Coach Search Options after Autry

[Blanko97]

BH will be the right hire if they get him. Like dasher says, if they don’t, buckle up. But I think the JW is making a big mistake by not getting rid of red before the season is over. The sooner it’s done, the more names you would get in the mix. Sure people know it’s coming, but getting the agents on the phone behind the scenes sooner than later can only help. Waiting does ZERO good. Yes red is a friend, but you’re paid to win and when players are getting ejected and you keep losing by double digits, it just isn’t a good thing for the program anymore. And I’m sure red doesn’t want to be there anymore considering he’s basically been told he’s done.

Oh god, when you Llandz start talking about firing him before the end the year, the situation internally must be really bad….

 

[Scooch]

Hop is not in play because he can be had for cheap (consider that part “value -added”), he’s in play because he has the financial support of a significant portion of our boosters. Tell them it’s a bad idea.

In the NIL world we’re in, accumulating dead presidents is a lot of the job.

Now having said that, I think he’s a distant second choice.

That he's second choice is telling.

Maybe Hop could hire a staff that allows him to rebuild his recruiting connections. And it'd be good to have more money. But man, it'd be such an uninspired choice.

I was OK with Red because of the circumstances. I'm not OK with Hop.

 

[Newhouser]

Who would leave the NBA to be an assistant? A loser, that’s who

Yeah that's what I don't get. He's got a cake job. Must be ego driven.

 

[Blanko97]

What do we do if the new A.D. wants his guy as Head coach? Not really unexpected if that happens?

That’s what I said a week or so ago, you couldn’t find worse timing for a JW retirement if the AD isn’t already quietly been named. lame duck AD hiring a coach is a horrible idea

 

[Cusefan0307]

Respectfully disagree. Not a single player on this team that is projected to be an NBA player or will get all-Conference recognition. And the only portal addition we had serious P4/5 competition for is George.
You can lay that on coaching not developing the players to their full potential, but at best this roster had Top 40 talent and preseason projections mirrored that.

Not sure where you’re getting your numbers from. It was top 20 by most services and very much in line with Miami who brought in an entire new team.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Respectfully disagree. Not a single player on this team that is projected to be an NBA player or will get all-Conference recognition. And the only portal addition we had serious P4/5 competition for is George.
You can lay that on coaching not developing the players to their full potential, but at best this roster had Top 40 talent and preseason projections mirrored that.

Preseason projections take into consideration the HC as well. We were one play away from beating Houston and competed with Kansas without Donnie, and beat Tenn. All with a terrible HC. 4-7 seed is a very reasonable take

 

[RF2044]

Respectfully disagree. Not a single player on this team that is projected to be an NBA player or will get all-Conference recognition. And the only portal addition we had serious P4/5 competition for is George.
You can lay that on coaching not developing the players to their full potential, but at best this roster had Top 40 talent and preseason projections mirrored that.

The talent on this team is not the problem, nor the thing holding the team back.

Outside of Freeman, I tend to agree about their NBA upside (and that includes Anthony).

But so what? There are literally dozens of teams, across all conferences and levels, that field NCAA caliber teams with no NBA prospects, fewer resources, and limited NIL. And yet those teams are able to feel the functional offense, and run effective defenses that don't give up 61 points in a half.

Laying the blame on the players is like focusing on the symptom instead of the actual problem.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The talent on this team is not the problem, nor the thing holding the team back.

Outside of Freeman, I tend to agree about their NBA upside (and that includes Anthony).

But so what? There are literally dozens of teams, across all conferences and levels, that field NCAA caliber teams with no NBA prospects, fewer resources, and limited NIL. And yet those teams are able to feel the functional offense, and run effective defenses that don't give up 61 points in a half.

Laying the blame on the players is like focusing on the symptom instead of the actual problem.

Would not be surprised if Kyle gets a look. Lots of chatter about him online recently for his defense.

 

[RF2044]

Would not be surprised if Kyle gets a look. Lots of chatter about him online recently for his defense.

That would be great.

Kyle is the team's MIP, in my opinion.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Laying the blame on the players is like focusing on the symptom instead of the actual problem.

I think there might be times where the players disregard the direction the coaches are giving. But, it all circles back to the effectiveness of the HC and to a certain extent, the remainder of the staff.

 

[Bayside44]

Respectfully disagree. Not a single player on this team that is projected to be an NBA player or will get all-Conference recognition. And the only portal addition we had serious P4/5 competition for is George.
You can lay that on coaching not developing the players to their full potential, but at best this roster had Top 40 talent and preseason projections mirrored that.

Red's being held to top 5 ACC talent by the powers that be. It's subjective for sure, but outside of a handful of games of games we were never really out-talented.

 

[Consigliere]

Not sure where you’re getting your numbers from. It was top 20 by most services and very much in line with Miami who brought in an entire new team.

Duke Selected as 2025-26 Preseason ACC Men’s Basketball Favorite

Duke was voted the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, following a vote of a select media panel. Ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason Associated Press poll, the Blue Devils are the preseason ACC favorites for the 10th time in the...

theacc.com

Don’t think you will find a single preseason top 20 ranking that included Syracuse. I am guessing you are referencing high school class recruiting rankings?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Duke Selected as 2025-26 Preseason ACC Men’s Basketball Favorite

Duke was voted the preseason favorite to win the 2025-26 Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, following a vote of a select media panel. Ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason Associated Press poll, the Blue Devils are the preseason ACC favorites for the 10th time in the...

theacc.com

Don’t think you will find a single preseason top 20 ranking that included Syracuse. I am guessing you are referencing high school class recruiting rankings?

No, I was referencing our combined transfer portal and HS ranking by 247 and on3. The season predictions were low because no
one had faith in our coaching before the season.

 

[elimunelson]

That he's second choice is telling.

