Kenpom rankings out | Syracusefan.com

Kenpom rankings out

5 of the top 9 teams are from the Big 12.
 
I think we’re gonna be good this year and could make it into the top 25 or 30 of the KenPom rankings. Definitely among the top 40, which should put us in line for a tourney bid.

One eye-opener here. How is Virginia Tech ranked just behind us at #30? They weren’t very good last year and they lost their best player in Landers Nolley. I don’t think they have much size or rim protection either. Did they land a couple of impact transfers? Or is this a weird anomaly?
 
Sherman20 said:
I think we’re gonna be good this year and could make it into the top 25 or 30 of the KenPom rankings. Definitely among the top 40, which should put us in line for a tourney bid.

One eye-opener here. How is Virginia Tech ranked just behind us at #30? They weren’t very good last year and they lost their best player in Landers Nolley. I don’t think they have much size or rim protection either. Did they land a couple of impact transfers? Or is this a weird anomaly?
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VT has 4 transfers coming in. A couple look solid.

#90 Virginia Tech Men's Basketball 2020-2021 Preview

www.collegesportsmadness.com www.collegesportsmadness.com
 
I am probably a little gun shy since I have completely overrated us at least 3 of the past 4 years, but I'm not quite as optimistic as it seems others are. I think we definitely have potential but JG and Buddy will have to really improve on their defense. I'd like to think Sidibe will continue his strong play to end the season but I'll have to see it. We're going to need to see improvement from every guy - we were 18-14 last year for a reason.

Of course, it will depend on what the schedule looks like but I'm probably going a bit conservative on my iggy prediction this year and hoping I completely underrated the team.
 
I'm not getting my hopes up. I think they will be better early, but the ceiling is similar to last year's team. Hopefully they prove me wrong!
 
newmexicuse said:
We will be better than #29.
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I agree. Something I expect, that perhaps many do not, is a significant improvement in team defense this year. I think last year, after a few losses, JB figured that the team's best chance of salvaging its season would depend mostly on them being able to outscore opponents. But this year I expect a return to Syracuse's "Pressure Zone" Defense identity that Boeheim loves so much.

If we're all thinking clearly, for the past couple of decades Jim Boeheim has seen Defense as the key to his teams' having any kind of a chance to compete with the NCAA's elite teams. He wants his 2-3 zone to be a formidable, turnover-forcing hornet's nest of intensity & pressure. There's every indication from reports that this year he's gonna demand that of this year's group.

There will be more experience overall this year and that absolutely will lead to better results. In addition, weight gains by our skinniest starters will improve their defensive performances. The addition of Frank Anselem to the back line will help in a big way, IMO.

So if you notice immediately, in the first games, a very high level of defensive intensity from this team, you'll know right away that it's gonna be a great season, above everyone's expectations, even Ken Prom's...
 
MSOrange said:
I am probably a little gun shy since I have completely overrated us at least 3 of the past 4 years, but I'm not quite as optimistic as it seems others are. I think we definitely have potential but JG and Buddy will have to really improve on their defense. I'd like to think Sidibe will continue his strong play to end the season but I'll have to see it. We're going to need to see improvement from every guy - we were 18-14 last year for a reason.

Of course, it will depend on what the schedule looks like but I'm probably going a bit conservative on my iggy prediction this year and hoping I completely underrated the team.
Expand...
i think it all comes down to JB not playing JG3 and his son 40 minutes a game. If he does, the team will have a low ceiling, and a lot of the same issues as last year...they just arent good enough on defense to play suffocating d at the top of the 2-3.

If he is willing to bench them and/or play a deep rotation (kinda doubtful he is, though, tbh)...the sky is the limit for this team, imo.
 
Ceerqqq said:
I agree. Something I expect, that perhaps many do not, is a significant improvement in team defense this year. I think last year, after a few losses, JB figured that the team's best chance of salvaging its season would depend mostly on them being able to outscore opponents. But this year I expect a return to Syracuse's "Pressure Zone" Defense identity that Boeheim loves so much.

If we're all thinking clearly, for the past couple of decades Jim Boeheim has seen Defense as the key to his teams' having any kind of a chance to compete with the NCAA's elite teams. He wants his 2-3 zone to be a formidable, turnover-forcing hornet's nest of intensity & pressure. There's every indication from reports that this year he's gonna demand that of this year's group.

There will be more experience overall this year and that absolutely will lead to better results. In addition, weight gains by our skinniest starters will improve their defensive performances. The addition of Frank Anselem to the back line will help in a big way, IMO.

So if you notice immediately, in the first games, a very high level of defensive intensity from this team, you'll know right away that it's gonna be a great season, above everyone's expectations, even Ken Prom's...
Expand...

