Now that GMac is HC, what does next year's squad look like?

[llandz]

And as far as players go? Please no string bean 7 footers. If they are tall I want to see big muscles and some bulk to not get pushed around.

 

[OCESIP]

GMac is only going to succeed if he gets players who 1) buy into his demands of effort and teamwork, 2) put team success above personal stats, and 3) can execute game in and game out even when times get tough. Just buying high priced talent alone isn't consistent with his primary emphasis on gritt and determination.

From my perspective I don't know how easy or difficult it is when evaluating players. What is in their heart and mindset might not always he self evident.

 

[ar inj]

I want Betsey here. He has a role as a 3 point specialist. He has such a smooth jumper.

No. He is horrible. He cannot even spell “defense” never mind defend.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Tough, physical bigs, shooter and point guard

 

[dasher]

I completely understand that Donnie was immature and checked out the final 10 games or so of the season, and I recognize that sometimes addition by subtraction has worked out well for us (e.g. Michael Lloyd, Deshaun Williams, Paul Harris, etc.). But we aren't Duke, and we can't just tap into our limitless options of incoming 5-star recruits.

Donnie is 6'11", has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, can lay the ball in from like 6 feet away, can rebound and block shots when he wants to, and can shoot the ball. IMO he's probably our most talented player this decade just ahead of Buddy, Judah and Jesse.

I really want him back. I get the sense that Donnie would benefit from a more intense personality like GMac than that librarian personality of Red's. If we utilize him correctly and design thoughtful offensive sets where he can be isolated on the low block instead of always floating around the perimeter, I really think he can shine next year if he comes back.

I wouldn't rule it out but we need so much more form him than he is willing to give so far.

 

[Irishsecra1]

"librarian personality" may be my favorite take on Autry.

What seemed so weird to me is his coaching personality was so low key compared to when he was a player? Maybe I am remembering him as a player differently?
It just seems his personality now is less basketball coach more shuffle board referee on a cruise ship.

 

[Orangezoo]

I wouldn't rule it out but we need so much more form him than he is willing to give so far.

Plus who is to know if he can avoid injury for the first time in college….

 

[RF2044]

All true but he wasn't considered that coming in to college.

He was our third choice. I believe our main competition was ODU, despite him being a McD's all american [its true, look it up].

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

If we take anymore then 2 Siena players we got issues, that team did not win the regular season title in their league. If we got 10+ million in NIL id prefer almost a complete rebuild keep Kingz if we can, White, and Anthony because we have to, I would not overpay Freeman, he will be paid significantly probably to Providence, i would not match it. If the goal is to make the Tourney we have to get a serious infusion of talent.

Really? How many of the 13/15 players do you think Will play in any given game?

 

[RedtheGOB]

Some of yall are insane. We have 13m+ to go around we need to take sure things. Guys who performed at the p4 level, guys who dominated at mid major levels. Not experiments and hospital patients. We need proven talent, not former failed recruiting wars, “underrated” in state kids, etc who are unproven.

Right now this thread should be called the 315 and 518 transfer portal. We need to snipe a big GM and real fast.

 

[50YRsofCuse]

I completely understand that Donnie was immature and checked out the final 10 games or so of the season, and I recognize that sometimes addition by subtraction has worked out well for us (e.g. Michael Lloyd, Deshaun Williams, Paul Harris, etc.). But we aren't Duke, and we can't just tap into our limitless options of incoming 5-star recruits.

Donnie is 6'11", has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, can lay the ball in from like 6 feet away, can rebound and block shots when he wants to, and can shoot the ball. IMO he's probably our most talented player this decade just ahead of Buddy, Judah and Jesse.

I really want him back. I get the sense that Donnie would benefit from a more intense personality like GMac than that librarian personality of Red's. If we utilize him correctly and design thoughtful offensive sets where he can be isolated on the low block instead of always floating around the perimeter, I really think he can shine next year if he comes back.

Wow, Donnie is growing from a questionable 6’9”as an incoming freshman to a 6’11” with big shoes I guess as a prospective junior.

I was a big supporter of Donnie Freeman when he was a high school recruit and really excited when he committed to Syracuse. I was even happy when he decided to return for his sophomore season.

However his play when he finally got healthy was focused primarily on his scoring which seemed at times to be selfish and not team oriented.

He did not seem to be someone that you wanted to build a team around. His outside shooting was questionable more often than not.

