Last time SU had a returning player

[Henny & Coke]

When was the last time SU had a returning player who had these types of averages in conference play year before:

Michael Gbinije (18 conf games): 14.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.0 apg, 2.1 spg

Some recent names that come close:

CJ Fair in 2012-13 had 15.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.4 bpg in conf play (18 games)

Kris Joseph in 2010-11 had 14.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg in conf play (17 games)

J. Flynn in 2007-08 (full year stats - 35 games) had 15.7 ppg, 5.3 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 spg

Devo in 2006-07 (full year stats - 35 games) had 14.8 ppg, 4.1 apg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 spg

Really gives you some perspective on how big it is to be getting Gbinije back for next year. Just a really good all around player, with high averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals. (I needed some hope after the McCullough news haha.)

In fact, a look at Gbinije's game log reveals just a super 6 game stretch towards end of season, where he was simply on fire. Over the 6 game span in which we played (a few damn good teams too):

UNC (Sweet 16 team),
V. Tech,
Pitt,
BC,
Duke (at least Final 4 team), and
Louisville (Elite 8 team),

Gbinije averaged 20.5 ppg, 4.8 apg, 4.7 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.8 tpg with 589% FG & 514% 3PT averages!

Really looking forward to seeing if Gbinije can play close to those 6 game numbers more consistently next year. That may be too much to ask, though, as those are some outstanding numbers.

 

[pearl31]

nice post, H&C

 

[SoBeCuse]

Nice post. I'll be curious to see a couple of things regarding Silent G next season. He is definitely more versatile than guys like Fair/Joseph but he will be receiving way more attention than this season from defenses, imo. I was reamed by certain posters when I suggested G is a good but not great athlete. Fair and Joseph weren't great athletes either imo and weren't capable of shouldering the Boeheim ISO-go to player designation. I still don't think he is explosive enough to be a go to guy. However, he is a MUCH better passer than those two so I suspect as a team we will have better results. Just my $.02

 

[Henny & Coke]

Some info on how season played out when we did have an important returning player:

CJ Fair coming back after his good 2012-13 season led to: 28-6 record & Round of 32 loss to Dayton in 2013-14.

Kris Joseph coming back after his good 2010-11 season led to: 34-3 record & Elite 8 loss to Ohio State in 2011-12.

J. Flynn coming back after his good 2007-08 season led to: 28-10 record & Sweet 16 loss to Oklahoma in 2008-09.

And Devo's good season in 2006-07 doesn't provide a good comparison, since he was injured after only 10 games in next season, and team went 21-14 & missed NCAA Tournament in 2007-08.

All in all, I'd say it's a pretty positive influence/indicator to have a guy like Gbinije returning next year.

 

[Shark58]

Some info on how season played out when we did have an important returning player:

CJ Fair coming back after his good 2012-13 season led to: 28-6 record & Round of 32 loss to Dayton in 2013-14.

Kris Joseph coming back after his good 2010-11 season led to: 34-3 record & Elite 8 loss to Ohio State in 2011-12.

J. Flynn coming back after his good 2007-08 season led to: 28-10 record & Sweet 16 loss to Oklahoma in 2008-09.

And Devo's good season in 2006-07 doesn't provide a good comparison, since he was injured after only 10 games in next season, and team went 21-14 & missed NCAA Tournament in 2007-08.

All in all, I'd say it's a pretty positive influence/indicator to have a guy like Gbinije returning next year.

all of these seasons would have probably ended with deeper runs if it wasn't for injuries or Fabness

 

[zhanjuzi]

Nice post. I'll be curious to see a couple of things regarding Silent G next season. He is definitely more versatile than guys like Fair/Joseph but he will be receiving way more attention than this season from defenses, imo. I was reamed by certain posters when I suggested G is a good but not great athlete. Fair and Joseph weren't great athletes either imo and weren't capable of shouldering the Boeheim ISO-go to player designation. I still don't think he is explosive enough to be a go to guy. However, he is a MUCH better passer than those two so I suspect as a team we will have better results. Just my $.02

My goodness, do you mean "freak" athlete because as far as I'm concerned, M. Gbinije is an excellent athlete.

