my two cents

[kcsu]

A couple of thoughts on last nights game but more on the season to date.

Last night was typical of this season. A slow lethargic start, not much energy as usual. I'm not sure if the kids come out tight or what the story is but I don't think we have had more than a game or two where we have started strong. Why? who knows. As to the game I thought that Hima and Sy and Brown brought energy and effort to the floor. Joe was Joe good and bad but mostly good. I hope he comes back next year as we need him. Taylor needs more minutes. He should be on the floor as he can score and seems to understand the game of basketball considerably better than Bell. Would like to see Copeland get some run not sure what the story is there as Jim praises the kid but doesn't play him to the extent that he should. Judah is a baller sure out of control part of the time, but he plays hard and its obvious he wants to win at a level which I do not see out of Jesse who is a major disappointment. He should be leading this team, yet he continues to play most of the time like he is not really into the game. Not sure how you light a fire under his arse but at this point I would seriously go with Hima as much if not more than Jesse as he plays with an attitude and aggressiveness that this team sorely needs.

Missing Benny was I guess a big deal depending on which Benny shows up. I guess he would have made a difference as according to Jim he is our best forward so maybe we do better with him in the lineup.

Jim says that this is his best class and I take him at his word. I personally can come up with a few that are better but let's assume this is his best and to his point they are pretty good.

Each of these kids from the minute they started playing organized basketball until they arrived as Syracuse have for probably for 90% of their entire lives played man to man. At the beginning of practice, it was mentioned by many including our HOF coach that man to man had a chance to be added to the toolbox. So instead of letting kids who have played man all of their lives play a D that they know and understand if nothing more than a tool to change the tempo of a game. To try and get an opposing team out of a rhythm. Jim instead decides to force them to play his signature D. A D that was successful when the 3-point line was new. When teams didn't have 10 kids on the roster that have grown up shooting it. When Jim and his staff had the time to develop over multiple years his players into executing his zone vs today's world of 4 weeks in the fall.

No instead of using a D that every one of these players have been trained in and played in their entire lives Jim our HOF genius decides to go exclusively zone or in the event we fall behind by a quarter of 100 points, press.

As the girls screams on the Dr. Pepper advertisement. Hes Lost it!

If Jim wasnt so GD stubborn and more worried about trying to prove everyone wrong we would most likely have won 2 to 4 more games. Colgate would have been crushed if we had gone man. Same with Bryant. Pitt VA and who knows on the others.

So, Jim is correct he does have talent unfortunately his stubbornness is preventing him from using it properly. Man to Man is a tool that he should be using and should have been using since Os caught up with the 3-point game.

We don't have a talent issue we have a coaching issue. It isn't that Jim isn't a brilliant coach because he is. It's that his stubbornness is precluding him to use his brilliance.

This team has the tools to make the dance, but it won't because of a head coach who refuses to change. We don't need a new head coach. We need the current one to use his mind, set aside his stubbornness and adapt to today's game.

 

[Lukeyloo]

Jim says that this is his best class and I take him at his word. I personally can come up with a few that are better but let's assume this is his best and to his point they are pretty good.

Best class adjusted for his lowered expectations. Consider it the LER, or ‘Lowered Expectations Rating’. Through that metric is how everything needs to be judged nowadays with Cuse basketball. Game performance.. quality of opponent.. recruiting class..

 

[oldpinepoint]

A couple of thoughts on last nights game but more on the season to date.

Last night was typical of this season. A slow lethargic start, not much energy as usual. I'm not sure if the kids come out tight or what the story is but I don't think we have had more than a game or two where we have started strong. Why? who knows. As to the game I thought that Hima and Sy and Brown brought energy and effort to the floor. Joe was Joe good and bad but mostly good. I hope he comes back next year as we need him. Taylor needs more minutes. He should be on the floor as he can score and seems to understand the game of basketball considerably better than Bell. Would like to see Copeland get some run not sure what the story is there as Jim praises the kid but doesn't play him to the extent that he should. Judah is a baller sure out of control part of the time, but he plays hard and its obvious he wants to win at a level which I do not see out of Jesse who is a major disappointment. He should be leading this team, yet he continues to play most of the time like he is not really into the game. Not sure how you light a fire under his arse but at this point I would seriously go with Hima as much if not more than Jesse as he plays with an attitude and aggressiveness that this team sorely needs.

