my two cents

[kcsu]

Random rant here we go. Red, New Coach, Players have been discussed to death.
I go back and forth on Red. I so want his to succeed that I know I'm not objective. I think the same about those on here that wanted the program to take a fresh look outside of the family when Jim was forced out. I don't think they are being objective either.
My two cents from yesterday are that the guys have not quit on Red. In fact, he has a core of players on the team. Pretty much those that were on the court and led the comeback and win that do care and play hard for him, which is a great credit to Red, his staff and of course the kids. So that is a big positive for Red and I'm pretty sure he is going to get a third season at this point.
Still for the most part I can't figure out many of his moves. Is he trying to keep everyone happy? Is he still searching for combinations that work? Why do we always start each game with zero energy? and on and on and on. Head scratching questions that I can't get a grip on.
What I believe I have learned is that we have a team of average talent. We only have one potential NBA player on the roster, and he is in a boot. So, talent is the biggest issue. Sure, I know... Red constructed the roster. Yes, technically that is correct but in not having our NIL game together, not having a GM, and yes Red not having a good eye when it comes to talent and roster construction we have ended up with a very weak team. 500 at best in a weak league.
Until that changes, I don't care who we hire as a coach we will never win at the level we want until we can get better talent which is why I want to see what happens next year. Will Melo and the new kids energize the program. For me it isn't just about NIL money it is about the hype the vibe. Fran gets this. Red not so much.
So ill end with a little on the game and the team going forward.
A three guard O is our best bet. Cuffe needs to play as he is our best defender can shoot and gets to the rack. Petar adds hustle and energy. He cares. Dry Hump played his hump off last night but needs help with his positioning on O.
They all need to work on their foul shots in practice WITH PRESSURE ON. Not just shoot them but shoot them with consequences if you miss like running your arse off. Make the practice session as pressure filled as possible. Again Fran gets this. Maybe Red can take in spring practice this year and get some ideas. Bottom line is we are an average team with an average coach. Long term I don't see Red making it. I hope he does but I just don't see it.
Always great to beat ND. Go Orange.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Random rant here we go. Red, New Coach, Players have been discussed to death.
I go back and forth on Red. I so want his to succeed that I know I'm not objective. I think the same about those on here that wanted the program to take a fresh look outside of the family when Jim was forced out. I don't think they are being objective either.
My two cents from yesterday are that the guys have not quit on Red. In fact, he has a core of players on the team. Pretty much those that were on the court and led the comeback and win that do care and play hard for him, which is a great credit to Red, his staff and of course the kids. So that is a big positive for Red and I'm pretty sure he is going to get a third season at this point.
Still for the most part I can't figure out many of his moves. Is he trying to keep everyone happy? Is he still searching for combinations that work? Why do we always start each game with zero energy? and on and on and on. Head scratching questions that I can't get a grip on.
What I believe I have learned is that we have a team of average talent. We only have one potential NBA player on the roster, and he is in a boot. So, talent is the biggest issue. Sure, I know... Red constructed the roster. Yes, technically that is correct but in not having our NIL game together, not having a GM, and yes Red not having a good eye when it comes to talent and roster construction we have ended up with a very weak team. 500 at best in a weak league.
Until that changes, I don't care who we hire as a coach we will never win at the level we want until we can get better talent which is why I want to see what happens next year. Will Melo and the new kids energize the program. For me it isn't just about NIL money it is about the hype the vibe. Fran gets this. Red not so much.
So ill end with a little on the game and the team going forward.
A three guard O is our best bet. Cuffe needs to play as he is our best defender can shoot and gets to the rack. Petar adds hustle and energy. He cares. Dry Hump played his hump off last night but needs help with his positioning on O.
They all need to work on their foul shots in practice WITH PRESSURE ON. Not just shoot them but shoot them with consequences if you miss like running your arse off. Make the practice session as pressure filled as possible. Again Fran gets this. Maybe Red can take in spring practice this year and get some ideas. Bottom line is we are an average team with an average coach. Long term I don't see Red making it. I hope he does but I just don't see it.
Always great to beat ND. Go Orange.

Always great to see Notre Dame collapse.

The NIL thing is overblown; there are plenty of teams out there having good seasons while making do with less. There are even more that are not great that would boatrace Cuse. Just shows how out of his depth Red is. Cuse was never offering the biggest bag, even before NIL when everyone was *spoiler alert* offering bags.

I think the folks who wanted an outside hire were being the definition of objective. I know I wanted that, then I became a Red convert after last year... before his actual coaching chops were revealed with this group. It wasn't because of some animosity towards JB; it was because I saw nobody with qualifications worthy of promotion on that staff. I generally don't like to be proven wrong, but I really wish I was here.

