Let's break it down...
#Freeman way way way over hyped
#Carlos also over hyped
#Lampkin exactly what was expected
#Davis better than anticipated
#Choppa better than anticipated. Upside!
#Petar is well ... Petar
#Taylor worse than anticipated
#Defense even more atrocious then we thought was possible
#Red way over his head and needs a lifevest
Let’s break down Red:
#Won 20 ballgames with a disjointed and ego-ridden team. Not a miracle perhaps, but the Vatican-appointed Miracle Commission is looking into it.
#He has attracted a good deal of high-end talent that this program has largely lacked the last decade. Ironically, the PG eluded him this year.
#He’s working with a strong hand/mentor in ADJW. And he has not allowed pride to get in the way of hiring a new Asst and a program GM.
#He is doing what almost every fan here wanted (for the last 10-12 years): playing faster and playing M2M on the defensive end. That’s not going to be an instant take.
#He also attacked when it came to roster construction. HS talent and Portal. As was needed and as everyone clamored for in the fanbase. Let’s all be frank,
most often, too much portaling often has diminishing returns. It is also prohibitive to culture building, as the players bring baggage/influences from other programs. I acknowledge the need for portaling, but I hope it is just a player or two per season. Player empowerment comes with downside too. It creates mostly unwanted volatility. This is not fantasy football.
#Contrary to popular belief, he has made a number of strong decisions on behalf of the program. Aka he is not the softie/players coach that his critics here would have you believe. He benched Judah early last year. He benched Copeland. He jettisoned Benny midstream. And while I hate this newfound concept in CBB, he showed the door to a number of good-stock, program friendly players in the off-season.
#He beat LeMoyne and Colgate. Those were decidedly poor outings, but he won/avoided disaster. And the squad will invariably grow/improve. He’s a good coach. He’s not over his head. He’s doing what needs to be done reestablish the foundation of this program.
#Some times program progressions are not instantaneous. In fact, the vast majority are not. Just a few examples:
Danny Hurley missed the NCAA Tournament his first four seasons at Rhode Island (66-54 record) and his initial two campaigns in Storrs (35-29 record).
Kelvin Sampson missed the Tournament each of his first three seasons at Houston (56-40 mark).
Tom Izzo went 33-28 in his first two years at MSU and missed the postseason both times.
Tony Bennett went 76-53 his first four years at UVa and only made the Tourney once. One more (just to include an SEC team),
Rick Barnes missed the NCAAs his first two years at Tennessee, going 31-35 along the way. The he started paying players.
Look, I get it. SU a top 10 program all-time and you’re anxious. You want it now. (
So do I !!). I think there just has to be a more pragmatic feel for what expectation should be in these early seasons for Red. Because if you/we are unrealistic in that regard, it sets up bitter disappointment. But, I suppose, that’s what we — as fans — do.
