My Take | Syracusefan.com

My Take

sutomcat

2024 Iggy Award (ACC Tournament Record)
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The USMNT is playing, as well as a bunch of good football games, so this needs to be pretty short.

Another very impressive effort. We actually might be a very good man defensive team. What a shocking development.

I guess you have to give the MVP for this game to Kyle. He did so many things. 8 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks, 3 steals. By the start of the second half, Drexel was completely intimidated trying to go inside. As well they should’ve been.

A lot of times hotshot true freshmen play poorly when they play on the road for the first time. I was very interested to see what Kiyan would do today. If there is out, there was no need to worry. The kid has played like an upperclassman from day one and I don’t think it’s gonna change. He did have four turnovers, which needs to be addressed.

Kingz is such an upgrade over Bell. So much better defensively. So much smarter. So much more capable of driving and/or dishing. And today he got nine rebounds. I am not sure Bell ever got nine rebounds in three games combined.

George makes the game look so easy. Today he had seven assists and zero turnovers in 30 minutes. He was almost scoreless in the first half. Too unselfish.

In the second, he looked for his shot more, which he needed to do because he was being covered by a midget. And took advantage of this. Good to see. it’s nice to have a veteran point guard.

Thought Freeman played very well on defense and helped set the tone early. I liked how he was aggressive trying to score as well. He has to rebound better though.

Perhaps the nicest thing about this team is their absolute killer instinct. They are not nice, and are looking to destroy everyone. If I were Monmouth, I would brace for impact.
 
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The USMNT is playing, as well as a bunch of good football games, so this needs to be pretty short.

Another very impressive effort. We actually might be a very good man defensive team. What a shocking development.

I guess you have to give the MVP for this game to Kyle. He did so many things. 8 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks, 3 steals. By the start of the second half, Drexel was completely intimidated trying to go inside. As well they should’ve been.

A lot of times hotshot true freshmen play poorly when they play on the road for the first time. I was very interested to see what Kiyan would do today. If there is out, there was no need to worry. The kid has played like an upperclassman from day one and I don’t think it’s gonna change. He did have four turnovers, which needs to be addressed.

Kingz is such an upgrade over Bell. So much better defensively. So much smarter. So much more capable of driving and/or dishing. And today he got nine rebounds. I am not sure Bell ever got nine rebounds in three games combined.

George makes the game look so easy. Today he had seven assists and zero turnovers in 30 minutes. He was almost scoreless in the first half. Too unselfish.

In the second, he looked for his shot more, which he needed to do because he was being covered by a midget. And took advantage of this. Good to see. it’s nice to have a veteran point guard.

Thought Freeman played very well on defense and helped set the tone early. I liked how he was aggressive trying to score as well. He has to rebound better though.

Perhaps the nicest thing about this team is their absolute killer instinct. They are not nice, and are looking to destroy everyone. If I were Monmouth, I would brace for impact.
I know it’s early, but I think this is the best defensive team since the Wes Johnson team.
 
The USMNT is playing, as well as a bunch of good football games, so this needs to be pretty short.

Another very impressive effort. We actually might be a very good man defensive team. What a shocking development.

I guess you have to give the MVP for this game to Kyle. He did so many things. 8 points, 10 boards, 3 blocks, 3 steals. By the start of the second half, Drexel was completely intimidated trying to go inside. As well they should’ve been.

A lot of times hotshot true freshmen play poorly when they play on the road for the first time. I was very interested to see what Kiyan would do today. If there is out, there was no need to worry. The kid has played like an upperclassman from day one and I don’t think it’s gonna change. He did have four turnovers, which needs to be addressed.

Kingz is such an upgrade over Bell. So much better defensively. So much smarter. So much more capable of driving and/or dishing. And today he got nine rebounds. I am not sure Bell ever got nine rebounds in three games combined.

George makes the game look so easy. Today he had seven assists and zero turnovers in 30 minutes. He was almost scoreless in the first half. Too unselfish.

