I'm very happy with the win, and for the love of god Jim...

[Czar]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

 

[CaptainJ]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

I'm cool with experimenting with the intent to still win. These are Rak's last games and for what he's given this team this season, I'd love to give him the best chance to win all of them and concede nothing. I've wanted more bench much of the season, and apparently the guys on it have improved and showed JB they deserve the time. Still, against Duke I don't want to concede anything. I like them about as much as some of you like UConn.

 

[Upstate]

Cooney still isn't close to 100%. Watching him waddle around vs. Pitt may have actually cost the team that game. It was like 4v5. Glad to see the bench contributing. Gonna make next even more interesting. And it's fantastic, with literally nothing to play for but pride, to beat two highly ranked teams this year.

 

[SUalldway]

Cooney still isn't close to 100%. Watching him waddle around vs. Pitt may have actually cost the team that game. It was like 4v5. Glad to see the bench contributing. Gonna make next even more interesting. And it's fantastic, with literally nothing to play for but pride, to beat two highly ranked teams this year.

I'm still hoping Patterson re-locates his jump shot. If he does and Cooney gets healthy, this team becomes very hard to defend.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

Nope., Play to win. Rak deserves that much.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

You don't want to beat Duke?

 

[Czar]

You don't want to beat Duke?

I'd like to, but losing while getting Patterson and BJ at least 15 minutes wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

[orange79]

 

[skurey]

It is playing to win the game. Future games.

 

[longtimefan]

I'm still hoping Patterson re-locates his jump shot. If he does and Cooney gets healthy, this team becomes very hard to defend.

Not sure Patterson has a jump shot to find.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

You could not find, within JBs DNA the cognitive ability to even weigh the pros and cons of such a dichotomy. What you will find in his very fiber is win, win, win, screaming out in an incessant stream of determined rage, and I for one am ok with that.

 

[pfister1]

Last night proved we can play the bench and still win. You don't have to concede the game just because you are using bench players.

 

[jimb]

Keep playing the bench. I know this is going to sound weird but I don't care if it causes us to lose the next three games, keep playing everyone. Even Chino. There's nothing left to prove, if you want to go for the win on Senior Day fine, but keep playing everybody and see what you got and give everyone run. Experiment.

 

[Jack Hall]

Imo you play to win championships. Two things about that: 1) HEdwards wouldnt know much about championships and 2) obviously we cant win a championship this year

 

[DoctorBombay]

Jim Boeheim is a cantankerous, obstinate, stubborn old man who hates to deviate. His philosophy of "kids don't get tired" has won him many games, & he's not gonna change. The fact that Cooney is hobbling around on a bad back is totally unrelated, in JB's mind at least, to the fact that he's been run into the ground.
IMO, it's stupid- it's happened before in other years w/ other players getting worn down, but the man will. Not. Change.
It is what it is.

 

[stuckinbig11]

JB and the players play to win each and every game. When people are hurt, he goes to the bench for the purpose of winning. It should be no other way.

 

[jimb]

What kind of a coach doesn't doesn't use his bench to help his team win games? (Hint: Boeheim played 8, and Brey played only 7.) If only Brey had used his bench more, Notre Dame would have won, right?

 

[realorange]

I think JB made it very clear in his presser how he decides who plays and when. He goes by what the doctor says in relation to injuries and unless the player says otherwise he's ready to play. He also said he is not going to substitute a lesser player (my wording) for the player on the floor.
Winning is what it's all about in any sport. Listen to his mantra on the presser. He's right.

 

[orange79]

Imo you play to win championships. Two things about that: 1) HEdwards wouldnt know much about championships and 2) obviously we cant win a championship this year

Lehigh will never win a championship. NJIT will never win a championship. Why do they play? So if we can't win a championship this year, we shouldn't put our best players out there and try to win? Is that fair to Rak? Is that fair to the other players?

Apologies if I am misunderstanding your point, but that's how it read, to me.

 

[JCDATHIRD]

Nope., Play to win. Rak deserves that much.

playing the bench more does not mean we arent playing to win. Exhibit A: last night.
We were just fine with Trevor out of the game (for stretches). We were also fine (somehow) with Rak out.

