Is it premature to say this could be my all time favorite team

[cliftonparksufan]

Needless to say, I am pretty hyped.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

If we take it to teams like this, and press, play man and zone... I will be tickled pink.

We have a bunch of horses that are meant to run. If this team sits in zone and tries to play half court offense, it will be a disservice to their athletic prowess and we will again have an early March exit.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

If we take it to teams like this, and press, play man and zone... I will be tickled pink.

We have a bunch of horses that are meant to run. If this team sits in zone and tries to play half court offense, it will be a disservice to their athletic prowess and we will again have an early March exit.

I love how active we are on defense. Amazing how many hands we get on passes and shots. On offense so far, it is like watching the Varsity scrimmage the JV.

 

[garnermike]

Absolutely premature.
How many times have you---and me--and others--said such things about SU teams, only to turn into carping critics abut the personnel or coaching or chemistry when things go a little south for a game or two?

 

[Ghost]

It's a fun team to watch, I could think of a few teams I easily liked better though.

 

[pearl31]

premature anything...

 

[cuseguy]

We haven't played anybody yet. Encouraging signs...but I need more evidence.

A lot of parts...but will it all come together when it matters?

I still think we struggle against teams that play good man to man defense. We know Scoop will %&*% the bed, so will MCW be ready when that happens?

The last three games were playground games against inferior competition. We'll get a better idea in New York just how good this team is. I think we'll need to be a lot more disciplined to be really good.

 

[texasorange]

It's a bit premature since we only beat Manhatten & Albany. But I feel what you're saying.

 

[Marsh01]

defense was poor tonight. 2 guys scored over 50 points for them and we never found them on the court. Need to sharpen that up.

 

[Czar]

I get people saying it's premature, but come on. I don't remember a Syracuse team EVER looking this good, this deep, and this versatile.

 

[cusenole9]

I get what you're saying. Usually we can kinda tell how good we are even in the early games. Even last year when we were winning early, we knew we had some big problems. We look good so far and I can see us getting better as the year goes on.

 

[orangepassion]

As a famous wise coach once said-premature anything isn't good.

It's going to be tough to top that Wesley Johnson team-that team was a pleasure to watch. 2003 wasn't bad, either.

 

[Czar]

Oh how quickly we forget teams of the past.

09-10 would roll this team by the way. That was an absurdly unselfish team.

I'm going to go ahead and say no.

 

[CuseCrew08]

I will wait to call this an elite team until we play a team that will be in the NCAA tourney... Pitt beat this team by even more than we did

 

[Czar]

I guess there is no quantifiable way to win the argument, but it's still a fun discussion.

To me, Jackson/Arinze are the biggest difference up front. Just think they would go like 18-22 from the floor (2-15 from the line) against any combination of Melo/Kieta/Xmas.

Wes then > Joseph now

Scoop/Trich Now > Scoop Tiche then

Rautins/Southerland...BOMBS AWAY...but gimme Rautins for the leadership.

Wes>Joseph
Melo and Onuaku is a wash for me
Xmas and Rick is a wash for me, maybe Rick slight edge
Rautins>Triche
Triche<Scoop

The difference maker is the bench. The current SU bench absolutely destroys that 09-10 bench.

 

[otisco]

Needless to say, I am pretty hyped.

Depends on your subjective definition of "favorite". 2003 and 2010 teams were special for many reasons, some of which are perhaps beyond words. This team is nowhere near those two.

 

[arbitragegls]

so far we have pieces to replace pieces...am not convinced the guard combos are right...that we know how to get the ball into the block...that we have shooters from the guard position for 3s...KJ is looking healthy; Melo and Keita are looking good underneath...CJ plays well...and Dirty...well we will see in conference...but I do not have confidence in our guard combos...i would make Triche a point and Scoop a 2...and run Triche with Waiters and see what happens insofar as flow

 

[Victory Lap]

Depends on your subjective definition of "favorite". 2003 and 2010 teams were special for many reasons, some of which are perhaps beyond words. This team is nowhere near those two.

you bring up a good point. This team hasn't played enough yet to make its own identity, which is something the 2003 and 2010 teams oozed. I'm sure many would disagree with these analogies and descriptions, but to me the '03 team was fun to watch because it had elements of college hoops-style play (2-3, etc.) but also had elements of the league (explosive star)... The 2010 team was the best college team one could ask for: balanced play, leadership, no super-egos, solid, consistent... This team could be (a), (b), both, or neither, we don't know yet. But I can't wait to find out.

 

[CaptainJ]

you bring up a good point. This team hasn't played enough yet to make its own identity, which is something the 2003 and 2010 teams oozed. I'm sure many would disagree with these analogies and descriptions, but to me the '03 team was fun to watch because it had elements of college hoops-style play (2-3, etc.) but also had elements of the league (explosive star)... The 2010 team was the best college team one could ask for: balanced play, leadership, no super-egos, solid, consistent... This team could be (a), (b), both, or neither, we don't know yet. But I can't wait to find out.

This is how I am feeling right now too. I'm ambivalent about a lot and feel we're just going to have to wait to see how it all plays out. I do like that JB has a lot of options, but sometimes less options and more obvious talent will win the day. Time will tell, and I'm excited about this season. Obviously the poll voters have confidence to have us at #5, and with our schedule that could creep a bit higher before we hit that first loss. Of course it is relatively meaningless compared to the final poll of the year.

 

[Shermthegeneral]

This is crazy talk IMO! I'm not sure how long the people in this thread have been following SU basketball but the 88-89 team with Sherm, Billy, DC, Stevie, and Dave Johnson...Now that was the all time best team and the most fun to watch!

 

[CusefanATL]

It's a bit premature since we only beat Manhatten & Albany. But I feel what you're saying.

AND FORDHAM!

 

[Victory Lap]

This is crazy talk IMO! I'm not sure how long the people in this thread have been following SU basketball but the 88-89 team with Sherm, Billy, DC, Stevie, and Dave Johnson...Now that was the all time best team and the most fun to watch!

This isn't about which Syracuse team was the most entertaining, just pointing out that different teams develop different identities.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.755658,-73.952095

 

[CuseTroop]

It's gonna be a fun year, but I'll always miss Wesley


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=64.822966,-147.626159

 

[wfschrec]

I will wait to call this an elite team until we play a team that will be in the NCAA tourney... Pitt beat this team by even more than we did

Differential is greater I'll give you but you are talking about the same Pitt that escaped against Rider ... at least this Cuse team is blowing out everyone they should blow out.

 

[asj410]

I'm going to say that it's still a bit premature. And in the words of JB, "premature anything isn't good."