Bourama Sidibe

[General20]

Is this news? Wasn't it widely known when the summer practice pics came out and Sidibe wasn't in any of them that he wouldn't be lacing them up until the fall? Maybe I'm crazy.

I don't think Sidibe would have come back if the doctor's didn't think he'd be able to play again. That's not to say he will be ready to go for game #1, or even that he will be any good,. For all I know he got hurt again since deciding to come back.

If a doctor told me Sidibe would be ready to come off the bench for 10 min a game next semester and help with rebounding, I'd welcome him back on the team for that alone. Perhaps Boeheim is thinking similarly.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Last notes I saw re: Frank was that he was not ready and the staff were planning more for him in 2022-23.

Oh, no…not the dreaded JB “not ready” mantra! We won’t see Frank at all this year, no matter how many flashes he shows. See; Jesse, aka “Mr. Not Ready”- 2019-2021!

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

He did but keep in mind that last year was supposed to be a redshirt year for him and the staff never intended to use him. He will have benefited from a full summer here and guys improve over time. That being said, I don’t expect 30 min either. Our big men tend to develop more slowly and even putting that aside, banging in the middle takes more out of a player. It is one thing for a perimeter player to be able to play 30 minutes but it is another for a guy who is basically involved in hand to hand combat to do the same.

To me, Jesse has more upside, as an athlete, than anyone since Fab or Rak. Reminds me athletically of Rony (not a big, obviously).

 

[CardiacCuse]

wow kinda surprised by this considering the prior news...at the same time, at this point he should just retire from BBALL, imo

this roster is thinner than ideal, imo.

the center spot is thin (again)

and 1 injury to a guard and it gets really dicey, imo.

with the transfer portal a thing now...no need to have a thin roster, imo.

 

[721Comstock]

wow kinda surprised by this considering the prior news...at the same time, at this point he should just retire from BBALL, imo

this roster is thinner than ideal, imo.

the center spot is thin (again)

and 1 injury to a guard and it gets really dicey, imo.

with the transfer portal a thing now...no need to have a thin roster, imo.

WHY??
He’s getting a FREE YEAR of post-grad education from Syracuse!!!

Sid DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST THE 13 SCHOLARSHIP LIMIT.

And it’s not like we don’t still have an open scholarship (or several) available, even if he did.

Worst case - he’s like having a GA who can work with the Bigs in practice.

And - maybe he can actually give us some minutes??
It’s literally no risk/zero downside.

Also, we have the following large humans who can play the 5:
Jesse
Frank
JBA
Cole
Junior

Given you can trace JB’s willingness to play a at the 5 all the way back to DC, and more recently Lydon and Marek, it’s not like we don’t have guys he’d be happy and willing to plug in at C, if need be.

Exactly none of that sounds in any way ‘thin’ to me.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Not really sure it would be the Marek role. JB Jr. is way heavier than Marek and while certainly not heavy by the standards of the position, is heavier than our other centers. Only an inch shorter too. Probably not giving up a lot except to bigger opposing centers and our other guys would be at a similar disadvantage. Not saying it is optimal but there are scenarios where it might work for a few minutes.

I think the bigger issue besides size to play the position is him not having played that position. I think the 1 and 5 are two position that you really have to grow up in and understand the nuances of the position. I too could see him there in a certain scenarios, but wouldn't be the best option ahead of Frank IMO, especially not against the teams with big legit centers.

 

[RoatanCuse]

JB

Then if he can’t play which looks like the case, why come back and take up a roster spot

IDK. Free education?

 

[CardiacCuse]

WHY??
He’s getting a FREE YEAR of post-grad education from Syracuse!!!

Sid DOES NOT COUNT AGAINST THE 13 SCHOLARSHIP LIMIT.

And it’s not like we don’t still have an open scholarship (or several) available, even if he did.

Worst case - he’s like having a GA who can work with the Bigs in practice.

And - maybe he can actually give us some minutes??
It’s literally no risk/zero downside.

Also, we have the following large humans who can play the 5:
Jesse
Frank
JBA
Cole
Junior

Given you can trace JB’s willingness to play a at the 5 all the way back to DC, and more recently Lydon and Marek, it’s not like we don’t have guys he’d be happy and willing to plug in at C, if need be.

Exactly none of that sounds in any way ‘thin’ to me.

okay didnt realize he didnt take a scholarship. so low risk potentiall high reward...

But that makes me even more sure that the roster isnt being used up well...I guess they are just saying that they dont want to waste energy on players who wont be there next year so dont fill those spots.