It really, really sucks that we are probably going to have to glide forward with this non-tournament season and then at least one more before the obvious occurs. Next year is going to heart-wrenching with Kiyan (if he still comes), an empty dome, little shot at a postseason outside of the ACCT, and all of the conflict that is going to bring. It's going to be a dumpster fire of epic, Rutgersian proportions.

 

[kcsu]

Always great to see Notre Dame collapse.

The NIL thing is overblown; there are plenty of teams out there having good seasons while making do with less. There are even more that are not great that would boatrace Cuse. Just shows how out of his depth Red is. Cuse was never offering the biggest bag, even before NIL when everyone was *spoiler alert* offering bags.

I think the folks who wanted an outside hire were being the definition of objective. I know I wanted that, then I became a Red convert after last year... before his actual coaching chops were revealed with this group. It wasn't because of some animosity towards JB; it was because I saw nobody with qualifications worthy of promotion on that staff. I generally don't like to be proven wrong, but I really wish I was here.

It really, really sucks that we are probably going to have to glide forward with this non-tournament season and then at least one more before the obvious occurs. Next year is going to heart-wrenching with Kiyan (if he still comes), an empty dome, little shot at a postseason outside of the ACCT, and all of the conflict that is going to bring. It's going to be a dumpster fire of epic, Rutgersian proportions.

I see your point the other side of the coin is that the new guys are good. Donnie JJ and some other solid pieces stick. We add some solid talent via the portal and have a good year. That can happen as easily in my book as not. For me the jury is out.

 

[SoBristol]

I see your point the other side of the coin is that the new guys are good. Donnie JJ and some other solid pieces stick. We add some solid talent via the portal and have a good year. That can happen as easily in my book as not. For me the jury is out.

Agree. The Red bashing should at least pause after a beautiful comeback win against ND.

And maybe wait until we see the 2025-26 roster before going all sour on next season. We could have JJ, Cuffe. The current frosh (Moore, Petar, Freeman) should improve, and the 2025 class is highly rated. Sadiq White adds a dimension we don’t currently have. Obviously we need help from the portal to fill holes. No need to go negative about next season - and it becomes a little tedious.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Always great to see Notre Dame collapse.

The NIL thing is overblown; there are plenty of teams out there having good seasons while making do with less. There are even more that are not great that would boatrace Cuse. Just shows how out of his depth Red is. Cuse was never offering the biggest bag, even before NIL when everyone was *spoiler alert* offering bags.

I think the folks who wanted an outside hire were being the definition of objective. I know I wanted that, then I became a Red convert after last year... before his actual coaching chops were revealed with this group. It wasn't because of some animosity towards JB; it was because I saw nobody with qualifications worthy of promotion on that staff. I generally don't like to be proven wrong, but I really wish I was here.

It really, really sucks that we are probably going to have to glide forward with this non-tournament season and then at least one more before the obvious occurs. Next year is going to heart-wrenching with Kiyan (if he still comes), an empty dome, little shot at a postseason outside of the ACCT, and all of the conflict that is going to bring. It's going to be a dumpster fire of epic, Rutgersian proportions.

The league is too terrible to ever bottom out. Most likely scenario is we stay in 16-20 win purgatory.

 

[kcsu]

Agree. The Red bashing should at least pause after a beautiful comeback win against ND.

And maybe wait until we see the 2025-26 roster before going all sour on next season. We could have JJ, Cuffe. The current frosh (Moore, Petar, Freeman) should improve, and the 2025 class is highly rated. Sadiq White adds a dimension we don’t currently have. Obviously we need help from the portal to fill holes. No need to go negative about next season - and it becomes a little tedious.

Agreed. If we get the guys, you mention back, add two solid portal players we will have a good team.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

I see your point the other side of the coin is that the new guys are good. Donnie JJ and some other solid pieces stick. We add some solid talent via the portal and have a good year. That can happen as easily in my book as not. For me the jury is out.

That definitely can happen, and I hope it does. I'm very skeptical of relying on freshman; I think we need some good portal pieces, and with this staff that makes me even more skeptical. BUT, people do learn and improve.

Sadly, there's a third strike: managing the pieces once acquired. This is what has me down the most, because I have no faith that Red will/can do this.

 

[upperdeck]

It comes down to 2 things

Make less mistakes on D

Make more open shots

All you can ask on offense is move the ball and get good looks. If you cant get good looks then you need guys who can make the tough shots and we only have 1 guy who can do that

But its a tough thing to overcome when you move the ball well and get wide open 3s and shoot bricks, then you add on multiple games of awful FT shooting.

I dont think the in game coaching is really an issue. We have so many guys who play about the same and game to game who knows which one is going to make plays.

 

[dasher]

Always great to see Notre Dame collapse.

The NIL thing is overblown; there are plenty of teams out there having good seasons while making do with less. There are even more that are not great that would boatrace Cuse. Just shows how out of his depth Red is. Cuse was never offering the biggest bag, even before NIL when everyone was *spoiler alert* offering bags.

