Expectations in Year 1

[Stevenson]

Undefeated National Champion

 

[JSCuse]

If the roster budget is 12-13 million, then a top 5 ACC finish and NCAAT berth.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. UConn was prepared and saw success when opportunity presented itself. Syracuse has been consistently unprepared for a decade. Even if there was an opportunity, there was no way to take advantage of it. And even if GMac is an “opportunity” - we’re not going to take advantage of it if “more competitive than the 2026 trainwreck” is the bar decision-makers have set.

I think some of the low bar setting is because of how adamant some here were that GMac was “the guy”. Now that the folks that are convinced we should never, ever consider a coach that didn’t play at Syracuse carried the day - the focus has shifted to setting the bar for “success” in year one as low as possible. It’s just a continuation of the loser mentality within the fanbase and administration that has infected Syracuse for years. Losers talk about how winners got lucky while setting their own bar for success as low as possible.

If we don’t make the NCAA tournament in year one, hiring GMac is well on the way to being a massive failure. Period, end of story.

There's a difference between believing that GMac is "the guy" and the new coach having to be from the family. I have always believed GMac is "the guy" but it he wasn't hired I was not in the camp that whoever is hired has to be from the family. It is unfair to equate the two.

 

[miamicuse]

Expectations on year 1? We talked about that!!!

Energy level ratcheted to 7! Urinal breaking energy,!

Minimum games on the Clock Wise channel!

But seriously, I want to see:

Top 4 seeds in the ACC tournament.

Solidly in the NCAA tournament with an at large bid, no bubbles no first four.

Playing meaningful games in January.

Makes progress as a team as the season progresses, no regression and quitting.

 

[sugrad68]

We do not know a single player who will be on the roster when the fall semester begins. I am hoping GMac can keep certain players and hit the portal hard since we have no Freshman recruits coming in.

 

[Cusefan95]

There's a difference between believing that GMac is "the guy" and the new coach having to be from the family. I have always believed GMac is "the guy" but it he wasn't hired I was not in the camp that whoever is hired has to be from the family. It is unfair to equate the two.

It was unfair for some of the pro-GMac crowd to claim the ONLY reason people didn’t want him was because they wanted an outsider hired. But there were at least three or four clowns pushing that narrative here. I’m fine with pushing the counter-narrative and saying the only reason you wanted GMac was you insisted on a family hire. I don’t really care if that bothers you.

I’m more annoyed that some members of the GMac only crew are now setting the bar at anything less than the NCAA tournament. “Competitive” or “Bubble at minimum” qualify as a low standard. I don’t remotely care about any excuses - if GMac doesn’t make the tourney, the season is a failure. The idea that GMac absolutely had to be the guy if NIT or .500 is “success” is mind boggling to me - and it shows the real issue was that my narrative was -for some here - absolutely correct. They’d rather lose with GMac coaching than win with an outsider hired hire. It’s pathetic.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

We do not know a single player who will be on the roster when the fall semester begins. I am hoping GMac can keep certain players and hit the portal hard since we have no Freshman recruits coming in.

Lobdell will definitely be on the roster.

 

[Orangezoo]

It was unfair for some of the pro-GMac crowd to claim the ONLY reason people didn’t want him was because they wanted an outsider hired. But there were at least three or four clowns pushing that narrative here. I’m fine with pushing the counter-narrative and saying the only reason you wanted GMac was you insisted on a family hire. I don’t really care if that bothers you.

I’m more annoyed that some members of the GMac only crew are now setting the bar at anything less than the NCAA tournament. “Competitive” or “Bubble at minimum” qualify as a low standard. I don’t remotely care about any excuses - if GMac doesn’t make the tourney, the season is a failure. The idea that GMac absolutely had to be the guy if NIT or .500 is “success” is mind boggling to me - and it shows the real issue was that my narrative was -for some here - absolutely correct. They’d rather lose with GMac coaching than win with an outsider hired hire. It’s pathetic.

Take that handful of people that have upset you so much and ignore them. It’s far easier to ignore than let a small group get under your skin. Unless this is a passive aggressive way to be angry at anyone who expresses some optimism at the hire and looking at those with zero tolerance I don’t get bothering yourself so emphatically with the unique opinion of a few.

 

[FloridaCuse]

It was unfair for some of the pro-GMac crowd to claim the ONLY reason people didn’t want him was because they wanted an outsider hired. But there were at least three or four clowns pushing that narrative here. I’m fine with pushing the counter-narrative and saying the only reason you wanted GMac was you insisted on a family hire. I don’t really care if that bothers you.

I’m more annoyed that some members of the GMac only crew are now setting the bar at anything less than the NCAA tournament. “Competitive” or “Bubble at minimum” qualify as a low standard. I don’t remotely care about any excuses - if GMac doesn’t make the tourney, the season is a failure. The idea that GMac absolutely had to be the guy if NIT or .500 is “success” is mind boggling to me - and it shows the real issue was that my narrative was -for some here - absolutely correct. They’d rather lose with GMac coaching than win with an outsider hired hire. It’s pathetic.

To be clear -- I didn't want only GMac because he was family. I wanted GMac because I think he was the best person out there. My point is I think it is incorrect to say that people who wanted GMac did so only because he was family.

 

[Bulldog04]

There were 2100 people at the ceremony today. The support is there. If he does any sort of winning in year 1, look out year 2. Hoping this works bc you can see what it means to him

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think he will be successful. For the first time in a long time it appears everyone is moving in the same direction.

 

[Orangezoo]

There were 2100 people at the ceremony today. The support is there. If he does any sort of winning in year 1, look out year 2. Hoping this works bc you can see what it means to him

Max out the staff, get the roster right with new, existing and Siena additions and then pair that with a hard working summer for all and then walking into every single game over prepared and we should see success right out of the gate.

While it means nothing about next year specifically, how he handled questions around Red was perfection. He kept it short but extremely respectful without at all getting into anything specific.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Maybe- he shot 38 pct the year prior and 35 pct as a freshman. Oregon just had an awful year this year it appears. He wouldn’t be my top option that’s for sure…also he’s from Oregon so not sure if he would want to move opposite coast for his final year.

I saw he only played 12 games. I imagine he was hurt. Hope that doesn't account for his bad year from three, because we've seen that movie before.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Especially a kid who could not have more support and push behind him to improve after a hard finish to his first year. I don’t want to put any expectations on Kiyan but I think he will put the work in and be much improved.

His judgment was awful the last half of the year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think he will be successful. For the first time in a long time it appears everyone is moving in the same direction.

They threw the kitchen sink behind Autry last year,