Did B. Triche turn the corner?

[shizzah]

Obviously Brandon has had big games before. But something looked different this time. There was a point where he was bringing the ball up and was at the top of the key and began dribbling through his legs and then a couple other slick ball handling moves. He almost had a look of anger, of time to take over, in his face and I've never quite seen him have that look. Once in a while after a made 3 he'd have a confident look but this was more like, "Ok, enough of this nonsense, I'm taking over."

I've seen him hit a couple threes, drive coast to coast and make some impressive moves...but not really ever in a single game (or 5 minute stretch).

Possibly looking into this too much, or maybe not giving Brandon enough credit for past performances but is it possible he's turned the corner? If he has turned into a legitimate force and not just a threat it would be very bad news for the rest of the field and good news for fulfilling the promise of his career.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

Would be nice to see 3 of these type games in a row from him. Until then, I think Brandon is Brandon...someone who can be trusted as a good member of this team, and someone who you can never question his effort. Rarely is Brandon hurting us on the court. He's just solid, but I don't think he's ever going to be a star. He has always had "blend guy" written all over him.

 

[AZOrange]

Obviously Brandon has had big games before. But something looked different this time. There was a point where he was bringing the ball up and was at the top of the key and began dribbling through his legs and then a couple other slick ball handling moves. He almost had a look of anger, of time to take over, in his face and I've never quite seen him have that look. Once in a while after a made 3 he'd have a confident look but this was more like, "Ok, enough of this nonsense, I'm taking over."

I've seen him hit a couple threes, drive coast to coast and make some impressive moves...but not really ever in a single game (or 5 minute stretch).

Possibly looking into this too much, or maybe not giving Brandon enough credit for past performances but is it possible he's turned the corner? If he has turned into a legitimate force and not just a threat it would be very bad news for the rest of the field and good news for fulfilling the promise of his career.

I used to think James was the most frustrating player on the team, but now I think it is BT. I just dont get it (and I dont think JB does either), why he struggles at times. especially passing the ball...he is really poor at that often.

 

[mark79]

Excellent observation... I noticed that too. You may very well be right. Let's hope so!!

 

[cusetown1]

The great thing about Brandon IMO is that he will be his best against the good teams. Which will put this team at another level. Naysayers think we have peaked early, I say B.S. This team is just starting to click. Just wait a month or so they will be amazing.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

I feel like I've had this conversation with someone at least four different times since his freshman year.

 

[OttoMets]

I feel like I've had this conversation with someone at least four different times since his freshman year.

Agreed. West Virginia, Louisville, Oakland, every summer league game he's played in - we've seen flashes before. But he's never been a great player for a sustained stretch. If he does it for a month, he's turned the corner. Until then, I'm just glad he had a great stretch and was our MVP yesterday.

 

[stuckinbig11]

same Brandon, different game, different need.

 

[shizzah]

Agreed. West Virginia, Louisville, Oakland, every summer league game he's played in - we've seen flashes before. But he's never been a great player for a sustained stretch. If he does it for a month, he's turned the corner. Until then, I'm just glad he had a great stretch and was our MVP yesterday.

Ha, true, but it seems like it's been a while. Hopefully it continues.

 

[pfister1]

The great thing about Brandon IMO is that he will be his best against the good teams. Which will put this team at another level. Naysayers think we have peaked early, I say B.S. This team is just starting to click. Just wait a month or so they will be amazing.

People who say that aren't really paying attention.....given that Fab and Dion seem to roll out new wrinkles every game and to a lesser degree JSouth, Rak and MCW are showing themselves capable of making significant contributions.

It is possible that we'll look back at this team and think it was all down hill from here, but I really don't see that now given how we have 5 or maybe even 6 (if you include CJ) young/inexperienced guys who are beginning to make big contributions to the success of the team. I would expect that what they are capable of will only continue to grow.

At the beginning of the season I would have expected that our most important players would be KJo, Scoop and BT with the outside possibility that Fab would step up. Now I think there is a really good chance that it is more likley that when the season concludes that the guys that will be most important will have become Dion and Fab along with KJo. That's not because Scoop or BT have performed badly, but because of how far the other two have come. What it ultimately means is that we have amazing quality depth and if one or two guys has a bad night there are multiple other guys that are good enough that they should be expected to pick up for the guys who are having off nights. As opposed to the past where if our one or two key guys had a bad night, it was time to pray that someone could step it up.

 

[Millhouse]

he's a big body at the top of the zone, he's a decent 3 pt shooter who can get really streaky

best thing about the depth is that guards who drive me crazy at 38 minutes are just right at 21.

as a 20 mpg guy, triche just needs to get better in transition. as a 40 minute guy, there'd be alot more to be picky about

 

[SoBristol]

The 3s with solid form, squared up, stand out. I hesitate to take that as a trend -- there are other segments in the game when he passes it around the perimeter as if he is happy to get the ball out of his own hands.

What he seems to be adding is a pull-up move. Maybe only one or two times a game, but it can get him going. Nice to have 3 combo guards.

 

[SarasotaPaul]

The 3s with solid form, squared up, stand out. I hesitate to take that as a trend -- there are other segments in the game when he passes it around the perimeter as if he is happy to get the ball out of his own hands.

What he seems to be adding is a pull-up move. Maybe only one or two times a game, but it can get him going. Nice to have 3 combo guards.

Then there are the times, too many of them, when he is begging for the ball and teammates won't even look his way.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

best thing about the depth is that guards who drive me crazy at 38 minutes are just right at 21.

