If Dion bolts for league, we need

[Cuse4]

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

 

[SWC75]

That wouldn't be so bad.

 

[nycfan]

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

Cooney "inexperienced"? GMac has already gone on record to say that Cooney is the best shooter he has ever seen at Syracuse. But in addition to that, he is spending this entire season practicing every single day against 3 of the best guards in the country (Dion, Triche, Scoop), as well as MCW, who may be one of the best as early as next year. By next November, how "inexperienced" do you really think Trevor is going to be anyway? (and even in the presser where JB announced TC was shirting, he commented that it wasn't because he couldn't play right now--just a numbers thing with him being the 5th guard).

 

[OrlandoCuse]

We're playing with basically 3 guards this year.

 

[Banned]

We're playing with basically 3 guards this year.

Did you see the game tonight? MCW is going to get some meaningful PT in big games. Bank on it.

 

[Niastri]

I would be excited to have Triche, Carter-Williams and Cooney as our lead three. I hope we have Waiters another year, though.

Whomever we recruit for next year to replace Waiters will be our fourth guard, and get his chances when they make sense. Just like Carter-Williams has played so far this year.

Talent is king, but experience and talent trumps all but extreme talent. Whoever we pick up for next year will be earning their time, not taking it.

 

[BlackKnight76]

I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here.

 

[Cuse4]

Cooney "inexperienced"? GMac has already gone on record to say that Cooney is the best shooter he has ever seen at Syracuse. But in addition to that, he is spending this entire season practicing every single day against 3 of the best guards in the country (Dion, Triche, Scoop), as well as MCW, who may be one of the best as early as next year. By next November, how "inexperienced" do you really think Trevor is going to be anyway? (and even in the presser where JB announced TC was shirting, he commented that it wasn't because he couldn't play right now--just a numbers thing with him being the 5th guard).

how isn't he inexperienced? unless he's been out there logging minutes with the team, he's inexperienced ... practice and a game are far different ... and he's not a great ball handler, so when he's out there, we take a hit as far as handling is concerned

 

[Niastri]

I was very glad to see Cooney redshirted. His talents would have been wasted just as bad as Mookie Jones' have been this year. Next year, after a year of practice, he will be a super freshman. He has been impressive with his shooting so far.

 

[cuseattle]

I was very glad to see Cooney redshirted. His talents would have been wasted just as bad as Mookie Jones' have been this year. Next year, after a year of practice, he will be a super freshman. He has been impressive with his shooting so far.

The guards are all killer. And Dion's not Carmelo.
Mookie is a practice player at this point of his Senior year.

 

[Niastri]

The guards are all killer. And Dion's not Carmelo.
Mookie is a practice player at this point of his Senior year.

In other words, Cooney wasn't going to play, and neither was Jones. They both might as well sit while Cooney doesn't lose eligibility. Cooney could be great in a year or two.

 

[memcorsu]

It is hard to say what goes on in Dion's world. At this point I think he could use another season. Who is to say that things don't click and by the end of the season he has a pro game? I can't answer that at this point. We need to wait to see how things pan out by the end of the year after there is a full body of work against better level of talent.

I must say that Dion seems to have a huge ego and rightfully so. He is a very good player. I do not know Dion and can only take what I have seen in the press, games. I think this ultimately is what drives his decision. Hopefully he will listen to JB before he makes any decisions. I think JB is very truthful and supportive of his players and has a great read on when they are ready. I don't think he will hold them longer then they need to. Would he like them to be here all 4 years, sure, but he knows the game. He does coach the USA team; hopefully Dion understands this.

Hind sight is always 20/20. Talk to all the players that have left early and they have all stated they wish they would have stayed. The issue is that they say this after they have left. Even The Melo has stated he wanted to stay.

Dion has the athletic ability and body to be a pro player. There are things in his game at this point in the season that he needs to work on if he wants to stick in the NBA. I think if he goes early, his career will look a lot like JF at this point. Something that a lot of these players do not realize is that college provides you with very meaningful game time experience. Yeah you might play a lot more games in the NBA, but a lot of guy's dwindle at the end of the bench. This makes it very hard to work on a players "needs". Those who might be athletes can contest to there being a huge difference between the practice and game setting.

Finally, I think he could really stand having a starting roll next year. It is great to be a 6th man it is another to be the 1 man. Look at the difference of both KJ and Scoop from when they were the 6th man and now starters. When you start teams key in on you more then when you bring a spark of the bench.

 

[osullfam]

Dion has developed into a great college player. Until he fixes his stroke, he will not play in the NBA.

 

[texascpa]

I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here.

Exactly. I can't figure for the life of me why people believe Dion is leaving after this year. There hasn't been one iota of evidence suggesting that he will bolt.

 

[arbitragegls]

...whoa...Dion had a very good game against a very poor team...how many of his points were on breakaway dunks...at least 6...I believe you are too far ahead of Dion's game...he is good...not NBA that good! His defense is getting better...his shot selection is good only because of ability to get to the rim...he is not a PG but a SG...and in the pros you need to have a much better stroke than Dion shows...he better practice that this year and next to make it to the bigs.

I believe he will be here next year...and you want to know what is possible...with Dion, Triche, MCW and Cooney...he may not get any more playing time than he is now...Triche and MCW will push if not exceed him and Cooney is the best shooter of the bunch.....

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

even if we got another guard, he would be inexperienced.

