Daemen Postgame Thoughts.

[CuseFaninVT]

Think he got dinged up.

Dinged his dinghy?

 

[OrangeDW]

Back when Harrison Barnes was touted as like an all world future superstar, my friend used to downplay him and call him “stiff hips”.

Which I thought was a hilarious knock at first but once you watched him, low and behold - he’s got those stiff hips.

Benny might have the stiff hips? He gets roasted off the dribble.

 

[OrangeDW]

Dinged his dinghy?

You’re a dinged dinghy.

 

[Cusefan0307]

It was soooo refreshing watching Judah last season and JJ is even another level of athletic. And both have NBA ball skills and can finish at the rim.

There's just not many college basketball teams that can roll out two dudes like that. We have real deficiencies but a backcourt of that caliber can make up for a ton.

JJ has pure speed and an elite handle. Judah is elite at changing speeds. I think they’re both great. The only thing I’m concerned about is teams sagging off and making them make shots. Would have liked to see JJ knock down a few jumpers tonight.

 

[bballbeadle]

ok.nothing serious, and I will leave it at that. Not to worry. I don't want to report the exact problem in public

I knew it. It’s the gonads.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

He had 7 blocks in 18 minutes last year in one game. Not many guys have ever done that for us, and I think it was against St. John's, not some tomato can.

And yet, he remains awful.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Exhibition games don’t always show a lot. We’re definitely playing faster. Three point defense was not good. Individual defense needs to get better so guys don’t have to help so much. That’s why they got so many open threes Benny did some good things on offense, but he’s a turn style on defense. Really, really bad. Cuffe is a solid player. You can tell he learned defense by playing under Self at Kansas. He has very little wasted energy or movement. Excellent at getting in the passing lanes. Defensive rebounding was pretty good, but very few second chance points. Second half was not good. Not having Brown was a factor in the second half. Red needs to be careful with rotations and combinations on the floor. Playing a deep bench is good, but you have to have a purpose with your rotations and not just getting players time. Carey is a walking foul. McCloud can be a force. Only he or Brown should play center. Taylor plays solid defense and has a strong body. His defense is night and day better than Bell. Bell had a hard time guarding anyone without fouling. I’m not sure how Red is going to find time for Cuffe, Copeland, Westry, Taylor and Bell when Judah and JJ will get major minutes. Focus and intensity have to be maintained for longer stretches. Not good in second half. Red has quite a few answers, but they have a long ways to go. Big, strong power players are going to be a problem.

Chemistry will take awhile for this team. Agree about facing power players. One concern of mine has been how our already-mediocre rebounding would be affected by playing small. Well, we got a glimpse tonight. We only outrebounded them by 3. Yeah, we were without Maliq for most of the game, but this was Daemen. We should have had a huge rebounding differential. Things will get real very fast once we hit Hawaii.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Back when Harrison Barnes was touted as like an all world future superstar, my friend used to downplay him and call him “stiff hips”.

Which I thought was a hilarious knock at first but once you watched him, low and behold - he’s got those stiff hips.

Benny might have the stiff hips? He gets roasted off the dribble.

Stiff hips/slow to react. He’s more athletic than Taylor, but Taylor looked much more comfortable guarding on the perimeter.

 

[Orangezoo]

Chemistry will take awhile for this team. Agree about facing power players. One concern of mine has been how our already-mediocre rebounding would be affected by playing small. Well, we got a glimpse tonight. We only outrebounded them by 3. Yeah, we were without Maliq for most of the game, but this was Daemen. We should have had a huge rebounding differential. Things will get real very fast once we hit Hawaii.

Daemen outrebounded UB actually by 6 in their first game. They do a nice job hustling to the ball. We have to be better in that regard.

 

[UpstateSM]

JJ has pure speed and an elite handle. Judah is elite at changing speeds. I think they’re both great. The only thing I’m concerned about is teams sagging off and making them make shots. Would have liked to see JJ knock down a few jumpers tonight.

I thought JJ's jumper looked better tonight than it did last year but maaaann someone on Notre Dame's staff shouldn't be allowed to coach high level basketball anymore after what they did to his stroke. I think (hope?) it continues to get better and he is back to being somewhere near the shooting threat that he was coming out of high school by the time it really matters.

Regardless, you need a shooter on the court with him and Judah at all times. Teams just aren't guarding those two so penetration-kick out threes will be there all of the time if the defense wants to over help and lobs will be there all of the time if the defense is scared of whoever we have spreading the court.

The vision is there for the offense to be scary. I think the defense is going to take awhile to get humming but the pieces are there for us to be a problem on that end, too.

 

[NorSyr66]

He seems a good kid but how he gets lost reminds me of Taurean Thompson a lot similar to how he looks for his shot

I hear everyone and it was sure a poor showing by Bell but let's give credit to Red for not hooking him and let's hope the confidence of keeping him kn the game will benefit us in the future. Lots of wrinkles for this team to work on. Let's give Red and his staff sometime to get bell going.. We need him!!

