Class of 2019 Derrik Smits, grad transfer from Valpo to Butler

[moqui]

I'd roll the dice.

gambler's fallacy

 

[chugg21]

Would take him over Carrigan and his 4ppg somewhere in friggin' Odessa any day.

 

[Alsacs]

Between Sidibe and JBA I don’t think we will get 250 points combined from them next year.
We need some offense from the C position.
Smits is exactly the type of player we could use.

 

[Jake]

Oh, he would do nicely.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

gambler's fallacy

True, but I have a well documented history on this board of making terrible choices, so I'm pretty much on brand here.

 

[FrancoPizza]

SO who is forwarding this the coaching staff? It would be nice to go into a season thinking we can be good.

He won't be able to cover the corner 3's but let's be honest -- has the center EVER effectively covered that ground without something bad happening in that scenario?

If JB doesn't go after this kid hard because he's not quick enough to reach the wings, then I want his resignation.

 

[kuethstheman]

It would be nice to go into a season thinking we can be good.

Actually, I'm kind of sick of that. I promised myself I wouldn't make that mistake again.

 

[moqui]

It would be nice to go into a season thinking we can be good.
.

if jb takes another grad transfer, i'll go into the season expecting to be mediocre again

If JB doesn't go after this kid hard because he's not quick enough to reach the wings, then I want his resignation.

well, that settles it then

 

[FrancoPizza]

Actually, I'm kind of sick of that. I promised myself I wouldn't make that mistake again.

I mean top 25 good, not national champ contender. Is that too much to ask?

 

[FrancoPizza]

if jb takes another grad transfer, i'll go into the season expecting to be mediocre again

Why? Because the last time this happened we went to the NIT? This feels a HUGE need. We literally have no viable centers on the roster.

 

[OrangeYaGladi]

SO who is forwarding this the coaching staff? It would be nice to go into a season thinking we can be good.

He won't be able to cover the corner 3's but let's be honest -- has the center EVER effectively covered that ground without something bad happening in that scenario?

If JB doesn't go after this kid hard because he's not quick enough to reach the wings, then I want his resignation.

Syracuse, NY -- Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim tendered his resignation Monday, after he refused to recruit a player identified by FrancoPizza.

FrancoPizza, the 2018 Iggy Leading Minutes Per Game Winner, could be not reached for comment. But it is assumed he will join EdFromSodus on the search committee for Boeheim's successor.

 

[moqui]

Why? Because the last time this happened we went to the NIT? This feels a HUGE need. We literally have no viable centers on the roster.

grad transfers can work at other schools, but syracuse runs an idiosyncratic system that requires buy-in from the players. tried grad transfers 2x and both times it hurt rather than helped because they didn't buy in.

we have 3 center-capable players on the roster next year including the most skilled player on the team.

side note: i wouldn't even look at a school with that roster structure if i was smits, but that's not part of my argument. against him

 

[Frozen]

SO who is forwarding this the coaching staff? It would be nice to go into a season thinking we can be good.

He won't be able to cover the corner 3's but let's be honest -- has the center EVER effectively covered that ground without something bad happening in that scenario?

If JB doesn't go after this kid hard because he's not quick enough to reach the wings, then I want his resignation.

Already sent to the assistants and Kip Wellman and the secretary for recruiting.

 

[Alsacs]

if jb takes another grad transfer, i'll go into the season expecting to be mediocre again


well, that settles it then

So because Geno Thorpe was immature all grad transfers are immature?

Also maybe the fight between the other grad transfer and player I won’t say mean all grad transfers suck.

Andrew White III and John Gillon were why our offense was solid in 2017.

My god how you can’t see the need for a frontcourt offensive threat next year is amazing.
Jim Boeheim himself knows we need talent. He said it himself read SWC’s last coaches show recap.

 

[RF2044]

Oh, he would do nicely.

Reminds me a lot of Yurtseven.

 

[Cusesky8214]

grad transfers can work at other schools, but syracuse runs an idiosyncratic system that requires buy-in from the players. tried grad transfers 2x and both times it hurt rather than helped because they didn't buy in.

we have 3 center-capable players on the roster next year including the most skilled player on the team.

side note: i wouldn't even look at a school with that roster structure if i was smits, but that's not part of my argument. against him

Your off on this one moqui...our system is not that difficult for a center anchoring our zone to learn and regardless of who we have on our roster next year, the 5 is a MAJOR weak spot that needs to be addressed. Learning to play in the system we use is not rocket science like you make it seem. This kids skill set would open up so much space for our shooters they wouldnt even know what to do with it. I dont think it would hurt to show some interest and put some feelers out there. Maybe we land Tre Mitchell or someone else that's not in the picture yet but we definitely need to turn over ever stone available.

 

[Cuse House]

Man I'm not a huge fan of the grad transfer but this kid is a basketball player! Has a all around game and a very skilled big man. And hes pretty big! Great passer as well. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PLEASE TAKE A LOOK!

Two things that jump out immediately from this short clip, he can pass out of the post, and he can hit a 15 foot shot. Two things we lack immensely from the center position. Having a big guy who actually looks for the ball after screening and who can dish relatively well would improve this offense 100%. Imagine throwing the ball down low and having a guy face the basket and be able to make good passes to BB, Elijah, JG3. This guy would be an amazing get.

