Houston Postgame

[IthacaMatt]

Although I am not a believer in moral victories, I have to think that these guys proved something to themselves.

They didn't play well on offense, they were without their leading scorer and they missed 20 free throws. And they still took a team from last year's championship game to OT in November in our first game against a tough opponent.

 

[JustPherU]

Last 49

I forgot covid year so it’s 48

 

[bballbeadle]

He’s in Florida, I believe so probably not.

I could have sworn I saw him coming down the steps on TV.

 

[Blanko97]

And JJ has become a really good defender for those who haven’t noticed and I’m the biggest JJ naysayer there is. Kingz has to start shooting it better and when he does, look out. This team has a lot of pieces and intensity and heart.

Kingz really needs to be at least 40%, the team is missing a true go to shooter

 

[MGraves5]

And JJ has become a really good defender for those who haven’t noticed and I’m the biggest JJ naysayer there is. Kingz has to start shooting it better and when he does, look out. This team has a lot of pieces and intensity and heart.

Yes JJ has been a real team player this year. Yes Kingz does so many little things, just wish his shots would start falling, I think he needs to go to the hoop more until they do.

 

[OrangeinDC]

if you wanna rely on iso...which is an inferior form of the sport, then yeah...give it a player and tell them to make a play by themselves

ball movement and passing is the way to win in this sport...and I dont get why people think that somehow changes late in the game. it doesnt.

Iso is a part of the game. There are times for it.

 

[CuseTroop]

I think I saw Adam CuseTroop on TV earlier in the game

Yeaaa you mighta saw someone handsome on your tv screen, but sadly it wasn't me. If we were in town, I'd have been there for sure. This new #rvlife has been messing up my SU sports adventures.

Any veterans thinking about swinging in for the next two games, you can get 4 tix for $16/session through vettix.com.

 

[hoopsupstate]

We need to develop a little more consistency on offense. We show signs. Team is still trying to figure things out on offense. I think it will come around.

 

[OrangeinDC]

17 offensive rebounds and 26 points off those rebounds. We know the free throws. Missed a ton of open 3s. They play this hard Tomm and they smoke Kansas. I think they know they can play with anyone now. That will be one of toughest teams they play all year and they outplayed them

And!! We have so many things to "get better", which is what I'm excited about. We're five games in and our ceiling hasn't been defined yet if we make the improvements. If we do what we're supposed to do, I'd hate to play us come Jan.

 

[Scooch]

They'll never admit it, but I bet some of them breathed a sigh of relief when we lost. Being wrong would be worse.

Probably lighting a cigar right now.

Meanwhile, most of us are encouraged but a little sick to our stomachs.

It sure seems that way, which is unfortunate.

I spent all last year ripping Red to shreds. And I don’t regret it, he oversaw an inexcusably horrible 12 months of SU hoops.

But, he addressed a ton of areas of need, and this team is clearly a big step up in talent and energy over the last many years.

I’m rooting like hell for him to succeed. It’s good for all of us.

 

[Orangezoo]

And!! We have so many things to "get better", which is what I'm excited about. We're five games in and our ceiling hasn't been defined yet if we make the improvements. If we do what we're supposed to do, I'd hate to play us come Jan.

The ignorance to the game and what you need to win was on full display on this board tonight. This was a loss yes but it was everything this program hasnt been for a while now.

The staff has to pull the right levers and prepare for a Kansas team that should be a game we can control. The close outs and hedges will be slower and the ball movement slower in response to our defense.

This team just needs that win to keep getting better and more comfortable as well as confident. Tomorrow is as much the season as any game will be for what it means. This group should be ready.

 

[nycfan]

Red coached a great game, coached without a doubt his best game as a head coach.
If the kids shoot 60% ONLY SIXTY PERCENT from the line we win.
I'm not what can be done to improve our FT but other than that we outplayed one of the best teams in the country. A team that has the talent to win it all and we did so without Donnie.

Yes, in fact to take that one step further -- if we had just a bad shooting night at the line and shot just a miserable 58.6% (17-29), we win the game. Just sickening. I sort of feel like we were robbed of one of those all-time fan moments. On that last possession of regulation I had an excited anticipatory feeling that I have not experienced in years. But I love our portal guys -- George and Kingz came in with a lot of fanfare, but I am most surprised with how good Kyle and Betsey are. Best 8-man rotation in years (counting Donnie).

