Next Year's The Year

[rrlbees]

We are one injury to Coleman away from the NIT. Wake up. Teams that compete for the national championship have depth and athleticism in the front court. If we had Chukwu this year, or Thomas Bryant, and/or Chris McCullough, we would be a contender. We have some very good skill players on the perimeter and depth. But I think we are one or two big men (and an elite PG) away from real contention. This is another in-between year for us, if you are being honest with yourself. We are missing some pieces that will arrive in another year (e.g. Battle, Chukwu, Moyer).

Villanova thrived many seasons playing 4 guards and 1 forward.

 

[two3zone]

This is the year people! Good grief, you guys count teams out way too fast. Senior returner and is probably a top 5 player in the ACC.

Cooney has about a bazillion amount of experience in big moments and has proven he can be a more than effective player. Joseph can't get any worse than he was last year and reports on him are looking good to come off the bench and contribute which is the role I preferred Joseph to be in. Malachi is just a talented young player who can really shoot it. Something we have lacked since Southerland. He will really complement Cooney and both will feed off each others success hopefully.

Roberson is due for a breakout junior year. I am a huge fan of his rebounding out of the zone and we all have to pray that he improved his shooting mid-range and maybe out to the three. His stroke is a tad too mechanical for my liking but he has decent form. He seems to think too much on his free throws and shooting in general. He will be a work horse offensively and could absolutely record some 20 & 10 ACC games.

Lydon, in my opinion, will play more than Coleman. I fully expect this team to play Cooney, Mali, Silent G, Roberson, and Lydon more than any lineup. Coleman is just not ready to play a lot of minutes and I do not know if he ever will (Hope like hell I am wrong).

This is a COMPLETELY different team compared to recent years. Looking forward to seeing what Boeheim changes and adjusts with this years team. He has to adjust. The personnel requires him to, IMO.

Obviously next year, if MALI stays this team will be stacked. Real stoked about Pikachu in the middle of the zone. Times look bright people, but for christ sakes this team has 3 VETERAN proven guys with a lot of young talent. I am excited for this year. I must add, the OOC schedule is absolutely brutal. I think a lot of the season depends on how they do in the OOC.

We don't have a top 5 ACC player on our team, it's not a slight to G but it is what it is.

If Lydon plays more minutes than Coleman this season who else was playing center all that time? What would our record be if that's the case?

I think Roberson can be good and think he's a great rebounder but there is no "due to break out". We've had plenty of players who didn't get better or improved slightly. Again, it's not a bad thing.

I get that we "could" be great, but we would literally need EVERYTHING to happen that people are mentioning for us to be contending, but even with all of that the last question is, how do we win game if Chinoso Obokuo is playing around 15 minutes a game?

 

[two3zone]

Villanova thrived many seasons playing 4 guards and 1 forward.

I agree with you on the offensive side, but we couldn't play our 2-3 effectively with that 4 guard 1 forward size and I can't imagine JB moving from the zone at this point at his career.

 

[orangezen]

Why wasn't Cooney ever known as the "White Hot"?

'white hot with mustard ! "

 

[orangezen]

I actually proposed " Snappy Griller" some years back.

Heids should do a promo for their coney (Cooneys to alot of us locals "

 

[Orangezoo]

We don't have a top 5 ACC player on our team, it's not a slight to G but it is what it is.

If Lydon plays more minutes than Coleman this season who else was playing center all that time? What would our record be if that's the case?

I think Roberson can be good and think he's a great rebounder but there is no "due to break out". We've had plenty of players who didn't get better or improved slightly. Again, it's not a bad thing.

I get that we "could" be great, but we would literally need EVERYTHING to happen that people are mentioning for us to be contending, but even with all of that the last question is, how do we win game if Chinoso Obokuo is playing around 15 minutes a game?

Its way to early to lay out such matter of fact assumptions. That goes for the overtly positive folks too. G is a 5th year senior who can play multiple positions. He absolutely is in the mix to be a top 5 player in the ACC. Whether that comes to fruition well that is why they play the games.

If you look at the formula this year it is the best group for "ACC Play" we have had. The Big East Formula was traditional SU hoops but as we have seen is not enough perimeter offense and ball movement for the ACC. We have experience in the backcourt, good athletes and a wealth of shooters for a change. We also have guys who can do the dirty work and hit the boards. Obviously we need some things we hope to happen to come true. One being Coleman being a consistent presence in the middle, Chino to give us some good minutes off the bench and our 5th year guys to be leaders and the guys who set the tone. Then the shooters need to do what they need to do and the returning key guys to have made an improvement.

Could this year be the year? It is possible given we have seen what having experience can do for a team. The big thing is we have the talent to be in the conversation. And that should be the case again the next few years. Then they play the games and we see what happens. For now the only fool is the one dropping "All in" bets one way or another.

 

[AlaskaSU]

because more often than not he is 'shaky potatoes', but if it makes you feel better you can call him 'white hot' until conference starts.

 

[bpo57]

The frontline is talented (Lydon, Roberson and Mali for this year). Dajuan's rust is a bigger issue than his health at this point. I like the move to a perimeter oriented offense. I think it will max out our offensive potential.

That front line you mentioned would get annihilated on the boards and at the defensive end of the court.

 

[Cusefan0307]

That front line you mentioned would get annihilated on the boards and at the defensive end of the court.

I get what your saying but you have to take the good with the bad. You can't fit a square or into a round hole. This teams strength will be shooting, passing, and ball handling. It appears from everything I have read, coach JB is looking to stress these strengths. Rebounding isn't going to be a strong point no matter who is in the game most likely. We need to force turnovers this year, get out on the break, and shoot threes, and I don't think we would be that bad with Lydon and Roberson in there together on the glass.

