Gerry Staff Predictions…

[sufan59]

Gerry thinks AO is a genius at teaching big men. Really. And he has worked with him. After what we have had for big men coaches, I will happily sign up for that.

Beyond the right hire. Gold standard. Those Siena bigs were good. Now give AO some bigs with a little more size and we are cooking at that position. Arguably the most important position.

 

[721Comstock]

Whoa, your last line, no way.

Arinze had moves. Jackson had a jump hook.

And let himself get pushed out of his spot way too often.

RickJack was Big East DPOY.
2nd team All BE.

Averaged a double-double his Sr year.

Rick was 8th all-time for career rebounds at Cuse.

AO is 17th.

www.orangehoops.org/Syracuse%20Top%20100%20Rebounds.htm

And he also had a LOT more blocks than AO.

That doesn’t sound like a guy who got pushed out of his spot way too often.

 

[shu 49]

I guess I am remembering incorrectly. In my mind, he was limited in terms of his sheer athletic ability. It always struck me as him playing smarter than the opposing center which is why I think he would make a good coach. I am not sure I am disagreeing with anyone here.

I always thought Rick was the non athletic one. Ao was up there in athletic ability compared to who we have had a center.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Ed Orgeron for General Manager. You WILL donate!

...even if you're not sure what he's asking for.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

RickJack was Big East DPOY.
2nd team All BE.

Averaged a double-double his Sr year.

Rick was 8th all-time for career rebounds at Cuse.

AO is 17th.

www.orangehoops.org/Syracuse%20Top%20100%20Rebounds.htm

And he also had a LOT more blocks than AO.

That doesn’t sound like a guy who got pushed out of his spot way too often.

No, but see, he did get pushed out of his spot too often. That actually is a thing that happened in games. It was maddening. On the offensive end on his post ups he didn't fight hard enough to seal his man. He let himself get bumped out regularly. There was a sweet spot when he fought for that spot on the block that he was automatic at. He let himself get pushed even 6-8 inches away from that and he was lost, and he let it happen way too often.

I've been harping on this since 2013! (maybe even before that)

Post in thread 'Dear Rakeem,'

Feb 18, 2013

Maybe you are confusing my posts with someone else? I have pointed out that JBs teams have traditionally looked inside when there IS a reliable scoring threat. Coleman, Siekaly, Wallace, Rick Jackson, Warrick, Otis Hill, AO, and sophomore Fab. The teams Forth played on didn't need him to score inside, nor did he ever show that he was a finisher.

This year's team desperately needs an inside scoring presence. If that guy was on the roster, there is no doubt in mind the ball would be going inside. None.

I will say it again...The problem lies with the skill sets of the bigs, and...

• OttoinGrotto

Also AO was massively under utilized.

Jackson was definitely the better rebounder. I'm not counting that in the "who is more skilled" argument. If I needed a bucket down low and could pick between getting it to AO or Jackson, I'm picking AO every time.

Plus, AO didn't get many NBA minutes but he did get some. Jackson never did.

 

[OrangeinNH]

He was a very effective inside scorer. We were able to throw it into the post and let him work. Rakeem Christmas had a senior year like that and Jesse Edwards last season, but Arinze was likely our most natural back to the basket guy in the last 20 years. Playing zone as a 5 man, he was ok, probably learned a lot about defensive positioning/tactics during his successful pro career.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

So - what exactly do we know about AO as a coach?

And why is he “the one” we want as a “family” hire?

As has been proven hundreds of times across college & pro sports -
The best performing athletes rarely make the best coaches.

Otherwise - why weren’t guys like Jordan and Gretzky GOATs when In coaching/ownership positions?

And FWIW - I think Rick Jackson was actually a more skilled Big than AO was.

AO was not an especially gifted athlete. His smarts and fundamentals were essential to his success. He had to play defense with anticipation and an understanding of what the opponent was trying to do. If he can impart that to his students, they will be better players.

 

[Toga]

Uh, except - he didn’t.

www.orangehoops.org/AOnuaku.htm

148 blocks in 134 games = 1.1 blocks/game.

His best season was 53 swats in 38 games = 1.4 / game.

AO lands at #15 all-time at Cuse for career blocks.
Baye “the Matrix” Keita is just ahead of him.

www.orangehoops.org/Syracuse%20Top%20100%20Blocked%20Shots.htm


While he was absolutely a defensive presence at the 5,
swatting shots wasn’t the main feature of him being so.

He had some Otis Hill in his game. My man Otis

 

[Sherman20]

Gerry thinks AO is a genius at teaching big men. Really. And he has worked with him. After what we have had for big men coaches, I will happily sign up for that.

Great to hear. Arinze was always one of my favorite players from that era. He had such great footwork and worked incredibly hard at developing his game. He seems like he’d be a great big man coach, so hopefully he brings him over from Siena.

 

[llandz]

Just need to point out that AO fell about 2 inches from my foot at MSG Big East Tournament. I kept telling him to get up. He was fine. But he wasn't. Obviously I was sitting in the first row. That is my AO story and claim to fame.

 

[tptcuse]

I always thought Rick was the non athletic one. Ao was up there in athletic ability compared to who we have had a center.

