Marek is my biggest surprise

[SUFan44]

In the last two games, SU played well and built decent first half leads primarily with his "offensive" lineup on the floor, and held those leads well into the second half before imploding late in both games. I don't have the answers, coach, but I'd generally rather be playing from in front, and it doesn't seem like playing long stretches with two or three guys who aren't threats to score is the way to get there.

Just because someone individually has better 'talent' offensively doesn't mean they should start because our team can't score. I know it's not intuitive, but there are a TON of factors that play into it.

You bring up the first halves. Marek played six minutes last night in the opening half. We were up 6-4 when he came in, and up 20-14 when he exited. I'll also add he played a forward position during this stretch, not the center.

He came in for the final minute of the first half as the center and we increased the lead again by two, and he missed a FT which could have added even more. Overall +6 in the first half.

Second half rolls around he doesn't play for the first 15 minutes of the half. FIFTEEN. We go from up four to down three (-7) without him. And at that point, he was playing in the middle again.

So overall with Marek playing as a forward last night, we were a +4. And without him playing at a forward last night, we were a -16.

Marek is a role player. He doesn't need the ball. And towards the end of last year, he had grown confident in his ability offensively. It showed in the NCAA Tournament, where he was a key reason why the team won those games.

Fast forward to this year and Elijah Hughes is taking up the majority of those minutes. I appreciate his scoring ability but it is inefficient and he is a minus in most if not all other areas.

All of this is without adding the mental aspect of starting as it relates to a player's confidence. Or at the very least, playing a defined and substantial role. Marek has turned into a bit player and it's not only hurting him individually but in my opinion, it's hurting the team collectively.

 

[Ajflood12]

His play has really regressed. He is making fewer and fewer of the non-box score plays. The positive box score plays are almost non-existent. Frankly, i would prefer to put Bras on the court right now and at least see what happens.

This team badly needs a shake up.

I do not think there are any magic bullets, but here are some things that will at least provide shake up:

1. Give Oshae some time at the five
2. Give Bras some of marek's diminishing minutes
3. Turn the keys over to carey, frank can play more 2G, make the lineup smaller and faster.
4. Limit minutes for Sid and Chuk, make them D specialists in situations when we can afford to have a d specialist on the court.

All of that sounds awful. Oshae def isn't a 5, Braswell looks so lost I am surprised he knows what side of the court to run down. There is absolutely no way he is going to pick up the zone D. I can see the board exploding when he doesn't pick up the wing and somebody goes off for three. We have Sid for another two years and last year he showed some solid offense at times. Not sure what happened to him so far this year but if you are willing to give up time to younger players IDK how he stays as a defensive specialist.

 

[gmoney44]

MD is a team player with Euro skills. He’s great when we’re passing like against a zone but in a dribble drive and kick offense not so much. He’s a player that needs to play 30 min though. Should be able to clear that roster spot next year

MD has gained zero weight, muscle or strength since last season. That tells me everything I need to know about his commitment to becoming a better player and teammate.

 

[tbonezone]

if what you're doing ain't working change it up. start BECK (not like he hasn't earned a start based on total body of work) and tell him he either performs to expectations or it's back to back up. might light a fire in elijah also. sometimes healthy competion is good. what we're doing now ...not good.
(and those are JB'S words not mine)

 

[rhcuse]

BECK?

 

[pearl31]

Usage aside (which is certainly fair game for debate - and maybe it is the reason for his ?? play so far), MD has mostly been a shadow of what he showed over the last two months of the season last year. It (along w another of other problems w the team) has got to change.

 

[pearl31]

MD has gained zero weight, muscle or strength since last season. That tells me everything I need to know about his commitment to becoming a better player and teammate.

Maybe. But he should at least be as effective as he was at the end of last year... one would think

 

[Zelda Zonk]

In the exhibition games, i was bothered by JB playing him sparingly, seemingly with even Buddy playing more. It wasn't clear if that was because we needed a guard, with Frank not available, or because JB knew Marek hadn't really done anything in practice to warrant the time.

I'm still wondering that. Now, though, it's a question of whether Marek isn't getting the chance to develop or show that he has developed, because he's getting so few minutes. We saw last year that he had developed a bit of confidence to do some new things, but maybe that confidence has just regressed, either because of JB's treatment or a self-assessed lack of results. We definitely need him, but i really wish it was for his forward skills not as a center.