 

[Orangezoo]

I thought JJ's jumper looked better tonight than it did last year but maaaann someone on Notre Dame's staff shouldn't be allowed to coach high level basketball anymore after what they did to his stroke. I think (hope?) it continues to get better and he is back to being somewhere near the shooting threat that he was coming out of high school by the time it really matters.

Regardless, you need a shooter on the court with him and Judah at all times. Teams just aren't guarding those two so penetration-kick out threes will be there all of the time if the defense wants to over help and lobs will be there all of the time if the defense is scared of whoever we have spreading the court.

The vision is there for the offense to be scary. I think the defense is going to take awhile to get humming but the pieces are there for us to be a problem on that end, too.

The mtm will be better with Judah at the head of the snake along with JJ. Browns defense as well as Westry when he gets back will be key.

I thought the things Daemen did tonight with getting open shots will be very helpful on tape. They actually run an offense similar to Colgate.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

JJ has pure speed and an elite handle. Judah is elite at changing speeds. I think they’re both great. The only thing I’m concerned about is teams sagging off and making them make shots. Would have liked to see JJ knock down a few jumpers tonight.

The combo of Judah and JJ is going to be amazing this year. Add Q, Cuffe and Taylor to the guard rotation and got a deep and special group. Throw in Westry in February and you could have something special.

 

[NorSyr66]

I’m counting Westry out of this years rotation. I know he’s only out temporarily, but it’s going to be hard for him to come in and move ahead of someone like Cope.

ouch!!!! That is a quick trigger unless you know more than the general fans know. With as much ability has he has, I would hope if he was back by Jan 1 he would be in full gear by march!!

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Injury information on Syracuse’s Judah Mintz, Maliq Brown; plus a cameo from Peter Carey

Syracuse played its first exhibition game of the 2023-24 season Friday night in the dome.

www.syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Judah Mintz did not play in Friday’s exhibition basketball game in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Before the game, Syracuse University announced, by a branded basketball tweet, that Mintz had a “mild lower body injury” sustained during an early practice this week.

Mintz did not play in Rochester last Saturday, either, when the Orange participated in Monroe Madness. He did accompany Adrian Autry, JJ Starling and Benny Williams to ACC Media Day this week.


Maliq Brown played five minutes of Friday’s first half at center, came out of the game and did not return until the opening tip of the second half. He then played about a minute before exiting the game and conferring briefly with SU athletic trainer Mike Mangano.

Autry said in his postgame remarks Friday that both Mintz and Brown were being held out essentially for precautionary reasons.

“We got a couple guys with little nagging injuries,” Autry said, “and it’s just not worth it right now. They’ll be fine. Nothing serious.”

Mintz was not in the postgame locker room, but Brown was.

He said he had “a little groin injury.” Brown said he probably just needed a few extra stretches before the game; it’s not an issue he’s dealt with before Friday.

In his eight minutes of game action, Brown scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting. He also made two free throws, had a steal and a rebound.

The previously injured Peter Carey came off the disabled list Friday night.

After sitting out the majority of last season because of knee trouble, then sitting out the first two intrasquad scrimmages with ankle soreness, Carey played in SU’s 81-68 win over Daemen.


He joked later that he would have preferred to play more.

He committed five fouls in eight minutes, which disqualified him from the game.

With Mounir Hima unavailable because of a nagging injury, Carey would likely have seen plenty of minutes Friday night. As it was, he fouled out and Benny Williams was tasked with playing some center.

 

[Orangezoo]

When this thing gets humming lookout. Red being such a big player relationship guy is going to be key with so many options.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Did Cuffe play?

Yeah, he was pretty good. I think he hit 3 threes, had a couple steals, a couple assists, played some good defense. He did well.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I hear everyone and it was sure a poor showing by Bell but let's give credit to Red for not hooking him and let's hope the confidence of keeping him kn the game will benefit us in the future. Lots of wrinkles for this team to work on. Let's give Red and his staff sometime to get bell going.. We need him!!

He's got a few games to figure out how to do more for the team than just miss jump shots. Or else he's going to find himself number 9 or 10 in the rotation.

 

[UpstateSM]

The mtm will be better with Judah at the head of the snake along with JJ. Browns defense as well as Westry when he gets back will be key.

I thought the things Daemen did tonight with getting open shots will be very helpful on tape. They actually run an offense similar to Colgate.

I thought they were very well coached.

