How do you explain this new golden era?

[Libero2]

How about that all his assistants are prior players now who know the Syracuse system as taught to them, and all are instructing in a coordinated manner. The assistants all are Orange thru to the bone in the message they impart to their team.

You know I would be very curious to hear from JB whether the fact his whole staff is former SU players makes more of an impact from a coaching perspective, or on the recruiting trail. It obviously makes an impact in both areas, im just curious which one it affects more.

 

[RF2044]

seriously though... the 2010 team doesnt get enough credit for what they started.

SO much credit to go around. Wes for coming here, Arinze, Andy, Rick Jackson, Scoop, Triche, Kris Jo (cant believe he was the last guy I mentioned.)

That team really was the start of the renaissance.

 

[bballbeadle]

You know I would be very curious to hear from JB whether the fact his whole staff is former SU players makes more of an impact from a coaching perspective, or on the recruiting trail. It obviously makes an impact in both areas, im just curious which one it affects more.

Duke may also have assistants that are entire Duke graduates. It really helps a program. (Poor Duke. That's another thread.)

 

[Libero2]

That team really was the start of the renaissance.

It absolutely was, and you have to wonder if we hadn't been #1 for that long would we have been able to land the recruits we did? If memory serves, we got a big recruit who committed a week or 2 after we hit #1 (was it Waiters?), and it snowballed from there.

 

[Phillymoose]

Triche?

I kid, I kid.
Or do I?

 

[CusefanATL]

It's obvious to me that we have better athletes and our defense has improved dramatically. I remember when we played Oklahoma and Blake Griffin in the NCCA how over matched we looked. The last four years we have had teams that could play with anybody and the future looks bright.

we outplayed (or on par) with uconn for almost 2 full games... who was better than oklahoma that year.

 

[ForeverOrange]

As much as I love the era, we need a title or 2.

 

[RF2044]

As much as I love the era, we need a title or 2.

I don't disagree with the sentiment that I'd love to see JB win another title, just to cement his legacy for posterity.

But that doesn't / shouldn't detract from the tremendous run we've been on the last five years. Win / lose, right, wrong, or indifferent--its been a helluva run.

 

[ForeverOrange]

I don't disagree with the sentiment that I'd love to see JB win another title, just to cement his legacy for posterity.

But that doesn't / shouldn't detract from the tremendous run we've been on the last five years. Win / lose, right, wrong, or indifferent--its been a helluva run.

I agree RF, it doesn't detract from it in any way.

 

[AlaskaSU]

JB's career winning % is currently .749.

And here are our final winning percentages from the previous four seasons:

09-10: .857
10-11: .771
11-12: .919
12-13: .750

So, for four straight years JB has exceeded his lifetime average. When was the last time he did that for four straight years? Believe it or not, during his first four years, between 1976 and 1980!

Obviously, the program is enjoying a resurgence. My question is, why is it happening? There's not just one reason, of course.

Here are some possible factors:

1. Improved coaching. JB joined the Olympic team coaching staff in 2006. He has recently admitted that this experience has helped him improve as a coach.

2. Melo center opened in 2009. Reserved, always-available access to world-class facilities has allowed our players and our teams to gain strength and improve more rapidly than before.

3. Dropping man-to-man. Infamously, Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris tried to force JB to switch to a man-t0-man defense. The next year, we lost an exhibition to LeMoyne playing man-to-man the entire time. JB responded to these two events by spending 100% of practice time since then on zone and giving up man-to-man completely. The increased focus on the zone in practice has improved the efficacy of the team's defense, and this improved defense has translated to improved winning percentage.

4. Improved recruiting (whether due to smarter targeting of players or the added attraction of the Melo center). We have improved recruiting for our system, replacing small guys like Jonny Flynn with taller guards like MCW, and one-on-one players like Donte Green with team-oriented players like CJ Fair.

5. Luck.

6. Other factors

How would you divvy up these factors in assessing the resurgence of our program?

For me, I'm going to say

1. Improved coaching 25%
2. Melo center 25%
3. Focusing exclusively on zone in practice. 25 %
4. Improved recruiting. 10 %
5. Luck 10 %
6. Other factors 5%

Let's hear your take.

Improved recruiting which is due to the growing reputation of JB. Unparalleled years of success is reaping its rewards.

 

[anomander]

Melo Center 75%
Switching to all zone 25%

 

[PoppyHart]

I'm not really buying the improved recruiting angle. We had a top-3 class in 2004. We had McD's in Greene, Devo and Flynn (and pretty much Harris) who were most certainly not part of the current streak. The talent level was weaker in years preceding the championship, but has been pretty consistent since.

Q. What is the statistic that has the highest correlation to success in the NFL? How do our stats in that category look since 2004?

 

[Orangeman]

JB's career winning % is currently .749. And here are our final winning percentages from the previous four seasons: 09-10: .857 10-11: .771 11-12: .919 12-13: .750 So, for four straight years JB has exceeded his lifetime average. When was the last time he did that for four straight years? Believe it or not, during his first four years, between 1976 and 1980! Obviously, the program is enjoying a resurgence. My question is, why is it happening? There's not just one reason, of course. Here are some possible factors: 1. Improved coaching. JB joined the Olympic team coaching staff in 2006. He has recently admitted that this experience has helped him improve as a coach. 2. Melo center opened in 2009. Reserved, always-available access to world-class facilities has allowed our players and our teams to gain strength and improve more rapidly than before. 3. Dropping man-to-man. Infamously, Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris tried to force JB to switch to a man-t0-man defense. The next year, we lost an exhibition to LeMoyne playing man-to-man the entire time. JB responded to these two events by spending 100% of practice time since then on zone and giving up man-to-man completely. The increased focus on the zone in practice has improved the efficacy of the team's defense, and this improved defense has translated to improved winning percentage. 4. Improved recruiting (whether due to smarter targeting of players or the added attraction of the Melo center). We have improved recruiting for our system, replacing small guys like Jonny Flynn with taller guards like MCW, and one-on-one players like Donte Green with team-oriented players like CJ Fair. 5. Luck. 6. Other factors How would you divvy up these factors in assessing the resurgence of our program? For me, I'm going to say 1. Improved coaching 25% 2. Melo center 25% 3. Focusing exclusively on zone in practice. 25 % 4. Improved recruiting. 10 % 5. Luck 10 % 6. Other factors 5% Let's hear your take.