But again i think the team could be very very good this season but easily derailed by an injury or two...which would be unfortunate. and avoidable...

even with the transfer portal threat of players leaving i would still try to fill up the roster.

 

[RealMcNeil]

okay didnt realize he didnt take a scholarship. so low risk potentiall high reward...

But that makes me even more sure that the roster isnt being used up well...I guess they are just saying that they dont want to waste energy on players who wont be there next year so dont fill those spots.

But again i think the team could be very very good this season but easily derailed by an injury or two...which would be unfortunate. and avoidable...

even with the transfer portal threat of players leaving i would still try to fill up the roster.

Or they're saying there aren't players out there that substantively move the needle such that they are worth burning a scholarship on this year and/or beyond. I personally think it's a wise strategy to ensure you have a scholarship or two for the transfer market as it now exists - it gives breathing room, and I think we see a lot of boomerang recruits that look to their second or third choice schools after things don't pan out as hoped or promised. There's definitely risk re: injuries, but that risk exists no matter what. At the end of the day, had we pulled in a second tier player for guard insurance, do you think they'd really get any burn if JGIII or Symir went down? No, the established rotation would just flex and fill.

 

[orangejunkie]

Why is everyone writing off JBA? He was rumored to be transferring but may have returned because of the situation with Sidibe and what the coaches told him about his opportunity to contribute. He was recruited as a C/ and has the size.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Why is everyone writing off JBA? He was rumored to be transferring but may have returned because of the situation with Sidibe and what the coaches told him about his opportunity to contribute. He was recruited as a C/ and has the size.

He has been forgotten a bit. And he may very well have an opportunity to contribute.

 

[RealMcNeil]

He has been forgotten a bit. And he may very well have an opportunity to contribute.

Why is everyone writing off JBA? He was rumored to be transferring but may have returned because of the situation with Sidibe and what the coaches told him about his opportunity to contribute. He was recruited as a C/ and has the size.

Honestly, JBA is part of the reason I'm not as concerned with the bigs - he's one of two healthy players with game experience from last season, and then we have another with a lot of upside that we have yet to really see after a year of investment. Sidibe would be great to have in the mix, but he wasn't so productive that it can't be replaced by committee.

 

[kcsu]

I'll be honest, I never watched Jimmy Jr at Cornell. Is a he a big time rebounder and/or shot blocker? Just trying to foresee what his strengths / weaknesses are if he is playing center for a good chunk of minutes of Frank isn't ready.

Frank's ready

 

[Bball44]

Frank's ready

If true, that makes for perfect 8 man rotation.

 

[orangejunkie]

Frank's ready

Is that from practice reports or other info or just an optimistic fan...

 

[007]

Is that from practice reports or other info or just an optimistic fan...

 

[Dave]

IMHO Junior is not in any way, shape or form, an option at the 5.

 

[Orangezoo]

Honestly, JBA is part of the reason I'm not as concerned with the bigs - he's one of two healthy players with game experience from last season, and then we have another with a lot of upside that we have yet to really see after a year of investment. Sidibe would be great to have in the mix, but he wasn't so productive that it can't be replaced by committee.

Gutierrez says JBA will never play much at SU and I would assume someone is sharing that with him vs just being an opinion.

That said, let's just say a kid that has been given spot minutes and a chance here and there still retains I would think at least a chance.

 

[RF2044]

Frank's ready

No he isn't.

 

[RF2044]

Is that from practice reports or other info or just an optimistic fan...

Wishful thinking.

 

[Cusefan0307]

If Sid is healthy then Frank is the 9th guy in the rotation. If he isn't he's the 8th. If he gets more than 5 min a game I will be shocked. He's an athlete still learning how to play basketball.

 

[KevMonstah]

If Sid is healthy then Frank is the 9th guy in the rotation. If he isn't he's the 8th. If he gets more than 5 min a game I will be shocked. He's an athlete still learning how to play basketball.

Then why does SU continue to recruit players like him, given that their
player development has not consistently turned that type of athlete into
a solid college player? I don't want "athletes learning how to play the
game" at the position, I don't want to think about putting Junior and his
career 4 rpg in the Ivy League at the position, nor Swider and his 2.5 rpg
there either. SU has enough trouble rebounding and playing D at the
position already. And honestly, those thinking that Sidibe was last year
going to be great or this year is going to be serviceable, I think you're
reaching. He is a guy who had a string of six good games at the end of
his junior year, and had put together a grand total of eight good games for
the rest of his career, half of which were against such hoop powerhouses
as Colgate (twice), Niagara, and Oakland. I don't see what he's done to
drive expectations that he's was going to be a solid player last year or
this. I think SU'd be far better off riding Jessie Edwards into the
ground, and going to recruit someone like Myles Johnson of Rutgers, who's
now at UCLA. The dude is 6'11", 265 lbs, and goes for running two year
averages of 8p/8r/2b per. He came out of HS listed at 6'9", 245 lbs, and
ranked like 300th, but SU has to go and find the skinniest kids at the
position they can find, and then can't coach them up to be able to play?
This is from the coach constantly, "he's not ready". Your JOB is to get
them ready, correct? Then the other parts of the job, winning, bringing
in revenue/exposure for the school, get easier.

