JB on ESPN2 talking Red

[DCUNITED13]

JB said what what we all think but forget to say. These guys are getting paid big bucks. Its fair to criticize then now as they are professionals.. He said they did not play to expectations. And it was a direct reflection on the team performance on the court.

He defended Autry as he has defended all his players. I give him credit there. He will be forever in your court. Nice to have people like that in your corner. Granted there is some issue with how the program tailed off, no one like to see us struggle to be mediocre.

Ask yourself,

• was JJ good enough. IMHO ==> Not even close.
• Was Freeman Good enough ==> This is harder to answer
  • I thought he was the difference to our season early on.
  • Could see he was too inconsistent last 15 games and lack of experience showed

NIL is a different story as I do not know the real deal. But the consensus is that on paper we had the team that should have pushed for the Dance. I think we were rated #56 in pre-season by Jay Bilas. So NIL was probably enough. Coaching inexperience then was also a factor.

In summary I agree that highly compensated players cost Syracuse the Season. i would add that Autry also caused us to miss the NCAA's.

GO CUSE

 

[malpearl31]

Starling's scoring average suffered because he was asked to do a lot more last year, when we didn't have a true PG. Last season he was on the floor for 35 min/game (vs. 29 this year), and attempted more FGs (12.8 vs 10.9) and FTs. His shooting average actually went up slightly this season (.419 vs .407).

I don't think it is fair to pin this year's woes on Starling's play; there is enough blame to go around.

The only area in which JJ's shooting percentage went up this year was his 3-pt shooting. Here are his shooting stats for the past two seasons:

2024-25 - 2-pt FGs: 131-273 (48.0%); 3-pt FGs: 38-142 (26.8%); Free Throws: 87-127 (68.5%); TS% = 48.7%
2025-26 - 2-pt FGs: 111-239 (46.4%); 3-pt FGs: 24-83 (28.9%); Free Throws: 34-62 (54.8%); TS% = 46.7%

The pro-JJ argument during/after last season was that he had to do more, you're right about that - his Usage Rate was 28.6% last year, and he attempted 31.8% of SU's shot attempts when he was on the floor. With Donnie being injured, and with last year's underwhelming supporting cast, JJ was definitely asked to do a lot - and you could argue his poor shooting numbers were a reflection of doing too much.

But this year his Usage Rate was down... he was at 22.6% (and attempted 25.8% of SU's shots when he was on the floor)... and in general, you want to see an uptick in efficiency/shooting percentages when a player's usage rate goes down. In JJ's case, that did not happen. He was asked to do less, and unfortunately for Red and SU he was much less efficient while filling that smaller role.

For me, the most telling statistic that sums up JJ's year is that he played 30 games - and made a total of just 34 free throws! And it's not like he was launching a lot of 3-pt FGs (which generally get you less FTAs than 2-pt FG attempts), his typical game this year involved a lot of weak forays into the paint for floaters/layup attempts that did not result in opponent fouls or FTAs for JJ. Early in the season, it was discussed on this board that JJ had a mental block of some sort at the free throw line, and I think the 'hitch' in his stroke and multiple air-balled FTAs got in his head and ultimately affected his entire game.

Seemed like a nice young man, but I'm happy his tenure at SU is over. He was a big part of the reason why SU was so bad this year.

 

[pearl31]

JB said what what we all think but forget to say. These guys are getting paid big bucks. Its fair to criticize then now as they are professionals.. He said they did not play to expectations. And it was a direct reflection on the team performance on the court.

He defended Autry as he has defended all his players. I give him credit there. He will be forever in your court. Nice to have people like that in your corner. Granted there is some issue with how the program tailed off, no one like to see us struggle to be mediocre.

Ask yourself,

• was JJ good enough. IMHO ==> Not even close.
• Was Freeman Good enough ==> This is harder to answer
  • I thought he was the difference to our season early on.
  • Could see he was too inconsistent last 15 games and lack of experience showed

NIL is a different story as I do not know the real deal. But the consensus is that on paper we had the team that should have pushed for the Dance. I think we were rated #56 in pre-season by Jay Bilas. So NIL was probably enough. Coaching inexperience then was also a factor.

In summary I agree that highly compensated players cost Syracuse the Season. i would add that Autry also caused us to miss the NCAA's.

GO CUSE

damn outline format

 

[Sherman20]

we didn't have $8-$9m of NIL. and jb hasn't been fundraising for NIL.

First of all, you know I mean $8-9 million for the roster including the money provided by the university in the House settlement. When people say NIL, that’s what they mean and are referring to. It’s total money for the roster.

As for JB, he shoud be doing NIL fundraising.

 

[Sherman20]

$5M. The $8-$9m includes the revenue sharing.

But almost everyone refers to the total number as NIL when you see reporting about it online. Hate to break that to you.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Jimmy b was wrong in so far as intimating JJ was one of the two best players on the team. We sat here last year and argued about wanting this guy back and most wanted no part of it. We were right . They were wrong.

 

[Blanko97]

It’s funny that Boeheim picked on Starling.

Boeheim is why JJ didn’t come here originally.

Maybe he saw what we all learned slowly, JJ isn’t p5 starter level good

 

[Dcuse]

Its on the coach that kept playing him extended minutes

Those minutes should have gone to Kiyan?

 

[JRHEETER]

Those minutes should have gone to Kiyan?

Have you looked at their stat differentials? I think you can make an argument that Kiyan should have been playing more.

Kiyan:
18.7 mins per game
39% from the field
63% from the Free Throw line
8 pts per game
.9 Assists per game
1.0 Turnover per game

J.J.:
29 mins per game
42% from the field
55% from the Free throw line
10.9 pts per game
2.4 assists per game
1.4 TO per game

I think it is fair to say that Kiyan should have got more run, especially when he was hot. When Kiyan was hot he was unstoppable. But many times in those situations Red subbed him out and out J.J. back in who was not playing as well.

Our subbing by Red this year was bizarre to say the least.



Also you are comparing a TRUE FRESHMAN to a SENIOR. The senior's stats should be SIGNIFICANTLY better. But they are slightly better/similar...to a true freshman.

 

[Cappy3]

Have you looked at their stat differentials? I think you can make an argument that Kiyan should have been playing more.

Kiyan:
18.7 mins per game
39% from the field
63% from the Free Throw line
8 pts per game
.9 Assists per game
1.0 Turnover per game

J.J.:
29 mins per game
42% from the field
55% from the Free throw line
10.9 pts per game
2.4 assists per game
1.4 TO per game

I think it is fair to say that Kiyan should have got more run, especially when he was hot. When Kiyan was hot he was unstoppable. But many times in those situations Red subbed him out and out J.J. back in who was not playing as well.

Our subbing by Red this year was bizarre to say the least.



Also you are comparing a TRUE FRESHMAN to a SENIOR. The senior's stats should be SIGNIFICANTLY better. But they are slightly better/similar...to a true freshman.

You’re ignoring the fact that while JJ’s defense wasn’t good, Kiyan leaked like a sieve.