Kyle Cuffe Transferring to Syracuse (5/18/23)

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Kyle Cuffe Jr. said on Thursday he would transfer to Syracuse. The 6-foot-2 guard will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting his first year at Kansas and then taking a medical redshirt this past year after suffering a knee injury two games into the season.

That answers that. His waiver must have been approved.

 

[MSOrange]

Good article. Dad seems like a good guy.

 

[capeorange]

The Dome, "it's different".

I like the sound of that. It needs to be put on a tee-shirt.

 

[Orangezoo]

So this transfer was a perfect excuse to talk to my old neighbor from my my wife and I had our first apartment in Maryland - the neighbor was a Kansas alum who actually grew up in Lawrence and obsessive KU hoops fan.

We kept in touch after a rocky start to the neighborship that improved over time and was a good hoops watching pal at BDubs until we moved.

Anyways we caught up and chatted Mr Cuffe.

Here's a few things he shared.

1- the first redshirt as always kind of a mystery as some said it was injury related as well as the second and others just due losing his last year in HS because of covid. When they just were speaking about one being medical and the other not, it was an eyebrow raise- but he said seeing that workout more recently- thinks it could just have been a lot of fan speculation - doesn't really know. Some of the online Kansas fanbase still seems to think it still was injury related, in part to if you just watch him play via old highlights he is quite reckless attacking the rim and often landing on one leg or awkwardly. He didn't mention anything about a reclass.

2- As for his recovery- there were mixed feelings and disagreements from fans around the ordeal. Mostly speculation. From what he heard Kyle has fully recovered and hard at work at his game. The explosiveness not gone but Kyle working hard on other parts of his game including his shot that might be way underrated at this juncture after a couple years at Kansas to work on it. Kyle is a relentless worker and gym rat. He said he met him once at a game and kid just is a bright spot wherever he goes. Sounds like Symir in that regard. Other thing he noted he has heard is that Kyle has focused on being smarter with the knee and not as reckless. That sort of promoted speculation he could never be the same athlete again- which is hogwash- its just about not taking unnecessary risks just to bring the house down... but no question he still can.

3. I invited him to this board as he lurks and occasionally posts on the KU board. He likely won't but did just share The KU board is like ours- a lot of impatient opinions and speculation that ends up with half the fans rooting a kid on and the other half saying he can't cut it, should go to a lesser school or that it's hilarious SU took a flyer and we suck because of it. The same hard-core saltiness we have here lol.

Looking forward to another good addition. Nothing I heard screams to this kid being a major reach or gambling. He's got 4 years of eligibility with 2 years around the best program in the country. Basically an older more experienced freshman.

 

[swish7]

Absolutely love it.

Hopefully, he comes back from these injuries as the same athlete he once was.

Impressive stuff. He is like a more muscular Stevie Thompson, or a shorter Josh Pace.

 

[oldpinepoint]

Dude can jump out of the gym

 

[Janner]

I haven't been this excited about preseason practice reports in a loooong time. Tons of story lines that im very curious about. We have lots of potential and the most athleticism in a very long time, but lots unknowns as well. Is the skill level there? Will the team mesh? What kind of offense and defense are we going to run? Are Westry, Carey and Cuffe healthy? Have the lost a step or are they good? Have any of the Soph's made a leap? And so on. Im genuinely excited for practice, which I think is a good sign

 

[OrangeFoo]

So this transfer was a perfect excuse to talk to my old neighbor from my my wife and I had our first apartment in Maryland - the neighbor was a Kansas alum who actually grew up in Lawrence and obsessive KU hoops fan.

We kept in touch after a rocky start to the neighborship that improved over time and was a good hoops watching pal at BDubs until we moved.

Anyways we caught up and chatted Mr Cuffe.

Here's a few things he shared.

1- the first redshirt as always kind of a mystery as some said it was injury related as well as the second and others just due losing his last year in HS because of covid. When they just were speaking about one being medical and the other not, it was an eyebrow raise- but he said seeing that workout more recently- thinks it could just have been a lot of fan speculation - doesn't really know. Some of the online Kansas fanbase still seems to think it still was injury related, in part to if you just watch him play via old highlights he is quite reckless attacking the rim and often landing on one leg or awkwardly. He didn't mention anything about a reclass.