Missing Benny was I guess a big deal depending on which Benny shows up. I guess he would have made a difference as according to Jim he is our best forward so maybe we do better with him in the lineup.

Jim says that this is his best class and I take him at his word. I personally can come up with a few that are better but let's assume this is his best and to his point they are pretty good.

Each of these kids from the minute they started playing organized basketball until they arrived as Syracuse have for probably for 90% of their entire lives played man to man. At the beginning of practice, it was mentioned by many including our HOF coach that man to man had a chance to be added to the toolbox. So instead of letting kids who have played man all of their lives play a D that they know and understand if nothing more than a tool to change the tempo of a game. To try and get an opposing team out of a rhythm. Jim instead decides to force them to play his signature D. A D that was successful when the 3-point line was new. When teams didn't have 10 kids on the roster that have grown up shooting it. When Jim and his staff had the time to develop over multiple years his players into executing his zone vs today's world of 4 weeks in the fall.

No instead of using a D that every one of these players have been trained in and played in their entire lives Jim our HOF genius decides to go exclusively zone or in the event we fall behind by a quarter of 100 points, press.

As the girls screams on the Dr. Pepper advertisement. Hes Lost it!

If Jim wasnt so GD stubborn and more worried about trying to prove everyone wrong we would most likely have won 2 to 4 more games. Colgate would have been crushed if we had gone man. Same with Bryant. Pitt VA and who knows on the others.

So, Jim is correct he does have talent unfortunately his stubbornness is preventing him from using it properly. Man to Man is a tool that he should be using and should have been using since Os caught up with the 3-point game.

We don't have a talent issue we have a coaching issue. It isn't that Jim isn't a brilliant coach because he is. It's that his stubbornness is precluding him to use his brilliance.

This team has the tools to make the dance, but it won't because of a head coach who refuses to change. We don't need a new head coach. We need the current one to use his mind, set aside his stubbornness and adapt to today's game.

I honestly don’t see the tools to make the dance but maybe the coaching is so bad that it’s really masking that. If that is the case then we are in trouble until the HC decides to pack it in or the administration grows a pair.

 

[kcsu]

I honestly don’t see the tools to make the dance but maybe the coaching is so bad that it’s really masking that. If that is the case then we are in trouble until the HC decides to pack it in or the administration grows a pair.

I think that we do have the tools. Judah is a future NBA player. Joe is an excellent 2. Jesse has skills and Hima is a great back up at center. We have Copeland, Sy, Taylor, Benny, Brown, Bell all long and athletic players who if in the right system would do well. The zone is foreign to these kids. It's not a natural D to rebound from and it doesn't lend itself to a team that wants to run. Other than Joe every kid on this team can play good man to man. Our athleticism is obvious when we press. Obvious when we get out and run. The zone plays against our strengths. It's probably the worst D these kids can play as they have zero experience in it. We are losing not because of a lack of talent but because our scheme.

Give this team to Pitino or even the Colgate coach and see what our record looks like.

 

[Nicknack]

If Jim wasnt so GD stubborn and more worried about trying to prove everyone wrong we would most likely have won 2 to 4 more games. Colgate would have been crushed if we had gone man.

It really sucks that this is the case, but it is. Think about it, even his latest comments about Benny being the best forward was only said to defend what he does. Besides being stubborn, he is incredibly thin skinned, which is often why he gets nasty in pressers.

 

[rrlbees]

The idea that JB does things just to prove fans wrong is hilarious.

 

[Cuse181]

A couple of thoughts on last nights game but more on the season to date.