 

[SoBeCuse]

My goodness, do you mean "freak" athlete because as far as I'm concerned, M. Gbinije is an excellent athlete.

We can agree to disagree about the excellent athlete part and no I don't think he needs to be some "freak athlete." I just don't know if he will be able to be the man against good teams/defenders. There will be no Rak so Silent G will get WAY more attention next season.

 

[two3zone]

We can agree to disagree about the excellent athlete part and no I don't think he needs to be some "freak athlete." I just don't know if he will be able to be the man against good teams/defenders. There will be no Rak so Silent G will get WAY more attention next season.

I agree, I think he'll see the attention CJ received as a senior. I think we remember what happened to CJ's 3pt % from year 3 to 4.

 

[Brooky03]

Does more attention on G mean less attention on Cooney and/or Richardson? If so, yayyyy 3 pointers.

 

[Brooky03]

Nice post. I'll be curious to see a couple of things regarding Silent G next season. He is definitely more versatile than guys like Fair/Joseph but he will be receiving way more attention than this season from defenses, imo. I was reamed by certain posters when I suggested G is a good but not great athlete. Fair and Joseph weren't great athletes either imo and weren't capable of shouldering the Boeheim ISO-go to player designation. I still don't think he is explosive enough to be a go to guy. However, he is a MUCH better passer than those two so I suspect as a team we will have better results. Just my $.02

G is probably the better athlete of the 3 but the margin is slim. I don't think athleticism has too much to do with the ability to thrive in Isolation, though. Having a balanced game, a few refined scoring moves, and good ballhandling are much more important. G's ballhandling is certainly better than either Fair or Joseph's was, but he's also giving up height.

It'll be interesting to see if he's ready to be our go-to guy.

 

[syr14]

I agree, I think he'll see the attention CJ received as a senior. I think we remember what happened to CJ's 3pt % from year 3 to 4.

I would think teams are still going to hone in on Cooney. Everyone gameplanned against him this past year. If our opposition wants to roll the dice leaving a healthy 5th year senior Cooney open, I'd be more than ok with that.

 

[bozophobe]

G's stats are hard to ponder here. One week, he's putting up center-like numbers (16 pts/11 rbs), and the next, he's called on for more point guard duties, which sinks his numbers, including 3 pt. %. He seems to do best (statistically) when he's doing that roaming 2/3, Southerland or Fair thing. I appreciate he's here, but "versatility" is usually an admission that there's a vital lack of role player. He can C.J. his way into our hearts, but can he Kemba his way to a Final Four? Is there a rough precedent?

 

[Alsacs]

If Melo Trimble had the Freshman year here he would be gone, but he is returning to Maryland. Kelly Oubre Jr. is leaving Kansas though.

 

[jordoo]

If Melo Trimble had the Freshman year here he would be gone, but he is returning to Maryland. Kelly Oubre Jr. is leaving Kansas though.

Our fans think its just us but we are recruiting guys who are looking to be NBA players and doing it at a high enough level that we lose guys early consistently just like about 10-15 other schools. They are going when the opportunity presents itself. Why wouldn't they? I am pretty surprised that Trimble is coming back.

 

[ToTheHole]

I dont necessarily think JB is going to run things for G the way he did with CJ. Next season we should have a bevvy of options, and a balanced attack is more likely. I also foresee a different pace of attack as compared to what the team had with CJ's senior season. Teams that score in transition don't need to rely on isolation as much.

 

[Orangezoo]

G doesnt have to be the man. He just needs to be a guy who can create his own offense at times to spark the offense. I am hopeful we can get some of that from a more experienced kaleb as well.

 

[two3zone]

If Melo Trimble had the Freshman year here he would be gone, but he is returning to Maryland. Kelly Oubre Jr. is leaving Kansas though.

His A/TO ratio is garbage for a point guard and he's too small to play the 2. That's why he's returning.

 

[MadNY3]

I think we need to remember that G did this on essentially an NIT team versus the others.

I am happy if he keeps those averages next year and we get more balanced O from McCullough, Cooney, a PG that HAS to be better, some of the new Frosh and to a lesser degree DC.