Was also really cool to see the Philipkoski kid perform. He's from my neck of the woods and I went and watched him dominate Bishop Grimes in sectionals last season. Always fun to see it translate from little ole section 3 to a bigger stage.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Premature assessments, but:

• Need more/better communications on D. Shots We’re going up and our defenders were unaware.
• Id like to see earlier boxing out/rebounding preparation from both McLeod and Benny. They’re trying to rebound off of reactions, not technique. Benny gets beaten for boards, and McLeod just doesn’t even get near them unless he’s already near them.
• Copeland is dynamic as heck but he’d be much more effective with like 15% less flash.
• Cuffe is going to be very valuable. Love his game.
• JJ has handles, quicks, and speed. Wow. If he demonstrates a three and can also pull up mid-range, he’s unstoppable. I need to see both him and Judah in the same game, but I’m wondering which would be drafted first.
• Carey and McLeod—would rather not see them pressing defenders aggressively 25’ out. If their man is showing a 3-point shot, they’re not the right guys on the floor. Either way, they’re just going to pick up cheap fouls.
• Disappointed not to see Patterson. Is he nursing an injury, too?
• Exciting to see this new style of play, and I get that it’s exhibition 01, but I hope we become a team that runs intelligently. There was no scheme out there. McLeod had size mismatches all day but we didn’t even think about exploiting that except for a few incidental touches. I expect Judah and JJ will be the two guys who are the go-tos, then Benny, but I think we have been best historically when we have had a post player who was a dependable clutch/go-to option. Not sure we have that with Benny. Yet. He looked good with his lane turnaround/fades, but he’s going to be a finesse player and I worry about physical and talented teams. We may have enough talent on the perimeter to still be really good, but in crunch time against good/better teams, I worry about relying on outside/finesse stuff.
• I am really glad we still have Taylor. I thought he might transfer. He’s solid now and I can see potential for him being something special.
• Can’t wait until we are at full strength with Westry. It will be interesting to see how the minutes shake out, with so many players at the same ‘position.’

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Someone described him as the kid who got the best shooting coach paid for by his parents but never played a game.

Mighta been me. I've said he looks like he's done a million shooting drills but never played a game of pickup in his life.

 

[realorange]

An overall positive is this team will never be boring to watch. Too many guys that are capable of going full tilt both starters as well as those on the bench.

I've been a Cope fan since he got here. You could see from the beginning and magnified now, his ability to see the court and make moves and passes that make you say "Wow". Red will have a tough time getting him the minutes he deserves.

JJ and Judah may be the best pair of guards SU has ever had. As has been said, they will make others on the team better while doing some amazing things for themselves.

Overall, as good an opening game as you could expect.

A side benefit for those watching on TV, the commentary at halftime and after the game by Ian and Devo was very good.

 

[IthacaMatt]

An overall positive is this team will never be boring to watch. Too many guys that are capable of going full tilt both starters as well as those on the bench.

I've been a Cope fan since he got here. You could see from the beginning and magnified now, his ability to see the court and make moves and passes that make you say "Wow". Red will have a tough time getting him the minutes he deserves.

JJ and Judah may be the best pair of guards SU has ever had. As has been said, they will make others on the team better while doing some amazing things for themselves.

Overall, as good an opening game as you could expect.

A side benefit for those watching on TV, the commentary at halftime and after the game by Ian and Devo was very good.

Things to watch for as the competition gets better:

• Can JJ and Judah both hit around 35% from three?
• Can Cuffe be that third guard (too many TOs and no assists tonight but everything else about his game was very good)
• Can JT be that guy we saw tonight two games out of every three? We saw one terrific game out of him last year, and then "never again". This year, he seems more comfortable out there, and he has a very nice pronounced arc on his shot.
• Maliq, holy cow, don't get hurt. He and Copeland will be key parts of the rotation this year.

 

[bballbeadle]

It was delightful to be at that game! Seems like old times . .

I was amazed by JJ’s speed and some of his moves were jaw dropping. Alas, he didn’t always make a basket after them but sometimes he did. Awesome awesome! I loved Cuffe. Made some 3’s, and really seemed to know what he was doing out there. I thought Benny became the Benny we were waiting for. He really fought for the ball. Actually, they all fought for the ball, and there were a fair number of swats and altered shots. After some of our swats I thought they were going to call goal tending. But what do I know?

Taylor was much improved. Seemed to have more confidence. Felt sorry for Bell. Was not good at all. Was glad Red didn’t give up on him. He finally got a 3 but that’s all he scored. Copeland is a riot. I felt like he messed up as much as he did great things but all in all he was a plus. There were some fantastic missed dunks but Copeland had a great one he actually made.

Second half slow and somewhat tedious. We were outplayed by Daemon, I felt. They didn’t seem like that bad of a team and they made their 3’s. They hung in there and never gave up. Had to respect that.

With Brown and Judah healthy, and if everyone can learn their roles and play well together, well, gosh darn it, I think we’ll be a good team!

 

[NorSyr66]

He's got a few games to figure out how to do more for the team than just miss jump shots. Or else he's going to find himself number 9 or 10 in the rotation.

I agree. The ball is entirely in his court. Tonight he did not show any upside from last year. i am sure the kid is a good shooter but if he can not consistently produce in game situations, Red has to look at other options.