ever the contrarian

[moqui]

I have not been in love with this team all season long, and I am still not ready to climb on the bandwagon, but unlike so many of you, I actually saw something extremely positive last night:

Fab's development will be the single most important factor in determining how far Syracuse will go this post season, and last night's game was a huge step for him.

First of all, 39 minutes is a career high for him and a tremendous increase over his previous high (32 vs. Stanford), especially given that he got in early foul trouble but it never got serious from that point on, even though he remained aggressive. Great sign. There are going to be more games like this in the weeks ahead, and the team will need Fab on the court more and more.

I thought I noticed before the suspension that JB was trying to run more and more plays for Fab to develop his offense for the stretch run. I want him to become a reliable double digit scorer down low. I think this started at the Providence game. It is hard to tell just from the box score because that game was a blow out and he played limited minutes, but it looked to me like going to Fab early was part of the game plan.

Anyway, his last 4 games are now:
FGM/FGA PTS REB BL MIN
5/8 11 7 6 39
5/6 14 3 2 21
4/8 10 10 6 29
2/4 4 5 4 19

Totals
16/26 39 25 18

that's just about 10 pts per game on .615 shooting; about 6 boards per contest and 4 .5 blocks per game.

that's not to far off from what Arinze gave the 2010 team (with the exception of the blocks)

the difference is that 5th year senior Arinze was a finished project at this point in his career, while Fab is still on an upward trajectory.

 

[iommi]

I have not been in love with this team all season long, and I am still not ready to climb on the bandwagon, but unlike so many of you, I actually saw something extremely positive last night:

Fab's development will be the single most important factor in determining how far Syracuse will go this post season, and last night's game was a huge step for him.

First of all, 39 minutes is a career high for him and a tremendous increase over his previous high (32 vs. Stanford), especially given that he got in early foul trouble but it never got serious from that point on, even though he remained aggressive. Great sign. There are going to be more games like this in the weeks ahead, and the team will need Fab on the court more and more.

I thought I noticed before the suspension that JB was trying to run more and more plays for Fab to develop his offense for the stretch run. I want him to become a reliable double digit scorer down low. I think this started at the Providence game. It is hard to tell just from the box score because that game was a blow out and he played limited minutes, but it looked to me like going to Fab early was part of the game plan.

Anyway, his last 4 games are now:
FGM/FGA PTS REB BL MIN
5/8 11 7 6 39
5/6 14 3 2 21
4/8 10 10 6 29
2/4 4 5 4 19

Totals
16/26 39 25 18

that's just about 10 pts per game on .615 shooting; about 6 boards per contest and 4 .5 blocks per game.

that's not to far off from what Arinze gave the 2010 team (with the exception of the blocks)

the difference is that 5th year senior Arinze was a finished project at this point in his career, while Fab is still on an upward trajectory.

Good post. I'll add that his up and under move was one of his best. He's still an unpolished gem but he does show flashes. His position defense has improved as well. Only thing he could do better is moving his feet on the blocks defensively when an opposing big puts the ball on the floor.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

If Fab could ever learn to time his jumps right, he would get at least 3 more rebounds per game. He jumps too early way too often off missed shots. I imagine by the time he learns this, he will be playing for pay buried somewhere on the Milwaukee Bucks bench.

 

[HoustonCuse]

They seemed to go to Fab coming out of every timeout last night. Not sure if Jimmy has to remind them to go to him or what. Although if you remember back to the Craig Forth days, they almost always went to him on the very first play of the game and the very first play of the second half, but never again - clearly part of some sort of plan/strategy to go to him on those first plays, not sure about why it was almost never done outside of those periods. It is one of those JB mysteries.

 

[jimsonjunction]

Just posted in another thread, but it seems more appropriate here.

Last night, Fab held Sims to 1-12 from the floor for 6 points. He's blocking tons of shots, his offense is constantly improving and the charges are the icing on the cake. And Waiters and others have been quoted saying that he's very vocal on defense...really acting like a floor general on that end. I'd love to see him bang with someone like Sullinger, Robinson or Davis.

