Clean House

[Sbucketball]

I was trying not to look towards the end, but it seemed like they weren’t trying. That’s the type of thing that will get a coach fired early and suddenly.

 

[Niastri]

i think a different coach could get good results with this roster

I'm starting to be of this opinion.

I turned the TV off after a terrible offensive possession.

Lampkin and Freeman are playing the two man game, with Freeman feeding Lampkin in the post. Everybody else is cleared out to the other side of the court.

Freeman's guy drops to double Lampkin, Lampkin gets the pass back to Freeman for a wide open three.

Yet, in spite of the offensive set working perfectly to get an open three, it is clear that Freeman has been instructed not to shoot threes. He almost takes it anyway, but freezes, and dribbles into traffic and gets bailed out by a foul call.

Red is clearly getting into his guys heads.
Why on earth do you run that play and tell Freeman not to shoot? Why do you recruit a dynamic offensive player like Freeman, who is a decent three point shooter, and tell him to never shoot, even wide open?

We recruited Lampkin to do exactly what he did this possession... Force the double team on the post, identify the open man and create open shots. He did his job, the play was perfectly executed and yet the way Freeman is being coached is preventing the success.

I turned the game off after that. We had no chance of overcoming that lead. Our deficit expanded rapidly after that.

God bless you, who stayed watching through the end of the game.

 

[jsshap]

A third year may kill whats left of this program. To Red’s defense, there was hardly anything left of the program when JB left.

That's so silly

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Honestly this experiment is not working. Need someone outside the Cuse family to come in and change the culture that has developed.

We lack ability, want to, overall athleticism and TERRIBLE coaching.

Carlos is not a major D1 pg…he’s just not. Good passer and probably a leader, but lacks any ability to defend and can’t score.

Lampkin great passer and distributor but his athleticism is going to be exposed. His lower back injury is limiting him. He can’t defend any big guys.

Not starting Choppa is flat out fireable offense.

Benching Freeman for his bump. Kid showing some fight and obviously knew he messed up. You dont bench the kid.

Chris bell has regressed. Used to be a 3 point specialist and now has zero confidence.

Like honestly we need change.

Agree with most of this. Sadly.

Yeah, we should lose to a team ranked that high, with or without JJ. But, it’s the way we lose. We are never more prepared or more skilled than the opponent. We have skills deficiencies at every position, without the sense to avoid exposing those deficiencies. We are out-physicaled at every position. We don’t have a quickness advantage anywhere except when JJ plays.

The incident with Freeman was interesting. Red pulls Donnie who was responding to a cheap shot. Barnes, on the other hand, seems to have run a play specifically for his douchebag.

We got out-thugged and bigboyed at every position. Their guys put forearms into our faces as they drove in the lane, they hooked us and got layups, they schemed and freelanced alley oops at will….

Meanwhile, we have guards with crappy dribbles, we can’t shoot freethrows, and our dunk and layup attempts get put back into our faces.

Only Moore looked like he belonged on a Syracuse team, and I’m already sick of his juvenile/hood shiz. Does he really show the defender his elbow (target tat) after he makes a three? Even down 15 or 25 points? How many levels of immaturity/stupidity…. And I guess we have ’a players’ coach,’ who is fine with that.

Rick Barnes, though…. Is it him or just SEC bigNIL money? Whatever it is we ain’t got it. We have a team with two talented freshmen and a bunch of transfers ranked from 75 to 300. That’s not the formula for winning at this level.

 

[cusefan88]

I’ve never been more confident a coach ain’t it for Cuse than I am with Red tbh. Have to keep him around one more with the class coming in though. If he doesn’t make the tourney next year, he’s outta here

This is where I am. Not upset over anything. Cuse tried to promote but this is the likely endgame.

 

[Sherman20]

JJ is gone

To where? The NBA? That’s not happening. And the hometown kid is gonna transfer out and not play in front of his family and hometown fans for his senior season? I don’t see it, unless Red and him decide to part ways or we have a coaching change.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Red will get a third year but he'll probably have to turn over the staff.

