I think the issue with this team is that although

[SoBeCuse]

UNC is a bunch of sticks. The biggest guy by far is Barnes and he's lean himself. Henson a.k.a. gumby and Zeller a.k.a. spaghetti boy. I'd like to see them play someone like Sullinger

This a real stretch. Tyler Zeller is actually pretty ripped. Henson will be a lottery pick at some point despite his frame. Marshall is very solid and McAdoo is an excellent incoming player. I thought he and Davis were the best Burger Boys. UNC/UK/SU probably have the most length in the country. They would be a tough test without question.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

He can't do it

Its not about who is better from Dec-March, it depends who is better built for the tournament, no star power no championship.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

...Cuse will be in final 4...and the final game...outcome will come down to 'Cuse ability to play up beat and quick basketball...I like our chances...and i believe Scoop will be the link to victory...not because he will play the primary or scoring lead, but because his ability to avoid numerous dumb plays will result in scoring baskets that were somewhat unexpected...

Yes, lack of quicksness in the backcourt is a real concern as well, that is the issue with our depth in the backcourt.. I don't see a huge change of pace guy in there

 

[Bayside44]

...Cuse will be in final 4...and the final game...outcome will come down to 'Cuse ability to play up beat and quick basketball...I like our chances...and i believe Scoop will be the link to victory...not because he will play the primary or scoring lead, but because his ability to avoid numerous dumb plays will result in scoring baskets that were somewhat unexpected...

You honestly believe that last thought? It was dumb plays that closed us out last season.

 

[Knicks411]

I think needing "that guy" is overrated. What happens when defenses doubled Steph Curry or Jimmer? Those teams sans their star were pretty crappy teams. Teams won't know who to focus on against SU

Yeah but that is kind of a strawman. The goal isn't to be as good as BYU or Davidson. It's to win a title. The teams that win a title generally do have a star player who the other team needs to focus added attention to. Not always, and we may end up gettign that guy, but for now, we don't really have one.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

If you are looking for the weakness will again be the lack of a true pg and players 7-12 are a legit top 25 team, I don't know if players are 1-5 are significantly better, I think the team is a legit top 10-15 team I just don't know if the star power is there to win it all and that is really the goal. Then again in the tournament anything can happen but you need that guy in the tournament

For starters, I do think you need a guy who can carry the team on their back if needed, come tourney time... a Melo, a Wallace, etc. Not sure if we have that guy this year or not. Too soon to say

Of course you don't know if players 1-5 are significantly beeter because we haven't seen them play yet. I'm discounting the scrimmage, where D wasn't all that evident.

My guess is that KJ is a bit better, Scoop will be more court savvy, and Fab and Baye will be significantly better. Of course, being "significantly better" for Fab is a relative thing considering that he didn't play like a D1 center last year, still...

I think the bench will be much better, with Dion, CJ, and Baye really stepping it up a notch

As for star power, winning it all, etc, who knows. We have had teams in the past with star power that didn't win it all. so much depends upon the matchups you draw in the NCAA's

 

[EastCoast2]

For starters, I do think you need a guy who can carry the team on their back if needed, come tourney time... a Melo, a Wallace, etc. Not sure if we have that guy this year or not. Too soon to say

Of course you don't know if players 1-5 are significantly beeter because we haven't seen them play yet. I'm discounting the scrimmage, where D wasn't all that evident.

My guess is that KJ is a bit better, Scoop will be more court savvy, and Fab and Baye will be significantly better. Of course, being "significantly better" for Fab is a relative thing considering that he didn't play like a D1 center last year, still...

I think the bench will be much better, with Dion, CJ, and Baye really stepping it up a notch

As for star power, winning it all, etc, who knows. We have had teams in the past with star power that didn't win it all. so much depends upon the matchups you draw in the NCAA's

If every player made a one year improvement then I think SU can beat anybody this season

 

[HOFCeluck]

The problem is I just don't see a 5th year senior suddenly making huge strides in decision making.

 

[BoomStickO]

Forgive me, but I'm having trouble taking my Orange Goggles off.

Every player on this team poses a match up problem for other teams. Sure there may not be any all-time greats on this team, but I think THIS COLLECTION OF TALENT AND EXPERIENCE MAY BE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

Melo, Baye, Christmas, Fair, Southerland, Joseph, Scoop, Carter-Williams, Triche, Waiters...

And our 11th men of Mookie and Cooney... Whattttttttt !

 

[strumpfasaurus]

The problem is I just don't see a 5th year senior suddenly making huge strides in decision making.

Andy rautins?

 

[Knicks411]

I don't think Andy really mae great strides in decision making. His passing was still very high risk. His TO rate shot up his senior year.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Rautins went from 2 to 2.8 TO/gm from 09 to 10...with two less games played.

 

[jordoo]

The problem is I just don't see a 5th year senior suddenly making huge strides in decision making.

