I was turning off games before they were over as soon as you can say "yet another Howard/Chukwu pick and roll 35 ft from the basket."

Our last good team was 2013-2014, our first year in the ACC. Led by CJ Fair and Tyler Ennis, that squad had 6 top50 players on it. And even that team had a disappointing second half, stumbling to 7-5 record to finish the season and losing to Dayton in the second round after an earlier number 1 ranking and a 25-0 start.

Our last acceptable performance came in the 2020-2021 season, but we had to play our way into the NCAA tournament by winning a couple in the ACC tournament, before making a mini run to the Sweet 16.

 

[Blanko97]

Defense defense defense. Another year of giving up 75+ points per game is a recipe for disaster. Offense can be coached mid season but its pretty clear defense needs to be taught in the offseason because 2 radicaly different groups of guys havent been able to learn on the fly.

 

[Newhouser]

Appreciate the optimism and I'm probably sitting at like 80% of where you are.

Love the off season. In reality, I would give Red et al like an A-/B+ for the off season and the new team. Can't argue - they did great and you will never shoot the moon and that is ok.

If you see Donnie live, you can absolutely see why he should make the NBA. His jumper needs a little fixing for the next level more than this one and obviously he has to stay healthy, but he is fluid, big, has immense talent and knows the game.

The only two questions I have are tied together: how will Red's coaching be when the ball is tipped and we get punched in the mouth and what is JJ's role, because he has to be more judicious in his choices/more efficient. Not knocking him, I mean channeling his talent to the right avenues.

As it pertains to what I'm measuring success against, which making the NCAAT (and ideally where we aren't sweating the bubble), I think the talent is there. I think the way the talent fits in terms of players complimenting each other is there and, to me, it does matter that this off season has been drama free in the reports from camp.

I think we make the NCAAT. I think Red gets it done: part by growing as an HC and part by having more options to success than he had last year. The one caveat I'd say is that I would guess that a guy or two may not quite hit the highs we want and that's just life that every team faces. But I really like the construction of this team.

To me, we've reacted as well to last year's debacle about as well as could be asked. Stoked for this year.

I think JJ usage will determine the fate of this team. I don't think he is an Alpha. If we play him like he is one...I am not high on our result.

 

[RedtheGOB]

JB's "motion" offense increasingly became an "isolation" offense the last few years.

The success of the 2-3 in forcing turnovers and frequent transition possessions carried us for a few years, but his coaching decisions in general became increasingly questionable as time went on.

Eventually it was hard to watch. I was turning off games before they were over as soon as you can say "yet another Howard/Chukwu pick and roll 35 ft from the basket."

Our last good team was 2013-2014, our first year in the ACC. Led by CJ Fair and Tyler Ennis, that squad had 6 top50 players on it. And even that team had a disappointing second half, stumbling to 7-5 record to finish the season and losing to Dayton in the second round after an earlier number 1 ranking and a 25-0 start.

Our last acceptable performance came in the 2020-2021 season, but we had to play our way into the NCAA tournament by winning a couple in the ACC tournament, before making a mini run to the Sweet 16.

Spoken like a true revisionist SU fan. I remember a 2016 final 4 in there, but I guess that doesn't count cuz it wasn't pretty.

The zone held the 4 tourney teams we beat to 51, 50, 60, then Virginia #1 Seed to 62 points.

No denying the downward trend and poor regular seasons but the program still put together 2 final 4 runs in 4 years over the early-mid 2010's.