 

[tbonezone]

not as invested in the program ? tethered on a short leash ? unsure of his role this year ?
this is what i'm reading here. JB might as well start him and tell MD to get every damn board off the glass next game even if it means disqualification in the first 10 minutes. light a fire . purpose !
i'd rather see 8 minutes of pure hellfire than 16 of just loping around aimlessly.

 

[OttoMets]

MD has gained zero weight, muscle or strength since last season. That tells me everything I need to know about his commitment to becoming a better player and teammate.

Nooooooo

Since when has weight gain -- assuming it's in his control -- become the barometer for measuring a player's effort?

This is an unfortunate trend. We heard it about Baye Keita, we're hearing it about Dolezaj and Sidibe and Chukwu, we'll probably hear it about Braswell, and it's weird. He's like 20. He's an ectomorph. He's not going to add muscle mass and he's a good player without muscle mass. Demanding that he add bulk is like asking John Gillon to be 6'6". It is what it is.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Nooooooo

Since when has weight gain -- assuming it's in his control -- become the barometer for measuring a player's effort?

This is an unfortunate trend. We heard it about Baye Keita, we're hearing it about Dolezaj and Sidibe and Chukwu, we'll probably hear it about Braswell, and it's weird. He's like 20. He's an ectomorph. He's not going to add muscle mass and he's a good player without muscle mass. Demanding that he add bulk is like asking John Gillon to be 6'6". It is what it is.

This just isn't accurate at all. And Baye is the absolute start of this issue. JB has been trying to find another Baye all along, when he should be trying to find another Rak. It's very clear from casual observation that MD didn't lift at all this summer. Why wouldn't we want him to try to add strength? Are we concerned he, and Sid, and Chukwu are going to throw off their form on 3-point shots? Insane to not expect him to put on weight. My son and his friend Tyler are both ectomorphs. Ty dedicated himself to the weight room and the gym and put on at least 10 pounds this last year. My son did not. And that's why my kid is playing JV and Ty starts on varsity as a sophomore.

 

[AZOrange]

This just isn't accurate at all. And Baye is the absolute start of this issue. JB has been trying to find another Baye all along, when he should be trying to find another Rak. It's very clear from casual observation that MD didn't lift at all this summer. Why wouldn't we want him to try to add strength? Are we concerned he, and Sid, and Chukwu are going to throw off their form on 3-point shots? Insane to not expect him to put on weight. My son and his friend Tyler are both ectomorphs. Ty dedicated himself to the weight room and the gym and put on at least 10 pounds this last year. My son did not. And that's why my kid is playing JV and Ty starts on varsity as a sophomore.

We all know the rules of lifting and the weight you add and don’t add don’t apply to everyone right?

 

[Cusefan0307]

I hate the term weight gain. It's really strength they should be focusing on.

 

[OttoMets]

This just isn't accurate at all. And Baye is the absolute start of this issue. JB has been trying to find another Baye all along, when he should be trying to find another Rak. It's very clear from casual observation that MD didn't lift at all this summer. Why wouldn't we want him to try to add strength? Are we concerned he, and Sid, and Chukwu are going to throw off their form on 3-point shots? Insane to not expect him to put on weight. My son and his friend Tyler are both ectomorphs. Ty dedicated himself to the weight room and the gym and put on at least 10 pounds this last year. My son did not. And that's why my kid is playing JV and Ty starts on varsity as a sophomore.

I don't have any idea what Dolezaj did this summer. Maybe he didn't follow the staff's instructions regarding strength and conditioning and that's why he's sitting. But I'm not gonna assume. In general I think the constant "he needs 20 pounds" is one of the most overplayed and wrongheaded complaints on these fan boards.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I hate the term weight gain. It's really strength they should be focusing on.

While this is true for nearly everyone in the world, I fail to understand how a 181 pound guy who happens to be 6'8" could participate in a strength program and not gain weight.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I don't have any idea what Dolezaj did this summer. Maybe he didn't follow the staff's instructions regarding strength and conditioning and that's why he's sitting. But I'm not gonna assume. In general I think the constant "he needs 20 pounds" is one of the most overplayed and wrongheaded complaints on these fan boards.

