Hypothetical question

[DirtDog44]

I think we can all agree on the fact that if we did not make the tournament or had lost in the first round that Malachi would have returned to Syracuse. His stock soared with every passing game and that's what led to his NBA jump. With that said would you have taken an early Syracuse loss in the tournament in order to keep Malachi for this year OR stick the with outcome last year of a great tourney run to the final 4?

I'm a bit torn on the issue because if we had Malachi this year I would consider us a real threat to cut down the nets...but I loved every moment of our Cinderella run last year.

If I had to choose I'd take the early cuse exit with Malachi back because in my heart of hearts I knew our team last year really had no chance to win it all.

 

[MSOrange]

No way I would give it back. Final 4 opportunities are rare. We've had 5 in JB's 40 years. Why give one of those back for something that MIGHT happen in the future? No offense, but that's ridiculous to me.

 

[NineOneSeven]

What???

 

[Dave85]

I think we can all agree on the fact that if we did not make the tournament or had lost in the first round that Malachi would have returned to Syracuse. His stock soared with every passing game and that's what led to his NBA jump. With that said would you have taken an early Syracuse loss in the tournament in order to keep Malachi for this year OR stick the with outcome last year of a great tourney run to the final 4?

I'm a bit torn on the issue because if we had Malachi this year I would consider us a real threat to cut down the nets...but I loved every moment of our Cinderella run last year.

If I had to choose I'd take the early cuse exit with Malachi back because in my heart of hearts I knew our team last year really had no chance to win it all.

I will take losing a freshmen and making a Final Four run any year. Winning a NC is very difficult. Our chances of doing it will not be that much different with or without Malachi. We lost G and TC. Our PG is full of questions. Battle will most likely replace everything we lost with Malachi (Battle may be better driving to the basket). But is Howard and Gillon capable of replacing G's production is a big question.

The problem with winning a NC is like throwing 4 pennies and having them all come up heads. At the highest level of competition in any sport, it's a 50/50 bet for you to win. Luck plays a major role.

 

[Dave85]

What???

Be nice. I would rather talk with someone who thinks and poses questions than someone who has no opinion at all.

 

[Newhouser]

IMHO you can't throw back Final Four runs. Too many talented SU teams let alone other teams have failed to make the FF. Those are gold, especially runs like ours last year with everything that went on the year prior.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Be nice. I would rather talk with someone who thinks and poses questions than someone who has no opinion at all.

What?

 

[EastCoast2]

Malachi won't get drafted because SU made the tournament or even the Final Four. I don't get why I need to keep saying this. NBA scouts don't start paying attention the last week in March. They know these kids from the time they're in middle school. They watch them play in HS, AAU, all season long. Malachi was a McDonald's All American and top-25 player in the country. Do you think he wasn't on the radar until the Virginia E8 game? Once the season is over and scouts see these guys in private workouts and measurements, that's what drives Malachi up the boards. He was a starter at Syracuse, not the 7th man at Eastern Washington Community College.

That said, I'd trade any player in the country for a Final Four run. Even if he came back, look at Duke and UK rosters for next season.

 

[Tom K.]

No chance. Doesn't matter if we may be a favorite on paper next year.

Not sure why you would give away a Final Four because maybe we can win 2 more games next year. Things never turn out the way you want.

 

[br801]

I think we can all agree on the fact that if we did not make the tournament or had lost in the first round that Malachi would have returned to Syracuse. His stock soared with every passing game and that's what led to his NBA jump. With that said would you have taken an early Syracuse loss in the tournament in order to keep Malachi for this year OR stick the with outcome last year of a great tourney run to the final 4?

I'm a bit torn on the issue because if we had Malachi this year I would consider us a real threat to cut down the nets...but I loved every moment of our Cinderella run last year.

If I had to choose I'd take the early cuse exit with Malachi back because in my heart of hearts I knew our team last year really had no chance to win it all.