We have D1 athletes on our team. We will not get crushed regardless of what combo is out there.

 

[DoctorBombay]

The NCAA season is unique because of its structure. For better or worse, its all about March. With the way JB utilizes most of his teams, more often than not, we've flamed out in March. We have the gaudy regular season record, & usually spit the bit in the Sweet 16. Not bad by any means, but certainly not enough for a program of our stature...not any more. JMHO
The one year we won it all we got a GREAT contribution from McNeil, Pace, and Edelin who arguably took us over the top in that NC game..
I submit that was largely because they had had some quality PT during the season and had defined roles. Were they better than the options we have now? Obviously. But BJ, Buss, et al are not basket cases, as we are now starting to see.
Its JMHO, but I prefer the HC philosophy that says play the bench, develop towards March, and give players a chance to make mistakes and learn. JTII, Pitino, Tark the Shark, Nolan Richardson...great coaches who utilized that philosophy.
I just prefer that style versus the "wear em into the ground, unless dragged kicking and screaming to play others, because kids dont get tired" mantra of JB. JMHO.

 

[cuseincincy]

Honestly I don't think JB has changed a bit in his bench usage. What has changed is his evaluation of some of his starters. Ron is playing more because JB has determined that Kaleb is not enough better that the team is better when he is on the floor. BJ is playing more because of 1) necessity due to injuries/fouls 2) match ups and 3) effectiveness. Despite this there is no doubt in my mind that the play of Ron and BJ will benefit SU next year as juniors off the bench. There are still open starter spots for next year after Cmac, Trevor and G. Obviously one will be a center (but who)? The other spot imo will go to the next best player and G's flexibility means that that player could be a 1,2 or 3. Maybe even a 4 if CMac develops his Jumper enough to play the 3 then TRob could snag a spot.

 

[SarasotaPaul]

Last night proved we can play the bench and still win. You don't have to concede the game just because you are using bench players.

Last night proved BJ can play with teams that aren't physical. Patterson couldn't hang onto the ball and so on and so forth. Everyone on the team had glaring moments that defied explanation only to redeem themselves. It was one of the strangest games I've every seen SU play. The bench had proved early in the year they needed more time. One game does not only proves that they came through for that particular game and circumstance.

I am just as glad as you though that they have continued to work and improve and are showing it to us now. Give them minutes but if they aren't doing it, back to the bench and keep working in practice and throughout the spring, summer and fall. Win the games first!

 

[Jack Hall]

Lehigh will never win a championship. NJIT will never win a championship. Why do they play? So if we can't win a championship this year, we shouldn't put our best players out there and try to win? Is that fair to Rak? Is that fair to the other players?

Apologies if I am misunderstanding your point, but that's how it read, to me.

My only point is its very important to try and win the game in front of you but imo its even more important to try to build toward something down the line, ideally a title or championship.

I think its great to see a kid like BJ having the game like he did last night, could pay huge dividends next year. No? another poster asked the question, if TC hadnt hurt his back andor TRob hadnt got whacked against Pitt, would BJ have even gotten into that game? Prob not much. And if he doesnt play a big role in Pitt game does he go onto score 19 pts in our biggest win of the season, scoring 5 pts in the final min? Many on this board kept using the HEdwards mantra to justify why they didnt want BJ and RP to play much this season and how it was crazy for RP to take away mins from Trevor. But those two played a big role in our biggest win of the season and Despite the fact that RP took mins away from Trevor last night. Its tremendous to see a team do whatever it takes to win the game in front of them, but imo its even better to see a team improve over time. And when you look at the fact that we just beat our only two ranked opponents of the season, id say this team has improved quite a bit, this despite key injuries to McC and now Trevor.

And yes, of course Rak deserves every success the team can get for/with him. No question

 

[Czar]

I hate that quote so damn much. Winning battles is great, it really is. But winning the war is what counts. I'm going to admit that I am an incredibly unsentimental fan. Maybe it's the Yankees fan in me. But in my mind, it's about next year. This is all selfish desire. But every single minute that BJ and Ron and Chino can get now only makes us that much better when a title is on the line.