Last night was typical of this season. A slow lethargic start, not much energy as usual. I'm not sure if the kids come out tight or what the story is but I don't think we have had more than a game or two where we have started strong. Why? who knows. As to the game I thought that Hima and Sy and Brown brought energy and effort to the floor. Joe was Joe good and bad but mostly good. I hope he comes back next year as we need him. Taylor needs more minutes. He should be on the floor as he can score and seems to understand the game of basketball considerably better than Bell. Would like to see Copeland get some run not sure what the story is there as Jim praises the kid but doesn't play him to the extent that he should. Judah is a baller sure out of control part of the time, but he plays hard and its obvious he wants to win at a level which I do not see out of Jesse who is a major disappointment. He should be leading this team, yet he continues to play most of the time like he is not really into the game. Not sure how you light a fire under his arse but at this point I would seriously go with Hima as much if not more than Jesse as he plays with an attitude and aggressiveness that this team sorely needs.

Missing Benny was I guess a big deal depending on which Benny shows up. I guess he would have made a difference as according to Jim he is our best forward so maybe we do better with him in the lineup.

Jim says that this is his best class and I take him at his word. I personally can come up with a few that are better but let's assume this is his best and to his point they are pretty good.

Each of these kids from the minute they started playing organized basketball until they arrived as Syracuse have for probably for 90% of their entire lives played man to man. At the beginning of practice, it was mentioned by many including our HOF coach that man to man had a chance to be added to the toolbox. So instead of letting kids who have played man all of their lives play a D that they know and understand if nothing more than a tool to change the tempo of a game. To try and get an opposing team out of a rhythm. Jim instead decides to force them to play his signature D. A D that was successful when the 3-point line was new. When teams didn't have 10 kids on the roster that have grown up shooting it. When Jim and his staff had the time to develop over multiple years his players into executing his zone vs today's world of 4 weeks in the fall.

No instead of using a D that every one of these players have been trained in and played in their entire lives Jim our HOF genius decides to go exclusively zone or in the event we fall behind by a quarter of 100 points, press.

As the girls screams on the Dr. Pepper advertisement. Hes Lost it!

If Jim wasnt so GD stubborn and more worried about trying to prove everyone wrong we would most likely have won 2 to 4 more games. Colgate would have been crushed if we had gone man. Same with Bryant. Pitt VA and who knows on the others.

So, Jim is correct he does have talent unfortunately his stubbornness is preventing him from using it properly. Man to Man is a tool that he should be using and should have been using since Os caught up with the 3-point game.

We don't have a talent issue we have a coaching issue. It isn't that Jim isn't a brilliant coach because he is. It's that his stubbornness is precluding him to use his brilliance.

This team has the tools to make the dance, but it won't because of a head coach who refuses to change. We don't need a new head coach. We need the current one to use his mind, set aside his stubbornness and adapt to today's game.

Syracuse was down 18-9 when they switched out of man at the 12 minute mark

 

[MikeSU02]

I think that we do have the tools. Judah is a future NBA player. Joe is an excellent 2. Jesse has skills and Hima is a great back up at center. We have Copeland, Sy, Taylor, Benny, Brown, Bell all long and athletic players who if in the right system would do well. The zone is foreign to these kids. It's not a natural D to rebound from and it doesn't lend itself to a team that wants to run. Other than Joe every kid on this team can play good man to man. Our athleticism is obvious when we press. Obvious when we get out and run. The zone plays against our strengths. It's probably the worst D these kids can play as they have zero experience in it. We are losing not because of a lack of talent but because our scheme.

Give this team to Pitino or even the Colgate coach and see what our record looks like.

Joe isn’t even remotely close to being an “excellent 2”.

 

[Cuse181]

Joe isn’t even remotely close to being an “excellent 2”.

16 ppg, 40% from the field, 39% from 3, 3 assists/game, chips in 3 rebounds as well. Seems like a pretty decent 2

 

[MikeSU02]

16 ppg, 40% from the field, 39% from 3, 3 assists/game, chips in 3 rebounds as well. Seems like a pretty decent 2

You think 40%, rounding up, from the field, amongst his other traits, is an excellent 2 for a P5/ACC 2 guard?

