Inside Syracuse basketball practice with Allen Griffin | Page 2 | Syracusefan.com

Inside Syracuse basketball practice with Allen Griffin

Orangezoo said:
I can't wait to see Maliq in year 2. He is the quiet kid that hardly ever does anything wrong and is just always making positive plays being a menace as a defender, getting his hands on loose balls and rebounds, running the court or getting quick put backs. He gives an opponent very little - you have to earn it when playing against him that includes being a quiet soft spoken kid so you aren't rattling him either. He has that quiet confidence in him you just can't teach.
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My hand grows tired giving likes to you.
 
Feel we will need at least 2 guys to be knock down 3 point shooters, Bell?Taylor and Benny. If Mintz, JJ and Westry can knock down at a pedestrian level we will be difficult to stop even in 1/2 court setttings. Trying to figure out how to mix/match lineups will be the challenge.
 
jordoo said:
Did your Dad give you that nickname?
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I was humiliated by my last name. Kids laughed at the beginning of every school year when I had to introduce myself. Then in 1964 The Beatles happened. My name became cool! And Beadle Bomb Bailey Bug was said with affection, and I didn’t mind.

I began calling myself Bballbeadle when I joined this forum. I thought it had a good ring to it.

And now back to basketball and how astonishing our season is going to be this year!
 
It sounded like he said Williams is able to hold his own against this current group of centers right now, today. If thats thats the case he is going to be a monster just needs to add some strength and endurance before the season the get miNotes this year.
 
Orangezoo said:
Reading the tea leaves but a stronger Maliq will be hard to keep off the floor. Not because of the other guys struggling either more just in how much he can do to impact the game.
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Yeah agreed. I think there were some interesting inferences to make from what Griff said in that interview. To be clear, I don't think Griff was intending to make any news here and I'm just reading into what he was saying a bit, but here's what I took from it:

  • Thought it was interesting that he listed Brown as the best defender and rebounder of the 5's even though he's not a 5. Don't think he was intending to knock the other guys but I do think that means we're going to see a healthy dose of Brown at the 5.

  • Interesting reviews of the other centers. Seemed to me Griff loves the athleticism and aggressiveness of Carey, but still not totally healthy. Hope he can get there. Little talk of Hima would suggest to me that he is probably mostly a backup option for his time here barring some major, unforeseen improvements. Thought the review of McLeod was kind of a 'he's talented as long as he's going to keep working hard' thing without saying exactly that. Griff seemed really high on Patterson so while i doubt he'll factor in this year, hopefully he's another guy who may have been a bit underrated like Brown and Edwards when we signed him back in the day.

  • Griff went out of his way to point out that all three of Westry/JJ/Judah can all 'touch the paint' at will. Not sure if he's thinking of Westry from a few years ago when he was being recruited of if he is healthy and showing out. Regardless, would seem to suggest that we're looking at a heavy dose of an athletic three-guard kind of lineup. Also wonder what that means for Q, Bell, and Taylor. My gut says these guys will still be fighting one another for PT and that there's a chance that there is less of that PT to go around (Judah and JJ maybe topping 30 mpg and maybe westry getting big minutes at the three would leave less than last year when the 3 was up for grabs).

  • He mentioned there are like 9 guys who could play starters minutes. I'd say that's probably about right. If everyone is healthy, Westry/JJ/Judah/Brown are locks. Benny is probably included in that group even though I still have some questions. That's four. McLeod has to be in there. I'm guessing Patterson, Carey and maybe Hima aren't in there. So I'm guessing the other four are Q, Taylor, Bell and Cuffe? Regardless, will be interesting to see if we really go with some sort of UConn-style minutes distribution where no one hits 30 or a more traditional 33+ for the best players (JJ and Judah, perhaps) then a mix of minutes behind them?
 
billsin01 said:
Yeah agreed. I think there were some interesting inferences to make from what Griff said in that interview. To be clear, I don't think Griff was intending to make any news here and I'm just reading into what he was saying a bit, but here's what I took from it:

  • Thought it was interesting that he listed Brown as the best defender and rebounder of the 5's even though he's not a 5. Don't think he was intending to knock the other guys but I do think that means we're going to see a healthy dose of Brown at the 5.

