Donnie Done For Season

[Cusefan0307]

I would say the fan base in general has been antsy since 2016-2017 after the final four where we just had our 3rd straight season of a mediocre regular season without much time spent in the top 25 in January and February. Fans stood by because we were still competitive, recruited well, and also you never knew when it would be our last time seeing Boeheim on the sideline. Each year, interest continued to fade. Now we are at a point where the majority of the fan base is the “I guess I root for Syracuse, maybe we’ll go to the game, who’s on the team, who coaches?” “I remember”. We used to have a majority of our fan base engaged, went to all games that were in driving distance if we were not in Syracuse, and followed the team and knew all the players. The fact that we still draw crowds that can fill a good portion of the lower level for games shows just how big we were. Our recent seasons are rebuilding seasons on top of rebuilding seasons. The majority of the fan base isn’t in denial, they’re just not engaged even close to the levels they used to be.

People have moved from anger to apathy. I’ve skipped more games since I was in High School and I’m 40.

 

[sufan59]

People have moved from anger to apathy. I’ve skipped more games since I was in High School and I’m 40.

Yeah I also believe in the concept of fan influencers as well. These are your very engaged fans who rallied the crew to go to the game. First, the crew gets smaller, then the crew is nonexistent, and then the very engaged fan become less engaged and starts skipping the week night game or deprioritize going to the weekend games. Even JB doesn’t go to games lol. We know he is genuinely obsessed with the sport. I don’t buy the giving some space excuse as the reasoning he doesn’t go. I think if everything was under control, he would be there whenever he was in town. Probably doesn’t want to deal with disgruntled fans at the most emotional state in the heat of the game. So if he isn’t even going I don’t blame other fans for not being there. If we become good again and the disgruntled fans are the small minority again then I think he’ll be back as he should because I genuinely think he loves being around the sport. Why do you think he does ACCN games once a week.

 

[Guy Fawkes]

Why do you think he does ACCN games once a week.

1. Food
2. Networking for his Foundation
3. Loves golfing
4. Loves basketball

 

[Zelda Zonk]

When his new ACC team rolls into the dome he will indeed be back at SU next year

Tough spot for him. If he leaves because he wants to play on a better team, i can imagine him ending up as a 7th or 8th man. If he stays, he'll be a featured starter. He's going to need faith and money. I hope both come because he and boosters will have greater confidence in a new coach. But, i'm not hanging my hat on either.

 

[JKinPhilly]

1. Food
2. Networking for his Foundation
3. Loves golfing
4. Loves basketball

5) Juli makes him leave the house

 

[RF2044]

Bingo which is why it's nothing but crazy talk about firing Red after this season

So dumb.

The talk is based upon merit-related considerations. It isn't "crazy" at all, given that Red's performance has been generally quite poor.

He will probably get a third year. That's what seems crazy.

 

[Red2003]

I think a randomly generated team with our incoming freshman and 2 mil or whatever NIL for vet transfer newcomers is probably better than trying to bid anyone back.

I’m with you. Im not going to hammer Donnie as much as you maybe are but there were some serious flaws, mainly sleeping on defense. I liked his rebounding though.

A few mil in payroll spent on 3-4 of the right guys can wipe the stink away on the 3-4 guys this year that didn’t do what they should have.

 

[tptcuse]

Tough spot for him. If he leaves because he wants to play on a better team, i can imagine him ending up as a 7th or 8th man. If he stays, he'll be a featured starter. He's going to need faith and money. I hope both come because he and boosters will have greater confidence in a new coach. But, i'm not hanging my hat on either.

Donnie is a starter on almost any team. We don't give him enough credit here.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

We’ve had 5000 people attend games this year and go after local media for treating Red with kid gloves. The fans are not in denial.

They were for the past 5+ years of JB’s tenure.

 

[Sbucketball]

Donnie is a starter on almost any team. We don't give him enough credit here.

First legitimate NBA talent in a while and people want to chase him off after half a season. Part of succeeding in this new era is getting guys like Donnie to play here more than one year. He should be a top off-season priority.