How about a guy going into his second season as a starting point guard? Last season was a huge change in roll for Scoop from the prior season where he was suppossed to come in, push the ball and be a sparkplug. I expect him to be a better decision maker. And when you link about it its not like it needs to be huge improvements. One or two less bad passes that were TO's last year, one less bad shot that resulted in a run out last year and one good pass that her would have missed last year. Over the coruse of a game those 3-4 differences could make all the difference in the long run.
People are worried about how nmuch our upperclassman can improve, but I think we often forget that we don't need them to do anything that they couldn't do last year. All we need is for Kris, Brandon and Scoop to play the better versions of their games more consistantly.

 

[jordoo]

Rautins went from 2 to 2.8 TO/gm from 09 to 10...with two less games played.

The amount of time he handled the ball and played was completely different as was his roll offensively.

 

[Bayside44]

And Andy's turnovers were going towards the basket...he would push and force some down low with that one handed pass off the bounce. Scoop's turnovers tended to go back the other way for a bucket. Big difference.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Nevertheless nearly a 1.0 increase? Pretty substantial jump. And his PT didn't increase THAT much.

Either way I'm not sure the "Rautins did so Scoop can too" arguement is valid. I'd love to be wrong but I just don't see it.

 

[jordoo]

Nevertheless nearly a 1.0 increase? Pretty substantial jump. And his PT didn't increase THAT much.

Either way I'm not sure the "Rautins did so Scoop can too" arguement is valid. I'd love to be wrong but I just don't see it.

Rautins may be a bad example, fine.

Let me ask you this. Do you think Scoop can eliminate say 3 mistakes a game and add say 2 good playes a game? Thats all we need from him.

 

[EastCoast2]

Rautins went from 2 to 2.8 TO/gm from 09 to 10...with two less games played.

If it's TO/game then # of games played is irrelevant... Devo and Flynn were gone, and Andy went from a catch and shoot player to handling the ball A LOT... he was bringing the ball up sometimes, pushing the break, and making a lot more passes instead of running off screens like he did in 08-09 w/ flynn and devo

 

[Knicks411]

Rautins may be a bad example, fine.

Let me ask you this. Do you think Scoop can eliminate say 3 mistakes a game and add say 2 good playes a game? Thats all we need from him.

That seems like a huge jump. I feel like if he did that he would be one of the best PG in the nation. So i don't think that's going to happen.

I do expect Scoop to be a better player this year.

 

[EastCoast2]

Rautins may be a bad example, fine.

Let me ask you this. Do you think Scoop can eliminate say 3 mistakes a game and add say 2 good playes a game? Thats all we need from him.

That's like asking him to have a 9:1 A/TO ratio which hasn't been done in... maybe ever

 

[jordoo]

That's like asking him to have a 9:1 A/TO ratio which hasn't been done in... maybe ever

I'm not considering the mistakes and good plays to be just assists and turnovers. Shot selection, pace, getting the ball to the right guy at the time, floor ballance on offense, defensive gambles Ect. There are a lot of decisions the PG makes that do not effect A/TO ratio.

 

[RoysRunts]

Who's gonna Dive on the floor for loose Balls and bust their Hump rebounding? Who has the refuse to lose attitude?

 

[pfister1]

Rautins may be a bad example, fine.

Let me ask you this. Do you think Scoop can eliminate say 3 mistakes a game and add say 2 good playes a game? Thats all we need from him.

I think Rautins is actually a terrific example. He made huge strides from his junior to senior year and they can't all be measured in the statistics. And as for the statistics he was splitting time at shooting guard and small forward as a junior and played almost exclusively as a guard as a senior with a fair amount of that time spent running the offense. You would expect him to have a higher turn over rate under those circumstances. If he didn't I would think it would be quite extraordinary.

I don't think the fact that Andy made a jump means that Scoop will too, but I think watching what Andy did from Junior to Senior year should at least make the case that Scoop can be better this season...how much better? We'll have to see, but by all accounts he has has worked very hard over the off season to be better. It's not like he took the summer off as some of our guys in the past have seemed to have done.

 

[garnermike]

probably when someone here opens one. I said it to my brother and father and they just couldn't understand where i was coming from.

Hey edowd26 -- that your Boston terrier? Cute as can be. Had two of them in my life---smart, loyal, well behaved canines!

 

[OttoMets]

How about a guy going into his second season as a starting point guard?

Yep.

The people who don't like Scoop point out that he's a 5th-year guy and overstate the effect his poor decisions had on our losses last year.

The people who do like Scoop call him a second-year starter and note how his willingness to be clutch got us to overtime against UConn.

The truth is probably somewhere in between the extremes, but no way is Scoop anything but a darn good point guard who we've been fortunate to have. And to suggest he's somehow reached his plateau because he's academically in his fifth year is silly.