JB thinks we are going to run more next season...

[Dave85]

"On next year's backcourt: I think the one thing you look at when you look at those three guys (John Gillon, Tyus Battle and Frank Howard) is you look at really quick, athletic guys. More athleticism and quickness than we've had. Mike (Gbinije) and Trevor (Cooney) were big, strong guards, and they were good. These guys are different. Their quickness is much better. Their athletic ability up the court is better. They're not as good shooters. Johnny can shoot it. I think Frank is getting better shooting the ball. I think Tyus is getting better. I think there's no question athletically we hope to get up and down the court a little better. With a shot-blocker in the middle we think we could pressure a little more and get some fast-break baskets. Our forwards can run. Both Tylers (Roberson and Lydon) and Matt Moyer they can run. I'd hope that would give us the opportunity to run a little more."

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim talks backcourt, NBA Draft, Zika Virus in radio appearance

 

[SUFan44]

"On next year's backcourt: I think the one thing you look at when you look at those three guys (John Gillon, Tyus Battle and Frank Howard) is you look at really quick, athletic guys. More athleticism and quickness than we've had. Mike (Gbinije) and Trevor (Cooney) were big, strong guards, and they were good. These guys are different. Their quickness is much better. Their athletic ability up the court is better. They're not as good shooters. Johnny can shoot it. I think Frank is getting better shooting the ball. I think Tyus is getting better. I think there's no question athletically we hope to get up and down the court a little better. With a shot-blocker in the middle we think we could pressure a little more and get some fast-break baskets. Our forwards can run. Both Tylers (Roberson and Lydon) and Matt Moyer they can run. I'd hope that would give us the opportunity to run a little more."

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim talks backcourt, NBA Draft, Zika Virus in radio appearance

Parting thought: Looking forward to this summer, looking forward to next year's team. I think we're going to have a few surprises, a few things that people are happy to see next year. Some of the things our players are doing, what they're working on... We always like to have surprises.

Not sure he means roster addition surprises, or just surprises within the current roster as its structured. Hopefully a little bit of both.

That being said, I think we're going to be fun to watch next year and have the potential to be an elite defensive team if the guards can learn the slides of the zone.

 

[Dave85]

Parting thought: Looking forward to this summer, looking forward to next year's team. I think we're going to have a few surprises, a few things that people are happy to see next year. Some of the things our players are doing, what they're working on... We always like to have surprises.

Not sure he means roster addition surprises, or just surprises within the current roster as its structured. Hopefully a little bit of both.

That being said, I think we're going to be fun to watch next year and have the potential to be an elite defensive team if the guards can learn the slides of the zone.

I think maybe they are working on some good offensive plays. I hope some new motion plays designed around our current players. Maybe some penetration dish plays from guards to forwards as part of the offensive set. I'd like to see something just one step more complicated than pick-n-rolls this season. We've played a lot good teams over the last couple of years with really good motion offenses. I sure hope the coaching staff cooks up something that's easy to learn and is effective. Of course, easier said than done. As soon as you succeed at any play defenses adjust.

 

[Col. Bleep]

I think maybe they are working on some good offensive plays. I hope some new motion plays designed around our current players. Maybe some penetration dish plays from guards to forwards as part of the offensive set. I'd like to see something just one step more complicated than pick-n-rolls this season. We've played a lot good teams over the last couple of years with really good motion offenses. I sure hope the coaching staff cooks up something that's easy to learn and is effective. Of course, easier said than done. As soon as you succeed at any play defenses adjust.

Great to see a team that can run.
But have the Orange ever had any plays in the past 40 years besides the double screen curl for the shooting guard?

 

[SUFan44]

I think maybe they are working on some good offensive plays. I hope some new motion plays designed around our current players. Maybe some penetration dish plays from guards to forwards as part of the offensive set. I'd like to see something just one step more complicated than pick-n-rolls this season. We've played a lot good teams over the last couple of years with really good motion offenses. I sure hope the coaching staff cooks up something that's easy to learn and is effective. Of course, easier said than done. As soon as you succeed at any play defenses adjust.

That's not happening.

 

[Dave85]

That's not happening.

I can dream! You can't stop me!

 

[OrangeDW]

Music to my ears.

The transition offense and the set play alley-oop are two things I greatly miss in SU hoops. We still get the occasional alley oop in transition or off drives. We used to get them off set plays in the half court too. I could be forgetting but I don't remember seeing that much since the Edelin/GMac to Warrick days.

And we were lethal in transition as recently as 2012. Glad it seems to be a focus and a strength of this team.

 

[Dave85]

Music to my ears.

The transition offense and the set play alley-oop are two things I greatly miss in SU hoops. We still get the occasional alley oop in transition or off drives. We used to get them off set plays in the half court too. I could be forgetting but I don't remember seeing that much since the Edelin/GMac to Warrick days.

And we were lethal in transition as recently as 2012. Glad it seems to be a focus and a strength of this team.

Me too.

 

[cuseinseattle]

Maybe is misinterpreted what he said when I listened but we might press more.

 

[Dave85]

Maybe is misinterpreted what he said when I listened but we might press more.