  • Interesting reviews of the other centers. Seemed to me Griff loves the athleticism and aggressiveness of Carey, but still not totally healthy. Hope he can get there. Little talk of Hima would suggest to me that he is probably mostly a backup option for his time here barring some major, unforeseen improvements. Thought the review of McLeod was kind of a 'he's talented as long as he's going to keep working hard' thing without saying exactly that. Griff seemed really high on Patterson so while i doubt he'll factor in this year, hopefully he's another guy who may have been a bit underrated like Brown and Edwards when we signed him back in the day.

  • Griff went out of his way to point out that all three of Westry/JJ/Judah can all 'touch the paint' at will. Not sure if he's thinking of Westry from a few years ago when he was being recruited of if he is healthy and showing out. Regardless, would seem to suggest that we're looking at a heavy dose of an athletic three-guard kind of lineup. Also wonder what that means for Q, Bell, and Taylor. My gut says these guys will still be fighting one another for PT and that there's a chance that there is less of that PT to go around (Judah and JJ maybe topping 30 mpg and maybe westry getting big minutes at the three would leave less than last year when the 3 was up for grabs).

  • He mentioned there are like 9 guys who could play starters minutes. I'd say that's probably about right. If everyone is healthy, Westry/JJ/Judah/Brown are locks. Benny is probably included in that group even though I still have some questions. That's four. McLeod has to be in there. I'm guessing Patterson, Carey and maybe Hima aren't in there. So I'm guessing the other four are Q, Taylor, Bell and Cuffe? Regardless, will be interesting to see if we really go with some sort of UConn-style minutes distribution where no one hits 30 or a more traditional 33+ for the best players (JJ and Judah, perhaps) then a mix of minutes behind them?
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Q and Bell are going to play a lot.
 
billsin01 said:
Yeah agreed. I think there were some interesting inferences to make from what Griff said in that interview. To be clear, I don't think Griff was intending to make any news here and I'm just reading into what he was saying a bit, but here's what I took from it:

  • Thought it was interesting that he listed Brown as the best defender and rebounder of the 5's even though he's not a 5. Don't think he was intending to knock the other guys but I do think that means we're going to see a healthy dose of Brown at the 5.

  • Interesting reviews of the other centers. Seemed to me Griff loves the athleticism and aggressiveness of Carey, but still not totally healthy. Hope he can get there. Little talk of Hima would suggest to me that he is probably mostly a backup option for his time here barring some major, unforeseen improvements. Thought the review of McLeod was kind of a 'he's talented as long as he's going to keep working hard' thing without saying exactly that. Griff seemed really high on Patterson so while i doubt he'll factor in this year, hopefully he's another guy who may have been a bit underrated like Brown and Edwards when we signed him back in the day.

  • Griff went out of his way to point out that all three of Westry/JJ/Judah can all 'touch the paint' at will. Not sure if he's thinking of Westry from a few years ago when he was being recruited of if he is healthy and showing out. Regardless, would seem to suggest that we're looking at a heavy dose of an athletic three-guard kind of lineup. Also wonder what that means for Q, Bell, and Taylor. My gut says these guys will still be fighting one another for PT and that there's a chance that there is less of that PT to go around (Judah and JJ maybe topping 30 mpg and maybe westry getting big minutes at the three would leave less than last year when the 3 was up for grabs).

  • He mentioned there are like 9 guys who could play starters minutes. I'd say that's probably about right. If everyone is healthy, Westry/JJ/Judah/Brown are locks. Benny is probably included in that group even though I still have some questions. That's four. McLeod has to be in there. I'm guessing Patterson, Carey and maybe Hima aren't in there. So I'm guessing the other four are Q, Taylor, Bell and Cuffe? Regardless, will be interesting to see if we really go with some sort of UConn-style minutes distribution where no one hits 30 or a more traditional 33+ for the best players (JJ and Judah, perhaps) then a mix of minutes behind them?
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My guess for the nine player rotation, in approximate amount of playing time (if Hima is hobbled a bit):

Mintz
Starling
Williams
McLeod
Westry
Brown
Bell
Taylor
Copeland

(Gap)

Cuffe
Patterson/Carey/Hima

I would have had Hima getting backup center minutes, but sounds like Brown and Williams will play power forward together at times, I'd guess.

