My biggest hope for next year is Matthew Moyer

[2-3zone]

Will he be ready to play at this level and does he have enough offensive skill to take playing time away from Roberson?

Our best lineup next year should be (Battle, Richardson, Moyer, Lydon, Chukwu)

 

[NineOneSeven]

If Moyer doesn't have enough offensive skill to take away time from Roberson then I don't know what basketball anymore

 

[2-3zone]

We can carry 1 non-offensive player but 2 like this year with Roberson and Coleman becomes a huge liability

 

[Ajflood12]

My cousin works at the high school he is currently attending. Talks to him quite a bit. My cousin says he is a great kid. Not really sure that translates offensively but said he is definitely excited to be going to Cuse.

 

[MikeSU02]

Will he be ready to play at this level and does he have enough offensive skill to take playing time away from Roberson?

Our best lineup next year should be (Battle, Richardson, Moyer, Lydon, Chukwu)

No PG. Two shooters. An offensively handicapped big who might not be able to even be a viable option as the dive on a PnR.

Not saying this won't be the lineup, but we basically have a 7'2" anti-floor spacer in the middle.

Hope our defense is amazing.

 

[HOFCeluck]

No PG. Two shooters. An offensively handicapped big who might not be able to even be a viable option as the dive on a PnR.

Not saying this won't be the lineup, but we basically have a 7'2" anti-floor spacer in the middle.

Hope our defense is amazing.

Was going to say our "best lineup" has three guys totally unproven at the college level.

This is why I'm not as bullish on next year as others.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Was going to say our "best lineup" has three guys totally unproven at the college level.

This is why I'm not as bullish on next year as others.

The unproven argument is a bit oversold these days. If the player is any good, by the time he "proves himself", he's gone. For me, it's simple. If we rake in higher end 4 star talent, over the long haul, we'll have enough to work with to overcome JB's systemic intractability. The problem has been the following:

• Coon Dawg: 3 stars (downgraded from 4)
• BJ: 3 stars
  
• Buss: 3 stars
• Chino: 3 stars (must have received a 3-star bump for signing with SU)

Yes, KJ was 4 stars and coveted. Sometimes we swing and miss. It happens at every school. And we would have been fine had we not missed on several others. Too many misses... or JB was settling because he hates the jet lag... I dunno. But as long as we stop signing 3-stars going forward, we'll generally be ok.

 

[2-3zone]

Battle isn't coming to Syracuse to ride the bench behind Howard/Richardson in his one-n-done season

 

[orangecuse]

My cousin works at the high school he is currently attending. Talks to him quite a bit. My cousin says he is a great kid. Not really sure that translates offensively but said he is definitely excited to be going to Cuse.

It doesn't. As we all know, Trevor C is a great kid too.

 

[TheCusian]

Battle is being severely underrated. Both he and Richardson have NBA slash and kick abilities. Silent G was a lot of things - but passer is not one of them. Howard has shown flashes as a passer/slasher too.

Lydon will be open a lot. And he'll be more aggressive. Moyer/Roberson/7ft C will improve our rebounding. We will have an interior defender who opposing players worry about again.

Next years team will have more paths to W's. Not chuck 3's.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Watch Battle's latest clip on the recruiting side. Against good competition as well. I've watched a couple of games also on TV. He has to fully learn the position but many of our deficiencies the past few years with our guards are because they either: have an inferior handle to be able to beat good defenses, lack speed, don't push the ball up, or lack of position instincts. Battle is an immediate upgrade over anybody on the roster.

Howard will play some good backup minutes and be serviceable running the offense whenever Battle is off the ball or on the bench but he's not in Battle's league. Not even close. Just my $.02.

 

[SWC75]

Moyer's role, at least intially, will be to light a fire under Mr. Roberson.

 

[OrangeDW]

Will he be ready to play at this level and does he have enough offensive skill to take playing time away from Roberson?

Our best lineup next year should be (Battle, Richardson, Moyer, Lydon, Chukwu)

The best lineup includes all the guys you've never seen play.

Until you see them play, then it's the next group of flawless recruits who you haven't seen play yet.

 

[realorange]

Chukwu is big but he will start behind Coleman.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Chukwu is big but he will start behind Coleman.

Because he will have less value or because of JB's tendencies/recruiting promises?

 

[SWC75]

Because he will have less value or because of JB's tendencies/recruiting promises?

Coleman and Chukwu are physical opposites with opposite skill sets. They will both play depending on the situation. Coleman will start due to seniority but actually playing time will depend on the opposition and game situations.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Will he be ready to play at this level and does he have enough offensive skill to take playing time away from Roberson?

Our best lineup next year should be (Battle, Richardson, Moyer, Lydon, Chukwu)

If you are so confident Mathew deserves a starting spot, then doesn't that answer your own question about his ability? Personally, from what I have seen of his game in the recruiting thread, I expect him to be an energy off the bench guy his freshman season, as an undersized albeit capable 4 to rebound, D and finish near the tin. I think expecting more than that is unfair to him. He seems like he will be a great program guy in a true student athlete mold, but not a one and done lottery pick level talent, which makes him the type of player you want to have on your roster for sustained success.

 

[TheCusian]

The best lineup includes all the guys you've never seen play. Until you see them play, then it's the next group of flawless recruits who you haven't seen play yet.

Fair enough. But about half the time they end up good and at least once - program changing. So the odds are decent enough.

 

[GoCuse14]

Battle isn't coming to Syracuse to ride the bench behind Howard/Richardson in his one-n-done season

I believe that Waiters didnt come to Syracuse to sit in his one and done season also.

 

[GoCuse14]

Battle is being severely underrated. Both he and Richardson have NBA slash and kick abilities. Silent G was a lot of things - but passer is not one of them. Howard has shown flashes as a passer/slasher too.

Lydon will be open a lot. And he'll be more aggressive. Moyer/Roberson/7ft C will improve our rebounding. We will have an interior defender who opposing players worry about again.

Next years team will have more paths to W's. Not chuck 3's.

I think that until he steps foot on a college basketball floor...that he might actually be overrated to an extent. Not that he isnt a stud...but until he shows something maybe he doesn't need to be penciled in as the saving piece to next years team.

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

I believe that Waiters didnt come to Syracuse to sit in his one and done season also.

he stayed 2 though.

 

[pfister1]

The best lineup includes all the guys you've never seen play.

Until you see them play, then it's the next group of flawless recruits who you haven't seen play yet.

Same general principle that applies to the NBA draft.

 

[realorange]

Because he will have less value or because of JB's tendencies/recruiting promises?

Because he has more experience with the system and he will be better next year.

 

[two3zone]

Roberson was a top 30 recruit who dominated the #1 recruit in high school and had some massive hype coming in. Outside of Ennis, a little Lydon and a little of Richardson, what freshman have come in and lit the room on fire with their play in the past 5-6 years? Our freshman while solid have not been the freshman that we see join other clubs and dominate right out of the gate, expecting Moyer to do that is crazy. Battle is a guy who could do that but before we anoint these guys as dominate forces and banking on them leading us to the final four we should expect average play out of them and anything else above that a great big bonus.

 

[TheCusian]

I think that until he steps foot on a college basketball floor...that he might actually be overrated to an extent. Not that he isnt a stud...but until he shows something maybe he doesn't need to be penciled in as the saving piece to next years team.

I was speaking more to the boards opinion. People are spooked from all the guys who haven't panned out, understandably.

He's very, very good.