I agree that if he had a more stricter coaching staff that influenced him more than his personal advisors, he may have play better.

If he leaves then he leaves. If he stays, he needs to be focused on being an all round player. If he becomes an all-around player (offensively, defensively rebounder and team player), he would get drafted in the first round of the 2027 draft.

Right now, he is not a NBA quality player.

 

[Eric15]

Wow, Donnie is growing from a questionable 6’9”as an incoming freshman to a 6’11” with big shoes I guess as a prospective junior.

I was a big supporter of Donnie Freeman when he was a high school recruit and really excited when he committed to Syracuse. I was even happy when he decided to return for his sophomore season.

However his play when he finally got healthy was focused primarily on his scoring which seemed at times to be selfish and not team oriented.

He did not seem to be someone that you wanted to build a team around. His outside shooting was questionable more often than not.

I agree that if he had a more stricter coaching staff that influenced him more than his personal advisors, he may have play better.

If he leaves then he leaves. If he stays, he needs to be focused on being an all round player. If he becomes an all-around player (offensively, defensively rebounder and team player), he would get drafted in the first round of the 2027 draft.

Right now, he is not a NBA quality player.

My bad. 6’9. Not sure why I had 6’11” in my head.

 

[jdubs30]

 

[rrlbees]

He was our third choice. I believe our main competition was ODU, despite him being a McD's all american [its true, look it up].

i think we were the only d1. UDC, university of the district of columbia also offered him i think although i no longer have a good memory.

 

[LpoolNative]

Donnie is a good kid and very skilled but is not worth the price of admission.

Allocate and spread across the abundance of funds we will have elsewhere.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Plus who is to know if he can avoid injury for the first time in college….

I think that should be a big consideration. A guy with multiple missed games from leg injuries over 2 years is not someone I want to gamble a big deal on after seeing how hit or miss his game can be. Certain players you take that risk, Donnie isn’t one of them
IMO.

I would hope GM goes after more reliable and consistent players, both in production and effort.

 

[Eric15]

i think we were the only d1. UDC, university of the district of columbia also offered him i think although i no longer have a good memory.

That school is a total mystery to me. I live outside of DC and have never met a single person who has attended there. I know it’s an HBCU but I know plenty of folks who have gone to Howard, for instance.

 

[rrlbees]

That school is a total mystery to me. I live outside of DC and have never met a single person who has attended there. I know it’s an HBCU but I know plenty of folks who have gone to Howard, for instance.

didnt it close at one point then reopened?

 

[baggerbob]

Wow, Donnie is growing from a questionable 6’9”as an incoming freshman to a 6’11” with big shoes I guess as a prospective junior.

I was a big supporter of Donnie Freeman when he was a high school recruit and really excited when he committed to Syracuse. I was even happy when he decided to return for his sophomore season.

However his play when he finally got healthy was focused primarily on his scoring which seemed at times to be selfish and not team oriented.

He did not seem to be someone that you wanted to build a team around. His outside shooting was questionable more often than not.

I agree that if he had a more stricter coaching staff that influenced him more than his personal advisors, he may have play better.

If he leaves then he leaves. If he stays, he needs to be focused on being an all round player. If he becomes an all-around player (offensively, defensively rebounder and team player), he would get drafted in the first round of the 2027 draft.

Right now, he is not a NBA quality player.

Donnie is just lucky he didn't have a teammate like DC on the team .Conrad McRae once said in a practice as a freshman he went up for a rebound and ended up flat on his back with DC standing over him. DC said, around here you go for a rebound hard even in practice.

 

[tptcuse]

another thing about doty, based on what gmac has said about him, is that i wouldn't be surprised if he's taking 200 3pt shots a day between now and when the season opens.

I only want players who take 300 a day…

 

[Zelda Zonk]

And as far as players go? Please no string bean 7 footers. If they are tall I want to see big muscles and some bulk to not get pushed around.

To borrow from Michael Gary Scott:
You think Shaqs grow on trees? Well, they don't, there is no Shaq Tree. You think the world is crawling with David Robinsons? Show me that farm... with Olajuwons and Embiids... sprouting up all over the place, ripe for the plucking... show me that farm.

 

[Scooch]

I completely understand that Donnie was immature and checked out the final 10 games or so of the season, and I recognize that sometimes addition by subtraction has worked out well for us (e.g. Michael Lloyd, Deshaun Williams, Paul Harris, etc.). But we aren't Duke, and we can't just tap into our limitless options of incoming 5-star recruits.