I disagree with a lot of that. As MSOrange said above, Final Fours runs are rare, so you don't give them back. I also thought that team had a legitimate chance to run the table once they reached Houston, as they had played UNC tough in both previous games, and Oklahoma and Villanova were certainly beatable. Finally, Mali likely would have tested the waters even without the UVA performance, and may very well have heard enough to ultimately declare for the draft.

 

[Rage4CUSE]

I think Mali goes whether or not he makes that run for us to beat Virginia.

I read how scouts looked at his tape throughout the regular season and noticed how he was one of the FEW college players that can get themselves thier own shot.

That and his measurable's alone got him "supposedly" a first round guarantee.

 

[Alsacs]

Malachi wasn't a lock to return if we lost first round. He is a 20 year old freshman. His age was part of the reason he declared.

We had a chance this year to win a NC. This year was a truly wipe open season. There was no elite teams. Next year their is Duke and Kentucky. In 2015, there was Duke, Kentucky, Wisconsin. No chance would I take a first round loss for Malachi to come back. I don't think we would be favored to make the Final Four next year had Malachi back.

 

[Ryand877]

You always take the Final Four run, no doubt about it in my mind. Malachi returning wouldn't guarantee anything (Look what happened to Michigan State this year-many "experts" had them winning it all before the tournament started.)

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I always take what's behind Door #3.

 

[NYCorange]

Here's the easy answer--would you trade Battle leaving this upcoming year for a second straight final 4 run? Heck yes! And Lydon, and Chukwu, and Howard. You take a final 4 every time.

 

[NYCorange]

I always take what's behind Door #3.

"And behind door 3... You flame out it the round of 32 but Battle and Lydon leave anyway! The NCAA punishes you for having not promoting a "culture of accountability" because UNC has been running sham classes"!

 

[Dave85]

What?

You short answers make me think you are not taking this whole thing seriously.

 

[Dave85]

Malachi wasn't a lock to return if we lost first round. He is a 20 year old freshman. His age was part of the reason he declared.

We had a chance this year to win a NC. This year was a truly wipe open season. There was no elite teams. Next year their is Duke and Kentucky. In 2015, there was Duke, Kentucky, Wisconsin. No chance would I take a first round loss for Malachi to come back. I don't think we would be favored to make the Final Four next year had Malachi back.

Duke is stacked. I think they will be favored to win a NC.

 

[Shark58]

 

[donniesyracuse]

I think we can all agree on the fact that if we did not make the tournament or had lost in the first round that Malachi would have returned to Syracuse.

That is an opinion, not a fact.

 

[Dave85]

That is an opinion, not a fact.

This is such a great post! One of my pet peeves is people today have no distinction between the meanings of the words "fact" and "opinion". Facts are assertions like the sky is blue. Whether or not we lose in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament we would not lose Mal is purely conjecture.

 

[TheCusian]

I think Mali goes whether or not he makes that run for us to beat Virginia. I read how scouts looked at his tape throughout the regular season and noticed how he was one of the FEW college players that can get themselves thier own shot. That and his measurable's alone got him "supposedly" a first round guarantee.

Not just get his own shot - his own shot from beyond the 3pt line. "The Curry Effect"

 

[HOFCeluck]

If Devendorfs shot was a second sooner, Flynn still leaves.

If he never got the half court shot, Ennis still leaves.

If he didn't go crazy for six minutes vs Uva, Mali still leaves.

 

[br801]

If Devendorfs shot was a second sooner, Flynn still leaves.

If he never got the half court shot, Ennis still leaves.

If he didn't go crazy for six minutes vs Uva, Mali still leaves.

Lots of people would (and surely will) disagree with you. Just not me.

 

[Alsacs]

Lots of people would (and surely will) disagree with you. Just not me.

If you don't spend 90% of your posts criticizing other posters with their faults I would be shocked if you had 400 posts.

How about telling the person why they are wrong instead of constantly picking on low hanging fruit. I swear its almost like you never say anything people disagree with. I guess its your shtick to pick on everything.