In the second, he looked for his shot more, which he needed to do because he was being covered by a midget. And took advantage of this. Good to see. it’s nice to have a veteran point guard.

Thought Freeman played very well on defense and helped set the tone early. I liked how he was aggressive trying to score as well. He has to rebound better though.

Perhaps the nicest thing about this team is their absolute killer instinct. They are not nice, and are looking to destroy everyone. If I were Monmouth, I would brace for impact.
Kyle definitely changed the game with his defensive presence underneath the basket. Altered a lot of plays. That doesn't show up in the stats, but it does in the outcome of the game. He's a freak athlete, so refreshing to see in a Cuse uniform!
 
This team is starting to enjoy playing defense. They get their offense going when they rebound and get steals.
And Red is having them continue to press successfully up 25 is a great thing. Not just going through the motions.

The team got slaughtered on the boards in the 1st half, but whatever Red said at halftime really worked. Just need to continue to eliminate all 2nd, 3rd and 4th chances. Won't fly against good teams.

But three straight games of only giving up 50 points or less three games in a row is beautiful to watch.
 
My favorite sequence was when Donnie seemingly came out of nowhere for a chase down block pinning it against the glass, followed by Kingz getting beat off the dribble then also swatting a layup attempt off the glass a possession later. (I think this was back to back...)

Sadiq continues to be a force on that end as well as showing some decent post moves and fluidity.
 
I think Red must have set an expectation with the team that if you don’t go all out on defense you won’t play regardless of your offensive abilities. The whole team is playing aggressive defense and it’s really fun to watch. I think Sadiq’s defense first attitude is infectious with the rest of the team. Can’t wait to see how their defense works against Houston and Kansas.
 
I think Red must have set an expectation with the team that if you don’t go all out on defense you won’t play regardless of your offensive abilities. The whole team is playing aggressive defense and it’s really fun to watch. I think Sadiq’s defense first attitude is infectious with the rest of the team. Can’t wait to see how their defense works against Houston and Kansas.
It's also very encouraging the level the 2nd unit is playing. It affords Red the luxury of being able to set those expectations.
Practices must be lit.
 
Interesting that in viewing the game I thought Kings was on the bench and George was not playing well. I was wrong on both counts. Kingz was minutes leader and George played well in the 2nd half. I did not thing he played well in the 1st and that contributed to our lack of success. Of course Drexel shot the lights out and was down by 2-5 points most of the 1st half.

One negative is we got outrebounded in the game. The 30 point win hid that to an extent. Also we shot the ball pretty well in the 1st ten minutes of the 2nd half and not allowed rebounds as a result. Drexel continually got 2nd and 3rd chances off the offencive boards. We allow that to Houston we will be down big.

George is good at leading the break. Anthony is good a finishing it. Anthony got 2 weak tournovers on the break and needs to get rid of the ball quick to a point guard and look for his shot.

Freeman is quiet and effective. We seem to have a lot of Lawrence Moten types on this team. George, Kings, Freeman, Anthony. This team is nice to watch. Still having reservations due to the letdowns over the last 5 years but I'm coming around.

Our undersized center... Yeah, he stays. LOL

We force a lof of misses that bounce into the top of the lane. Need to get our guards to get "handsy" and and get those boards.

Like what I am seeing.

GO CUSE
 
I think Red must have set an expectation with the team that if you don’t go all out on defense you won’t play regardless of your offensive abilities. The whole team is playing aggressive defense and it’s really fun to watch. I think Sadiq’s defense first attitude is infectious with the rest of the team. Can’t wait to see how their defense works against Houston and Kansas.
Agree.

But I wanted to discuss something that happened after a break in play. I think it was fairly late in the first half but it could have been early in the second.

Anyway, as the SU players walked off the court to their bench, Freeman walked over to George and started talking to him animatedly. He looked angry and It looked as though he was yelling at him.

Based on the timing, I suspect he was discussimg Nate’s defense, or lack there of.

