Cooney

[jncuse]

Can't blame Cooney for that last shot:

1. It's not a 100% shot, also have to consider fatigue caused by how much he is played
2. He had no choice but to shoot once it got to him. There was not many ticks left

I think the mistake was more with G - he should have drawn a foul, or hesitated just a tad to create space for the players coming clean down the lane.

The reason he chose Cooney was in part because the Cooney 3 (even after him running around and around and fading) seems to be our go to shot. That is what the players have learned to look for, and under pressure they will do the same. I think this is somewhat of a strategic issue.

 

[SUFan44]

Syracuse doesn't bring in JUCO transfers. They're not over their limit on scholarships right now for next season even if Thompson commits. If they don't get Thompson and Joseph transfers, I'm not sure who they'll have lined up to come in since Boeheim won't do grad transfers.

I wouldn't be too sure that we wouldn't take a JUCO or graduate transfer next year. Needs to be the right one, but don't rule it out.

 

[jncuse]

Syracuse doesn't bring in JUCO transfers. They're not over their limit on scholarships right now for next season even if Thompson commits. If they don't get Thompson and Joseph transfers, I'm not sure who they'll have lined up to come in since Boeheim won't do grad transfers.

The grad transfer is still a developing roster tactic that is still in its relative infancy. If a school has real success with it (Like Louisville may this year), I think some coaches will change their mind on it.

The limitation for JB is that grad transfers may be good basketball players but lack the 2-3 length that he desires.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Everything is Cooney's fault. We know this.

He's had a pretty poor season and probably hasn't improved all that much in the past few years, but anybody sitting around blaming him for losses is absurd. It's not his fault this roster stinks. It's not his fault he has to play 40 minutes per game. He's hitting 36% of his 3's and has been better lately, but it's always the ones he doesn't make, right...

 

[djcon57]

We're still doing the "best player guards Cooney" agenda?

I mean...seriously?

 

[djcon57]

I was told in previous years if he had other people around him that could hit 3s, he'd be open more.

Is that not true anymore? Why is he still unable to get open looks?

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

G has the team's best defender on him and he is responsible for getting the ball to Mal/Cooney/everyone else. G has way too much on his plate. He is by far our best player. Now Richardson has scored the most in the ACC games but G is the guy.

The other 5th year Senior doesn't create anything for anybody, doesn't rebound, he needs to make shots or he doesn't help the offense. There is a reason Cooney's PER is 12.1. He is a volume shooter. Cooney isn't the single reason we lost these games but he isn't giving us enough with the minutes he plays.

G isn't a point guard and being asked to play one...I get that. But that's not an excuse for shooting < 50% from the foul line and chucking up threes early in the shot clock (when we don't need them) and blowing layups. I'll put it this way, he has the ability to be our best player, but he's absolutely not performing like it. If you can bitch about TC's PER then I can bitch about G's performance over the last 5 games...

 

[Jasoncuse]

I was told in previous years if he had other people around him that could hit 3s, he'd be open more.

Is that not true anymore? Why is he still unable to get open looks?

We dont' have the luxury of facing any 2-3 zones.

 

[Ghost]

Everything is Cooney's fault. We know this.

He's had a pretty poor season and probably hasn't improved all that much in the past few years, but anybody sitting around blaming him for losses is absurd. It's not his fault this roster stinks. It's not his fault he has to play 40 minutes per game. He's hitting 36% of his 3's and has been better lately, but it's always the ones he doesn't make, right...

I think the issue is this - we all now when certain issues exist. For example, this year, we're stupidly small, and lack a Center that can compete at this level. We're not going to fix that by arguing about the dietary habits of DC, and whether if they fed him more grains he could become a 7 footer by March. (I know you know, not being a sarcastic...)

So what's left? Rotations, players...At the end of the day, I do think the coaches have sacrificed everything on some misguided notion that TC was/is a game-changer. He's a pretty pedestrian two guard, that when he isn't hitting shots, does little, but gets superstar minutes at the expense of attempting to develop any other players.

Someone mentioned developing Joseph, I think last year, the kid should have been given minutes at Cooney's expense once it became clear he was struggling adapting to the PG role. I said it then, still think it - although at this point I may just jettison Joseph to OCC since he's a mental wreck.

Let him get comfortable with the speed of the game, without being the primary ballhandler. That would never be an option though, because he, Patterson, Johnson, Howard, whomever, could never possibly spell TC. I think they needed to play without looking over their shoulder after every miscue - they were never given that luxury.

Also, Cooney has been fine this year for the most part, 36% is fine - the issue is, might we be better if Howard was developed at PG? Maybe. But nobody could ever find out because that would mean someone would have to eat into the SG minutes that have been allotted to TC since his Sophomore year...which is just weird.

He's a good player, I don't think for a second he personally deserves criticism, he just plays the game - and he plays hard. When he hit that runner/fall-away last night, I would have been thrilled if he jacked up another. Kid has gone lights out before, do it up and see if you're in that mode. I've just never been able to wrap my ahead around what we're doing with him overall for 3 years. I'm sure he practices hard, hits a high percentage in practice, but at what point does that stop justifying the gigantic minutes? It's worth noting, Hop has seemed more willing to mess with the rotation...after the few games, which is weird, since we were winning some of those games by 20 points.