 

[Scooch]

“For his future”…..wow. I’d expect Red to say, “it was best to get him ready for next season”.

I don’t think it could be more blunt than that.

That phrasing stood out to me as well.

I hope he comes back. We need all the good players we can get, and Freeman is a good player.

But I don't think anything is assured right now.

 

[Fly Rodder]

First legitimate NBA talent in a while and people want to chase him off after half a season.

I only have a hard time seeing how he would fit in. As an offensive contributor and rebounder, sure, but he has to get much better at defense in general. Grant was defender first and then the 4th or 5th scoring option. With Sadiq here, and starting, that means one of them needs to be a SF scoring wing, which Donnie could probably do, but then he needs to be able to guard a smaller quicker SF and SG. None of this is in a vacuum either. Having a few subpar or mediocre defenders on the court with a work in progress defensive scheme makes individual efforts much more important.

People want the team to be better but keep the best parts of the current team that is not good - I don't know that is sustainable. Also, too, I've thought Donnie has been gone since January. So it's moot anyway.

 

[sufan59]

First legitimate NBA talent in a while and people want to chase him off after half a season. Part of succeeding in this new era is getting guys like Donnie to play here more than one year. He should be a top off-season priority.

His freshmen season although a different position and was cut short reminded me of Michael Carter-Williams. You can see the potential, but the consistency wasn’t there yet. MCW also had guys ahead of him which limited his minutes. He had his issues and lapses on defense, shots rimming out that were halfway down, and a little tentative around the basket at times. However, he still put up numbers as a freshmen. If he decides to go pro and gets drafted off potential so be it. But there is a reason he was our most highly rated prospect out of High School since Melo.

 

[AZOrange]

That phrasing stood out to me as well.

I hope he comes back. We need all the good players we can get, and Freeman is a good player.

But I don't think anything is assured right now.

He’s extremely tight with Straughn.

 

[sufan59]

I only have a hard time seeing how he would fit in. As an offensive contributor and rebounder, sure, but he has to get much better at defense in general. Grant was defender first and then the 4th or 5th scoring option. With Sadiq here, and starting, that means one of them needs to be a SF scoring wing, which Donnie could probably do, but then he needs to be able to guard a smaller quicker SF and SG. None of this is in a vacuum either. Having a few subpar or mediocre defenders on the court with a work in progress defensive scheme makes individual efforts much more important.

People want the team to be better but keep the best parts of the current team that is not good - I don't know that is sustainable. Also, too, I've thought Donnie has been gone since January. So it's moot anyway.

I’m in the camp of retaining as many guys from the current roster as we can. Unless we make a coaching change which is not looking to happen at this point, so I’m thinking of what would set us up best for success with Autry. As long as Autry is the coach, I don’t think a third year of mostly new guys is a recipe of success for him. We will still need to get some portal players with the 1 year transfers running out of eligibility. But I don’t think another season of major roster turnover by choice is a good idea with a head coach who is still developing as a coach as well.

 

[Scooch]

He’s extremely tight with Straughn.

Who's the "he"? Freeman?

 

[Hopkins16]

His freshmen season although a different position and was cut short reminded me of Michael Carter-Williams. You can see the potential, but the consistency wasn’t there yet. MCW also had guys ahead of him which limited his minutes. He had his issues and lapses on defense, shots rimming out that were halfway down, and a little tentative around the basket at times. However, he still put up numbers as a freshmen. If he decides to go pro and gets drafted off potential so be it. But there is a reason he was our most highly rated prospect out of High School since Melo.

His defensive issues could have been because of his injured foot. It is difficult playing offense and defense with an injured foot/leg, but more so on defense. Also when injured, one is naturally tentative.

 

[Red2003]

He’s extremely tight with Straughn.

Aren't they all though , No offense but they all are until they aren't.

 

[Sbucketball]

I only have a hard time seeing how he would fit in. As an offensive contributor and rebounder, sure, but he has to get much better at defense in general. Grant was defender first and then the 4th or 5th scoring option. With Sadiq here, and starting, that means one of them needs to be a SF scoring wing, which Donnie could probably do, but then he needs to be able to guard a smaller quicker SF and SG. None of this is in a vacuum either. Having a few subpar or mediocre defenders on the court with a work in progress defensive scheme makes individual efforts much more important.

