Donnie Freeman injures foot

[Cstate]

Sure. But Donnie is a different type of player. He has offensive skills and can actually shoot 3s.

Offensive skills absolutely, I would argue from the mid-range. Not so much from 3 though. Let’s remember he was brick city from three (to the point where even on this board people said please stop shooting 3’s!) before going 4-4 against UAlbany. Not exactly a defensive powerhouse team.

 

[phil77]

100 percent. I have no doubt JJ will be back and leading the team. We gotta get a good center, a high level PG and a big scoring wing/SF from the portal.

I am pretty sure we wont have the money for JJ - White - Freeman - High Level PG - Good Center - A big scoring Wing from the portal.

 

[grepal]

He does Donnie fit with Sadiq? They’re both the same size - neither could really shoot or handle the ball. Donnie is definitely someone who can make 3s but the consistency isn’t there yet. Plus you’d still need a big on the floor because I don’t think either are playing the 5.

Defensively I think it would work

Donnie the three, Sadiq the 4. Pair those two with JJ, Luke, Chopa, Kiyan and get us a 7 ft center with long arms and we can play man and zone, have shot blocking and rebounding. Donnie and the guards make enough threes
.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I've given this thought and I feel like bubble will be our ceiling next year with the starters were probably penciling in, including if Donnie returns and we start Donnie/Sadiq/JJ. If this program wants to contend again, keep and start Freeman with Sadiq getting 20 minutes off the bench and a stud starter SF from the portal. Elite PG, and a solid center. Kiyan, Moore and Fennell off the bench, among others. But, Sadiq isn't coming here to play off the bench, so I don't see it - we're either losing Donnie which hurts badly or we're playing a very strange combo of Sadiq/Donnie at forward which might not fit well. If we're starting Fennell/JJ/Freeman/Sadiq/portal, while I like the pieces I'll feel like we're just killing time.

A bubble team at best should be a fireable offense.

 

[Scooch]

A bubble team at best should be a fireable offense.

Well, if we don’t make the tourney next season Autry should be fired. There’s no more excuses if that’s the outcome.

 

[Newhouser]

The X factor for players coming/staying here next year (other than an improbable coaching change) is whether they will embrace the idea of being part of the Anthony hype machine or avoid it. I lean towards the first. If they play well, there will be instant recognition and social media presence.

The Anthony hype machine dies quick if he's mediocre and we stink again.

 

[Oakland]

And it’s buffoons like you why we don’t like sharing 95 pct of the info we actually know. God forbid the people that are close to the program and actually attend practice are positive from what they saw. How dare we!

I agree with your post.

However, one of the problems with the board is that X number of posters try to present themselves as insiders and they ain't. Then they say things and others think this is inside info and start to repeat it. Like propaganda, after it gets repeated enough times, without push back, it becomes fact to many. Personally, I have some idea of who are the real insiders are but I don't know about many supposed insiders.

A similar thing happens with opinions of players, etc., but that is another issue.

 

[grepal]

I agree with your post.

However, one of the problems with the board is that X number of posters try to present themselves as insiders and they ain't. Then they say things and others think this is inside info and start to repeat it. Like propaganda, after it gets repeated enough times, without push back, it becomes fact to many. Personally, I have some idea of who are the real insiders are but I don't know about many supposed insiders.

A similar thing happens with opinions of players, etc., but that is another issue.

Much better if the posters simply say in my opinion. They get to vent or pontificate but their word is not taken as gospel.

 

[phil77]

Much better if the posters simply say in my opinion. They get to vent or pontificate but their word is not taken as gospel.

If I am not 100% sure whether someone is an insider or not then I assume everything I read on here is someone's opinion. That is what a message board is for people to post their opinions.

 

[grepal]

If I am not 100% sure whether someone is an insider or not then I assume everything I read on here is someone's opinion. That is what a message board is for people to post their opinions.

Historically we have been fortunate to have a few posters with legitimate first hand knowledge of the truth. If they posted a fact it usually happened. The rest of us need a place to try and sound smart.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Well, if we don’t make the tourney next season Autry should be fired. There’s no more excuses if that’s the outcome.

That should be the outcome, but it sure seems like some are posting a bubble team as an acceptable outcome next year.

 

[Newhouser]

If I am not 100% sure whether someone is an insider or not then I assume everything I read on here is someone's opinion. That is what a message board is for people to post their opinions.

Exactly - if we really want to be fair all of us should preface every post with "in my opinion", especially when discussing tactics and game day stuff.

 

[Sbucketball]

A bubble team at best should be a fireable offense.

I agree. I don't see us doing better, and I'm expecting Red to eventually get fired. Hope I'm wrong. But that's my expectation. Feels like we're just killing time.

 

[721Comstock]

I agree. I don't see us doing better, and I'm expecting Red to eventually get fired. Hope I'm wrong. But that's my expectation. Feels like we're just killing time.

Yup, this.

Kiyan is a nice player, but he’s not remotely the generational talent his dad was.
Which is fine.

But - people expecting that somehow we’re gonna magically be a lot better next year, are delusional.

Sadiq is an elite physical talent, but much like Jerami Grant, he’s still very raw.
Jerami was a fantastic piece of some great teams for us, but again -
not somebody who is the focus you build a team around.
(Much like Donnie this year.)

Now, maybe guys like Donnie and Sadiq develop like Jerami did -
But the vast majority of that happened in the NBA, which doesn’t really help the current squad at all.
Except for a brief sojourn on Waiters Island, Jerami has been our best NBA player since Melo.

