I'll take heat for this, but

[Cuse4]

I think we need to continue to recruit tough players up front, like Coleman, and shy away from guys like Xmas and Grant who I feel are soft ... need guys that will be willing to get in there and bang, and I don't see Xmas or Grant ever being that type of player ... Just an opinion

 

[jekelish]

We haven't seen Christmas or Grant play at SU yet. How can anyone possibly say they'll be soft for us?

 

[jimsonjunction]

Well, let's not forget that the ACC is a bit more of a finesse game. Obviously there will always be banging down low in hoops, but not as much as we're used to.

 

[jekelish]

That begs the question - will we be reffed differently in the ACC than we have been in the Big East?

I mean, we haven't been even close to one of the most physical (read: thug) teams in the BE; that top honor has always gone to Pitt...but still, being such a different style than we're used to, and that the ACC refs are used to, I can't help but wonder if it'll be a factor initially.

 

[Cuse4]

We haven't seen Christmas or Grant play at SU yet. How can anyone possibly say they'll be soft for us?

I knew this comment would arise immediately ... these guys are pretty soft in high school, college bball is completely different ... it's very, very rare to see a guy that is soft become really physical ... both are very athletic for their size and just don't seem to have the fire and/or willingness to get involved down low on either end

 

[Cuse4]

I shouldn't say either end, that's not fair, Xmas will get some blocks, Grant might get a few as well ... on the glass is more like it

 

[jekelish]

If you knew it would arise immediately (that's what she said), it must have been in the back of your mind, so even you must admit it's a little absurd to speculate as to how tough two kids who have never worn an SU game uniform will be over the next few years.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

I think we need to continue to recruit tough players up front, like Coleman, and shy away from guys like Xmas and Grant who I feel are soft ... need guys that will be willing to get in there and bang, and I don't see Xmas or Grant ever being that type of player ... Just an opinion

I disagree. Xmas has a reputation for being soft (given his size) but I dont think Grant does (given his size and lack of strength). He shot A LOT of free throws in high school due to the fact that he isnt afraid to take it to the hole and draw contact. Now...if only he could hit all those free throws. Eeks.

 

[jekelish]

Also, Grant's dad is Harvey, and his dad is Horace. I don't think they teach "soft" in that family.

 

[orange79]

That begs the question - will we be reffed differently in the ACC than we have been in the Big East?

I mean, we haven't been even close to one of the most physical (read: thug) teams in the BE; that top honor has always gone to Pitt...but still, being such a different style than we're used to, and that the ACC refs are used to, I can't help but wonder if it'll be a factor initially.

IMO, Pitt is in for a rude awakening if they think they can play the same game in the ACC as they have played for years in the BE. Dixon better have some new tricks up his sleeve.

 

[Garbs]

I knew this comment would arise immediately ... these guys are pretty soft in high school, college bball is completely different ... it's very, very rare to see a guy that is soft become really physical ... both are very athletic for their size and just don't seem to have the fire and/or willingness to get involved down low on either end

So I take it you saw these two play a lot live and in person in high school?

 

[Garbs]

Also, Grant's dad is Harvey, and his dad is Horace. I don't think they teach "soft" in that family.

FYI Horace and Harvey are brothers

 

[jekelish]

Yeah, I meant uncle Horace, clearly. What is this, an 80's sitcom starring Paul Reiser?

 

[OrlandoCuse]

FYI Horace and Harvey are brothers

I was going to say...didn't think Horace was a grandpappy of a high school kid yet. He would have had to have played in the NBA in his late 40's to accomplish that. But I do think Horace played on the Orlando Magic with the infamous Shawn Kemp...so maybe he learned a thing or two about procreation from him.

 

[orangefan13]

I see the overall thought Cuse4 but its not having kids like Grant Rakeem and Warrick.
Its having some weight in the paint with them. Having guys who can seal off and not get pushed left or right leaving a bigger gap in the zone.

Think Rick Jackson at the four with AO at the five. Then Warrick and Wes Johnson to back Rick at the four and Jeremy mcneil to backup AO for defense. Something like that. Sure AO and Rick aren't the greater talent as the other two but their chemistry creates mismatches in Cuse isolation system.

Also Rakeem is the opposite of soft. Hes as tough a speaker as they come. People don't talk tough unless they back it up. Maybe laxidasical some but hes the opposite of soft. Hes a tough guy not the lover type that Melo was last year.