Yeah, with fast guys that's a good possibility. I think you are on to something.

 

[creatorsgam]

Yeah, with fast guys that's a good possibility. I think you are on to something.

That can be taxing on the players. Hope we have the depth to do it successfully if that is indeed his plan, although I trust him and the staff to know the players and limitations.

 

[jordoo]

Parting thought: Looking forward to this summer, looking forward to next year's team. I think we're going to have a few surprises, a few things that people are happy to see next year. Some of the things our players are doing, what they're working on... We always like to have surprises.

Not sure he means roster addition surprises, or just surprises within the current roster as its structured. Hopefully a little bit of both.

That being said, I think we're going to be fun to watch next year and have the potential to be an elite defensive team if the guards can learn the slides of the zone.

I read that as the guys on the roster are working on improving certain aspects of their games. It could be taken different ways for sure though. JB usually has a good pulse on his team once they all get together so its encouraging that he seems to like the group and thinks they will surprise the fans somewhat.

I feel like Moyer is going to bring a lot sort of like Lydon or Fair as freshman did. Many didn't expect them to play a lot of minutes but as they got minutes they earned more with good play. A lot of fans have been so focused on the guards since we lost our top 3 that it seems our forwards aren't talked about as much. I would bet we see the Tyler, Tyler, Matt front line more than most expect.

 

[jordoo]

That can be taxing on the players. Hope we have the depth to do it successfully if that is indeed his plan, although I trust him and the staff to know the players and limitations.

TT will eventually be in the fold but man would it be nice to have a 4th scholarship guard on the roster especially if we are going to press.

 

[Jeremy L.]

Usually our best teams are the ones who run in transition.

 

[Brooky03]

'press' doesn't always mean full court press. I'd imagine more half court traps and extended zone.

 

[Cowtown]

... preferably with the ball ...

 

[Hoo's That]

I guess we'll have to work more tackling drills into our pre-season practices.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Pressing, Running... I think one thing missed from JB's interview was the fact he specifically mentioned DC when talking about summer workouts... Makes me think he could be a legit post prescense. I know most people don't expect much from him, but others have said he could have a big year...

 

[JoeSU]

Even last season, I was impressed with Roberson and Lydon sprinting down the court in transition. I'd think they would be thrilled with more fast break opportunities.

 

[Alsacs]

I forgot what it is like to actually have an offense that can move the ball and have some speed.

I like that we are finally tweaking the offense and it just shows the personnel we had was why we played at such a slow pace.

I wish we had more more players but hopefully we get another wing or guard and local flavor.

 

[OttoMets]

Reading between the lines, we're going to have to run more. With a bunch of under-experienced (and/or under-sized) guards, any half-court zone defense is necessarily going to be worse than it usually is. The head guy's not going to concede losses, he's not going to play man, and he's probably not going to press, so we'll rely on offense to win games. We'll want to run to make that easier.

 

[OttoMets]

I think maybe they are working on some good offensive plays. I hope some new motion plays designed around our current players. Maybe some penetration dish plays from guards to forwards as part of the offensive set. I'd like to see something just one step more complicated than pick-n-rolls this season. We've played a lot good teams over the last couple of years with really good motion offenses. I sure hope the coaching staff cooks up something that's easy to learn and is effective. Of course, easier said than done. As soon as you succeed at any play defenses adjust.

This year we'll have a point guard who can run a pick-and-roll. Actually, we'll have an off-guard who can do that, too. So I think we'll be more successful without adding anything new (which is nice, because we shouldn't hold our breath for significant changes beyond a new wrinkle here or there).

 

[Dave85]

This year we'll have a point guard who can run a pick-and-roll. Actually, we'll have an off-guard who can do that, too. So I think we'll be more successful without adding anything new (which is nice, because we shouldn't hold our breath for significant changes beyond a new wrinkle here or there).

I hope you are right. Last season there were two Atlantis tournament games where it seemed like the offense was doing something really different. And then it went away. We kind of went back to the old TC running around the horn offense. I think the key to any successful CBB offense is going to be off-ball player movement. Every year I hope the Orange come of up with a new scheme on offense. JB is a brilliant tactician. He's studied Bobby Knight. I just keep thinking JB is going to invent some kind of motion offense that is mind blowing. Maybe some kind of double pick motion on both sides with dishes, kick-outs, and driving to the rim. But every year we regress back to the high pick-n-roll and a guard running around the horn. I'm hopeful again this year.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Music to my ears. And we were lethal in transition as recently as 2012. Glad it seems to be a focus and a strength of this team.

We were supposed to run more with KJ taking over for Ennis. I'll believe it when I see it. I do expect they'll try to push the ball more, but as long as they're playing zone they will statistically be in the bottom third of adjusted tempo. They'd have to make trapping and trunk monkey part of the base offense like Pitino does in order to really change that. Remember, in 2009-10 when we first went all zone, teams were not as disciplined with working the entire shot clock like they are now. The other thing that helps overall tempo -- build a friggin' lead to speed up the other team's halfcourt sets.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Frank Howard is going to drop dimes. Cannot wait. Can't teach vision. Best playmaker for others we had last year. Also the only PG. Not a coincidence.