I don't think he wants it. That's my theory. What else could possibly make sense?

 

[Nicknack]

This team has been built with an inferior PG, who can't make plays, is limited offensively, and doesn't play even mediocre defense. We traded in a PG (Mintz) who had issues, but at least he was high caliber. Carlos will never have even one game that Mintz had. Glad to be gone with Judah, but this is so disappointing.

Then we have a center position being filled by a dude I really like but hobbles around. He's a good player to have maybe 20 min and as someone you don't need to rely on but when he acts like your best player, you're in trouble. No way he can reliably make plays. I really like Dry Rub but it can't be the main show.

Moore. More please!

Taylor. Not a good game tonight but really like this young man's play. Love his passion and energy.

Bell. No reason to repeat what we've all been saying about him for months/years. He is what he is. Like Dry Rub, if he's the guy you're counting on each game, you're not going to win consistently. He's way too inconsistent.

Donnie. Love his upside. Disappointed that he's not more dominant and refined (that's not on him - just my own expectations and what this team needs). I really like Donnie though. I think he will be really good, but afraid this talent will be wasted before he is on a team that can play in the ncaa tourney.

JJ. Feel bad for the kid. He was emerging into something special and what he worked hard to become. Big setback for him and the team. Crushing loss. Just what we couldn't afford.

Jayre. Probably my favorite player going a few games into this season. Just a solid player who just seems to know how to make winning plays. Seemed tonight that he did what makes him ineffective or average, which is hanging out around the perimeter. When he doesn't play to his strengths, he becomes average at best.

 

[JustPherU]

I’ve never been more confident a coach ain’t it for Cuse than I am with Red tbh. Have to keep him around one more with the class coming in though. If he doesn’t make the tourney next year, he’s outta here

I’m closer to doing a windmill 360 degree dunk at 5 foot 8 inches and 62 years old than Syracuse making the tournament.

 

[djcon57]

To where? The NBA? That’s not happening. And the hometown kid is gonna transfer out and not play in front of his family and hometown fans for his senior season? I don’t see it, unless Red and him decide to part ways or we have a coaching change.

G league? Mintz did

 

[chuck]

What does Griff give us? No way he knows how to coach, right?

Griffin is highly overrated coach. He hasn't done a single thing as a coach or a player lmao

 

[grepal]

I’ve never been more confident a coach ain’t it for Cuse than I am with Red tbh. Have to keep him around one more with the class coming in though. If he doesn’t make the tourney next year, he’s outta here

So you were not here during the GRob years

 

[Cuseball]

This really isn’t true, at least in the same way it would have been 15 years ago.

Plenty of teams have had QUICK turnarounds this year with the portal. The coaching is an ISSUE, we can’t blame JB

Exactly. Enough of the blaming Boeheim. Autry has his team and right now he is failing horribly. Boeheim didn’t bring in Carlos and these transfers that seem to have all missed. We look worse than we ever have and could have our worst season in 50 years. Whose fault is that?

 

[CuseCPT]

You can’t blame JB at this point this is reds team JB at least had a zone defense and guys that could make a free throw

Disagree, he deserves some of the blame. JB handed over the keys after he presided over a serious decline in the SU basketball brand and stature. Red stepped into a program that hadn't competed for a conference title in a decade, and for 9 of the 10 years in question was .500 in conference play, and had missed the NCAA tournament two years in a row and likely would've been 3 out 4 years if not for COVID. He dealt Red a bad hand, which, unfortunately Red has played poorly.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I thought before season started this was an NCAA tournament team, boy was I wrong, we might be the worst team in the ACC and if we lose to Georgetown who is horrible next week I say fire him the second the season is over. We not only look inept, but most 2of the team looks like they are playing at 70 percent effort. That’s a recipe for continued a$$ kickings.