Agree with your comments about the D.

We will have four starters back. Reasonable to expect incremental improvement from at least three of them. Missing our #1 gun, but I believe Griffin will be able to replace a substantial chunk of Elijah's production. We will have great depth at center and I expect somebody to emerge as a viable backup to Sid and possibly even give us some minutes at the four spot if we want to go big. Should get better bench performance between an improved QG and Kadary. QG is starting caliber. Who knows, between Woody, Bras, and Chaz we might even be able to get some situational additional help at forward though I am not even factoring that in. Experience means a lot in college and we will have plenty of that coming back.
 
sutomcat said:
VT has 4 transfers coming in. A couple look solid.

#90 Virginia Tech Men's Basketball 2020-2021 Preview

www.collegesportsmadness.com www.collegesportsmadness.com
Expand...
Thanks for sharing. I still don’t see much size on that roster and not sure about the transfers other than the K State kid Diarra. I’m doubtful that they’ll be a top 30 squad. Other pundits seem to think G Tech could be decent, but they’re pretty far down the KenPom preseason rankings.
 
Sherman20 said:
I think we’re gonna be good this year and could make it into the top 25 or 30 of the KenPom rankings. Definitely among the top 40, which should put us in line for a tourney bid.

One eye-opener here. How is Virginia Tech ranked just behind us at #30? They weren’t very good last year and they lost their best player in Landers Nolley. I don’t think they have much size or rim protection either. Did they land a couple of impact transfers? Or is this a weird anomaly?
Expand...
If you check the advanced stats on Landers Nolley... they weren't good. At all. He led the ACC in usage, but was a very inefficient shooter, and he didn't really get to the line a lot. He also wasn't anything special in the assist / turnover departments. I guess for KenPom, it's a classic case of addition by subtraction.
 
malpearl31 said:
If you check the advanced stats on Landers Nolley... they weren't good. At all. He led the ACC in usage, but was a very inefficient shooter, and he didn't really get to the line a lot. He also wasn't anything special in the assist / turnover departments. I guess for KenPom, it's a classic case of addition by subtraction.
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what made Griffin so good in those efficiency metrics?
 
The big improvement will come from inside defense and inside scoring. Improvement from QG, Dolezaj, Sidibe, and at least one of the younger centers (probably Edwards). More inside strength and depth will make all the difference — avoiding foul trouble, protecting the rim, limiting offensive rebounds.
 
walsh2012 said:
what made Griffin so good in those efficiency metrics?
Expand...
Griffin shot the ball really well last year - 60% inside the arc, and 41.6% from 3-pt range. He also had a very low turnover rate, and a very high offensive rebounding rate. So he basically created a lot of extra possessions, and did very good things with the possessions that he ‘used’.

Griffin’s challenge will be to remain efficient while doing more (his usage rate wasn’t very high), and Landers Nolley’s opportunity will likely be to increase his efficiency while doing a little less.
 
CardiacCuse said:
i think it all comes down to JB not playing JG3 and his son 40 minutes a game. If he does, the team will have a low ceiling, and a lot of the same issues as last year...they just arent good enough on defense to play suffocating d at the top of the 2-3.

If he is willing to bench them and/or play a deep rotation (kinda doubtful he is, though, tbh)...the sky is the limit for this team, imo.
Expand...
Last season goodine did not get a fair shot to contribute. I thought he showed, particularly at the end of the season that he could have been a contributor, so he left.

kadary has to get a fair shot at some minutes. Buddy runs hot and cold and is matchup dependent due to mediocre athleticism. Joe is undersized and last season did not shoot up to his capabilities, though he exceeded expectations in running the point. Kadary seems to have size, ability to play the point or the two, and better athleticism than do buddy or joe. Will it translate ? That is always the question with fresh.

last season Quincy I proved in leaps and bounds as the season progressed because he got minutes. one thing is for sure, if kadary blossoms this team will be much the better for it, and he won’t blossom on the bench.
 
Haven't really dug in to preseason like I usually do because it's hard to trust that the season will actually be completely played, but some interesting things stand out to me this year.

The media thinks last year was just a blip for UVA and UNC. KenPom isn't as sold based on the metrics. In fact it would appear the media is overrating UNC. I think UVA will be good, but that all depends if they get their act together on offense.

I think Syracuse is placed just right at 6, but I could see us outplaying our preseason ranking if we really get it together. I could also see us finishing 10th. The bottom line is there will be no powerhouse ACC team this year unless someone comes out of nowhere. I know people assume Duke will just roll out the ball and be good like usual, but this isn't a season where K has guaranteed superstars on the roster. He will actually have to build a team.
 
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