Donnie is 6'11", has the wingspan of a pterodactyl, can lay the ball in from like 6 feet away, can rebound and block shots when he wants to, and can shoot the ball. IMO he's probably our most talented player this decade just ahead of Buddy, Judah and Jesse.

I really want him back. I get the sense that Donnie would benefit from a more intense personality like GMac than that librarian personality of Red's. If we utilize him correctly and design thoughtful offensive sets where he can be isolated on the low block instead of always floating around the perimeter, I really think he can shine next year if he comes back.

I think the issue is money. I'd certainly welcome Donnie back if he wants to stay and Gerry wants to retain him. But I'd be hesitant to pony up big bucks for him. I've never seen a star SU player check out like Donnie did in the last month of the season. It was embarrassing.

Do we know what he made last year?

 

[Zelda Zonk]

Wow, Donnie is growing from a questionable 6’9”as an incoming freshman to a 6’11” with big shoes I guess as a prospective junior.

I was a big supporter of Donnie Freeman when he was a high school recruit and really excited when he committed to Syracuse. I was even happy when he decided to return for his sophomore season.

However his play when he finally got healthy was focused primarily on his scoring which seemed at times to be selfish and not team oriented.

He did not seem to be someone that you wanted to build a team around. His outside shooting was questionable more often than not.

I agree that if he had a more stricter coaching staff that influenced him more than his personal advisors, he may have play better.

If he leaves then he leaves. If he stays, he needs to be focused on being an all round player. If he becomes an all-around player (offensively, defensively rebounder and team player), he would get drafted in the first round of the 2027 draft.

Right now, he is not a NBA quality player.

I don’t entirely blame Donnie. He “focused on scoring” and put up some questionable shots and efforts because we had no scheme to facilitate efficiency. No plays to exploit his talents. He is not a great one on one/iso player. He didn’t have options for passing to players who would then be in scoring position. Same with the entire team. Every time someone looked like they were being selfish it was because they were out of options, were frustrated, and/or could predict there would be no better option.

I don’t think anyone on our team had a ‘selfish personality.’ When that type of characteristic was exemplified, it came out of the scenario and context in which they were put.

That all said, yes, Donnie is who he is. He played the same way in high school, when he could have been more physically dominating against that level and size of competition. I hope a better coach can get better and different results, but he still put up good scoring numbers and was capable of ‘outbursts,’ so the raw material is there. He perhaps just can’t be our “best player.”

Feel free to disagree with me. I recognize my tendency is to excuse players and blame coaches. I kinda have the mentality of that quote about the military–‘when an op goes FUBAR, you don’t blame the soldiers, you blame the generals’ But, yeah, it’s basketball so there’s culpability on both ends.

 

[Melancer46]

That school is a total mystery to me. I live outside of DC and have never met a single person who has attended there. I know it’s an HBCU but I know plenty of folks who have gone to Howard, for instance.

I live across the street from Howard and have never even heard of the University of DC lol

 

[Orangezoo]

I don’t entirely blame Donnie. He “focused on scoring” and put up some questionable shots and efforts because we had no scheme to facilitate efficiency. No plays to exploit his talents. He is not a great one on one/iso player. He didn’t have options for passing to players who would then be in scoring position. Same with the entire team. Every time someone looked like they were being selfish it was because they were out of options, were frustrated, and/or could predict there would be no better option.

I don’t think anyone on our team had a ‘selfish personality.’ When that type of characteristic was exemplified, it came out of the scenario and context in which they were put.

That all said, yes, Donnie is who he is. He played the same way in high school, when he could have been more physically dominating against that level and size of competition. I hope a better coach can get better and different results, but he still put up good scoring numbers and was capable of ‘outbursts,’ so the raw material is there. He perhaps just can’t be our “best player.”

Feel free to disagree with me. I recognize my tendency is to excuse players and blame coaches. I kinda have the mentality of that quote about the military–‘when an op goes FUBAR, you don’t blame the soldiers, you blame the generals’ But, yeah, it’s basketball so there’s culpability on both ends.

It might be unfair but trying to change the mindset of a kid and get the most out of them and reverse bad habits plus having to invest possibly even more NIL is just not a winning proposition when you are trying to quickly get things on the right track.