2- As for his recovery- there were mixed feelings and disagreements from fans around the ordeal. Mostly speculation. From what he heard Kyle has fully recovered and hard at work at his game. The explosiveness not gone but Kyle working hard on other parts of his game including his shot that might be way underrated at this juncture after a couple years at Kansas to work on it. Kyle is a relentless worker and gym rat. He said he met him once at a game and kid just is a bright spot wherever he goes. Sounds like Symir in that regard. Other thing he noted he has heard is that Kyle has focused on being smarter with the knee and not as reckless. That sort of promoted speculation he could never be the same athlete again- which is hogwash- its just about not taking unnecessary risks just to bring the house down... but no question he still can.

3. I invited him to this board as he lurks and occasionally posts on the KU board. He likely won't but did just share The KU board is like ours- a lot of impatient opinions and speculation that ends up with half the fans rooting a kid on and the other half saying he can't cut it, should go to a lesser school or that it's hilarious SU took a flyer and we suck because of it. The same hard-core saltiness we have here lol.

Looking forward to another good addition. Nothing I heard screams to this kid being a major reach or gambling. He's got 4 years of eligibility with 2 years around the best program in the country. Basically an older more experienced freshman.

Sounds like some Wes Johnson like upside… freak athlete who spent downtime rounding out his his game.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I haven't been this excited about preseason practice reports in a loooong time. Tons of story lines that im very curious about. We have lots of potential and the most athleticism in a very long time, but lots unknowns as well. Is the skill level there? Will the team mesh? What kind of offense and defense are we going to run? Are Westry, Carey and Cuffe healthy? Have the lost a step or are they good? Have any of the Soph's made a leap? And so on. Im genuinely excited for practice, which I think is a good sign

I have no idea how good we'll be, but I feel very positive that we'll be a lot more fun to watch.

 

[samspann1]

I loved me some Dion.

 

[OburgCuse]

I was there! Small tournament in Gastonia, NC so I went to check out Dion and BMK (Oak Hill). Felt like the game stopped for like 5 mins after the dunk as everyone was in awe and Dion paraded around lol. Oak Hill was so much more talented top to bottom but Dion almost single handedly won that game for his team.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I loved me some Dion.

You know you’re old when you see Ronald McDonald at a game.

 

[UpstateSM]

I haven't been this excited about preseason practice reports in a loooong time. Tons of story lines that im very curious about. We have lots of potential and the most athleticism in a very long time, but lots unknowns as well. Is the skill level there? Will the team mesh? What kind of offense and defense are we going to run? Are Westry, Carey and Cuffe healthy? Have the lost a step or are they good? Have any of the Soph's made a leap? And so on. Im genuinely excited for practice, which I think is a good sign

I was just saying this to a friend this morning. If someone on here can get me into practice I will buy you breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lol

 

[SWC75]

Basically the replacement for Symir. Not quite the same player but maybe the same minutes. He played 3 minutes for the Jayhawks last year, which is why he's willing to come here.

Kyle Cuffe College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

 

[Cusefan0307]

Basically the replacement for Symir. Not quite the same player but maybe the same minutes. He played 3 minutes for the Jayhawks last year, which is why he's willing to come here.

Kyle Cuffe College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

Much higher upside.

 

[SWC75]

Much higher upside.

Symir was higher rated:

Symir Torrence, Syracuse Orange, Combo Guard

Symir Torrence is a 6-3, 190-pound guard from Syracuse, NY. He attends Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT. He reclassified from 2020 class to 2019 class.

247sports.com

And a much better passer. But who knows, Cuffe may develop into a star in his four years here.

 

[RF2044]

It's the coaching staffs' job to recruit over the incumbents, and its the incumbents' job to prove themselves and not cede PT to incoming players.

May the best players win the PT. It's going to be a much different orientation towards rotations / allocation of PT under the new coach, I'm betting.

Get the best players / athletes you can -- period -- and let them sort it out in practice. The days of penciling in certain players for guaranteed 35+ minutes are over.

 

[DoctorBombay]

So this transfer was a perfect excuse to talk to my old neighbor from my my wife and I had our first apartment in Maryland - the neighbor was a Kansas alum who actually grew up in Lawrence and obsessive KU hoops fan.

We kept in touch after a rocky start to the neighborship that improved over time and was a good hoops watching pal at BDubs until we moved.

Anyways we caught up and chatted Mr Cuffe.

Here's a few things he shared.

