No sure who said it but...

[Ptzburghcuse]

One of the announcers covering the Kansas - Georgia game just said that Kansas was a very good team - a top 5 team but they, like every team in the top 5 team has an Achilles heel.

That got me to thinking - what is ours?

As of right now I can't think of one but we haven't played really tough competition yet. Perhaps toughness once smacked in the mouth? Inability to pressure effectively if we have an off night offensively?

I have noticed that our wings haven't been closing out on shooters as aggressively as I would hope and against great shooting teams this could spell trouble.

I honestly don't know what it might be but the fact that it isn't obvious as it has been in so many other years past is another sign for optimism.

This team has been very fun to watch thus far.

 

[RF2044]

Right now, our achilles heel is chemistry. We have a lot of new faces, and a lot of guys who haven't been part of our past success. They look great when we're running, gunning, and winning easily--but how will they perform when the bright lights are on and the game situation is tight?

Time will tell. I don't think we really have any tangible weaknesses beyond that. How well this team gels will determine what their ultimate potential is, because all of the rest of the pieces of the puzzle are there for big success this season.

 

[SWC75]

Where's the beef? Chukwu, Lydon and Thompson are all kind of skinny. Coleman has been playing 10-12 minutes a game. Roberson is pretty strong. But how we do when we meet a really strong rebounding team like Wisconsin?

I also suspect our defense isn't as good as the numbers suggest so far.

 

[Cuse House]

Our issue is scoring from the 5 spot and interior defense. Thought that was obvious? When we have Thompson in, we have the scoring but he is still learning in D. Coleman can give us some scoring but not a ton, and he is weak on D. Paschal, potentially good on D but no scoring. If we play a team with good bigs like UNC, they can cause problems at the rim for us.

 

[omniorange]

Where's the beef? Chukwu, Lydon and Thompson are all kind of skinny. Coleman has been playing 10-12 minutes a game. Roberson is pretty strong. But how we do when we meet a really strong rebounding team like Wisconsin?

I also suspect our defense isn't as good as the numbers suggest so far.

Agree about the defense, but with five players learning our zone for the first time this year, I suspect the early returns (while indeed suspect) will ultimately prove to be true by the end of the regular season.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[AZOrange]

Where's the beef? Chukwu, Lydon and Thompson are all kind of skinny. Coleman has been playing 10-12 minutes a game. Roberson is pretty strong. But how we do when we meet a really strong rebounding team like Wisconsin?

I also suspect our defense isn't as good as the numbers suggest so far.

We will beat Wisconsin by 20 plus

 

[CaptainJ]

This team will improve, but they have a ways to go. That's why Ive been asking if folks think we are ready for Wisconsin in 7 days. I almost want to start a poll to measure how others feel. Even after their loss, they are still ranked 2 spots ahead of us in both polls.

As for specific things, the press sure needs work and may not be our bail out weapon if we fall behind, like it was in the past. As others have said, chemistry could be a big issue with 4 new guys out of 9, but that should improve over time, of course. I think the 5 spot will improve over time, maybe not Coleman so much. I suspect the same with the D. If we have an achilles heel or 3, I suspect the Badgers will expose them.

 

[CaptainJ]

We will beat Wisconsin by 20 plus

If we do, we belong in the top 10 of both polls, especially since it's an ultra rare non-conference true away game!!!(seriously, they are rare gems!)

 

[Shark58]

man-to-man

 

[CaptainJ]

man-to-man

What is that? Some sort of reference about homosexuals?

EDIT: its humorous that word gets semi censored.

 

[Shark58]

What is that? Some sort of reference about homos e xuals?

EDIT: its humorous that word gets semi censored.

which actually draws more attention to the word SEX than leaving it alone would

 

[Cowtown]

This team will improve, but they have a ways to go. That's why Ive been asking if folks think we are ready for Wisconsin in 7 days. I almost want to start a poll to measure how others feel. Even after their loss, they are still ranked 2 spots ahead of us in both polls.