I looked up "truth" in the dictionary and this statement was there.

 

[orange2win]

Interesting stat on Brandon last night. He was the leading scorer and he did not have a single FT.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Brandon is going to have these games sporadically for the rest of the season. He is also going to have games where he has 5 points and goes 0-3 from 3, but plays great D up top.

It is who he is. If you aren't used to it yet I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[AZOrange]

Then there are the times, too many of them, when he is begging for the ball and teammates won't even look his way.

There were at least 3 times last night when he did the same exact thing to Dion...

 

[SoBristol]

Then there are the times, too many of them, when he is begging for the ball and teammates won't even look his way.

You might be living in 2010-11, when we did see some of that.
But on occasions when BT is begging for the ball, what is he ready to do with it? When the pass is made, what does he usually do? And if the ball goes the other way, is it to KJ who happens to be the #1 option?
Last night, per BT, Scoop essentially called his number, so BT made a move to the top of the key, took the pass, squared and took his shot. So, that's fine -- a shot within the offense. Or someone (usually Scoop or Dion) makes a move to penetrate and kick out -- again, a shot for BT within the offense.
But just standing, begging for the ball -- not sure that is our offense.

 

[jekelish]

I kinda view Brandon as this team's version of Demetris Nichols. A kid with a lot of talent, but without the type of personality you need to take control night in and night out. Hopefully, like D-Nic, Brandon will eventually put it all together.

 

[arbitragegls]

Then there are the times, too many of them, when he is begging for the ball and teammates won't even look his way.

+1...and i agree with this...I feel that BT is often overlooked by his teammates...even with hands flailing in the air...at least last night he got the ball, kept it and scored...and Scoop did pass a couple dimes to him too...maybe it isnt BT turning the corner as much as it is the team

 

[shizzah]

I kinda view Brandon as this team's version of Demetris Nichols. A kid with a lot of talent, but without the type of personality you need to take control night in and night out. Hopefully, like D-Nic, Brandon will eventually put it all together.

This is the kind of career arc I'm hoping for. Demetris got it together at some point during his junior year. Then became the primary option his senior year. Next year it is a very distinct possibility that Brandon will be the first option on a team with many secondary type scorers assuming Dion leaves and with the departure of Joseph. DaJuan is clearly a first option scorer in the making but who knows what his first year will be like

That will also be a team without any dominant personality types. He could very well have an all-big east season a la Demetris in that type of setting. Next year actually may be the all-time nicest team in Syracuse history.

All-Nice Guy Team
PG: Michael-Carter Williams - may be the emotional/vocal leader by year's end...definitely seems to be a nice guy.
SG: Brandon Triche - I have no idea how nice he his. He sure is quiet though. Must be a nice guy.
SF: C.J. Fair - Very quiet and by all accounts...a nice guy!!
PF: Rakeem Christmas - Silent on the court, soft spoken off the court and according to Jimmy B, too nice.
C: Fab (if he stays)...definitely a jovial nice guy...but then there is that other stuff, errr. Well.

All-Nice Guy Bench
Guard: Trevor Cooney - according to all reports he's first class all the way.
Guard: Mookie Jones (if he stays) - the mookster has morphed into an all-time nicer.
Forward: James Southerland - they guy's got some personality as per that chicken dance avatar which I deeply miss...but c'mon this guy is as gentle as charmin.
Forward: Jerami Grant - In all his clips he always seems to have a pleasant look on his face when dunks on 5'10" pimple faced kids heads.
C: DaJuan Coleman- I don't gotta clue on this one. I really hope he's not too nice on the court though.
C: Baye Moussa Keita - All class, all the way.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

Agreed. West Virginia, Louisville, Oakland, every summer league game he's played in - we've seen flashes before. But he's never been a great player for a sustained stretch. If he does it for a month, he's turned the corner. Until then, I'm just glad he had a great stretch and was our MVP yesterday.

He's done it for month-long stretches only to go back into his shell.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

I'm just not sure why we can't just accept that not every kid is a star. I guess its because Brandon is from upstate NY and we have alot of folks who were fans of his pre-SU. Sometimes kids are just contributors. There is nothing wrong with being the 4th best player on good SU teams.

 

[shizzah]

I'm just not sure why we can't just accept that not every kid is a star. I guess its because Brandon is from upstate NY and we have alot of folks who were fans of his pre-SU. Sometimes kids are just contributors. There is nothing wrong with being the 4th best player on good SU teams.

I have absolutely no issue in letting players be "contributors". If this is all Brandon is, then I'm completely fine with that. My point, or really question was, is it possible that he's finally getting it. The "it" in his case is confidence.

Two people who are highly respected around these parts for their basketball acumen (Jimmy B and Bilas) have in direct and not so direct words said he's capable and at times as shown (I'm assuming in practice) much, much, more.

I have actually never been a fan of Brandon. When he got put on the wooden list after his freshman year, I, along with the majority of posters here, collectively put out a "what the ...?" And when Bilas said on national television that he thought he was our best player I let the prior mentioned phrase out again. When Scoop said he was our best player I was astonished.

Alls I'm sayin is that for the first time I thought I saw a glimpse of that. As has been stated earlier he's had big games, but this one seemed a little different. Was just putting it out there that I was wondering had he turned the corner...it is possible and much more than likely, that he reverts back to form and stays just a glue type guy.

 

[newmexicuse]

Eye of the Tiger - skills aside - Scoop & Dion have it (maybe it has something to do with being from Philly) - Brandon lacks it - MCW ?????