I think the folks who wanted an outside hire were being the definition of objective. I know I wanted that, then I became a Red convert after last year... before his actual coaching chops were revealed with this group. It wasn't because of some animosity towards JB; it was because I saw nobody with qualifications worthy of promotion on that staff. I generally don't like to be proven wrong, but I really wish I was here.

It really, really sucks that we are probably going to have to glide forward with this non-tournament season and then at least one more before the obvious occurs. Next year is going to heart-wrenching with Kiyan (if he still comes), an empty dome, little shot at a postseason outside of the ACCT, and all of the conflict that is going to bring. It's going to be a dumpster fire of epic, Rutgersian proportions.

Have to factor in losing jj for 7 games. We will never know for sure but I think we win at least 2 and maybe 3 games that we lost with JJ out. If we were 12-6 or even 11-7, it might feel a bit different. We still wouldn't be able to give a good team even a game, but the feeling would be different.

 

[PeteCalvin]

Have to factor in losing jj for 7 games. We will never know for sure but I think we win at least 2 and maybe 3 games that we lost with JJ out. If we were 12-6 or even 11-7, it might feel a bit different. We still wouldn't be able to give a good team even a game, but the feeling would be different.

For sure we win two of those. We would have beaten ND by 10 at there place.

Amazing what a few plays here and there would have made for our season.

 

[kcsu]

For sure we win two of those. We would have beaten ND by 10 at there place.

Amazing what a few plays here and there would have made for our season.

As Dasher said we still get beat by the better teams and don't make the dance again, but things would be better. Going forward i do think that Red and the GM will put together a better roster. The million-dollar Question is can Red motivate and coach them up. Is he just a talent guy or can he get the most out of them.

 

[dasher]

As Dasher said we still get beat by the better teams and don't make the dance again, but things would be better. Going forward i do think that Red and the GM will put together a better roster. The million-dollar Question is can Red motivate and coach them up. Is he just a talent guy or can he get the most out of them.

We also have to know whether he can coach a big game against a top coach. Even if the talent is even.

 

[wiCuse]

Have to factor in losing jj for 7 games. We will never know for sure but I think we win at least 2 and maybe 3 games that we lost with JJ out. If we were 12-6 or even 11-7, it might feel a bit different. We still wouldn't be able to give a good team even a game, but the feeling would be different.

I totally agree that if we had JJ we have an additional 2-3 wins. That doesn't move the needle. We cannot beat a top 75 team. You have to start looking at Red's two years. We have a lot of lopsided loses vs quality opponents. Bottom line, another 2-3 wins vs Georgetown, Notre Dame, etc doesn't get us closer to the tournament.

 

[wiCuse]

We also have to know whether he can coach a big game against a top coach. Even if the talent is even.

What were your thoughts after the Louisville game? 8pt dog at home. We couldn't keep the game competitive. I wasn't expecting a win. I thought Red did not have the team prepared and was totally outcoached.

 

[kcsu]

We also have to know whether he can coach a big game against a top coach. Even if the talent is even.

Agreed. If I had to make a bet I would say no. Also, maybe I'm reading into this but I thought he should have given more props to Cuffe in his presser. Guy completely shut down their stud and was clutch.

 

[SoBristol]

It comes down to 2 things

Make less mistakes on D

Make more open shots

All you can ask on offense is move the ball and get good looks. If you cant get good looks then you need guys who can make the tough shots and we only have 1 guy who can do that

But its a tough thing to overcome when you move the ball well and get wide open 3s and shoot bricks, then you add on multiple games of awful FT shooting.

I dont think the in game coaching is really an issue. We have so many guys who play about the same and game to game who knows which one is going to make plays.

Those two are important and I would add a few. With the current group, we have to get inside scoring for balance and hold our own on the boards. That happened yesterday. We have to limit the opponent’s best scorer - Taylor and Cuffe did that in the second half. Make free throws - nice job by Cuffe, others not so much.

Now, in context, it was a gritty comeback against a team currently in the bottom third of the conference. One game at a time.

 

[dasher]

Agreed. If I had to make a bet I would say no. Also, maybe I'm reading into this but I thought he should have given more props to Cuffe in his presser. Guy completely shut down their stud and was clutch.

I hope it isn't because to praise Cuffe is to also highlight his lack of use earlier in the year.

 

[dasher]

What were your thoughts after the Louisville game? 8pt dog at home. We couldn't keep the game competitive. I wasn't expecting a win. I thought Red did not have the team prepared and was totally outcoached.

My thoughts were pretty much what I have thought all year. Win or lose.

 

[wiCuse]

My thoughts were pretty much what I have thought all year. Win or lose.