Olympics deserves its weighting

We have a semblance of a half-court offense, which is great.

Not meant as a major flame but it hasn't been a strength historically

But the answer is all, good list

 

[Dave85]

3. Dropping man-to-man. Infamously, Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris tried to force JB to switch to a man-t0-man defense. The next year, we lost an exhibition to LeMoyne playing man-to-man the entire time. JB responded to these two events by spending 100% of practice time since then on zone and giving up man-to-man completely. The increased focus on the zone in practice has improved the efficacy of the team's defense, and this improved defense has translated to improved winning percentage.

Let's hear your take.

Dropping man-to-man defense in practice has been the difference. The 2-3 zone is just way too hard to play it well without a lot of practice. All the players have to shift in unison and understand their roles. Then on top of that, each player has to know how to adjust zone shifting based on the other teams best players. Our 2-3 zone defense adjusting to the opponent is like improvisation jazz.

I remember the season when JB did not play a single minute of man-to-man the entire season. I could not believe it. And then I read and article where JB explained, "When teams playing man start doing bad on defense nobody yells out 'go zone'". He then went on to say not practicing man-to-man gives them more time to practice zone.

I think it has been the difference.

 

[CusefanATL]

That team really was the start of the renaissance.

Yes... but also have to give some credit to 6ot the year before... im sure that didnt hurt our recruiting which caught fire right after that.

(probably can be attributed to melo center, 6 ots, and others too)

 

[victor]

we outplayed (or on par) with uconn for almost 2 full games... who was better than oklahoma that year.

Ucon may have been better than Oklahoma but Oklahoma destroyed us. That team could not play defense anything like the teams since 2010. our Zone is better than it ever has.

 

[pfister1]

It was Leo deciding to pay Andy's way to come play for his Alma Mater.

 

[CusefanATL]

It was Leo deciding to pay Andy's way to come play for his Alma Mater.

huh?

 

[Opus]

I had no clue we were in this so called 'Golden Era' so there is just no way for me to answer. Just call me ignorant. Well OK, Mr Ignorant. Thanks.

 

[Crusty]

I had no clue we were in this so called 'Golden Era' so there is just no way for me to answer. Just call me ignorant. Well OK, Mr Ignorant. Thanks.

It isn't really golden it is more like a shade of ORANGE.

 

[SmilinBob]

Julie Boeheim. Game...set...match.

 

[RICuse44]

No doubt recruiting has helped, but my impression is that recruiting did not really take off until Hop took this over from Bernie.

 

[SarasotaPaul]

Recruiting. We dont have to settle anymore. We select who comes here. We have always had that mix of upper classmen and younger players.

Plus jb is a stud coach. Anyone who says differently can go themselves especially those who winter in florida and any fan.

Glad I live in Florida all year 'round. Who wants to go on a road trip to Miami with me? Its so much warmer than in Sarasota. About 5 degrees warmer. Puts it into the mid 80's instead of the high 70's.

 

[OttoMets]

...

1. Improved coaching 25%
2. Melo center 25%
3. Focusing exclusively on zone in practice. 25 %
4. Improved recruiting. 10 %
5. Luck 10 %
6. Other factors 5%

Let's hear your take.

1] Melo Center

2] JB in the hall of fame makes a big impression on recruits

3] Recruiting in general improved quite a bit after the post-championship denouement [ties heavily to #1 and #2]

4] The culture of the program changed significantly, starting in 2009. We became an elite team, and our players began doing what it takes off the court to sustain that excellence

5] Our players committed to defense like never before in program history. The zone used to be gimmicky, but susceptible to being victimized. Doesn't happen anymore. It is now a formidable weapon

Defense, culture change, and luck are all tied together.

Weeding out the bad apples after 2009 was very important, as was experimenting with man during the Lemoyne exhibition and having strong leadership (Rautins) able to get younger players to buy in.

That's set the table, but there's some luck involved, too. Boeheim et al. are excellent judges of talent, but they don't know for certain which 17-year-old kid is going to turn into DeShaun Williams once he gets on campus and faces a situation he doesn't like. Dion's a good example of this - it's nothing short of a miracle that Boeheim was able to get every bit of his talent out of him in 2012 while getting to the Elite Eight and getting Dion near the top of the lottery while avoiding a meltdown.

It will be interesting to see how long the coaches can sustain this run. I'm thrilled to see that the culture has remained constant even after we lost all player ties to the 2010 team. Baye's a big part of that; we're about to see him leave. Can't wait to see who takes the baton from him.

 

[OttoMets]

Olympics deserves its weighting

We have a semblance of a half-court offense, which is great.

Not meant as a major flame but it hasn't been a strength historically

But the answer is all, good list

The half-court offense is kind of new, though - we've got it now, but it was only a strength in 2010 and before Fab missed the games in 2012. It was bad for stretches in 2012 and putrid for much of last season.