Monmouth Postgame

[CuseTG2003]

I said in my previous post that we need to press and speed up the game. That’s how we got big leads in our first three games. It forces the team to be more active on defense. Monmouth’s weakness was turning the ball over and we only turned them over 12 times. We forced more in the first three games. Last night Red backed off of the pressure in the second half. I’m thinking it’s because we had so much foul trouble and the refs were blowing the whistle like crazy, so the game had no flow.

We need consistent energy. Pressing and playing Sadiq as much as possible is the best way to accomplish that.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Yep that is the one I was referring to for Coleman, along with the backend by Triche that led to an easy IU layup against our ole defense

Sorry, I saw your reference to Triche but read it too fast and missed your reference to Coleman. The moment that I will never forget was that on that last shot by Smart, Howard Triche just let him go by him. I recall noticing that in real time. I actually have a photo of that moment taken from behind Smart (and Triche), not the shot from the camera on the other side. I saw it in a Field of Dreams store in Indianapolis when I was there for the Final Four in I think 2000. Walked away from it, but kept thinking about it. Went back the next day and bought it. It was in the part of the store that was a shrine to IU and Bobby Knight. Showed to members of my family in Syracuse. At first some refused to look at it then when they did they stared at it for half an hour. Ugh! Thank goodness for 2003!

 

[Eric15]

Yep, not sure if JJ is fixable based on what Bulldog talked about, but hopefully some other guys are. JJ cannot be in the game at crunch time and that is bad

It’s maddening because Starling with his speed is very effective at getting to the rim with floaters and layups at pivotal moments in games. But it’s all for nothing if he can’t make foul shots. Monmouth literally intentionally fouled him last night like he was Shaq.

 

[JDubbin]

It’s maddening because I Starling with his speed is very effective at getting to the rim with floaters and layups at pivotal moments in games. But it’s all for nothing if he can’t make foul shots. Monmouth literally intentionally fouled him last night like he was Shaq.

I know it seems small probably to some, but how crazy of a mental battle is it for Starling (already clearly struggling) that teams are going to start intentionally fouling him as strategy to gain advantage for their team… as a shooting guard! That’s pretty wild mental stuff.

 

[dasher]

Please stop the coaching idiocy. You can’t coach free throws, I don’t care what anybody says. Every player anywhere has to figure out for themselves mentally how to step up and drop those. The officiating was of young girls rec league. Those were the 2 reasons we don’t win by 20. Not coaching.

You think Red has coached well? You are entitled to your opinion. AS AM I. Which by your tone, you don't allow for. How about having the guys in that got the ball during that foul time period.? That is good coaching? How about shooting a 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock when the clock is your opponent. Please stop with the lecturing about what we have seen and what we worry is our biggest weakness. And that weakness isn't free throw shooting. Which is lacking. And for the record, I really hope that Red can do the job. Maybe he can match up with top coaches. I worry that he hasn't shown that yet. I'm not talking about games in Vegas in Nov and December. But in March. But he has to get us there first. Time will tell.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Oh I get it.

I just find it funny how many Uncle Rico’s post here.

To be fair I’m *only* 35 and still play pickup ball and those FT misses were so bad I could shoot and not be close to a make but be about 4 feet closer than they were.

Generally speaking I agree with what you’re saying. “I could make that!!”.

 

[rocklloyd]

Did JJ sneak in a practice free throw as well? The broadcast guys were confused at what he was doing, like he tool shot before he was supposed to.

 

[SUalldway]

Hey it happens. 21st ranked Arkansas edged Winthrop last night, at home, by 1 point

 

[DoctahLexus]

You think Red has coached well? You are entitled to your opinion. AS AM I. Which by your tone, you don't allow for. How about having the guys in that got the ball during that foul time period.? That is good coaching? How about shooting a 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock when the clock is your opponent. Please stop with the lecturing about what we have seen and what we worry is our biggest weakness. And that weakness isn't free throw shooting. Which is lacking. And for the record, I really hope that Red can do the job. Maybe he can match up with top coaches. I worry that he hasn't shown that yet. I'm not talking about games in Vegas in Nov and December. March. But he has to get us there first. Time will tell.

This game was the outlier of this first 4, not more of the same. Main decision I did not like was leaving Zephir out there at the end on offense, after he had already replaced him for Fennell in the last offense defense sub. Why not just put in the guy who has gone 3-3 on foul shots again? Everything else I did not have a major gripe. He has a bad rep given how bad last year went, but still have some faith that we are turning things around this season.

 

[dasher]

This game was the outlier of this first 4, not more of the same. Main decision I did not like was leaving Zephir out there at the end on offense, after he had already replaced him for Fennell in the last offense defense sub. Why not just put in the guy who has gone 3-3 on foul shots again? Everything else I did not have a major gripe. He has a bad rep given how bad last year went, but still have some faith that we are turning things around this season.

Fair. I hope so. Leaving Zephir in was also my biggest complaint. Also, the lack of use of the clock. I mean what % of us wouldn't have bet that he would miss both of those free throws?

 

[cusefan88]

I think ideally if you're looking for FT shooting end-game the best group is probably George, Kingz, Freeman, Fennell, and Betsey.



Kiyan bumps Fennell or Betsey once he gets more comfortable.

 

[Cusefan0307]

One big complaint I have with Red is he still pulls people when they are on a heater. George started out the game as the only guy scoring and he pulled him when no one else could do anything.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I think ideally if you're looking for FT shooting end-game the best group is probably George, Kingz, Freeman, Fennell, and Betsey.



Kiyan bumps Fennell or Betsey once he gets more comfortable.