Okay, not sure why the talent needs to be even. That isn't how life works. In my corner of the world I get to watch a lot of Wisconsin basketball. Similar NIL budget to SU. In addition, they recruit 3 stars in the "mighty" Big 10, so they do not out talent anyone. Wisconsin has a known system and philosophy. I would say coaching matters A LOT. Greg Gard was a career assistant coach like Red when he got the head job.

People complain that SU will struggle to compete with the big public universities that have more students, etc. The Badgers are a great example with football and basketball. Big NIL football budget and poor coaching, what does all the talent get you with poor coaching? No bowl game for the first time in forever. On the flip side, basketball has limited NIL resources, doesn't choose to recruit 4 or 5 stars and does well. It can work with a good coach.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Nice to get a win.
Nice to see some good D
Nice to play tough.

But there were two plays in the closing minute that were very troubling.

1. JJ holds the ball...starts operating with 10 seconds on shot clock and eventually puts up a bad shot and misses.
Why?
Why JB-era iso-ball?
Why not work for a good shot?
Why not in to Lampkin perhaps?

2. The Orange up 3 and apparently no one heard Red yelling for them to foul ND so they couldn't get off a game-tying shot.
Why wasn't the team prepared for that?
And why isn't there a hand/arm signal that can communicate the plan?

Why?

 

[powdersmack]

We would have beaten ND by 10 at there place.

It's amusing how everyone saying that about "if we had JJ" completely ignores that ND was without Burton. And I'd take Burton ten outta ten times over JJ.

 

[gmacfor3]

Red is a proud alum, great guy, and a good recruiter. Unfortunately he has shown next to nothing that makes you believe he can coach a team up to perform at a top 25 level. How many times the past two seasons have Cuse players looked over at the sideline with their palms up when an opponent slices in for an uncontested layup? On his radio appearance this week, he was asked to explain how Cuse defends screens…his answer, after seeming baffled by the question, was we try to blow them up and help with the passers defender if need be. That was a legit answer by a power 4 head coach. How many times have we get looked absolutely clueless and without a plan trying to defend ball screens this year(which btw you can’t blow up a ball screen and help with the passer’s defender). How many times has Autry given a helpless expression on the sideline? How many times has he allowed antics (Chris Bell tantrums, etc) go on without serious consequences? The culture around the team is laughable. Lampkin flexing after a made basket down 20 against Louisville. And I’m all for the players getting excited after a win, but it does feel to me that the #orangestandard that he talks about has been greatly lowered. Again, as a coach you want your players to be enthusiastic, but they also must be held to a standard that is much greater than what we’ve seen effort wise in too many games the last two seasons.

 

[dasher]

It's amusing how everyone saying that about "if we had JJ" completely ignores that ND was without Burton. And I'd take Burton ten outta ten times over JJ.

Maybe because they had Burton yesterday. We got a chance to see the teams play without each guy and without each guy.

 

[kcsu]

Red is a proud alum, great guy, and a good recruiter. Unfortunately he has shown next to nothing that makes you believe he can coach a team up to perform at a top 25 level. How many times the past two seasons have Cuse players looked over at the sideline with their palms up when an opponent slices in for an uncontested layup? On his radio appearance this week, he was asked to explain how Cuse defends screens…his answer, after seeming baffled by the question, was we try to blow them up and help with the passers defender if need be. That was a legit answer by a power 4 head coach. How many times have we get looked absolutely clueless and without a plan trying to defend ball screens this year(which btw you can’t blow up a ball screen and help with the passer’s defender). How many times has Autry given a helpless expression on the sideline? How many times has he allowed antics (Chris Bell tantrums, etc) go on without serious consequences? The culture around the team is laughable. Lampkin flexing after a made basket down 20 against Louisville. And I’m all for the players getting excited after a win, but it does feel to me that the #orangestandard that he talks about has been greatly lowered. Again, as a coach you want your players to be enthusiastic, but they also must be held to a standard that is much greater than what we’ve seen effort wise in too many games the last two seasons.

Maybe he's played the roll of recruiter and good cop so long that he can't make the transition.
It's not like he has ever been known as an X and O guy.

 

[sufan59]

I really don’t like playing the if we had this player, we win this game, etc. We are still behind of what this team is capable of imo. I look back at the Georgetown, At Notre Dame, and Wake Forest games as games we should win with or without JJ. It’s more difficult without JJ, but still games we should win. This opinion is out of belief that we can be a very good team this season. I can agree that Red has been dealing with headwinds, but it doesn’t excuse that our effort and as coach mentioned choices hasn’t been there consistently all season long and that is something coach needs to get out of his guys. Regarding the money, until we play 40 minutes with great effort throughout and we lose the game since the other team just has better talent then we can cry that we don’t have enough NIL money to compete. Until then, let’s hope Coach Autry gets the 30 minutes of great effort in the ND game, 40 minutes or more in the Clemson game.