 

[bpo57]

I get what your saying but you have to take the good with the bad. You can't fit a square or into a round hole. This teams strength will be shooting, passing, and ball handling. It appears from everything I have read, coach JB is looking to stress these strengths. Rebounding isn't going to be a strong point no matter who is in the game most likely. We need to force turnovers this year, get out on the break, and shoot threes, and I don't think we would be that bad with Lydon and Roberson in there together on the glass.

I hear ya and think the philosophy you mention makes sense. But it also makes sense that G would man one of the wing spots down low. He has done it before and is a much stronger rebounder than MR. I think you're right that rebounding will be a challenge for this squad so JB & staff will need to find ways to shore that up wherever possible.

 

[br801]

I hear ya and think the philosophy you mention makes sense. But it also makes sense that G would man one of the wing spots down low. He has done it before and is a much stronger rebounder than MR. I think you're right that rebounding will be a challenge for this squad so JB & staff will need to find ways to shore that up wherever possible.

DC2, Roberson at the 4, and G are all plus rebounders, particularly on the offensive glass. This team will be able to hold its own on the boards most nights provided all three can stay on the floor.

 

[bpo57]

DC2, Roberson at the 4, and G are all plus rebounders, particularly on the offensive glass. This team will be able to hold its own on the boards most nights provided all three can stay on the floor.

I tend to agree with that. My comment was with regard to the reference of a front line of Richardson, Lydon and Roberson.

 

[br801]

I tend to agree with that. My comment was with regard to the reference of a front line of Richardson, Lydon and Roberson.

I hear you - that front line would have trouble on the boards and be vulnerable defensively and I doubt we will see it much this season. Roberson, Lydon and G might work with Kaleb and Cooney in the backcourt though.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Cooney is here but what about his shot? In prior years it has not stuck around for the whole season. When it leaves we get shaky potatoes. Will the real Cooney please show up.

Back injuries will do that to a shooter.

 

[AZOrange]

I like the cut of the jib of this team. Better than last year IMO. The issue is depth. But I love 4 stretch players at once.

 

[Cowtown]

This year is the year. Every year is the year.

Dude!

 

[pfister1]

Villanova thrived many seasons playing 4 guards and 1 forward.

I don't know which is a bigger stretch; to believe that this team is poised for great success or that JB will change his approach to fit the personnel he has available??

If a number of things come together - like DC II stays healthy and being able to log a lot of minutes and/or Obokoh being able to give us some solid minutes in relief of DCII we could put ourselves in a position to make some noise. But I don't see any way looking at this season before it gets started to realistically predict a great season.

 

[rrlbees]

I don't know which is a bigger stretch; to believe that this team is poised for great success or that JB will change his approach to fit the personnel he has available?? If a number of things come together - like DC II stays healthy and being able to log a lot of minutes and/or Obokoh being able to give us some solid minutes in relief of DCII we could put ourselves in a position to make some noise. But I don't see any way looking at this season before it gets started to realistically predict a great season.

We'll see if he does it but Jbs been quoted as saying he's gonna have 4 shooters on the floor some and he had said Lydon will play some 5. So I'm thinking we'll see some Cooney, Gbnije, Richardson, Roberson and Lydon together. That satisfies both his statements above.

 

[Cowtown]

I don't believe in epiphanies, but with all that's happened in the last couple years, both at Syracuse hoops and with the college game itself, if he's ever going to move off the old model, it's going to be with this team. Especially as it's nothing like his traditional line-ups.

 

[dilligaf]

I actually proposed " Snappy Griller" some years back.

How about "foot long" as in his shot was a foot too long.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Villanova thrived many seasons playing 4 guards and 1 forward.

Yeah, and they played a much different defense than us, didn't they? And I don't recall them winning a national championship. What did they make, one Final Four in all those years? Teams don't win championships without athletic, deep front courts.

 

[rrlbees]

Yeah, and they played a much different defense than us, didn't they? And I don't recall them winning a national championship. What did they make, one Final Four in all those years? Teams don't win championships without athletic, deep front courts.

I'll take a final 4 with this crew.

 

[orangefan13]

Funny how much these thoughts change after midnight madness. They could change another month from now.

If you had to pick most likely to leave after this year who do you have.
I have Richardson right now.

I just can't see Roberson leaving as a PF this year.

Lydon I don't see him doing enough in isolation or creating his own shot outside 2-4 rollouts a game right now, and that is the difference. I think a Sophmore Warrick kind of role without the midrange game this year is a realistic look. He makes up for it with a couple of three balls though. He and Roberson may be our two least likely to shoot forwards, but the beauty is with them on the floor together our weakside shotblocking is at its highest and we can always park him up top of the three point line and run Gbinije in the corner in that lineup.

I think Kaleb has a shot to be in the discussion, we will have to see.

Another thought Moyer says he wants to build his game around James Harden. I know him and Battle will both be Freshmen, but I wonder if they both could play alittle defensive guard uptop for a 5-8 stretch once a game instead of going with Mali as the 4th guard. Imagine the length of a
Battle, Moyer, Lydon, Roberson, Chuckwu Lineup.

Early thought on Chuckwu I know they are working putting some weight on him. I viewed him more of a one on one shotblocker like Xmas, then a area shotblocker like Fab Melo. Just a observation of something he needs to work on. Next year is going to be Lob Central.

 

[IthacaMatt]

We'll see if he does it but Jbs been quoted as saying he's gonna have 4 shooters on the floor some and he had said Lydon will play some 5. So I'm thinking we'll see some Cooney, Gbnije, Richardson, Roberson and Lydon together. That satisfies both his statements above.

Against Colgate, maybe. Or if Coleman is injured. But that team would have an awfully hard time playing defense.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Cooney, Gbinije, Malachi, Lydon, and Coleman will be on the court a good amount. That's four shooters right there.