There’s (sadly) a greater chance that one or both of them are our next CMac.

Fennell is another nice player, but I for one am wildly uncomfortable handing the keys to a PG with zero P4 experience.
See: Carlos, Jaquan.

Red’s ONLY chance to not suck again next season, is to have boosters pony up whatever it takes to get him one of the top portal PG’s to run the show.

He/we made the mistake of breaking the bank on a C, and then having to shop the bargain bin for a PG.
They absolutely must prioritize a top PG portal player.
Period. Full stop.

 

[Sbucketball]

Yup, this.

Kiyan is a nice player, but he’s not remotely the generational talent his dad was.
Which is fine.

But - people expecting that somehow we’re gonna magically be a lot better next year, are delusional.

Sadiq is an elite physical talent, but much like Jerami Grant, he’s still very raw.
Jerami was a fantastic piece of some great teams for us, but again -
not somebody who is the focus you build a team around.
(Much like Donnie this year.)

Now, maybe guys like Donnie and Sadiq develop like Jerami did -
But the vast majority of that happened in the NBA, which doesn’t really help the current squad at all.
Except for a brief sojourn on Waiters Island, Jerami has been our best NBA player since Melo.

There’s (sadly) a greater chance that one or both of them are our next CMac.

Fennell is another nice player, but I for one am wildly uncomfortable handing the keys to a PG with zero P4 experience.
See: Carlos, Jaquan.

Red’s ONLY chance to not suck again next season, is to have boosters pony up whatever it takes to get him one of the top portal PG’s to run the show.

He/we made the mistake of breaking the bank on a C, and then having to shop the bargain bin for a PG.
They absolutely must prioritize a top PG portal player.
Period. Full stop.

I agree with everything you said.

Kiyan and Sadiq would come off the bench on this year's team -- they will not turn the ship around next year.

Unfortunately, Bulldog has reported that Red plans to spend $1m on a center next year. Maybe that means he's counting on Fennell. I - like you - am wildly uncomfortable with that.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I agree with everything you said.

Kiyan and Sadiq would come off the bench on this year's team -- they will not turn the ship around next year.

Unfortunately, Bulldog has reported that Red plans to spend $1m on a center next year. Maybe that means he's counting on Fennell. I - like you - am wildly uncomfortable with that.

That’s what Indiana did and they still suck. Bigs don’t win in college. Guards do.

 

[Goin' Deep]

OK...I'm gonna be Susie Sunshine here...
Next year's starting lineup will be Donnie, White, Petar(center) JJ and Cuffe...EVERYBODY is back and EVERYBODY is healthy. Aint life grand!!??
But after this year...what are the chances?
I FEEL(opinion) like one or 2 of Cuffe, Petar or Donnie will hit the road based on what they have seen the past (current) season.
You play like you practice(an oldie but a goodie). We don't see guys getting back on D, we do see guys standing around on O. In many games we're down 10 pts(or more) 6 minutes into the first half...not ready to play...lack of intensity.
If you don't have a bunch of "shooters"/scorers", you better hustle and a version of shut down D HAS to be a goal.
MAybe Kline will breathe some life into this program...somehow.
But the current staff has shown no ability to put a winning team on the court.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

I agree with everything you said.

Kiyan and Sadiq would come off the bench on this year's team -- they will not turn the ship around next year.

Unfortunately, Bulldog has reported that Red plans to spend $1m on a center next year. Maybe that means he's counting on Fennell. I - like you - am wildly uncomfortable with that.

You really think they would come off the bench behind Taylor and Moore?! I disagree. Either would be a huge addition to this years team.

 

[Newhouser]

Fennell is the key to the team. IF he can play we eliminate a lot of angst and can remove dead weight in the backcourt who have proven they aren't taking us anywhere.

 

[cusefan88]

Would be great to get a center who can stretch the floor. Was really impressed with Reynaud from Stanford who in most other years would be ACC POY.

 

[kcsu]

I believe that Fennel will start from Day 1
JJ at the 2
Donnie at the 3
Sad at the 4
Portal 5

 

[Cappy3]

That’s what Indiana did and they still suck. Bigs don’t win in college. Guards do.

But the question is how many guards do you need? We have at least 5 if everyone comes back, and zero centers.

 

[dasher]

I am pretty sure we wont have the money for JJ - White - Freeman - High Level PG - Good Center - A big scoring Wing from the portal.

I don't know how you would be pretty sure about that

 

[phil77]

I believe that Fennel will start from Day 1
JJ at the 2
Donnie at the 3
Sad at the 4
Portal 5

- Starting 2 Freshman isnt great unless they are Flagg
-Wing Defense between JJ and Freeman will be awful
-Outside shooting between JJ - Freeman - White will be awful

That lineup has lots of issues

 

[Scooch]

That should be the outcome, but it sure seems like some are posting a bubble team as an acceptable outcome next year.

Oh, I'm sure we'd get a bunch of excuse-making that we're headed in the right direction, and NIL still is big problem, and it's cold in CNY so who really wants to come here anyway, and there was that guy who committed but backed out and now he's playing 14 minutes a game at East North Mid-America State and he would have made all the difference, etc.

To me, nothing is "acceptable" outside of a tourney appearance. I'm not saying you fire a coach any season he doesn't make it. Just that, at Syracuse, it's not "acceptable" if you don't.

But hey, we're about to be on year 4 of missing the tourney. Some folks have gotten so used to it, and so bought in to what Red sold them, that they don't really care anymore.