 

[mark79]

...whoa...Dion had a very good game against a very poor team...how many of his points were on breakaway dunks...at least 6...I believe you are too far ahead of Dion's game...he is good...not NBA that good! His defense is getting better...his shot selection is good only because of ability to get to the rim...he is not a PG but a SG...and in the pros you need to have a much better stroke than Dion shows...he better practice that this year and next to make it to the bigs.

I believe he will be here next year...and you want to know what is possible...with Dion, Triche, MCW and Cooney...he may not get any more playing time than he is now...Triche and MCW will push if not exceed him and Cooney is the best shooter of the bunch.....

Agree... Dion is very good and has all of the tools and the body, but he needs to work on his shooting ala KJ to become great.

 

[br801]

...whoa...Dion had a very good game against a very poor team...how many of his points were on breakaway dunks...at least 6...I believe you are too far ahead of Dion's game...he is good...not NBA that good! His defense is getting better...his shot selection is good only because of ability to get to the rim...he is not a PG but a SG...and in the pros you need to have a much better stroke than Dion shows...he better practice that this year and next to make it to the bigs.

I believe he will be here next year...and you want to know what is possible...with Dion, Triche, MCW and Cooney...he may not get any more playing time than he is now...Triche and MCW will push if not exceed him and Cooney is the best shooter of the bunch.....

That's a good assessment of Dion's game right now. I just hope people aren't getting in his ear about leaving.

He really needs to work on his shooting stroke -- right now it is wildly inconsistent. And he needs to keep improving his ball handling and passing skills (which have come a long way since last season) because I think he projects best as a PG at the next level due to his size. Looking at the SGs in today's NBA, I just can't imagine Dion ever playing meaningful minutes at that position.

 

[mark79]

He's sometimes has a Dick Barnett (for you old-timers) funky leg kick thingy going on that makes me cringe. His form definitely needs some work to achieve greater consistency. That said, he's got all the tools and now seems to have great work ethic. Good on ya Dion. Keep working hard...

 

[cusetown1]

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

That would be damn good too!

 

[orange79]

Cooney "inexperienced"? GMac has already gone on record to say that Cooney is the best shooter he has ever seen at Syracuse. But in addition to that, he is spending this entire season practicing every single day against 3 of the best guards in the country (Dion, Triche, Scoop), as well as MCW, who may be one of the best as early as next year. By next November, how "inexperienced" do you really think Trevor is going to be anyway? (and even in the presser where JB announced TC was shirting, he commented that it wasn't because he couldn't play right now--just a numbers thing with him being the 5th guard).

Trevor needs to show us he can play some D - something I think several posters were concerned about after the exhibition games.

 

[stuckinbig11]

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

I doubt that Dion will be gone, but if so, Triche, MCW, and Cooney would make most top college coaches extremely happy. Cooney will be a killer.

 

[newmexicuse]

I think Dion stays. It is early, but you gotta figure if he left this year he would be late first round to early second round pick. One more year as a star/starter & if all went well he could move into top of first round, maybe even the lotto.

That is most likely in his best interest to stay.

 

[SaintTristan]

This thread is silly.

another guard ... Triche, MCW and an inexperienced Cooney would be what we're left with

This would not be good. This would in fact be very very bad and the people in this thread who applaud this trio are nuts and know nothing about this sport. Not one of these players can create for themselves. Triche is a role player who occasionally has a big night. MCW is going to be very good, but that might not happen next yr. Cooney has no experience, will have trouble defending at this level in yr one, is not very fast, and isnt going to beat anyone off the dribble who didnt play in the paralympics.

MCW will be great at some point, not sure if that happens before next yr. Cooney might be very good, but its not going to happen in his frosh yr and anyone who thinks otherwise needs to promise me that they'll never ever coach children in any sport less they destroy some poor kid's life.

Cooney "inexperienced"? GMac has already gone on record to say that Cooney is the best shooter he has ever seen at Syracuse. But in addition to that, he is spending this entire season practicing every single day against 3 of the best guards in the country (Dion, Triche, Scoop), as well as MCW, who may be one of the best as early as next year. By next November, how "inexperienced" do you really think Trevor is going to be anyway? (and even in the presser where JB announced TC was shirting, he commented that it wasn't because he couldn't play right now--just a numbers thing with him being the 5th guard).

This was just a painful post to read. Now we base experience on how many practices a kid has participated in? he has never played a single D1 game yet you are arguing he is experienced?!?!?!?!?! oh lord.

I think we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves here.

Thank you. It takes a kid to inject some common sense into this thread. No one on this board thinks more highly of waiters than I do, but unless he wants to end up like Donte Greene Waiters is going to come back next yr. he still has a lot to work on. he is clearly are best talent but he has some real weaknesses. There is no doubt in my mind he will be back.

Dion has developed into a great college player. Until he fixes his stroke, he will not play in the NBA.

Working on his shot will help, but its not fatal.

 

[orangefan13]

I thought Mookie had another year. Didn't he have a medical redshirt when KJo didn't redishirt that gave him a 5th year?

Plus Southerland can always play some 2. Especially if Grant shows hes ready. He won't stop a drive and dish game very well at all. However, with Rak, Keita, Coleman, Fair and Maybe Fab in the backline I am not to worried about a few drives against our defense with him at the two.

On the other hand maybe only one or two SG in the country would be able to pull up from midrange against Southerland succesfully. He would be good at covering the three/four in event of a pick and roll pass and be a weakside shot blocker tip ball threat off it also.