 

[SUskibum]

Wasn’t Wes essentially a 1 yr rental (that worked out ok) since from what I remember the odds of him staying here for his 5th year were slim to none?

All this worry about grad transfers auditioning for the NBA... aren’t all of the players essentially eyeing the NBA in some capacity? I mean if we’re honest with ourselves?

Also, Melo was a pretty good 1 yr rental auditioning for the NBA. Nobody thought the odds of him staying a. 2nd year were very high (even before the title run).

I think we need to be careful of sample size issues, not to mention counter factuals. Like we all hate that we missed the tourney with Gillon/White but if they didn’t come, would we have blown our consecutive winning season streak? I think that was very much a possibility.

Anyway, food for thought.

 

[RF2044]

grad transfers can work at other schools, but syracuse runs an idiosyncratic system that requires buy-in from the players. tried grad transfers 2x and both times it hurt rather than helped because they didn't buy in.

we have 3 center-capable players on the roster next year including the most skilled player on the team.

side note: i wouldn't even look at a school with that roster structure if i was smits, but that's not part of my argument. against him

I don't disagree with your first sentence, don't agree with your second paragraph at all.

I think it would be a different story if Sidibe had bounced back physically and had a quality year. He didn't, so the 5 remains a major source of uncertainty heading into next year.

Also, different types of bigs can be system fits for various reasons. Forth wasn't the same as Watkins, who wasn't the same as Arinze, who wasn't the same as Keita, who wasn't the same as Rak, etc. Some players provide elite shotblocking, others anchor the middle with strength, others with terrific anticipation / lateral mobility. Some check several of the boxes in one package [like senior year Rak, Etan, etc.] whereas others excel at their one role, like Baye or Fab.

This kid has the requisite size, it appears that he has good shot blocking instincts, and he doesn't have to be chained to the block in order to score. Imagine him setting screens and then getting the pick-and-pop pass. And it sure would be nice having a kid who could score in the box with either hand -- to say nothing of forcing the defense to account for him, which would lead to lots of open kick outs from a terrific passing big man like this to Buddy / Elijah, or other shooters.

Honestly, I don't see the downside. The 5 isn't the only question mark on next year's team, but this kid would go a long way toward solving it. And then if Battle returns to play point, or Carey makes the sophomore jump, or Goodine seizes the reins, thereby nailing down the point guard uncertainty, having a big like this might be the difference between having a top 10 type of season versus being a 20 win but double digit loss team again.

 

[Sherman20]

grad transfers can work at other schools, but syracuse runs an idiosyncratic system that requires buy-in from the players. tried grad transfers 2x and both times it hurt rather than helped because they didn't buy in.

we have 3 center-capable players on the roster next year including the most skilled player on the team.

side note: i wouldn't even look at a school with that roster structure if i was smits, but that's not part of my argument. against him

Love ya moqui, but this is a load of horsesheat, imo. Based on what some posters have said on here, JB spouts this internally as the party line but it’s ridiculous. He said himself in 2017 we would have been terrible if we hadn’t taken White and Gillon. Yes Geno didn’t work out but that was about that specific kid, not the program or coaches. We just need to do our due diligence and vetting before bringing in another grad transfer. Our system is easier to pick up on than many other programs.

 

[kuethstheman]

Love ya moqui, but this is a load of horsesheat, imo. Based on what some posters have said on here, JB spouts this internally as the party line but it’s ridiculous. He said himself in 2017 we would have been terrible if we hadn’t taken White and Gillon. Yes Geno didn’t work out but that was about that specific kid, not the program or coaches. Our system is easier to pick up on than many other programs.

Especially, our offense.

 

[Cuse House]

I don’t see the argument that a grad transfer hurts us on D. He’s not a forward or a guard, he is a 7 foot center. He has to play in the paint. Our centers do not cover the wings that much, and it’s not like Sid or PC do a great job of it. It’s typically a foul if our big guys are sprinting to the wing. This kid seems more agile than anything we have now. The defensive argument is BS.

 

[rrlbees]

If JB doesn't go after this kid hard because he's not quick enough to reach the wings, then I want his resignation.

Oh FFS. You make some of the worst comments.

 

[NineOneSeven]

grad transfers can work at other schools, but syracuse runs an idiosyncratic system that requires buy-in from the players. tried grad transfers 2x and both times it hurt rather than helped because they didn't buy in.

we have 3 center-capable players on the roster next year including the most skilled player on the team.

side note: i wouldn't even look at a school with that roster structure if i was smits, but that's not part of my argument. against him

Are you saying white and gillon didn’t buy in?

Are you also implying our zone defense system has a lower chance of being successful with a 5th year guy in the middle vs a freshman? Because once sidibe fouls out in 15 minutes, that’s who would be left other than marek who is not thick enough for that position for heavy minutes.

 

[Melancer46]

For those that are interested, per hoop-math.com, Smits has shot 35.6% from mid-range this season after shooting 38.9% the year before, both of which are pretty solid.

For reference, here's the percentages of our guys this year:
Battle: 37.6%
Brissett: 28.0%
Hughes: 30.0%
Howard: 36.8%
Buddy: 44.7%
Dolezaj: 47.8%

And Smits has attempted 73 mid-range shots this year which would rank 4th on our team behind Battle, Brissett, and Howard. Hughes is the next closest with 50 attempts.