Rak went up agasint Dajuan in the Boost mobile 24 and took numerous shots including a few in the head.
He took him on one on one. He bodies has man, and is coming into the college game welcoming contact. Looking forward to see more of Grant and by this logic Wes Johnson was soft (and we no better).

Now Fab was soft last year when he saw Rick. That is soft. Scared and young to the game, and I am still a huge fan of his hes going to blossom some day and make nice and suprising improvments this year. After last years performances people are going to say who is that guy.

 

[Cuse4]

I see the overall thought Cuse4 but its not having kids like Grant Rakeem and Warrick.
Its having some weight in the paint with them. Having guys who can seal off and not get pushed left or right leaving a bigger gap in the zone.

Think Rick Jackson at the four with AO at the five. Then Warrick and Wes Johnson to back Rick at the four and Jeremy mcneil to backup AO for defense. Something like that. Sure AO and Rick aren't the greater talent as the other two but their chemistry creates mismatches in Cuse isolation system.

Also Rakeem is the opposite of soft. Hes as tough a speaker as they come. People don't talk tough unless they back it up. Maybe laxidasical some but hes the opposite of soft. Hes a tough guy not the lover type that Melo was last year.

Rak went up agasint Dajuan in the Boost mobile 24 and took numerous shots including a few in the head.
He took him on one on one. He bodies has man, and is coming into the college game welcoming contact. Looking forward to see more of Grant and by this logic Wes Johnson was soft (and we no better).

Now Fab was soft last year when he saw Rick. That is soft. Scared and young to the game, and I am still a huge fan of his hes going to blossom some day and make nice and suprising improvments this year. After last years performances people are going to say who is that guy.

I could care less about weight ... some of the more aggressive guys are skinny ... Warrick and Wes are in a completely different league than these two

 

[orangefan13]

Not tough and soft are way different then not aggressive. Its like talking about Math and then psychology. Those are two totally different things.

I don't see how can you say hes not tough. Have you ever seen him play not inviting contact??

I will agree he wasn't aggressive and played a low post center role on a team with two powerfowards next to him. Then he played center instead of PF in the all american game which made him back down some. He also doesn't have the dribble to be real aggressive yet on the offensive end. We virtually no nothing about him right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbMCGg-fBK8

 

[Cuse4]

we'll settle this when the season starts lol

 

[orangefan13]

Let me quote a recent christmas article.

First-year assistant Adrian Autry has taken over the forwards group in practice, which puts him with Christmas during the team’s drill sessions.
“I think he’s doing really well,’’ Autry said of Christmas. “He has a lot of moments where he’ll really show his athleticism and his quickness and things like that. I think right now he’s just trying to figure some things out, but for the most part, he’s doing well. He’s doing as best as a freshman could do.’’
While he works out with the forwards, Christmas inevitably encounters Syracuse centers Fab Melo and Baye Moussa Keita when the Orange gets into half- and full-court action. Although Melo and Keita are just sophomores, Christmas said they’ve still had fun pushing the young freshman around.
“The biggest difference would have to be banging around in the paint,’’ Christmas said. “In high school, it wasn’t that much. Here you’ve got Fab and Baye. They’re big guys. You’ve got to get used to banging around in the paint. It’s the Big East.’’

Quickness = aggressive. Not necceserilly scrappy but we already have Fair and Keita. And soon MCW and Dion are going to get there. Oddly enough Cooney looks like he could be pretty scrappy to me based on one or two practice tapes as well. Strength is our biggest concer and DC just fixed that .

 

[Cuse4]

first of all quickness doesn't mean aggressiveness and second of all if the coach has to say there are MOMENTS, it's not a great sign

 

[orangefan13]

Quickness could mean aggressive. Even if he doesn't make a great play it means being in position to do so or making a quick move with or without the ball.

And Moments can mean the marks of game changers like Uconn with Oriaki and Napier who were less then good players last year. Or Jason Terry and alittle zone D stepping up to beat Miami.

I would agree if you were expecting Rak to average 14 points this year and pull down 12 boards as a freshmen think again hes 5 star on potential not on fact.

But if your asking for him to be a 6th man type who gives us 5.4 points 4.9 boards 1.3 blocks and 2.5 fouls in 15 minutes it could happen.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

I think we need to continue to recruit tough players up front, like Coleman, and shy away from guys like Xmas and Grant who I feel are soft ... need guys that will be willing to get in there and bang, and I don't see Xmas or Grant ever being that type of player ... Just an opinion

BOO THIS MAN!