1- the first redshirt as always kind of a mystery as some said it was injury related as well as the second and others just due losing his last year in HS because of covid. When they just were speaking about one being medical and the other not, it was an eyebrow raise- but he said seeing that workout more recently- thinks it could just have been a lot of fan speculation - doesn't really know. Some of the online Kansas fanbase still seems to think it still was injury related, in part to if you just watch him play via old highlights he is quite reckless attacking the rim and often landing on one leg or awkwardly. He didn't mention anything about a reclass.

2- As for his recovery- there were mixed feelings and disagreements from fans around the ordeal. Mostly speculation. From what he heard Kyle has fully recovered and hard at work at his game. The explosiveness not gone but Kyle working hard on other parts of his game including his shot that might be way underrated at this juncture after a couple years at Kansas to work on it. Kyle is a relentless worker and gym rat. He said he met him once at a game and kid just is a bright spot wherever he goes. Sounds like Symir in that regard. Other thing he noted he has heard is that Kyle has focused on being smarter with the knee and not as reckless. That sort of promoted speculation he could never be the same athlete again- which is hogwash- its just about not taking unnecessary risks just to bring the house down... but no question he still can.

3. I invited him to this board as he lurks and occasionally posts on the KU board. He likely won't but did just share The KU board is like ours- a lot of impatient opinions and speculation that ends up with half the fans rooting a kid on and the other half saying he can't cut it, should go to a lesser school or that it's hilarious SU took a flyer and we suck because of it. The same hard-core saltiness we have here lol.

Looking forward to another good addition. Nothing I heard screams to this kid being a major reach or gambling. He's got 4 years of eligibility with 2 years around the best program in the country. Basically an older more experienced freshman.

Great post

 

[Orangezoo]

Symir was higher rated:

Symir Torrence, Syracuse Orange, Combo Guard

Symir Torrence is a 6-3, 190-pound guard from Syracuse, NY. He attends Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT. He reclassified from 2020 class to 2019 class.

247sports.com

And a much better passer. But who knows, Cuffe may develop into a star in his four years here.

Much different players. No offense to Symir but when you review the tape for both of them from HS.. you would have their ranking flipped if you had to blindly choose who got which ranking.

 

[M2MPrinciples]

You know you're starting to get old when someone you watched as a college kid has their own college kid.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Symir was higher rated:

Symir Torrence, Syracuse Orange, Combo Guard

Symir Torrence is a 6-3, 190-pound guard from Syracuse, NY. He attends Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT. He reclassified from 2020 class to 2019 class.

247sports.com

And a much better passer. But who knows, Cuffe may develop into a star in his four years here.

Symir's statistical profile over his college career is remarkably consistent. He didn't really have a floor or a ceiling, he just was the same player.

If that's Cuffe's career, so be it, but it feels like there's a lot more potential for more than what Symir accomplished.

 

[orangefog]

I was just saying this to a friend this morning. If someone on here can get me into practice I will buy you breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lol

And then breakfast again the next morning?

 

[swish7]

I haven't been this excited about preseason practice reports in a loooong time. Tons of story lines that im very curious about. We have lots of potential and the most athleticism in a very long time, but lots unknowns as well. Is the skill level there? Will the team mesh? What kind of offense and defense are we going to run? Are Westry, Carey and Cuffe healthy? Have the lost a step or are they good? Have any of the Soph's made a leap? And so on. Im genuinely excited for practice, which I think is a good sign

The lack of a bruiser is what is holding me back. It just seems like whenever I watch the sweet 16 and beyond, these teams have a bunch of 6'7 to 6'9 230-240 types. And, I feel like SU is at its best when it has that physical presence, that DC, Otis Hill, Rick Jackson, or AO, or whatever.

I guess these types must be a rare commodity, but it would be awesome to land one.

 

[007]

It's the coaching staffs' job to recruit over the incumbents, and its the incumbents' job to prove themselves and not cede PT to incoming players.

May the best players win the PT. It's going to be a much different orientation towards rotations / allocation of PT under the new coach, I'm betting.

Get the best players / athletes you can -- period -- and let them sort it out in practice. The days of penciling in certain players for guaranteed 35+ minutes are over.

Amen RF

Fill all 13 scholarships with the best talent you can attract. Positionless basketball and versatile skill sets will make this "easier." Open competition for all spots and let results/productivity determine playing time. Fully expect and encourage the players who don't earn PT or the PT they think they deserve to portal. Some will leave for NIL, and some for early entry.

This IS the new reality. There will be significant roster turnover each and every season. There will be a constant need to recruit new talent. Glad to see Red embrace and leverage this reality.