Sidibe is a good student-athlete, school rep, ambassador of the game,
and other stuff, I just don't think he's someone you can count on to
contribute much, and it's unfortunate that he's had such physical issues.

Kev

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Then why does SU continue to recruit players like him, given that their
player development has not consistently turned that type of athlete into
a solid college player? I don't want "athletes learning how to play the
game" at the position, I don't want to think about putting Junior and his
career 4 rpg in the Ivy League at the position, nor Swider and his 2.5 rpg
there either. SU has enough trouble rebounding and playing D at the
position already. And honestly, those thinking that Sidibe was last year
going to be great or this year is going to be serviceable, I think you're
reaching. He is a guy who had a string of six good games at the end of
his junior year, and had put together a grand total of eight good games for
the rest of his career, half of which were against such hoop powerhouses
as Colgate (twice), Niagara, and Oakland. I don't see what he's done to
drive expectations that he's was going to be a solid player last year or
this. I think SU'd be far better off riding Jessie Edwards into the
ground, and going to recruit someone like Myles Johnson of Rutgers, who's
now at UCLA. The dude is 6'11", 265 lbs, and goes for running two year
averages of 8p/8r/2b per. He came out of HS listed at 6'9", 245 lbs, and
ranked like 300th, but SU has to go and find the skinniest kids at the
position they can find, and then can't coach them up to be able to play?
This is from the coach constantly, "he's not ready". Your JOB is to get
them ready, correct? Then the other parts of the job, winning, bringing
in revenue/exposure for the school, get easier.

Sidibe is a good student-athlete, school rep, ambassador of the game,
and other stuff, I just don't think he's someone you can count on to
contribute much, and it's unfortunate that he's had such physical issues.

Kev

Corner 3s. Never forget that defending those shots is apparently the most important factor in recruiting a center.

 

[althea]

Then why does SU continue to recruit players like him, given that their
player development has not consistently turned that type of athlete into
a solid college player? I don't want "athletes learning how to play the
game" at the position, I don't want to think about putting Junior and his
career 4 rpg in the Ivy League at the position, nor Swider and his 2.5 rpg
there either. SU has enough trouble rebounding and playing D at the
position already. And honestly, those thinking that Sidibe was last year
going to be great or this year is going to be serviceable, I think you're
reaching. He is a guy who had a string of six good games at the end of
his junior year, and had put together a grand total of eight good games for
the rest of his career, half of which were against such hoop powerhouses
as Colgate (twice), Niagara, and Oakland. I don't see what he's done to
drive expectations that he's was going to be a solid player last year or
this. I think SU'd be far better off riding Jessie Edwards into the
ground, and going to recruit someone like Myles Johnson of Rutgers, who's
now at UCLA. The dude is 6'11", 265 lbs, and goes for running two year
averages of 8p/8r/2b per. He came out of HS listed at 6'9", 245 lbs, and
ranked like 300th, but SU has to go and find the skinniest kids at the
position they can find, and then can't coach them up to be able to play?
This is from the coach constantly, "he's not ready". Your JOB is to get
them ready, correct? Then the other parts of the job, winning, bringing
in revenue/exposure for the school, get easier.

Sidibe is a good student-athlete, school rep, ambassador of the game,
and other stuff, I just don't think he's someone you can count on to
contribute much, and it's unfortunate that he's had such physical issues.

Kev

You have a pretty long list of things you don't want, but if Sidibe had stayed healthy, he would've been a very good college player.
A center is the hardest position to recruit because big men take the longest to develop. You (and others) are implying that the coaching staff doesn't know what they are doing and I have to disagree. I think SU has done well with some and not so well with others. JB looks for certain kinds of players to play the 5 and the game has been evolving over his career. I tend to value his opinion over the myriad of posters that have never played basketball at this level.
Just like almost everything in life, there are trade offs - offense vs defense, quickness vs bulk etc..

 

[pearl31]

Wishful thinking.

hearing anything about Sid and whether they think he'll be able to contribute?