 

[PeteCalvin]

One other thing…our outstanding defensive effort got Chris Cenac benched.

 

[sdhall01]

I think he could take over Monmouth and they’d get worse.

 

[Orangezoo]

One more thing- William Kyle keeps getting better and growing as a player too. He’s far from just an athlete and defender. His role is going to increase as he keeps getting better too which is great considering we will need that minus Donnie

 

[kuethstheman]

And JJ has become a really good defender for those who haven’t noticed and I’m the biggest JJ naysayer there is. Kingz has to start shooting it better and when he does, look out. This team has a lot of pieces and intensity and heart.

I think JJ has improved into the "serviceable" defender category. He hustles and uses his athleticism, which is great, but his instincts still hurt him. He seems to go out of his way to run into picks, though not as often as last year.

I love that he's settled into a role on offense where he doesn't dominate the ball. Makes good passes, and except for one brain fart, takes good shots.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

JJ has definitely improved, but take a moment to watch the footwork of some of the other guys on defense. It was damn impressive tonight.

 

[tptcuse]

We took a top 5 team to overtime and not a single one of our players played up to their potential.

-Kyle was closest but can play better.
-Kiyan had a rough game, missed free throws, and had several defensive lapses.
-White didn’t play close to his potential.
-Kingz still hasn’t found his shot.
-George was loose with the ball and made some bad decisions down the stretch.
-Free throws and 3 point shooting were terrible.
-Donnie didn’t play.

This game was all heart and intensity. If we keep that and players play to their potential, we’re going to have an excellent season.

 

[jc824]

The problem for me is they have to replicate this intensity for the remainder of the year, something I am not sold on from a red led team.

 

[Cusefan0307]

And JJ has become a really good defender for those who haven’t noticed and I’m the biggest JJ naysayer there is. Kingz has to start shooting it better and when he does, look out. This team has a lot of pieces and intensity and heart.

JJ’s better, but they had to move Kingz off Flemmings because Sharp got going.

 

[hoopsupstate]

One more thing- William Kyle keeps getting better and growing as a player too. He’s far from just an athlete and defender. His role is going to increase as he keeps getting better too which is great considering we will need that minus Donnie

His two slips off screens were big time coming down the stretch. He has more skills than he’s shown. He can put it in the floor a little attacking the basket. He’s a human wrecking ball. Great attitude. He’s an underrated passer too.

 

[RedtheGOB]

One more thing- William Kyle keeps getting better and growing as a player too. He’s far from just an athlete and defender. His role is going to increase as he keeps getting better too which is great considering we will need that minus Donnie

I think people will be shocked watching the replay. The way we can run the court is ridiculous. Our guards are fast, our bigs are fast. The whole team is fast and they’re strong too. We crushed this Houston team in the paint.

 

[RedtheGOB]

JJ’s better, but they had to move Kingz off Flemmings because Sharp got going.

What world is this where Syracuse has a true lock down defender? It’s been a while.

Scouting report says Kingz is a 3 point shooter. One of the great hustles Kline pulled was getting a lights out defender that can finish strong at the basket on the cheap. Kingz could’ve been portaled up to a top 10 team for his defense alone.

 

[baggerbob]

We have a good team!

I just love Syracuse ratcheted up the D for 45 minutes with really great effort & intensity, we controlled what we can control in that aspect, it feels like it’s been half a decade+

I posted in my last summary that FT’s would come & get us in close game… whew, did it ever. I hate that’s the reason when the effort was so good.

I also said that Freeman’s limp reminded me of last year being injured, and here we are.

If we compete this way all season we’ll be players on the national stage, gotta start by bringing it tomorrow.

I think… yes, I think… I really like this team!

P.S. I’ve been hard on Starling, he still can’t hit a FT, but he can get important buckets on this team that nobody else can, he did tonight!

And if JJ continues to play within himself and work on the defensive end he will be like Duany was in 2003. Not saying we will do that, but for the first time in years there is potential. Tomorrow will give us a better feel in how they react after a tough loss. Hoping they come out with fire in their eyes and bury Kansas early.

 

[bigmike]

Team held up well against a very good and very physical team. These guys do not look like they will get bullied this year. Win against Kansas and this loss will be forgotten by almost everyone.