I'd be so happy to just have him look like he tried to gain weight, regardless of the total poundage gained. I'm just under 6'2 and I weigh 183 pounds. And am called skinny all the time (especially those not looking at my middle-aged spread..). I want guys who are half a foot taller than me to outweigh me.

 

[OttoMets]

While this is true for nearly everyone in the world, I fail to understand how a 181 pound guy who happens to be 6'8" could participate in a strength program and not gain weight.

But you concede it is possible. I mean, what did SU pretend that Hakim weighed at the same age? Damone Brown (admittedly a somewhat different era on a team not known for its work ethic)? We just can't know what Dolezaj's been up to, and it's not like there isn't a precedent for people with this frame/weight being productive. And on a team with questionable schemes and huge fundamental skills deficits across the board, strength/weight is pretty far down on the list of things I'm worried about.

In a zero-sum training situation, for example, I'd rather Dolezaj spend hours shooting free throws than lifting weights.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

But you concede it is possible. I mean, what did SU pretend that Hakim weighed at the same age? Damone Brown (admittedly a somewhat different era on a team not known for its work ethic)? We just can't know what Dolezaj's been up to, and it's not like there isn't a precedent for people with this frame/weight being productive. And on a team with questionable schemes and huge fundamental skills deficits across the board, strength/weight is pretty far down on the list of things I'm worried about.

In a zero-sum training situation, for example, I'd rather Dolezaj spend hours shooting free throws than lifting weights.

He'd be such a better defender and rebounder (this is of course true for all of our bigs) if he had put on just 5 pounds of muscle. It's clear to me from JB's comments that this is a bone of contention.

And Hak gained weight throughout college, did he not?

 

[OttoMets]

He'd be such a better defender and rebounder (this is of course true for all of our bigs) if he had put on just 5 pounds of muscle. It's clear to me from JB's comments that this is a bone of contention.

And Hak gained weight throughout college, did he not?

That's a good question; I'd defer to SWC or someone familiar with the media guides. Warrick must've gained some weight. He was a skinny freshman.

 

[Fat tire 13]

I read these comments, and all I hear is Mack from "It's Always Sunny" lecturing people about adding mass...

 

[FrancoPizza]

He spent last summer fishing.

Stay on topic. We're not talking about the assistants.

 

[cuse10]

But he won't shoot. Who cares about shooting percentage when you pass up so many shots?

People need to stop looking at stats and actually watch the players play.

He fouls people 80' from the basket. He didn't get 1/10 of a percent stronger in the off season. He's kind of phoning in this year.

I was hoping he would take his tremendous improvement from last year and build on that. But right now he seems to be even less than where he started last year.

He plays with his head in the clouds and his head in his rear end. That's the reason he's not getting as much time as he did last season. If he didn't have the stupid fouls and was more aggressive when it came to shooting the ball, Jim would have more confidence in him. If Chukwu/Sidibe were serviceable this season, he wouldn't play at all.

 

[SoBeCuse]

I don't have any idea what Dolezaj did this summer. Maybe he didn't follow the staff's instructions regarding strength and conditioning and that's why he's sitting. But I'm not gonna assume. In general I think the constant "he needs 20 pounds" is one of the most overplayed and wrongheaded complaints on these fan boards.

Not for him. Don’t you see him get pinballed around? It’s comical watching him set picks. Almost unfair. The poor kid has to play Center here sometimes. It’s mind-boggling and unfortunate we are in these predicaments.

The fact that we are needing to play Marek Dolezaj at C at Syracuse tells you all you need to know about the state of the program right now.

 

[OttoMets]

Not for him. Don’t you see him get pinballed around? It’s comical watching him set picks. Almost unfair. The poor kid has to play Center here sometimes. It’s mind-boggling and unfortunate we are in these predicaments.

The fact that we are needing to play Marek Dolezaj at C at Syracuse tells you all you need to know about the state of the program right now.

Well that's part of the problem - he should only play center in a sixth overtime or something like that. Reminds me a little of the staff yo-yo-ing around with Rick Jackson's weight for his first three years. No need to beef a young forward up to play center when the team has two centers.

 

[pearl31]

Well that's part of the problem - he should only play center in a sixth overtime or something like that. Reminds me a little of the staff yo-yo-ing around with Rick Jackson's weight for his first three years. No need to beef a young forward up to play center when the team has two centers.

sadly (at least as it stands now) two ineffective, foul-prone centers