No one will ever be able to do justice to SWC so I won’t try. But I do miss the posts and the poster. Anyways please add and this is for the season to date.
Upside:
- The defense is orders of magnitude better than the previous years. It’s clear what the strategy is and there are layers to it. Most importantly the players are clearly bought into it and working their butts off on D.
- Our frontline is very talented, athletic, deep and physical. We will not be big boyed by the elite teams this year. I especially like the big to big high low and interior passes. Also the dunks are back! Finally a Syracuse team that can honor the legacy of the peak teams from a dunking and entertainment standpoint.
- For the first time in a decade plus we actually have an intentional rotation. It’s refreshing to see contributions from the 10th player on the bench on a regular basis. The players seem more engaged and together… maybe because they know everyone is playing?
- When Zephir is your 10th man you have a deep squad. Well done to the coaches on roster construction. The team is 2 deep at every position with quality in players.
- Kiyan Anthony… what a baller. The kid is a walking bucket at this point and he has shown the ability to be a surprisingly good ball handler who can initiate the offense. Well done Melo!
- Donnie Freeman… kid could have gone anywhere and gotten a bag. But he chose to stick it out with Autry and take care of unfinished business. what a great leader and great kid!
- accountability… against Delaware st, Red pulled players for poor defense or dumb offense on multiple occasions including Freeman, George and Anthony (his three best players) Love it… want to see it more of it especially with JJ.
- Kyle’s vertical… love the blocks and the monster dunks. Most fun player on the team
- the margin of victory has been very impressive… you can only beat who you play.
Downside
- Point guard play… completely lacking at this point. George is forcing the action too much while being too loose with the ball and so far can’t hit the broadside of the barn. Fennell could be a decent player down the road but right now he plays too horizontal and puts very little attacking pressure on the other team. Also his jumper forgot to make the trip from Australia
- 3 piont shooting in general… this team wants to be a high volume 3 point team but right now they are shooting pretty poorly on pretty wide open shots. If they don’t turn this around this will sink them against good teams.
- The half court offense is very unconvincing. They take a long time to get into sets and there is a lot of movement and passing and handoffs that lead to nothing. The pick and roll offense is pretty inefficient which is bizarre considering George’s reputation as a pick and roll artist. My only hope is that Autry is saving sets for the games that matter otherwise we are going to see some serious scoring droughts.
- Donnie starting out outside in… right now freeman is a pick and roll guy or a mid post guy who can run the offense from there. What he is not is a jump shooter or a post up guy (yet)… so let’s get him the ball in his sweet spots so he can work. Red needs to bench Donnie every time he takes a 3 early in the shot clock
- The initial defense is very much improved… but the secondary movement and rotations still seem a bit lacking. I don’t know if the 1000% effort is sustainable against teams with like for like talent without a more sophisticated strategy.
- the last downside… Miss you SWC!
Upside:
- The defense is orders of magnitude better than the previous years. It’s clear what the strategy is and there are layers to it. Most importantly the players are clearly bought into it and working their butts off on D.
- Our frontline is very talented, athletic, deep and physical. We will not be big boyed by the elite teams this year. I especially like the big to big high low and interior passes. Also the dunks are back! Finally a Syracuse team that can honor the legacy of the peak teams from a dunking and entertainment standpoint.
- For the first time in a decade plus we actually have an intentional rotation. It’s refreshing to see contributions from the 10th player on the bench on a regular basis. The players seem more engaged and together… maybe because they know everyone is playing?
- When Zephir is your 10th man you have a deep squad. Well done to the coaches on roster construction. The team is 2 deep at every position with quality in players.
- Kiyan Anthony… what a baller. The kid is a walking bucket at this point and he has shown the ability to be a surprisingly good ball handler who can initiate the offense. Well done Melo!
- Donnie Freeman… kid could have gone anywhere and gotten a bag. But he chose to stick it out with Autry and take care of unfinished business. what a great leader and great kid!
- accountability… against Delaware st, Red pulled players for poor defense or dumb offense on multiple occasions including Freeman, George and Anthony (his three best players) Love it… want to see it more of it especially with JJ.
- Kyle’s vertical… love the blocks and the monster dunks. Most fun player on the team
- the margin of victory has been very impressive… you can only beat who you play.
Downside
- Point guard play… completely lacking at this point. George is forcing the action too much while being too loose with the ball and so far can’t hit the broadside of the barn. Fennell could be a decent player down the road but right now he plays too horizontal and puts very little attacking pressure on the other team. Also his jumper forgot to make the trip from Australia
- 3 piont shooting in general… this team wants to be a high volume 3 point team but right now they are shooting pretty poorly on pretty wide open shots. If they don’t turn this around this will sink them against good teams.
- The half court offense is very unconvincing. They take a long time to get into sets and there is a lot of movement and passing and handoffs that lead to nothing. The pick and roll offense is pretty inefficient which is bizarre considering George’s reputation as a pick and roll artist. My only hope is that Autry is saving sets for the games that matter otherwise we are going to see some serious scoring droughts.
- Donnie starting out outside in… right now freeman is a pick and roll guy or a mid post guy who can run the offense from there. What he is not is a jump shooter or a post up guy (yet)… so let’s get him the ball in his sweet spots so he can work. Red needs to bench Donnie every time he takes a 3 early in the shot clock
- The initial defense is very much improved… but the secondary movement and rotations still seem a bit lacking. I don’t know if the 1000% effort is sustainable against teams with like for like talent without a more sophisticated strategy.
- the last downside… Miss you SWC!