 

[Cuse181]

You think 40%, rounding up, from the field, amongst his other traits, is an excellent 2 for a P5/ACC 2 guard?

I mean it’s almost the exact same as Amand Franklin, Tyrese Hunter, and RJ Davis

 

[hoopsupstate]

I think that we do have the tools. Judah is a future NBA player. Joe is an excellent 2. Jesse has skills and Hima is a great back up at center. We have Copeland, Sy, Taylor, Benny, Brown, Bell all long and athletic players who if in the right system would do well. The zone is foreign to these kids. It's not a natural D to rebound from and it doesn't lend itself to a team that wants to run. Other than Joe every kid on this team can play good man to man. Our athleticism is obvious when we press. Obvious when we get out and run. The zone plays against our strengths. It's probably the worst D these kids can play as they have zero experience in it. We are losing not because of a lack of talent but because our scheme.

Give this team to Pitino or even the Colgate coach and see what our record looks like.

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I don’t think Judah is a guaranteed future NBA player. He’s not a point guard and he plays nothing like a point guard except he ”sometimes” makes the first pass to start our offense. I haven’t seen him do much to make his teammates better. His only purpose is to drive and try to score. He’s clueless finding open shooters. He occasionally finds someone near the basket. I can probably count on one hand when he’s passed the ball to an open shooter. In transition he NEVER looks to set up a shooter. He can make difficult shots in the lane, but he will get punished if he tries that stuff in the NBA. He’s shown no ability to even occasionally make a three point shot. He spends more time falling on the floor than setting up teammates. He does have the unique ability to score in the lane, but until he learns how to run a team, I can’t call him a point guard. There’s is nothing in his DNA that‘s resembles the ability to settle a team down. He’s just the opposite. He causes more chaos than calm. Do you really want the ball in his hands at the end of the game? His decision making leads a lot to be desired. Can he grow into a point guard? Maybe, but he has a long way to go. He’s a fun kid to watch, but his style is not always conducive to winning basketball. I hope I’m wrong and a light will go off and he figures it out. We still have not had a true point guard on this team since Tyler Ennis left. That seems like an eternity. I also believe that’s the last time we were ranked mid season.

 

[MikeSU02]

I mean it’s almost the exact same as Amand Franklin, Tyrese Hunter, and RJ Davis

Agree to disagree.

 

[Cuse181]

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, but I don’t think Judah is a guaranteed future NBA player. He’s not a point guard and he plays nothing like a point guard except he ”sometimes” makes the first pass to start our offense. I haven’t seen him do much to make his teammates better. His only purpose is to drive and try to score. He’s clueless finding open shooters. He occasionally finds someone near the basket. I can probably count on one hand when he’s passed the ball to an open shooter. In transition he NEVER looks to set up a shooter. He can make difficult shots in the lane, but he will get punished if he tries that stuff in the NBA. He’s shown no ability to even occasionally make a three point shot. He spends more time falling on the floor than setting up teammates. He does have the unique ability to score in the lane, but until he learns how to run a team, I can’t call him a point guard. Theirs is nothing in his DNA that‘s resembles the ability to settle a team down. He’s just the opposite. He causes more chaos than calm. Do you really want the ball in his hands at the end of the game? His decision making leads a lot to be desired. Can he grow into a point guard? Maybe, but he has a long way to go. He’s a fun kid to watch, but his style is not always conducive to winning basketball. I hope I’m wrong and a light will go off and he figures it out. We still have not had a true point guard on this team since Tyler Ennis left. That seems like an eternity. I also believe that’s the last time we were ranked mid season.

Strong takes about a freshman PG who is giving Syracuse their first guard with penetration ability in nearly a decade. I agree he’s not a pure Pg but no one said he was

 

[Cuse181]

Agree to disagree.

The stats are the stats

 

[CardiacCuse]

16 ppg, 40% from the field, 39% from 3, 3 assists/game, chips in 3 rebounds as well. Seems like a pretty decent 2

hes an excellent 2 unless when he has to play a good defense like UVA or Houston

JB needs to have a plan B and C in place for such realities

 

[MikeSU02]

The stats are the stats

They sure are. A career 37% shooter that has taken almost 1200 FGA.