As for specific things, the press sure needs work and may not be our bail out weapon if we fall behind, like it was in the past. As others have said, chemistry could be a big issue with 4 new guys out of 9, but that should improve over time, of course. I think the 5 spot will improve over time, maybe not Coleman so much. I suspect the same with the D. If we have an achilles heel or 3, I suspect the Badgers will expose them.

I think you're right, which is why, bless the schedule maker, Wisconsin is coming along at precisely the right time. They'll make Monmouth, who was reasonably tough, look like some CYO all stars and that's a good thing. There's danger in becoming too good at kicking poorer teams. Win or lose, some adversity, some stiff competition, is precisely what this team needs right now regardless of the results for their ultimate benefit. Eyes on the prize!

Go Orange!

 

[FrancoPizza]

What's the point of having chukwu play goalie in the press if he has to cover his guy halfway down the court? This happened on numerous occasions where he wasn't able to recover to defend the basket. This man-to-man press is so fundamentally unsound that it makes me cry. You'd think JB would adopt some zone principles in his press coverage team like every other organized basketball team in the world.

 

[Cowtown]

What's the point of having chukwu play goalie in the press if he has to cover his guy halfway down the court? This happened on numerous occasions where he wasn't able to recover to defend the basket. This man-to-man press is so fundamentally unsound that it makes me cry. You'd think JB would adopt some zone principles in his press coverage team like every other organized basketball team in the world.

There's more than one type of press. This is what the pre-season games are for, to show you what practice can't. Let's not ask for March 15 on November 22.

Furthermore, if Syracuse presses every game there's no surprise. Consider, the two great press driven turnarounds I can recall are '03 (Oklahoma State) and last year against Virginia. That's thirteen years apart. There's a reason these legendary successes are that far apart: because they don't work very often, and surprise is critical. If either team knew we were "press monsters," they'd have prepped for it. Note, that doesn't mean we're all not goddam proud of that breath-taking win over Virginia.

You need at least 8 good athletes to press effectively, and we haven't often had that kind of depth. I think we need to get off the idea that the press is anything near a weapon of first resort. It's a life jacket. The only reason I ever ran a press was so I could run press break against it, and we never lost to pressing teams.

 

[CaptainJ]

There's more than one type of press. This is what the pre-season games are for, to show you what practice can't. Let's not ask for March 15 on November 22.

Furthermore, if Syracuse presses every game there's no surprise. Remember, the two great press driven turnarounds I can recall are '03 (Oklahoma State) and last year against Virginia. That's thirteen years apart. There's a reason these legendary succesess are far apart: because they don't very often work. You need at least 8 good athletes to press effectively, and we haven't often had that kind of depth. I think we need to get off the idea that the press is anything near a weapon of first resort. It's a life jacket.

For us, it is, usually. Completely agree with that post, bravo. I'd love to see Boeheim work these guys on the press against all of these cupcakes. They can take a one game break from it against Wisconsin. I really want to see more of it. I havent bet on the games, so it doesnt bother me if they sacrifice score differential for the sake of improving their pressing ability. VERY curious what the vegas line for the Badgers game will be.

 

[Cowtown]

For us, it is, usually. Completely agree with that post, bravo. I'd love to see Boeheim work these guys on the press against all of these cupcakes. They can take a one game break from it against Wisconsin. I really want to see more of it. I havent bet on the games, so it doesnt bother me if they sacrifice score differential for the sake of improving their pressing ability. VERY curious what the vegas line for the Badgers game will be.

We generally concur, I agree. But remember, in amateur ball good teams tend to be guard-driven, and teams with good guards are difficult to press effectively. It's not necessary to practice pressing teams who can't break a press. They beat themselves. I used to run a "false press:" we would come out in zone press set - but we would not trap, just threaten - and the other team would immediately go "hair-on-fire," trying to run its press break, eventually throwing the ball away. Then before they figured it out, I'd take it off. And then a few minutes later I'd do it again. Surprise is critical to pressing, but when you're down 8 with 3 minutes to go, there's no surprise. That's why depending on a press is not good basketball (unless you're Kentucky '96, with more great athletes than many third world Olympic teams.).