Without any other true center ready to play, McLeod will play more than anticipated, as Brown and Williams will still get pushed around in the ACC.

Everybody else is pretty much chalk, I think
 
sutomcat said:
Mike is a good interviewer. Griff was very forthcoming with opinions and details on the team. He is very high on all his centers and has special praise for Will's future.

Well worth a listen if you like SU hoops.
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If he’s healthy, watch out for Peter Carey. Griff hinted as much. It may not come together this year, but if can heal and remain injury free, he could be a really good center/PF as a Junior and senior. He’s super athletic and has a great motor.
 
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rrlbees said:
Bell will start at the 3 like last year.
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I have a hard time seeing Bell start. Seems like we have some better options, especially if JJ, Judah and Westry are able to hit outside shots.
 
CardiacCuse said:
hmmm...yeah he has kinda been the forgotten man on the current roster and the center discussion this offesason on this board didn;t even seem to acknowledge his existence...but something told me he might be a surprise...


hopefully he can be a "diamond in the rough" find!
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Yeah but I would suspect, like Jesse, it comes together for Patterson his Junior and senior year. He’s got some natural ability but he’s raw right now. Same with Carey.
 
Sherman20 said:
If he’s healthy, watch out for Peter Carey. Griff hinted as much. It may not come together this year, but if can heal and remain injury free, he could be a really good center/PF as a Junior and senior. He’s super athletic and has a great motor.
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I loved Carey’s film coming out of high school. In this age of college hoops I just hope he sticks around long enough to have a shot at seeing the floor. Sounded like he still wasn’t completely healthy.
 
Bulldog04 said:
Yeah Bell is going to start for those interested. Westry is coming off bench. The staff kept Bell here for a reason and it’s not to come off the bench
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I wouldn’t know so I’d take your word for it or Bees’ word for it. I still think there’s questions for all three Sophs and even Benny a bit in terms of how many minutes they get.

The odds of us running a rotation like UConn did last year where even Hawkins doesn’t play 30 mpg and a super talented big like Clingan only hits 13 mpg fees like a remote possibility. I would think Judah will play a ton and if JJ is healthy and living up to his billing, same goes for him. If Westry is healthy and plays well, he’s at least over 20, I would think.

That leaves far fewer minutes for the rest of the sophs to split. Does one guy emerge? Or do they all get some minutes but bell and taylor get a few less than last year? It will be interesting to watch and I’m not rooting for anything other than health for all these guys. If Q/Bell/Taylor or some combo of those three plays really well and steals some minutes from the other guys, that’s great. Same for cuffe.
 
cusefan88 said:
He's the other guy along with Benny that I think will play better and more consistently with a change in approach from the Head Coach.
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Offensive talent really isn’t the issue with Bell. It’s his motor defensively and on the glass. That will be the key to him keeping his starting position IMO. We have too many guys that can play this year to allow him to be lazy again.
 
Cusefan0307 said:
Offensive talent really isn’t the issue with Bell. It’s his motor defensively and on the glass. That will be the key to him keeping his starting position IMO. We have too many guys that can play this year to allow him to be lazy again.
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Think the issue for him last year was strength getting bumped off ball. Expect a big jump
 
Cusefan0307 said:
Offensive talent really isn’t the issue with Bell. It’s his motor defensively and on the glass. That will be the key to him keeping his starting position IMO. We have too many guys that can play this year to allow him to be lazy again.
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He isn’t going to have an option to not have a defensive motor. That message has been relayed loud and clear to him. If he wants to play offense he HAS to play defense. It’s a mutual agreement coaches and Bell get what they both want there
 
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