Let's Talk About What We Need From the Portal

[IthacaMatt]

I know we've talked about this a lot leading up to the Portal opening, but some of the guys I'm seeing us involved with so far (Dickerson, a couple PGs who are not great 3 point shooters) - we have to all understand one thing. We have to have better offensive players than JJ.

We need GOOD STARTERS. Guys with COMPLETE games. We need 3 of those - a PG, a C and a SF. Good enough to start, with the ability to score, shoot, and defend.

We 3 starters, and 3 back-ups. Not six back ups, hoping 3 of them can start.

 

[IthacaMatt]

More specifically, the PG has to be able to shoot 37-40% from three. Not another one of these 32% guys who made only 17% the year before. The PG has to be better than JJ so that he is the one with the ball in his hands making the decisions at the end of games. This is not JJ's skill set. He's a pretty good sidekick, not a star.

The Center has to be able defend the post, rebound, and score on the low post, not just put-backs and dunks. An all around game. We want a Rick Jackson. The bouncy shot-blocker can be a back-up for defense, like we were supposed to use Naheem this past year.

The Small Forward has to be a dependable 3 point shooter, able to rebound and defend. We want an Elijah Hughes type. Somebody who is a legit threat to score and hit an open jumper with consistency, not sporadically.

If we don't spend our money to get 3 really good guys, instead of 6 average guys, we will not be noticeably better next year.

 

[Red2003]

Yea. Gotta have 5 guys ready to go in November. Too many years now we’ve walked into the non-con with 3 guys and trying to fill the last two spots with guys that maybe could be something.

The freshman and 5th or 6th guys we get in the portal we can hope for best with. The top 4 guys we get in the portal need to be proven and it’s going to cost.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Yea. Gotta have 5 guys ready to go in November. Too many years now we’ve walked into the non-con with 3 guys and trying to fill the last two spots with guys that maybe could be something.

The freshman and 5th or 6th guys we get in the portal we can hope for best with. The top 4 guys we get in the portal need to be proven and it’s going to cost.

Yeah, spend your money now to get starters. Then you see what you have left for back-ups.

 

[longtimefan]

More specifically, the PG has to be able to shoot 37-40% from three. Not another one of these 32% guys who made only 17% the year before. The PG has to be better than JJ so that he is the one with the ball in his hands making the decisions at the end of games. This is not JJ's skill set. He's a pretty good sidekick, not a star.

The Center has to be able defend the post, rebound, and score on the low post, not just put-backs and dunks. An all around game. We want a Rick Jackson. The bouncy shot-blocker can be a back-up for defense, like we were supposed to use Naheem this past year.

The Small Forward has to be a dependable 3 point shooter, able to rebound and defend. We want an Elijah Hughes type. Somebody who is a legit threat to score and hit an open jumper with consistency, not sporadically.

If we don't spend our money to get 3 really good guys, instead of 6 average guys, we will not be noticeably better next year.

Santa must have had a tough time giving you everything on your list.

 

[longtimefan]

Yea. Gotta have 5 guys ready to go in November. Too many years now we’ve walked into the non-con with 3 guys and trying to fill the last two spots with guys that maybe could be something.

The freshman and 5th or 6th guys we get in the portal we can hope for best with. The top 4 guys we get in the portal need to be proven and it’s going to cost.

I doubt we end up with 6 from the portal. I would hope for 3 starters and a backup. The freshmen being the bench.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Santa must have had a tough time giving you everything on your list.

Dasher said we have enough NIL money to buy 3 or 4 good players.

So go get GOOD players. We need 3 starters and at least 2 or 3 decent back ups to make the NCAA tournament next year.

Otherwise he's fired, right?

So, if the University is going to put all it can behind him, he has to get good enough players to win games.

Not flawed guys who only play 1 part of the game. Those are your back-ups, not your starters.

 

[sufandu]

Rick Jackson is exactly the type of guy I was thinking for center. That wouldn't be an elite future NBA type but a really good college player that can do everything you need a big guy to do. I don't think we necessarily need our PG to be a 40% shooter from three. 35% would be fine as long as we also have a forward that can be around the same. That's good enough that defenders have to honor it. I think about the 2003 team. Nobody was lights out with regards to percentage, but we often had three guys on the floor at the same time that went .337, .350, and .357. What we can't have are one trick ponies. I don't care if you can shoot over .400 if you can't do anything else. We need guys that can score on 2, if not all three levels and then contribute in other ways like rebounding and/or defense. And we need the coaches to put those guys in the right positions and not wait half a season to start gelling.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I doubt we end up with 6 from the portal. I would hope for 3 starters and a backup. The freshmen being the bench.