Actuallly, Georgetown is looking decent this year, and has a very good freshman big.

 

[Nicknack]

I’m closer to doing a windmill 360 degree dunk at 5 foot 8 inches and 62 years old than Syracuse making the tournament.

Eeeeh, not sure about that one. You're batting right now at probably 0.0% (like me, I'm 5'7" 54 yrs). Cuse could still win the acc tourney. That's what I'm holding onto as we may work like hell to stay above .500. I'd give Cuse at least 2 or 3%, just eeking us short guys out.

 

[JuiceMeUp]

i think a different coach could get good results with this

I am of this belief as well. I mean we have multiple former 5 stars, a handful of 4 stars/high 3 stars and a number of transfers who had a strong impact at lower levels. This roster on its own is capable and I think we all saw that in NY. Yet we are in absolute dog fights with LeMoyne, Youngstown State, Colgate, etc. who probably don’t even have more than 1 guy who was rated coming out of HS. Not to mention we get constantly dogwalked by any team with a pulse. And yet people want to sit here and blame money/NIL? This is absolutely a coaching issue it always has been a coaching issue and it becomes abundantly clearer with each game played.

 

[phil77]

I would never keep a coach I didn’t believe in because a couple of recruits might leave. And I don’t care what last name is on the jersey nobody should hold the program hostage and that included JB. If people still believe Red is and can be a good head coach then clearly we are not watching the same games.

Red is a tremendous person with high character and is best built to be an assistant at this level maybe a head coach at a lower level.

 

[jdubs30]

Disagree, he deserves some of the blame. JB handed over the keys after he presided over a serious decline in the SU basketball brand and stature. Red stepped into a program that hadn't competed for a conference title in a decade, and for 9 of the 10 years in question was .500 in conference play, and had missed the NCAA tournament two years in a row and likely would've been 3 out 4 years if not for COVID. He dealt Red a bad hand, which, unfortunately Red has played poorly.

And Red has made it worse.

if you guys are still gonna blame JB you’re just putting your head in the sand on purpose. JB is long gone and Red has added 7 portal guys and 2 freshman classes. And we look worse and than we ever have under JB. Just stop it

 

[NineOneSeven]

Red will get next year because of Melo

Which makes sense, and it's pretty shocking people don't see that. Right or wrong.

Where I sit-- get to 0.500, play Moore and Freeman, win a game or 2 we "shouldn't", be competitive in a very meh conference, and next year it is without a doubt the tournament or bust.

 

[IthacaMatt]

This team has been built with an inferior PG, who can't make plays, is limited offensively, and doesn't play even mediocre defense. We traded in a PG (Mintz) who had issues, but at least he was high caliber. Carlos will never have even one game that Mintz had. Glad to be gone with Judah, but this is so disappointing.

Then we have a center position being filled by a dude I really like but hobbles around. He's a good player to have maybe 20 min and as someone you don't need to rely on but when he acts like your best player, you're in trouble. No way he can reliably make plays. I really like Dry Rub but it can't be the main show.

Moore. More please!

Taylor. Not a good game tonight but really like this young man's play. Love his passion and energy.

Bell. No reason to repeat what we've all been saying about him for months/years. He is what he is. Like Dry Rub, if he's the guy you're counting on each game, you're not going to win consistently. He's way too inconsistent.

Donnie. Love his upside. Disappointed that he's not more dominant and refined (that's not on him - just my own expectations and what this team needs). I really like Donnie though. I think he will be really good, but afraid this talent will be wasted before he is on a team that can play in the ncaa tourney.

JJ. Feel bad for the kid. He was emerging into something special and what he worked hard to become. Big setback for him and the team. Crushing loss. Just what we couldn't afford.

Jayre. Probably my favorite player going a few games into this season. Just a solid player who just seems to know how to make winning plays. Seemed tonight that he did what makes him ineffective or average, which is hanging out around the perimeter. When he doesn't play to his strengths, he becomes average at best.