I believe he will have the most or close to the most (or will upon seasons end) losses during JB’s tenure for any player.

 

[Cuse181]

hes an excellent 2 unless when he has to play a good defense like UVA or Houston

JB needs to have a plan B and C in place for such realities

Yes, players will have a harder time playing against good defenses, if they didn’t, the team wouldn’t be a good defense.

 

[Cuse181]

They sure are. A career 37% shooter that has taken almost 1200 FGA.

I believe he will have the most or close to the most (or will upon seasons end) losses during JB’s tenure for any player.

A guy has stats that match some good 2 guards in the last 2 years but isn’t a good 2 guard because… the team sucks?

 

[CardiacCuse]

Yes, players will have a harder time playing against good defenses, if they didn’t, the team wouldn’t be a good defense.

its not just that...its the physical size aspect...the lack of athleticism that is exposed vs top 15 programs...

its fine vs the bryant and colgates...


its not just that the defense is good...its that it is physically impossible for joe vs those really good teams that have size and good d

 

[MikeSU02]

A guy has stats that match some good 2 guards in the last 2 years but isn’t a good 2 guard because… the team sucks?

Joe is a large part of the reason the team is not good.

If you don’t believe that, there is no reason to keep discussing this. We just disagree.

I don’t hate Joe. I don’t think he’s an absolute zero. I don’t think he’s some cancer on the program. I think he’s made efforts to get incrementally better each year. I don’t think he was ever a real lead guard and had to play there bc he wasn’t related to JB. And there have been single games where his production lead us to a win. But, as I’ve said before, no one sees the realities that were never tried.

At this point, I’m not going to go nuts about any player all that much versus JB.

 

[Cuse181]

its not just that...its the physical size aspect...the lack of athleticism that is exposed vs top 15 programs...

its fine vs the bryant and colgates...


its not just that the defense is good...its that it is physically impossible for joe vs those really good teams that have size and good d

But it’s not “impossible,” he played a good game, made his shots outside the lane. He still dropped 19, he’s not a physical marvel who can make the moves Judah can in the paint but that was never his hame, he was forced into because of how poorly everyone else was playing.

 

[Cuse181]

Joe is a large part of the reason the team is not good.

If you don’t believe that, there is no reason to keep discussing this. We just disagree.

I don’t hate Joe. I don’t think he’s an absolute zero. I don’t think he’s some cancer on the program. I think he’s made efforts to get incrementally better each year. I don’t think he was ever a real lead guard and had to play there bc he wasn’t related to JB. And there have been single games where his production lead us to a win. But, as I’ve said before, no one sees the realities that were never tried.

At this point, I’m not going to go nuts about any player all that much versus JB.

I mean, we disagree because it makes no sense. Joe does what he needs to do - score. Syracuse isn’t good because they only have 3 players who can semi-reliably score and one of them doesn’t show up against good teams. Is his defense not great, does he lack some athletic acumen? Sure, but to say he is a large part of the reason the team bad, is stupid. Put him on any other team and this board would bitch and moan all week long about how we “never” a player like him who can come in a take over games from behind the arc. Frankly, take him off the team and I doubt they score 50.

 

[MikeSU02]

I mean, we disagree because it makes no sense. Joe does what he needs to do - score. Syracuse isn’t good because they only have 3 players who can semi-reliably score and one of them doesn’t show up against good teams. Is his defense not great, does he lack some athletic acumen? Sure, but to say he is a large part of the reason the team bad, is stupid. Put him on any other team and this board would bitch and moan all week long about how we “never” a player like him who can come in a take over games from behind the arc.

I mean, we disagree. We’re all on this spinning rock in the vast expanse of space.

If we ever catch up at a tailgate, I’ll have a beer with ya and we can pick it back up.

I’m still going to root for every shot Joe shoots to go in.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Can you imagine what Joe would do against our zone?