If Petar leaves, that leaves us with only 10 scholarship players to start the season. If anyone gets hurt, you have to use walk-ons to scrimmage. That's not enough guys. At least a couple get hurt every season and miss at least some time.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Good news, I just saw that Petar has announced that he's back. Now, the back up center can just be a rim protector.

 

[Wrinkle]

#1 beyond everything is guards and wings who can handle and score. Easiest way to a good offense. We certainly have talent in the frontcourt with Freeman and White, and I still believe Starling can be a good starter on a good team when he isn't the only D1 guard on the roster. Need to help JJ with some other players who can initiate offense and that doesn't mean Elliot Cadeau. You don't need a pure PG just have multiple threats on the perimeter who can put the ball on the floor

 

[IthacaMatt]

#1 beyond everything is guards and wings who can handle and score. Easiest way to a good offense. We certainly have talent in the frontcourt with Freeman and White, and I still believe Starling can be a good starter on a good team when he isn't the only D1 guard on the roster. Need to help JJ with some other players who can initiate offense and that doesn't mean Elliot Cadeau. You don't need a pure PG just have multiple threats on the perimeter who can put the ball on the floor

You have to have a low post scorer, or the outside shooters won't have enough space to shoot.

 

[althea]

Rick Jackson is exactly the type of guy I was thinking for center. That wouldn't be an elite future NBA type but a really good college player that can do everything you need a big guy to do. I don't think we necessarily need our PG to be a 40% shooter from three. 35% would be fine as long as we also have a forward that can be around the same. That's good enough that defenders have to honor it. I think about the 2003 team. Nobody was lights out with regards to percentage, but we often had three guys on the floor at the same time that went .337, .350, and .357. What we can't have are one trick ponies. I don't care if you can shoot over .400 if you can't do anything else. We need guys that can score on 2, if not all three levels and then contribute in other ways like rebounding and/or defense. And we need the coaches to put those guys in the right positions and not wait half a season to start gelling.

2011 Rick Jackson yes! He was in great shape for senior year.
2010 RJ. I’m still mad at him for not beating Butler.

 

[Ragman2000]

Good news, I just saw that Petar has announced that he's back. Now, the back up center can just be a rim protector.

Beyond the Snafu from Donna's article in the afternoon on Wednesday that was recanted? Have we reconfirmed that he's back?

 

[phil77]

The bare minimum we need 1 PG - 1 SF - 2 Centers At least one of the centers needs to be a physical player to play next to Donnie down low. Then it is up to the coaching staff how much faith they want to put in the freshman, and Petar to know what else we should add.

We need a PG to take the ball away from JJ
We need some shooting
We need some perimeter defenders
We need rim protection

We are bringing Donnie back, so he needs to be featured as well, not a piece to just stand around. So get him involved and active on offense. Mid post ISO plays for him.

 

[Fat tire 13]

Agree with all this 144%. That’s why I’m a bit worried about keeping JJ. Could deter transfers if they think those minutes will be taken. We shall see.

Looking at 4 factors to consider
-NIL - not up there with the big boys but improving. Have money to spend but need to be strategic
-Evaluating portal talent - been a negative past couple years. Lampkin/JJ the only viable starters and a few big whiffs (Carlos/Westry). Needs to improve
-Coaching - will out record outperform our talent level? Year one looked promising but last year was a huge regression. Since Red is back let’s see what happens
-Recruiting - biggest positive. Got/kept Donnie and have a top 20 class coming in now. Putting this last because freshman rarely have a huge impact.

Guess that’s a long way of saying the portal is key… ha

 

[Brooky03]

PG is above all else and we need to be willing to ‘overspend’ at the expense of the other positions.

I don’t see a way around needing multiples at SF and C. Kiyan is pretty exclusively a SG and Sadiq is pretty exclusively a PF. That’s my understanding, at least. That means there are no minutes at SG or PF for any transfers. 40 minutes at SF is a lot. Idk if we can realistically get 3 starters at PG, SF, C and also two quality backups at SF and C. I’m thinking we’ll realistically need to sacrifice a little on the top end at SF and C to try to ensure we have 2 solid guys at each position.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

We need everything but PF. I want a starting calibre PG, a starting calibre SG, a starting calibre SF, and two quality Cs. That is a lot of needs and there is no way we can fill all of those holes.

 

[orangenauburn]

More specifically, the PG has to be able to shoot 37-40% from three. Not another one of these 32% guys who made only 17% the year before. The PG has to be better than JJ so that he is the one with the ball in his hands making the decisions at the end of games. This is not JJ's skill set. He's a pretty good sidekick, not a star.

The Center has to be able defend the post, rebound, and score on the low post, not just put-backs and dunks. An all around game. We want a Rick Jackson. The bouncy shot-blocker can be a back-up for defense, like we were supposed to use Naheem this past year.