Fennell may be a good foul shooter but the bottom line is bringing in someone that has been sitting 39m, and a freshman, is a tough spot and ask. That’s where it gets tricky for me. Quite frankly in this game there isn’t a higher pressure situation.

 

[Bulldog04]

Hey it happens. 21st ranked Arkansas edged Winthrop last night, at home, by 1 point

And they were down 6 with 1:32 to go. Winthrop had 3 turnovers.

 

[JimBoston]

Syracuse has played a weak schedule so far. Through 4 games, the major positive is assists to turnovers of 17.5/9.5 or 1.84 (last year was 1.08). The major negatives are FT shooting of 61.2% (last year 70.5%) and 3 PT FG % of 33.3% (last year 32.8%). Have to improve 3 PT FG % and fix the FT shooting for this to be a good season.

 

[powdersmack]

One big complaint I have with Red is he still pulls people when they are on a heater. George started out the game as the only guy scoring and he pulled him when no one else could do anything.

He's just like Aaron Boone, he's got a plan and is going to stick to it come hell or high water.

 

[Archbold44]

He's just like Aaron Boone, he's got a plan and is going to stick to it come hell or high water.

Bold strategy. This Kareem guy is scoring too much... not much depth...let's put Kurt Rambis in for him...

 

[MikeSU02]

One big complaint I have with Red is he still pulls people when they are on a heater. George started out the game as the only guy scoring and he pulled him when no one else could do anything.

Feels like he's trying to assuage everyone on the roster (to an extent) and not starting to close in on his core rotation.

 

[bnoro]

That may, or may never, happen.

We LOVE JJ - his attitude, his demeanor - but he's just not good.

And this game - "yeah we're 4-0 shut the front door" actually hurt us.

His attitude is the problem. He does not care enough about being in the right position on defense. He doesn't battle through/above screens, and he loses his guy which forces rotation. It's no coincidence they hit more 3s and scored more points than the other teams we played.

 

[baggerbob]

Sorry, I saw your reference to Triche but read it too fast and missed your reference to Coleman. The moment that I will never forget was that on that last shot by Smart, Howard Triche just let him go by him. I recall noticing that in real time. I actually have a photo of that moment taken from behind Smart (and Triche), not the shot from the camera on the other side. I saw it in a Field of Dreams store in Indianapolis when I was there for the Final Four in I think 2000. Walked away from it, but kept thinking about it. Went back the next day and bought it. It was in the part of the store that was a shrine to IU and Bobby Knight. Showed to members of my family in Syracuse. At first some refused to look at it then when they did they stared at it for half an hour. Ugh! Thank goodness for 2003!

Yes the best defender at small forward was on the bench at that time, Stevie Thompson.

 

[phil77]

I’ll preface this by saying JJ is a great kid, however, you can’t tell me his return didn’t play a part in this turmoil last night. Red looked like all of a sudden he didn’t know how and when to sub again, Kiyan took really forced shots because he was playing less, offense had zero flow to it compared to last 3 games. Not trying to blame him completely, but clearly something was off. I’m glad they won the game because that’s probably a game they lose the last couple of years, but now it feels like problems are back that I didn’t really see last 3 games and yeah I know it’s just 3 games

I agree with this and the flip side of this, outside of his two airball free throws I thought JJ played about as well as he could individually. It is he just doesn't fit with the flow of the team. He ruins the chemistry and substitution patterns. It's not about how skilled he is individually or how well he plays; it is how well he plays within the concepts of the team and how well he gels with the other players on the court. Everything seemed much clearer with JJ out of the lineup if that makes sense, everyone seemed to know their role, and last night, everything seemed out of sorts trying to get JJ back into the flow.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I agree with this and the flip side of this, outside of his two airball free throws I thought JJ played about as well as he could individually. It is he just doesn't fit with the flow of the team. He ruins the chemistry and substitution patterns. It's not about how skilled he is individually or how well he plays; it is how well he plays within the concepts of the team and how well he gels with the other players on the court. Everything seemed much clearer with JJ out of the lineup if that makes sense, everyone seemed to know their role, and last night, everything seemed out of sorts trying to get JJ back into the flow.

Yeah, it's not a great situation. I have a hard time disagreeing with any of this.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Yes the best defender at small forward was on the bench at that time, Stevie Thompson.

Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten that.

 

[Scooch]

Feels like he's trying to assuage everyone on the roster (to an extent) and not starting to close in on his core rotation.

It’s been a problem in the past but I’m not sure it was the case last night. We played 9 guys and only 7 got meaningful minutes.

4 starters got 30+ minutes while Starling and Anthony were over 20. White only got 11 and that was impacted by fouls.

The substitution quite often do seem scattershot. But last night we did have a core rotation of 7.5 guys. Boeheim would be proud.

 

[Orangezoo]

So I’ve avoided the immediate over reaction because my optimism took a beating last night.

A few thoughts.

1- Agreed on needing better rotations, FT shooting and that there was zero flow and just a general disaster in terms of the officiating. To me it seemed without the constant stoppages we pull away and stay 15-20 pts ahead if not for those.

2- I’m hopeful this is our bad game that counts to then correct course in Vegas. Arkansas is ranked and has had close losses to MSU then a 1 point win over Winthrop and weaker wins vs other lesser teams. They aren’t alone looking across the board. That awful Drexel team just pummeled NJIT 75-43. The results are all over the map. So is it a an anomaly? I hope

3- I hope chemistry with JJ playing gets better. He played hard and within himself but the team seemed disjointed with him on the floor and in the rotations where they just didn’t look that way otherwise.

4- I respect King Rice but no thank you to playing Monmouth anymore. Not because of the challenge but just because of this garbage foul every possession approach that only results in injuries and games that go 40 minutes too long. I get lesser teams are trying different strategies in this new world to be competitive but meh