Sadly, Carlos isn't even close to what John Gillon gave us in his one season.

Donnie needs to get in a fight. He needs to throw down and get hit. He's sooooo soft.

 

[MGDCuse]

What the hell are we doing at PG? It's SO DAMN FRUSTRATING. The dude is incredibly limited on offense, plays poor defense, and doesn't make plays as a freaking POINT GUARD. He dribbles around like he's going to make a play and then just dishes off to someone on the perimeter and then asks for the ball back so he can do it again. So frustrated after tonight. Maybe the most in a few years.

This was my first time watching a game this year. He dribbles the ball past half court, passes to someone, and then goes and stands in the corner. He is an empty hole out there. The lack of movement on offense was stunning to me also. One guy has the ball and the rest just stand and watch

 

[HRE Otto IV]

Red will get next year because of Melo

What is the point in having him here if the HC can't coach the team to the NCAAT?

 

[LAorange44]

Red’s trajectory isn’t turning around with next years recruits. We are 64/67 P4 programs in NET. Bad coaches with amazing players don’t win championships. With the portal, no single player is bigger than the health of the program. Blow it all up and bring in a winner.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Haven’t posted here in a long time. I try my hardest as a fan to not overreact to things and be patient. However, I think I can no longer be patient with Red. I’m sorry but I need to see SOMETHING to feel like he as a coach and this program is trending in the right direction. Outside of recruiting, there’s barely anything I think he does… well. Theres been moments but only a few. Like this is all a fault of coaching to me:

• Constantly start games slow and get in a hole
• Almost always playing down to the level of our opponents
• Rarely look in the same weight class of basketball as top 25 teams
• 0 and i mean 0 identity on either end. Arguably my biggest concern, this team looks like they just go out and play pick up out there without any clue
• Seriously this team couldnt defend high schoolers. They genuinely look clueless. Its somehow worse this year than last.
• Bad energy always, other teams simply play harder
• Barely run any offensive sets, minimal movement
• Poor roster construction. Sure we can blame some on NIL but someone has to take blame for banking on Naheem at C last year and JC at pg this year and sorry but thats red
• Awful out of bounds plays
• Dont see much improvement in players themselves. More guys have regressed or not improved than vice versa
• AWFUL AND ARBITRARY rotations that seemingly have no rhyme or reason
• These dont feel like legit teams. Theres no chemistry. They look like guys who dont like eachother or want to even play together.

I want to believe in Red and getting this program back on track. I know its year 2 and i know he’ll get a year 3 regardless. But i need a reason, need to see something to feel like we can get this program back on track. Someone please tell me why i’m wrong and convince me otherwise. I can be sold pretty easily but i’m just not seeing the light at the end of this tunnell. I am desparate to have syracuse be good again, its one of my few loves. Go cuse.

This is a very good post and it’s truly hard to argue any of the concerns. I share them too.

I just can’t get over how this team cannot guard anyone and has no concept of playing defense. Offensively, is the same. There’s no ability or desire to attack except for Moore. There’s no sets or any concepts showing the team is actively hunting good looks. We throw the ball around the perimeter, guys like Bell and Carlos have no ability whatsoever to do anything against tough D, passing is brutal and/or non-existent and it’s like watching guys who have never met each other playing together for the first time.

And Red has no feel for the roster or roster management at all. That seems pretty clear. Anybody that has watched this team knows that Moore is the only guy that can do anything with the ball in his hands and score. Yet Red starts both halves with easily the worst backcourt duo of any power 5 team and most mid majors when we need scoring is just alarming. Throw in Bell who can’t do anything either and it’s baffling.

There’s no rhyme or reason for anything being done, no ability to adjust and certainly nothing is being done to coach these guys up and elevate their ability in games.

I have seen nothing in 40 games to suggest Red is even close to being able to handle this job. We need someone far better, far more proactive and someone that demands better. Fran is doing that for football, Red is the complete opposite.