The Small Forward has to be a dependable 3 point shooter, able to rebound and defend. We want an Elijah Hughes type. Somebody who is a legit threat to score and hit an open jumper with consistency, not sporadically.

If we don't spend our money to get 3 really good guys, instead of 6 average guys, we will not be noticeably better next year.

Quincy Ballard should be Center target #1.

Magoon Gwath as target #2.

Luke Bamgboye as the backup Center target.

Bryce Hopkins would be target #1 at SF.

Dailyn Swaynn would be #2 target at SF.

Dedan Thomas would be target #1 at PG.

Jayden Pierre would be target #2 at PG.

 

[hoopsupstate]

It’s funny reading our wants in the portal. Unfortunately, this is exactly what every program in the country is looking for. Just yesterday Freeman from Iowa went to Creighton. Auburn, Michigan, and Gonzaga were unwilling to pay $2 million. There will be a few exceptions, but not all schools are going to overspend for just a good player.

 

[Brooky03]

We need everything but PF. I want a starting calibre PG, a starting calibre SG, a starting calibre SF, and two quality Cs. That is a lot of needs and there is no way we can fill all of those holes.

I can’t see spending money on a SG being a good investment. Even if it’s an upgrade at the position, there’s likely no net gain because it’s taking money away from more pressing needs.

The portal priorities gotta look like this:
1) PG
.
.
.
2) C1
3) SF1
4) C2
5) SF2
6) SG (PG2 is arguably more important but there’s just no chance to get anybody any good at PG2 in the portal)

I know the argument will be that nobody should be guaranteed minutes and it’s a dog-eat-dog world and so on. But JJ didn’t come back to play 15-20mpg. Kiyan didn’t come here to play 5-10mpg and hope for a good sophomore jump. Some have been floating the idea that freshman don’t matter anymore and don’t play. Top 40 freshman play and come in with the expectation to play.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Beyond the Snafu from Donna's article in the afternoon on Wednesday that was recanted? Have we reconfirmed that he's back?

Still undecided as of yesterday. Haven't seen any further update.

Update: Petar Majstorovic undecided about return to Syracuse for sophomore season

The Syracuse freshman from France has impressed SU coaches as a hard worker.

www.syracuse.com

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I can’t see spending money on a SG being a good investment. Even if it’s an upgrade at the position, there’s likely no net gain because it’s taking money away from more pressing needs.

The portal priorities gotta look like this:
1) PG
.
.
.
2) C1
3) SF1
4) C2
5) SF2
6) SG (PG2 is arguably more important but there’s just no chance to get anybody any good at PG2 in the portal)

I know the argument will be that nobody should be guaranteed minutes and it’s a dog-eat-dog world and so on. But JJ didn’t come back to play 15-20mpg. Kiyan didn’t come here to play 5-10mpg and hope for a good sophomore jump. Some have been floating the idea that freshman don’t matter anymore and don’t play. Top 40 freshman play and come in with the expectation to play.

C is the least important position IMO. I would put SF1 ahead in that ranking, but SF2 behind the two Cs.

Hard to make the NCAAT when your SG can’t shoot. It is in the position’s name!

I think a problem we will run into is that we need 4-5 guys on a tight budget when other programs will need 2-3 guys and be able to pay more $.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Still undecided as of yesterday. Haven't seen any further update.

Update: Petar Majstorovic undecided about return to Syracuse for sophomore season

The Syracuse freshman from France has impressed SU coaches as a hard worker.

www.syracuse.com

I would say being undecided is not a positive.

 

[Brooky03]

C is the least important position IMO. I would put SF1 ahead in that ranking, but SF2 behind the two Cs.

Hard to make the NCAAT when your SG can’t shoot. It is in the position’s name!

I think a problem we will run into is that we need 4-5 guys on a tight budget when other programs will need 2-3 guys and be able to pay more $.

Yeah, SF1 and C1 are close. I have PTSD from all the years with no true C, so I’m more concerned there. I think it’s also harder to find a C who can play at all vs a SF who can play at all; the dropoff is much steeper. To my eye, there are more guys to pick from at SF and more bargains. At C, if you don’t get a top guy, you’re probably getting the equivalent of a used Kia with 120k miles, a couple accidents, and paying $5k over Blue Book.

As for JJ’s shooting, I think he can shoot. He’s not a 40% 3pt guy but nobody would be surprised by 35%. It all depends on PG and how ball dominant he has to be. If he can work himself open off the ball on an actually functional offense, he’ll get cleaner looks and have to force up 2-3 fewer step back fadeaway prayers per game. He has the ability; players don’t get a greenlight like he has if they haven’t shown they can make them, he just needs help.