/rant

 

[djcon57]

G isn't a point guard and being asked to play one...I get that. But that's not an excuse for shooting < 50% from the foul line and chucking up threes early in the shot clock (when we don't need them) and blowing layups. I'll put it this way, he has the ability to be our best player, but he's absolutely not performing like it. If you can bitch about TC's PER then I can bitch about G's performance over the last 5 games...

Everyone, myself included, can bitch about Cooney, but I agree 100% with you on your one point

G's FTs are absolutely killing this team.

 

[Ghost]

Everyone, myself included, can bitch about Cooney, but I agree 100% with you on your one point

G's FTs are absolutely killing this team.

I'll third that. It's been painful to watch...

 

[Cusefan0307]

Everyone, myself included, can bitch about Cooney, but I agree 100% with you on your one point

G's FTs are absolutely killing this team.

And three pointers. And turnovers.

 

[rrlbees]

If I made a list of this teams top 10 problems, Cooney would be about 10th. Yet he gets his own thread.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

If I made a list of this teams top 10 problems, Cooney would be about 10th. Yet he gets his own thread.

Isn't it amazing!

 

[DomeDog44]

There was very nearly a fight in the Dome last night between some Cooney haters and supporters. Sad when you see two groups of people wearing SU orange wanting to fight.

 

[rrlbees]

There was very nearly a fight in the Dome last night between some Cooney haters and supporters. Sad when you see two groups of people wearing SU orange wanting to fight.

Unbelievable.

 

[patcuse]

There was very nearly a fight in the Dome last night between some Cooney haters and supporters. Sad when you see two groups of people wearing SU orange wanting to fight.

How can you be a fan of syracuse and hate on a player. It's like hating your own child, kind of strange.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

How can you be a fan of syracuse and hate on a player. It's like hating your own child, kind of strange.

It's pathetic...period...

 

[Cusefan0307]

There was very nearly a fight in the Dome last night between some Cooney haters and supporters. Sad when you see two groups of people wearing SU orange wanting to fight.

People need help. It's embarrassing. If I was one of his family members I would of recommended he leave and go to Europe last year. It's not worth the headaches from the fans and sanctions the program has to deal with this year.

 

[Forloveoforange]

In defense of Coach Hopkins and Trevor Cooney, hasn't Cooney been using much better shot selection and taking fewer shots per game lately? It seems like these adjustments have been exactly what the fans have been asking for. I hope that Coach Boeheim doesn't change this trend.

 

[Ghost]

How can you be a fan of syracuse and hate on a player. It's like hating your own child, kind of strange.

 

[Alsacs]

G isn't a point guard and being asked to play one...I get that. But that's not an excuse for shooting < 50% from the foul line and chucking up threes early in the shot clock (when we don't need them) and blowing layups. I'll put it this way, he has the ability to be our best player, but he's absolutely not performing like it. If you can bitch about TC's PER then I can bitch about G's performance over the last 5 games...

Go ahead and bitch abut G's performance over 5 games his season overall has been good. Cooney's entire season has below for a P5 player and overall in college basketball would be awful for a player that plays his minutes.

If we replaced G with an average college basketball guard our team record would be 3 losses worse according to win shares. If we replaced Cooney our team would be literally the same.

Cooney isn't why we lost against Clemson but his season overall with how he has played hasn't been good.

 

[SmilinBob]

that is our offensive philosophy and not coneys fault everyone knows our game plan hell its been the same for years

It is 100% Cooneys fault not using picks correctly. I like the kid, he plays hard but seriously he has to use his energy more efficiently.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Go ahead and bitch abut G's performance over 5 games his season overall has been good. Cooney's entire season has below for a P5 player and overall in college basketball would be awful for a player that plays his minutes.

If we replaced G with an average college basketball guard our team record would be 3 losses worse according to win shares. If we replaced Cooney our team would be literally the same.

Cooney isn't why we lost against Clemson but his season overall with how he has played hasn't been good.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/syracuse/2016.html

Except we don't have another average guard on the roster according to PER. Look at Kalebs PER when he plays, or Howards. I mean we can cherry pick stats all day, but by win shares Cooney has contributed the third most to this team. Malachi's PER for the season is pretty much the same as Cooney's, and he's contributed less win shares.

If you want to go to Conference PER, The poster responding to you has a good point. Mike has been awful. 8.0 Per in the Conference season. Worse than Trevor.

Per is an ok stat I guess, but it really doesn't take into account players responsibilities on a team. Obviously Mike has more responsibilty than Trevor, but PER doesn't measure that. I love analytics too, but they do not tell the whole story. If they did, Draymond Green was an average player last year, and Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala were below average (as their PER's were all around 15 or below). Any NBA fan would laugh at that notion.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

If we replaced G with an average college basketball guard our team record would be 3 losses worse according to win shares.

All I know is that, had he hit one free more throw against Clemson, we win that game. That's a fact. And don't get me started on the Pitt game.

MG feasted on the early cupcakes and is now in a major funk. He has shown two sides of himself this year. I'd just like him to start playing like our best player...Cause right now he sure isn't.