I think it is the other way around. I'd have to rewatch old games. My only point was I think AO would be a great hire and I am far from an "inside the family" fan this time around.

 

[Sherman20]

Whoa, your last line, no way.

Arinze had moves. Jackson had a jump hook.

And let himself get pushed out of his spot way too often.

Arinze was one of the most skilled big men who’s played for SU in the past 20 years. During our magical 2009-2010 season, I remember Pitino saying after the Louisville game that he told AO that no one could stop him once he got the ball down low. He was automatic once he got position. That team would’ve won a title if he hadn’t gotten injured.

 

[djorange1989]

Arinze was one of the most skilled big men who’s played for SU in the past 20 years. During our magical 2009-2010 season, I remember Pitino saying that he told AO that no one could stop him once he got the ball down low. That team would’ve won a title if he hadn’t gotten injured.

Yep that was our best team in terms of playing like a cohesive unit. And 2010 did not have any juggernaut teams, we were the best team in the country

 

[Cheriehoop]

No more arguing . We were lucky to have both. They started most games for 2 years together, which altered each player’s role but made them both a very formidable and awesome duo in our frontcourt. Rick’s role changed after AO’s graduation in his own last year becoming the center (from power forward) and followed JB’s plea to improve his stamina and lose weight because the team would need much more from him after the heavy loss of Wes, AO and Andy from the 09-10 team. He came through for the team especially considering the condition that Fab Melo was in his freshman year. Rick became a bigger offensive target and a necessary rebounding leader for that team.

AO was a more efficient shooter averaging .648 fg% for his career at SU while Rick was a more versatile shooter and slightly better rebounder mainly boosted by his senior year after AO was gone. Rick was really focused on his left being left handed, They were a great complimentary duo for 3 years. Both of them were bad free throw shooters with Rick having the slight edge.

 

[Toga]

Just need to point out that AO fell about 2 inches from my foot at MSG Big East Tournament. I kept telling him to get up. He was fine. But he wasn't. Obviously I was sitting in the first row. That is my AO story and claim to fame.

And didn't even offer to give him one of your legs. Sad.

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

Just need to point out that AO fell about 2 inches from my foot at MSG Big East Tournament. I kept telling him to get up. He was fine. But he wasn't. Obviously I was sitting in the first row. That is my AO story and claim to fame.

 

[llandz]

If only. NC year!!!

 

[Brooky03]

I always thought Rick was the non athletic one. Ao was up there in athletic ability compared to who we have had a center.

Jackson played PF for a while. AO could never play a minute at PF.

Listen, I love AO. If he didn’t get hurt, we have a second banner and probably beat that Duke team by 15 on a bad night. But AO was not particularly mobile. He was powerful, he could throw his weight around. I never thought of him as athletic, though.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

So - what exactly do we know about AO as a coach?

And why is he “the one” we want as a “family” hire?

As has been proven hundreds of times across college & pro sports -
The best performing athletes rarely make the best coaches.

Otherwise - why weren’t guys like Jordan and Gretzky GOATs when In coaching/ownership positions?

And FWIW - I think Rick Jackson was actually a more skilled Big than AO was.

AO was absolutely more skilled than Rick. AO was a master on the block.

 

[orangepassion]

Would love our GM to have some international connections. Most of this year’s best teams had a good Euro or two

 

[bnoro]

RickJack was Big East DPOY.
2nd team All BE.

Averaged a double-double his Sr year.

Rick was 8th all-time for career rebounds at Cuse.

AO is 17th.

www.orangehoops.org/Syracuse%20Top%20100%20Rebounds.htm

And he also had a LOT more blocks than AO.

That doesn’t sound like a guy who got pushed out of his spot way too often.

I believe that Rick got so good because he had AO showing him the ropes. Was a huge fan of both players, kind of surprised at the arguments going on here.

 

[hoopsupstate]

AO was absolutely more skilled than Rick. AO was a master on the block.

AO had great footwork.

 

[rocklloyd]

Uh, except - he didn’t.

www.orangehoops.org/AOnuaku.htm

148 blocks in 134 games = 1.1 blocks/game.

His best season was 53 swats in 38 games = 1.4 / game.

AO lands at #15 all-time at Cuse for career blocks.
Baye “the Matrix” Keita is just ahead of him.

www.orangehoops.org/Syracuse%20Top%20100%20Blocked%20Shots.htm


While he was absolutely a defensive presence at the 5,
swatting shots wasn’t the main feature of him being so.

I’m not sold on AO. I desperately want to be wrong.

 

[Scotch]

Okay, I just checked. I wasn't completely imagining it.

In his last season, he had several games with multiple blocks, including 6 against UConn, 4 against Providence, and 3 against Villanova towards the end of the season.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/arinze-onuaku-1/gamelog/2010

Same in 2008-2009, with several games with three or four blocks.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/arinze-onuaku-1/gamelog/2009

He wasn’t a prolific shot blocker.

 

[PeteCalvin]

I'm just getting told this now. I feel blindsighted.

Don’t worry, Dash. He’s probably a Yankee fan, and you no how they can be. As a Mets fan, you would have been my first call.