Alarmingly low steals per game

[Eric15]

We simply aren’t generating enough steals which often lead to easy transition baskets. There are 364 D1 teams and we are 354th. Here’s our average per game this year after six games compared to recent years.

2024-25: 3.8
2023-24: 9.1
2022-23: 7.5
2021-22: 7.0
2020-21: 8.7
2019-20: 7.4
2018-19: 8.3

 

[AZOrange]

We simply aren’t generating enough steals which often lead to easy transition baskets. There are 364 D1 teams and we are 354th. Here’s our average per game this year after six games compared to recent years.

2024-25: 3.8
2023-24: 9.1
2022-23: 7.5
2021-22: 7.0
2020-21: 8.7
2019-20: 7.4
2018-19: 8.3

I can’t even remember a transition bucket…

 

[richmondcuse03]

We simply aren’t generating enough steals which often lead to easy transition baskets. There are 364 D1 teams and we are 354th. Here’s our average per game this year after six games compared to recent years.

2024-25: 3.8
2023-24: 9.1
2022-23: 7.5
2021-22: 7.0
2020-21: 8.7
2019-20: 7.4
2018-19: 8.3

Maliq was good for a few a game. So was Judah. Our defense wasn't great last year but we did force some TOs.

Seeing these numbers shows bad our play has been on defensive side.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We have a lot of terrible defenders. Taylor and Davis are the only guys who look good on that end. Too early to get a read on Choppa.

 

[jdubs30]

zone got us so many steals.

These are national ranks for steal percentage last year -

28. Maliq
62. Copeland
90. Judah

 

[JKinPhilly]

We just aren't good defensively, and we lack the size up top that aways presented problems for other teams. I know we're not a zone team anymore, but we used to get so many steals with long arms up top getting to passing lanes and causing issues.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

We turned them over twice in the 4 minutes Cuffe played but apparently he's still not good enough.

Total joke and honestly embarrassing and pathetic the way Red has treaded him. Fellow NYC kid too like Autry so disappointing.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

zone got us so many steals.

These are national ranks for steal percentage last year -

28. Maliq
62. Copeland
90. Judah

Zone wasn't really a factor last season.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

zone got us so many steals.

These are national ranks for steal percentage last year -

28. Maliq
62. Copeland
90. Judah

Maliq was amazing at it I've never seen a big as good at slapping the ball away. Copeland and Judah tried to play like Maliq and cheated a ton.

We gave teams fits at times.

 

[CuseIn282xx]

I can’t even remember a transition bucket…

Not a steal, but there was the Taylor block that led to a Moore 3 to stick a knife in Cornell at the end

 

[two3zone]

We have a lot of terrible defenders. Taylor and Davis are the only guys who look good on that end. Too early to get a read on Choppa.

Im in the camp of it can't be any worse. And I'm the guy usually singing it can.

 

[two3zone]

We turned them over twice in the 4 minutes Cuffe played but apparently he's still not good enough.

Total joke and honestly embarrassing and pathetic the way Red has treaded him. Fellow NYC kid too like Autry so disappointing.

Someone posted recently that he watched a practice and Cuffe was balling out. Where there's smoke there's fire.

Maybe Red made some promises that he's run out of rope with. These are easy discussions to have with a player and why they're not playing.

 

[007]

Maliq was amazing at it I've never seen a big as good at slapping the ball away. Copeland and Judah tried to play like Maliq and cheated a ton.

We gave teams fits at times.

Maliq was/is a unicorn. Never seen anyone better at getting his hands on the ball to create tips and steals, especially for a big.

Cope and Judah had the quickness and length to over play passing lanes and they were risk takers. I don't know the numbers, but they might have given up more baskets than they produced in steals. Very different from what Maliq was doing.

This year's team does not pressure the ball, or overplay passing lanes, or press. That seems to be by design. The lack of steals and live ball turnovers reflect this. I hope that the D is in the process of ramping up the pressure once/if they get the basics down.

 

[Sherman20]

We simply aren’t generating enough steals which often lead to easy transition baskets. There are 364 D1 teams and we are 354th. Here’s our average per game this year after six games compared to recent years.

2024-25: 3.8
2023-24: 9.1
2022-23: 7.5
2021-22: 7.0
2020-21: 8.7
2019-20: 7.4
2018-19: 8.3

It’s shocking considering creating turnovers and getting steals was the core of the Syracuse defensive identity for decades. The zone and ability to get in passing lanes obviously helped but even last year playing man to man we generated lots of steals.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

A big part of steals comes from simply getting in front of the PG to a degree they are forced to make a contested pass as they approach the lane. Lot of arms and hands in that area that can tip/deflect.

Our pg on defense imparts such little stress onto the opponent pg that there is no duress on their drives

 

[Sbucketball]

It’s shocking considering creating turnovers and getting steals was the core of the Syracuse defensive identity for decades. The zone and ability to get in passing lanes obviously helped but even last year playing man to man we generated lots of steals.

Yeah I thought getting steals and running was part of what Red wants to do.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Not surprised by that. But steals can also be a little misleading when you have players that cheat a lot to get them, like Judah last year. Yeah, he'd get 2 steals but also cause a 5v4 the other way.