 

[moqui]

I don't think he'll come back for his junior year, but if he does, Fab will be among the two or three favorites for Player of the Year.

and, I don't mean just conference POY, either.

 

[otto123]

I don't think he'll come back for his junior year, but if he does, Fab will be among the two or three favorites for Player of the Year.

and, I don't mean just conference POY, either.

Him and Waiters will be Co-Player of the Year

 

[moqui]

Him and Waiters will be Co-Player of the Year

at the top ends of their ceilings, Waiters isn't even in the same ballpark as Fab

 

[realorange]

at the top ends of their ceilings, Waiters isn't even in the same ballpark as Fab

But he is in his mind.

 

[ImperialOrange]

Anyone know how many charges Fab has taken this year? To go along with his positioning for blocks, he does this extremely well. Keeps the offensive player off balance not knowing in Fab is going to go for the block or not and that really effects shot selection as well. Some guys go in expecting contact and when they don't get it they are left off balance.

He blocks a fair amount but he alters almost every shot inside. It's wild to see other teams shy away from the lane, only to go full speed ahead when he is on the bench. Thats alot of the reason the other bigs get in foul trouble as well.

 

[otto123]

at the top ends of their ceilings, Waiters isn't even in the same ballpark as Fab

Who cares, I hope they both stay and win co player of the year. If they both do stay and we get Noels we will have one of the greatest college basketball teams of all-time.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Anyone know how many charges Fab has taken this year? To go along with his positioning for blocks, he does this extremely well. Keeps the offensive player off balance not knowing in Fab is going to go for the block or not and that really effects shot selection as well. Some guys go in expecting contact and when they don't get it they are left off balance.

He blocks a fair amount but he alters almost every shot inside. It's wild to see other teams shy away from the lane, only to go full speed ahead when he is on the bench. Thats alot of the reason the other bigs get in foul trouble as well.

I'm pretty sure it is 18. I read an article that said SU is tracking this in the locker room and he had 17 prior to last night's game. I think he had 1 last night.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

Moqui - good post. Thanks for noticing something positive. I remember a JB comment during Fab's absence about the potential good it was for Rak to get time. JB said not having Fab was not a good thing. Looks like JB has been planning on developing this low post threat for a while.

It would be great to have a mssing piece for this team to come together by tournament time. A post presence, as has been discussed before, has been a big element of most of JBs teams. Great to see progress being made in this area.

Hope JB can keep trying to promote this aspect of O from here on out. I will be keeping an eye out to see if there is a continued effort against Drummond and UConn.

 

[longtimefan]

"Ever the Contrarian"

Wasn't he a 10th century King of the Scots?

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

what obstacle is stopping you from loving this team? rebounding? half court offense? and people were up in arms last season why fab was starting over bmk. its obvious now, besides his conditioning.

mine are two:
1) no guy to go to down on the block who will get his shot or get to the line. I would kill for a Sr. DNic or Hak type guy.
2) no "ahhh s@&t, I can't believe he is open" shooter that defenses have to fear and account for. An Andy Rautins would make us odds on favorite to win it all, IMHO.

 

[orange2win]

Lots of nice things to be said about Fab and his advancement this year, but he is woeful at rebounding, which is a serious issue. He is being out rebounded by a guy who is 4-ins shorter (CJ Fair). He has only had double figures in rebounding once this season. King of blocks is good, it often saves a basket, but we can assume that blocks get captured by the opposition 50% of the time. Rebounds get captured by the opposition 0% of the time.

 

[DNABB5]

Fab's development will be the single most important factor in determining how far Syracuse will go this post season, and last night's game was a huge step for him.

I want him to become a reliable double digit scorer down low.

I have not agreed so vehimently with a statement on here in a while (other that the suckiness of those potomac smellin sweatervester buffy bangers)

Which is why I love my new sig

 

[OrangeMojo]

I don't think he'll come back for his junior year, but if he does, Fab will be among the two or three favorites for Player of the Year.

and, I don't mean just conference POY, either.

that's crazy talk - absolutely no way he'll be one of the top favorites for national player of the year. 1st team in whatever conference they play in - but not national POY - no way