People want the team to be better but keep the best parts of the current team that is not good - I don't know that is sustainable. Also, too, I've thought Donnie has been gone since January. So it's moot anyway.

I agree. I posted about we'll have a flawed roster if we're starting Freeman/Sadiq at the 3/4 and maybe even more with JJ at the 2; that if we're serious we have Sadiq play 20 minutes off the bench; and I also want to see a lineup of Sadiq/Donnie at the 4/5 and with 3 guards depending on matchups. We need better shooting.

But I think Donnie is better than Sadiq so I would hate if we don't try hard to keep Donnie just because Sadiq's coming. We need huge improvement next year and I'm afraid replacing Donnie with Sadiq isn't a great start (disclaimer - I'm hyped about Sadiq and he's a great recruit).

 

[Hopkins16]

Understand him leaving to another school, yes. Would be very disappointed, also yes. Have we lost guys to other schools that we wanted to keep that we got out of High School, yes. But Autry needs to reverse this trend. As you mentioned, a stable program. Keeping our eligible guys, is a start to stabilizing. I think Autry’s best path to success is keeping roster turnover as limited as possible. We saw last November with a very new roster that we simply couldn’t get the team ready and prepared for the season. Understand the NIL world is different, we can’t be surprised to lose guys to the portal. But we got to keep turnover as limited as possible for the near term with Autry as coach. He needs continuity with his players to get better and more comfortable as a new head coach.

I agree that the first order of business is to limit the turnover by being able to bring back certain players. Freeman, Moore and Petar must return. That would be a great start for Red. Bell and Cuffe need a fresh start elsewhere so I would understand if they decided to move on. But, if somehow Bell stays, with a better cast and a legitimate point guard in the fold, he should improve. Offensively.

It’s been repeated many times on this board that with the season already lost, Moore and Petar need to play a lot more to give them incentive to return and to get game experience. There is no reason why they both shouldn’t be playing 30 minutes a game.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I only have a hard time seeing how he would fit in. As an offensive contributor and rebounder, sure, but he has to get much better at defense in general. Grant was defender first and then the 4th or 5th scoring option. With Sadiq here, and starting, that means one of them needs to be a SF scoring wing, which Donnie could probably do, but then he needs to be able to guard a smaller quicker SF and SG. None of this is in a vacuum either. Having a few subpar or mediocre defenders on the court with a work in progress defensive scheme makes individual efforts much more important.

People want the team to be better but keep the best parts of the current team that is not good - I don't know that is sustainable. Also, too, I've thought Donnie has been gone since January. So it's moot anyway.

I'm talking myself in to Freeman as a 5.

 

[Fly Rodder]

We need huge improvement next year

Yup it's a long way from 120-ish in KP just to get into the 30s(safely in)/40s (bubble area) in one season. And that is even tougher if it's the same HC and 40-60% of that team. I understand people not wanting wholesale roster turnover, but that's the reality of NIL era combined with significantly flawed roster. I wouldn't keep anyone. Take the opportunity to rebuild with a fresh perspective. However, the fact that they're looking at players like that kid from Jax St is a giant red flag IMO.

 

[Fly Rodder]

I'm talking myself in to Freeman as a 5.

I'm probably more OK with that than him playing SF. But, again, I think it is very low probability that Freeman returns.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'm probably more OK with that than him playing SF. But, again, I think it is very low probability that Freeman returns.

 

[Hopkins16]

Just one example of an embarrassment of riches at one position that some teams have year in and year out, yet we are perplexed when we are blessed to finally have an opportunity to potentially have two 5 star forwards (Freeman and White) who are somewhat similar in style of play and believe that one has to go. Yet we wonder why we are cellar dwellers.
UK forwards 2017 - 2018: PJ Washington, Jarred Vanderbilt, Kevin Knox, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Wenyen Gabriel.