Class of 2023 C Owen Freeman (IL) Portal from Creighton

[BEGood]

Just because we have a new coach doesn’t mean we should brush off the fact we aren’t landing any top players. I hope to be wrong but it seems like we can’t compete at all. This portal class isn’t mid to upper p4 quality. Nil era is going to drive the final nail in the Su basketball coffin

ignored

 

[IthacaMatt]

I've heard we offered him a bag, he's considered damaged goods, and we're just his fallback option if Auburn doesn't want him. I mean at this point what are we doing here this isn't some All American level player, he could be cooked for all we know. Time to move on

I think as a general rule, you keep doors open until somebody better is willing to commit.

 

[Scotch]

Dual is not necessarily better than George offensively.
As bad as George was with all the turnovers, he still shot over 80% from the line. You could play him at the end of games.

If you leave out last season, Dual's FT shooting is not much better than JJ's first 3 years of college - 2 years in the 60s, 1 in the 70s.

Your free throw obsession is weird.

 

[IthacaMatt]

There will be no February discussions if this iteration of the roster adds a mediocre big and a bad PG option.

Yeah, it's not a complete team yet. That's pretty obvious. If there is a clock ticking, we need to close on about 3 more guys.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Your free throw obsession is weird.

He's the point guard!!! Do you not get that??

I mean seriously, we're trying to preserve the lead and they are intentionally fouling the PG to put us on the line in a one-and-one.

I mean, we lost a national championship on precisely this scenario.

I want a PG, who is the guy with the ball in his hands at the end to be a high 70s, or 80+ percent free throw shooter.

That's like an extra 3 or 4 points a game at crunch time. That 10-15% difference is why we didn't beat Houston,

 

[Scotch]

He's the point guard!!! Do you not get that??

I mean seriously, we're trying to preserve the lead and they are intentionally fouling the PG to put us on the line in a one-and-one.

I mean, we lost a national championship on precisely this scenario.

I want a PG, who is the guy with the ball in his hands at the end to be a high 70s, or 80+ percent free throw shooter.

That's like an extra 3 or 4 points a game at crunch time. That 10-15% difference is why we didn't beat Houston,

I’m not saying it’s not a factor but it’s one of about 10 factors and Dual is really strong n a bunch of others. And you post it in every thread.

 

[007]

Well, the market is up a lot more than 30%.

This is the real issue. The market, predictably, is growing exponentially for the high end players.

 

[granthath9]

Right now Auburn has two guys pending not confirmed staying and two other 6-8 stretch 4 types they are targeting after adding a recent center commit. Plus a C they have big plans for expected back from injury in July.

Leading or not the playing time situation is likely far different there than here…

6’8 guys would move to the three I presume. Kind of like what Michigan did with Yaxel. Obviously wouldn’t be nearly as effective.

 

[50YRsofCuse]

Remember when we were told how good Carlos was? Another Ennis lol.

Actually, Carlos was to be the backup. Unfortunately, we did not get the prime target for point guard (Laffew). Carlos was only one we had and he was not up to the job.

 

[Cusefan78]

ignored

Oh no

 

[IthacaMatt]

Of course we won't. We also heard the same thing about last years team. We have talent. Give red a chance to coach his guys.

Last year's team was pretty talented. We needed another big who could actually play, and a shooting guard who could actually shoot. But other than that, that was a much better roster than the year before. And more P5 players than we have so far this year, or the year before when we got Lampkin and Carlos.

 

[sufan59]

This is the real issue. The market, predictably, is growing exponentially for the high end players.

I also think Syracuse is targeting an entirely different set of players than we are used too. Did they strike out on some top 100 that fit the criteria, I’m sure. But they aren’t just going one by one down the 247 and ON3 rankings list to target guys.

 

[50YRsofCuse]

Wait...what?!? 500 posts in a month?

So people like to post even if they have nothing to say or nothing to add to a thread.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It's not anti gmac. A large portion of the fan base wanted badly to outside the su family.

Gerry has a lot of good characteristics to become a good coach, and you have to admit, he put together a hell of a staff. I don't see this team being out-coached, like routinely happened to Autry.

But on the other hands, I hope they have been filling the bench first, and have a couple big splashes left on the roster, or I am afraid the talent may not be there. Lots of guys have to step up a level, and we've seen that not all of them do.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Would you have said the same thing about Laz Sims back in '96. Same sort of player. What is the most important thinga pt guard does? I think it is being able to guard the other teams pt guard. And this kid does it in spades. If he shot 36% from 3, everyone would be thrilled factoring in all, of the other things the kid does well. Instead, we need another guy because it's 31%. We can win with Duel. We need a 5.

Yes, that's Dual's best case scenario. But his floor isn't that high, if he's the starter. There are a couple big questions.

 

[powdersmack]

So now you’re gonna lie. I not once have called out people that know things. Don’t say I do things when it’s not true.

You've called out Bulldog and Dasher before, I'd show your posts but you've conveniently blocked your posts from me so I can't.

 

[007]

I’m not saying it’s not a factor but it’s one of about 10 factors and Dual is really strong n a bunch of others. And you post it in every thread.

As the OP has claimed repeatedly, you cannot have a PG shoot FTs in the low 70s and expect to win. You would have to go all the way back to the Michigan team of 2025-26 to find one.

 

[IthacaMatt]

We need a 5 though and that has not been easy. Siby and Goodrick ain’t gonna cut it. Hope I’m wrong.

If we can get 8-10 minutes from each, we only need 20 or so from Freeman. If we don't have to depend too much on limited or inexperienced players, you tend to get the best of them. Less pressure. They are the third or fourth option on offense, we have more big bodies if they get in foul trouble, etc.

 

[CuseCO]

You have to have talent. Buying in can only get you so far.

Do you think the current roster is talent-less?

 

[TommyA13]

Just because we have a new coach doesn’t mean we should brush off the fact we aren’t landing any top players. I hope to be wrong but it seems like we can’t compete at all. This portal class isn’t mid to upper p4 quality. Nil era is going to drive the final nail in the Su basketball coffin

That post wasn’t directed at purely one side, everyone in this fanbase just seems so miserable

 

[Cusefan0307]

Why does every thread turn into a complain fest about Dual? Let’s focus here.

 

[23Zone]

Just because we have a new coach doesn’t mean we should brush off the fact we aren’t landing any top players. I hope to be wrong but it seems like we can’t compete at all. This portal class isn’t mid to upper p4 quality. Nil era is going to drive the final nail in the Su basketball coffin

 

[IthacaMatt]

I’m not saying it’s not a factor but it’s one of about 10 factors and Dual is really strong n a bunch of others. And you post it in every thread.

Because it's the most important thing a PG does, aside from create shots for his teammates, is the ability to close out the game.

We saw Boeheim win 80 or 90% of his close games. We saw Autry lose most of them.

Late game management - which determines wins and losses - requires a PG who doesn't get tight at the foul line at the end of a close game.

 

[AngryOtto]

We have already seen two international players. I would not be surprised to see a few more. If certain players in the portal are demanding amounts more than SU will pay they can grab some experienced players from overseas.

 

[BEGood]

You've called out Bulldog and Dasher before, I'd show your posts but you've conveniently blocked your posts from me so I can't.

Not true. I never called out dasher or bulldog. Don’t lie. I respect both of them a lot