SU had jus given up two easy baskets. One was when a Drexel player released early and got an Easter unchallenged layup. I believe it was George who was responsible for rotating back to prevent cherry picking baskets on the play. Then I think on their next possession, George lost his man and gave him a wide open 15 foot baseline jumper (it was their little guy), which he nailed.

Anyway, did anyone else notice this exchange? Thought it was kind of surprising to see a guy with not much experience yelling at a guy with a lot. But I think it shows how much the players have bought into playing quality defense. They are policing themselves.

I think it is pretty awesome.
 
Interesting that in viewing the game I thought Kings was on the bench and George was not playing well. I was wrong on both counts. Kingz was minutes leader and George played well in the 2nd half. I did not thing he played well in the 1st and that contributed to our lack of success. Of course Drexel shot the lights out and was down by 2-5 points most of the 1st half.

One negative is we got outrebounded in the game. The 30 point win hid that to an extent. Also we shot the ball pretty well in the 1st ten minutes of the 2nd half and not allowed rebounds as a result. Drexel continually got 2nd and 3rd chances off the offencive boards. We allow that to Houston we will be down big.

George is good at leading the break. Anthony is good a finishing it. Anthony got 2 weak tournovers on the break and needs to get rid of the ball quick to a point guard and look for his shot.

Freeman is quiet and effective. We seem to have a lot of Lawrence Moten types on this team. George, Kings, Freeman, Anthony. This team is nice to watch. Still having reservations due to the letdowns over the last 5 years but I'm coming around.

Our undersized center... Yeah, he stays. LOL

We force a lof of misses that bounce into the top of the lane. Need to get our guards to get "handsy" and and get those boards.

Like what I am seeing.

GO CUSE
Red made a good point about the rebounding---as bad as the stat is, ten of Drexel's rebounds came on two plays where they got multiple offensive rebounds.
 
It's also very encouraging the level the 2nd unit is playing. It affords Red the luxury of being able to set those expectations.
Practices must be lit.
It’s more plausible that freeman ripped the team a new one at half time. Red still comes across as too passive but the good news is the best teams are player led.
 
Red made a good point about the rebounding---as bad as the stat is, ten of Drexel's rebounds came on two plays where they got multiple offensive rebounds.
Does that really make it better?
 
Agree.

But I wanted to discuss something that happened after a break in play. I think it was fairly late in the first half but it could have been early in the second.

Anyway, as the SU players walked off the court to their bench, Freeman walked over to George and started talking to him animatedly. He looked angry and It looked as though he was yelling at him.

Based on the timing, I suspect he was discussimg Nate’s defense, or lack there of.

SU had jus given up two easy baskets. One was when a Drexel player released early and got an Easter unchallenged layup. I believe it was George who was responsible for rotating back to prevent cherry picking baskets on the play. Then I think on their next possession, George lost his man and gave him a wide open 15 foot baseline jumper (it was their little guy), which he nailed.

Anyway, did anyone else notice this exchange? Thought it was kind of surprising to see a guy with not much experience yelling at a guy with a lot. But I think it shows how much the players have bought into playing quality defense. They are policing themselves.

I think it is pretty awesome.
Yes.
 
Agree.

But I wanted to discuss something that happened after a break in play. I think it was fairly late in the first half but it could have been early in the second.

Anyway, as the SU players walked off the court to their bench, Freeman walked over to George and started talking to him animatedly. He looked angry and It looked as though he was yelling at him.

Based on the timing, I suspect he was discussimg Nate’s defense, or lack there of.

SU had jus given up two easy baskets. One was when a Drexel player released early and got an Easter unchallenged layup. I believe it was George who was responsible for rotating back to prevent cherry picking baskets on the play. Then I think on their next possession, George lost his man and gave him a wide open 15 foot baseline jumper (it was their little guy), which he nailed.

Anyway, did anyone else notice this exchange? Thought it was kind of surprising to see a guy with not much experience yelling at a guy with a lot. But I think it shows how much the players have bought into playing quality defense. They are policing themselves.

I think it is pretty awesome.
2:29 mark first half. Looks like an internal accountability session for sure.
 

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