Anyway, yes that number has to get a lot better. Need more deflections (Maliq Brown) on that end.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Maliq was amazing at it I've never seen a big as good at slapping the ball away. Copeland and Judah tried to play like Maliq and cheated a ton.

We gave teams fits at times.

And we were still one of the worst defenses in the ACC. Our steals were canceled out by our pitiful rebounding. 3rd worst ACC defense overall, 3rd worst rebounding team, the actual worst in average rebounds by opponent. That massively skews the possession battle even if you do get a lot of steals. We are massively improved on the boards and that is the one thing that gives me some hope this season. Held our own against two athletic teams in Brooklyn that would have grabbed every rebound under the sun on us last year. Cannot take for granted what we are getting from Freeman Lampkin and Davis.

 

[kingtidge]

A big part of steals comes from simply getting in front of the PG to a degree they are forced to make a contested pass as they approach the lane. Lot of arms and hands in that area that can tip/deflect.

Our pg on defense imparts such little stress onto the opponent pg that there is no duress on their drives

We don't have a PG.

I know it's Carlos on paper, but he simply can't play the position currently.

 

[Niastri]

Considering the huge turnover from one season to the next, is not surpassing the two teams are completely different. Considering two starters and the same overall coaching staff, the differences are amazing.

Last season rebounding we ranked 298 in rebounds per game, this season 15.

Steals, 14 to 358

Blocks, 84 to 222

Opponents shooting percentage to 301 to 256

We have traded rebounding for forcing turnovers.

To our benefit, the defense is allowing about 3% worse shooting on opponent's 3 pointers, but opponents are taking 4.1 more per game, so we're giving up a slight increase in made threes per game.

Overall, the lack of turnovers (and maybe pace) means we're allowing opponents 1.5 more field goal attempts than last year.

We're showing 3 more points per game than last year and scoring 5 more.

Considering we are looking at full year stats vs. only six games this year, and including four cupcake games, is easy to say or defense had been worse than last year.

However, watching guys all last year chase phantom steals and give up a horrible amount of rebounds, I think I prefer this year.

Playing straight defense and getting the rebound just feels more satisfying to me than trying to get the steal every pass, and getting out of defensive and rebounding position constantly. Although, it was fun when they got the occasional turnover and fast break, the defense last season was frustrating to watch.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

And we were still one of the worst defenses in the ACC. Our steals were canceled out by our pitiful rebounding. 3rd worst ACC defense overall, 3rd worst rebounding team, the actual worst in average rebounds by opponent. That massively skews the possession battle even if you do get a lot of steals. We are massively improved on the boards and that is the one thing that gives me some hope this season. Held our own against two athletic teams in Brooklyn that would have grabbed every rebound under the sun on us last year. Cannot take for granted what we are getting from Freeman Lampkin and Davis.

Autry brought back the guys who showed no interest in D and we almost lost to Cornell Colgate Youngstown and LeMoyne.

It's the same thing we suffered through at the end with JB every team playing it's best offensive game of the season against us this time we can't blame the zone.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Autry brought back the guys who showed no interest in D and we almost lost to Cornell Colgate Youngstown and LeMoyne.

It's the same thing we suffered through at the end with JB every team playing it's best offensive game of the season against us this time we can't blame the zone.

We also almost beat two quality teams. Both Texas and Texas Tech were actually a couple points from their worst offensive point totals of the season so far when we played them. Most people’s takes on the team are still acting like those games either never happened or were total blowouts. We have some potential on the defensive end despite the lack of blocks and steals. That is mainly due to our major improvement on the boards, which is a crucial part of the game.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

We also almost beat two quality teams. Both Texas and Texas Tech were actually a couple points from their worst offensive point totals of the season so far when we played them. Most people’s takes on the team are still acting like those games either never happened or were total blowouts. We have some potential on the defensive end despite the lack of blocks and steals. That is mainly due to our major improvement on the boards, which is a crucial part of the game.

Hanging around and then collapsing in the last 2 minutes if a close game doesn't give me much hope. I mean sure we covered if you gambled. We're supposed to celebrate non blowouts now?

We know this team can defend a little better when it wants to. I think there's plenty of talent for a good ACC record regardless of if it will actually happen. Best bigs we've had in ages, we rebound well for the first time since the 90s I want to say, freshmen all legit and ready and overall better than expected.

Coaching D and PG play are poor.

 

[Niastri]

Hanging around and then collapsing in the last 2 minutes if a close game doesn't give me much hope. I mean sure we covered if you gambled. We're supposed to celebrate non blowouts now?

We know this team can defend a little better when it wants to. I think there's plenty of talent for a good ACC record regardless of if it will actually happen. Best bigs we've had in ages, we rebound well for the first time since the 90s I want to say, freshmen all legit and ready and overall better than expected.

Coaching D and PG play are poor.

I don't think the point is that we're celebrating just because we didn't get blown out... If we played the way we did against Lemoyne in either game in Brooklyn, we get crushed.

We showed a ton of improvement. Some of us who were seriously doubting Red's ability to develop players and create a game plan after the first three games were given hope of continued team improvement by the performance in Brooklyn.

We played two good teams very tough... We were in positions to win in both games. It didn't work out, but after going to overtime with Youngstown State, did anybody think that was possible?

I think we'll get another good look at our progress tomorrow.

I'm more hopeful than you... It might be in our natures. (Shrug)