Maybe Hop could hire a staff that allows him to rebuild his recruiting connections. And it'd be good to have more money. But man, it'd be such an uninspired choice.

I was OK with Red because of the circumstances. I'm not OK with Hop.

Is it 10% possible that Hopkins is our Jon Scheyer? If Scheyer went to say Oregon or USC, is it possible he would have busted out too? Is Scheyer a product of the NIL or is the NIL a product of him?

Hopkins would be my 4th choice behind Luke Murray, Hodgson and a wildcard that I’ll fall in love with when it drops in the 11th hour….(shades of Fran brown).

 

[Consigliere]

The talent on this team is not the problem, nor the thing holding the team back.

Outside of Freeman, I tend to agree about their NBA upside (and that includes Anthony).

But so what? There are literally dozens of teams, across all conferences and levels, that field NCAA caliber teams with no NBA prospects, fewer resources, and limited NIL. And yet those teams are able to feel the functional offense, and run effective defenses that don't give up 61 points in a half.

Laying the blame on the players is like focusing on the symptom instead of the actual problem.

Not blaming tge players at all and firmly agree that a change needs to be made. I stated that this team had the talent to be a bottom of the bracket tournament team and disagreed that the level is a 4-7 seed (13-28 on the S curve.)
Yes, other teams with that level of talent can be more successful but very few that play in a power conference.
If we want to return to regular Top 25 appearances, coaching is a major point to be addressed but not the only point.

 

[Consigliere]

No, I was referencing our combined transfer portal and HS ranking by 247 and on3. The season predictions were low because no
one had faith in our coaching before the season.

So ACC coaches downgraded Syracuse solely because of Red?

 

[Fly Rodder]

espectfully disagree. Not a single player on this team that is projected to be an NBA player or will get all-Conference recognition.

Then another problem, in addition to coaching, is talent recognition or at least failure to recognize or work around player weaknesses. There was a lot of smoke out of the staff about how great Donnie and JJ were. How we’d be lucky to get Freeman back and how JJ was a preseason All ACC 2nd team and 3rd in preseason POTY voting. Lots of people were talking up Sadiq as a huge recruiting win.

This has been a decade long problem at SU.

 

[phil77]

Then another problem, in addition to coaching, is talent recognition or at least failure to recognize or work around player weaknesses. There was a lot of smoke out of the staff about how great Donnie and JJ were. How we’d be lucky to get Freeman back and how JJ was a preseason All ACC 2nd team and 3rd in preseason POTY voting. Lots of people were talking up Sadiq as a huge recruiting win.

This has been a decade long problem at SU.

Player development has also been a serious issue here players seems to come here and magically get worse. They are still young and should be improving instead the players come here and get worse. We need to get back to teaching kids how to play the game and work on individual skills they need to improve. Not just roll the ball out there and let them play.

 

[Blanko97]

Would not be surprised if Kyle gets a look. Lots of chatter about him online recently for his defense.

Where does he play? He’s too short to be a dominant rim protector at the 5, can’t shoot so can’t be a 4, not quite laterally quick enough to guard guys at the 3 point line so he’s a liability when he gets drawn out, can’t shoot free throws and doesn’t have a post game. I think he’s a good college player but that’s probably his ceiling. I just can’t imagine there is a ton of roster space for a 1 dimensional guy in a league of triple threat players

 

[Cusefan0307]

So ACC coaches downgraded Syracuse solely because of Red?

Coaches? It’s a media poll.

On3 had us with a combined transfer/freshman ranking of 14 and 247 had 20. Duke/UNC/Louisville have a clear talent advantage over us. The rest of the schools, no.

 

[atlanticuse]

Player development has also been a serious issue here players seems to come here and magically get worse. They are still young and should be improving instead the players come here and get worse. We need to get back to teaching kids how to play the game and work on individual skills they need to improve. Not just roll the ball out there and let them play.

As I've posted and gotten skewered, we haven't been able to develop a big man since November 2011.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Where does he play? He’s too short to be a dominant rim protector at the 5, can’t shoot so can’t be a 4, not quite laterally quick enough to guard guys at the 3 point line so he’s a liability when he gets drawn out, can’t shoot free throws and doesn’t have a post game. I think he’s a good college player but that’s probably his ceiling. I just can’t imagine there is a ton of roster space for a 1 dimensional guy in a league of triple threat players

He’s a guy that can switch all 5 positions I think. Again don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just telling you what I’ve seen from scouts online especially after he played well against Duke.

 

[sufan59]

 

[Cusefan0307]

Then another problem, in addition to coaching, is talent recognition or at least failure to recognize or work around player weaknesses. There was a lot of smoke out of the staff about how great Donnie and JJ were. How we’d be lucky to get Freeman back and how JJ was a preseason All ACC 2nd team and 3rd in preseason POTY voting. Lots of people were talking up Sadiq as a huge recruiting win.

This has been a decade long problem at SU.

Red should have moved on from JJ or the very least got a sniper at the point. The struggles at the 2 guard position were well
documented last year. The same people complaining about NIL
In this thread blamed JJ’s poor finish at the end of last season on the talent around him or his wrist.

 

[Bayside44]

Is it 10% possible that Hopkins is our Jon Scheyer? If Scheyer went to say Oregon or USC, is it possible he would have busted out too? Is Scheyer a product of the NIL or is the NIL a product of him?

Hopkins would be my 4th choice behind Luke Murray, Hodgson and a wildcard that I’ll fall in love with when it drops in the 11th hour….(shades of Fran brown).

Scheyer is a product of Duke's infrastructure, IMO. Stick Amaker, Dawkins, Wojo, Collins in there they'd all get propped up the same way with that talent. The Brotherhood, Iron Dukes, etc stuff is real.