 

[Briancuse]

We will beat Wisconsin by 20 plus

If we do I am buying my tickets to Glendale, would be very happy to walk out of Kohl center with a one point win.

 

[CaptainJ]

We generally concur, I agree. But remember, in amateur ball good teams tend to be guard-driven, and teams with good guards are difficult to press effectively. It's not necessary to practice pressing teams who can't break a press. They beat themselves. I used to run a "false press:" we would come out in zone press set - but we would not trap, just threaten - and the other team would immediately go "hair-on-fire," trying to run its press break, eventually throwing the ball away. Then before they figured it out, I'd take it off. And then a few minutes later I'd do it again. Surprise is critical to pressing, but when you're down 8 with 3 minutes to go, there's no surprise. That's why depending on a press is not good basketball (unless you're Kentucky '96).

As arbiter of ranking posts, I nominate this as a top 10 of the week, probably the best I have read all night.

 

[CaptainJ]

If we do I am buying my tickets to Glendale, would be very happy to walk out of Kohl center with a one point win.

Ha, I agree. If 20 were the spread, I would bet against Cuse. Although sometimes crazy things happen, which is why I didnt condemn the post. This team's potential hasnt really been measured yet, but that changes this coming Tuesday.

Speaking of spreads, I wonder if 690West or anyone can guess what it will be against the Badgers. Without knowing anything about their team, I am guessing they will be favored by 4 or 5 over the Orange. I'd like to here what the experts think though.

 

[two3zone]

Recruiting.


Jk. Too soon?

 

[JoeySimz]

Recruiting.


Jk. Too soon?

Lol. Good one.

Jimmy actually took a moment to address the recruiting hysteria in his postgame.

 

[orangenirvana]

Interior defense

Chukwu doesn't scare anyone. I think we'd be better off with Thompson at center.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

What's the point of having chukwu play goalie in the press if he has to cover his guy halfway down the court? This happened on numerous occasions where he wasn't able to recover to defend the basket. This man-to-man press is so fundamentally unsound that it makes me cry. You'd think JB would adopt some zone principles in his press coverage team like every other organized basketball team in the world.

I dont think JB presses to get stops; he presses to increase tempo. This is as good an offensive team as we have had in years (like 02-03, 09-10 good). JB isnt going to want teams running 28 seconds off the shot clock every possession.

 

[JOC44]

Do we have anyone who can consistently get his own shot against a tough defense. I think we have some good candidates -- Battle, Lydon, White -- but we'll need to see it.

 

[orangefan13]

we shot 55% today, but only 35% in the second half against Monmouth. One of our weaknesses is we don't have 5 veteran nba players, this is college ball, and any team can lose. Strange we have a perception otherwise. All that being said, I feel this team is relentless, consistent, very deep offensively, and defensively. Its scary how much room for improvement on both sides of the ball. We are quickly learning putting teams away is relentlessness, not consistency. Its funny how the past dozen years we lacked that relentlessness, hitting cold spells whenever up 15, and even blowing some 25 point leads. Could this year be different? We still need to prove toughness on the road, but we are 90% poised for a 1-6 loss season going into the acc tournament.

If I had to nitpick, all of our one on one scoring on the perimeter depends on our two pg's after white. And we lack a second perimeter driver at sg/sf/ stretch pf behind white. If the one on one light bulb ever comes on for Battle, Roberson, or Lydon's pull-up one on one game.... Look Out Below. Dajuan is showing hes a better scorer then last year, and Thompson's early consistency is huge.
Putting up 101 on a day where white wasn't really scoring one on one is a awesome feat.