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

[IthacaMatt]

I don't need to see any more of Souare.

He was fine for a back up center.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Right - we should be getting 60 pct of our starting lineup if not more from the portal. Kingz is the only existing Cuse guy I want back that I would pencil in to start. White and Anthony would heavily depend on where their games are at by end of summer if they both stayed.

White might be good enough to start next year, but he's going to foul a lot,

 

[IthacaMatt]

Thanks it was driving me nuts ha. Never would I have thought Kiyan was so far down. It almost looks like a typo but I'm sure both his Off and Def metrics were really bad.

He was terrible after the 1st of the year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Donnie will command money in the portal due to his size and stats and pedigree. The question is could this amount (no idea but maybe $2M) be better spent elsewhere as Cuse is building an actual team.

Gerry will also need to make a call as to if Donnie is willing to be coached hard and give 100% effort all the time.

If I were betting, I think Donnie goes elsewhere and puts up good stats.

If Donnie wants a raise off of last year, let him walk. His attitude was crap in the last 10 games. Quitter.

 

[djorange1989]

I’m shocked, simply shocked

 

[sufan59]

One issue that GMac could have starting out is that Kline and Eugene were able to spend all of the previous season evaluating players across the college basketball landscape, using analytics and an algorithm they created, to find some diamonds in the rough, including Kyle and Kingz, and evaluate PGs. I assume Kline did the same this year, but he’s now been fired, so any work they did it for naught.

We will see in his press conferences and media appearances on his approach to the game (though I'm sure he will never tell the secret sauce to his approach), but something tells me that GMAC way is going to be getting guys that embody the way he played the game and try to gain a competitive advantage with good fundamentals, relentless effort, and a scouting operation to neutralize the analytic and algorithm based programs. I'm sure they will still embrace analytics to help with player shot selection and to design schemes. But I'd expect the GMAC way will be a hunters approach to the games vs being hunted. To be a good basketball program, you either need to be good at being the hunter (outscouting your opponents and responding to the hunted teams adjustments) or respond well as being the hunted (having good systems that establish the conditions to the game and the ability to adjust when your opponent has figured out what you are trying to do). What's going to be fun is when we run into programs that are built on the same concepts of what I think GMAC will bring here 'hunter' mentality and that's when we will start to experience the old Big East rock fights we used too be apart of. You saw Autry try to modernize Syracuse, I think you see GMAC try to modernize the Boeheim way.

 

[br801]

I’ll take 7-8/10. That’s fair.

View attachment 261650

Good stuff. I asked about myself and got something that seemed pretty reasonable.

 

[Mr. M]

He was fine for a back up center.

We need to do better. Imagine a sweet 16 game, our starter gets foul trouble and Souare against the Boozers of the world.

 

[Melancer46]

Wonder where he’s going

It will be a little funny albeit morbid if he ends up somewhere else given how confident we are on this one

 

[Melancer46]

One issue that GMac could have starting out is that Kline and Eugene were able to spend all of the previous season evaluating players across the college basketball landscape, using analytics and an algorithm they created, to find some diamonds in the rough, including Kyle and Kingz, and evaluate PGs. I assume Kline did the same this year, but he’s now been fired, so any work they did it for naught.

I would guess we still have his data but maybe I'm mistaken. At least in my world you usually don't get to take your work with you.

 

[IthacaMatt]

We need to do better. Imagine a sweet 16 game, our starter gets foul trouble and Souare against the Boozers of the world.

He averaged over 9 rebounds and nearly 3 blocked shots per 40 minutes, and shot 67% from the floor.
He was productive when he was out there.

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

 

[cusefan88]

I don't know how many follow the players on Instagram but a small example would be Betsey is in Cuse working out at Melo and Donnie is in Miami having expensive steak dinners.

Maybe means nothing but I found the divergence interesting.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I don't know how many follow the players on Instagram but a small example would be Betsey is in Cuse working out at Melo and Donnie is in Miami having expensive steak dinners.

Maybe means nothing but I found the divergence interesting.

I think Betsy stays. He can be a weapon off the bench. He is only a sophomore.

 

[br801]

He averaged over 9 rebounds and nearly 3 blocked shots per 40 minutes, and shot 67% from the floor.
He was productive when he was out there.

2.5 shots per 40 minutes. You're playing 4 on 5 on offense when he's on the floor.

 

[Franz69]

Interesting part of his upcoming meetings with the players and who might come back. He said in the radio interview today that he watched every Syracuse game this season. He's not coming in blind.

 

[sufan59]

I think Betsy stays. He can be a weapon off the bench. He is only a sophomore.

GMAC on ESPN Syracuse, sounds like the 1 on 1 convos are happening tomorrow, but the last few days he has basically been trying to figure out what happened. I'm sure it's a little awkward for him, but I don't think it's blatantly obvious besides Autry being the coach on how this past season went down the drain. It tells me that he knows that Autry had an abundance of talented guys that were undeveloped, misused, etc. you get the point. It will be funny to look back at this a month from now to see how on the money or not I was, but here is where I see the return to leaving meter right now:

Likely to almost definitely staying
Kiyan Anthony
Lean to staying
Sadiq White Jr.
Nate Kingz (if he gets an extra year of eligibility) (I think a player that would vibe with GMAC) (Could this be a problem if Alex Kline gets a job elsewhere in College Basketball and he has the extra year?)
Toss Up, pending 1 on 1 conversations
Tyler Betsey
Naithan George (I have a feeling this will be the most interesting conversation that GMAC will have. As much as people want to scapegoat George for the problems last season. He has the size, the experience, and the fundamentals you look for in a Point Guard. His issue that drove everyone crazy was his IQ at times. But then he would have stretches where he would look absolutely fantastic and brilliant. Does GMAC diagnose the bad IQ at times as a result of a miscommunication and inability of the previous coaching staff to instill confidence in him consistently. If GMAC decides that he wants him back, will they reach an agreement on the financials will probably be the biggest obstacle)
Ibrahim Souare (This one is interesting because at times I do see the potential with him, wonder if they think AO could coach him up, especially if they keep George here as well)
Gone Unless There is a Major Misunderstanding from being an Outsider
Donnie Freeman (Too expensive and not reliable enough to build the team around) (I think you will see Gerry reallocate the money you would give to Donnie in order to get an old school traditional type center)

 

[djorange1989]

Interesting part of his upcoming meetings with the players and who might come back. He said in the radio interview today that he watched every Syracuse game this season. He's not coming in blind.

So he watched more games than Red?

 

[Scooch]

One issue that GMac could have starting out is that Kline and Eugene were able to spend all of the previous season evaluating players across the college basketball landscape, using analytics and an algorithm they created, to find some diamonds in the rough, including Kyle and Kingz, and evaluate PGs. I assume Kline did the same this year, but he’s now been fired, so any work they did it for naught. The GM hire is gonna be key.

I imagine any player evaluations, target lists, comp/NIL estimates, etc. that Kline did are property of the SU AD and could be used by Gerry's staff should they want to.

Personally, I'm highly skeptical of the "algorithm" that was supposedly used last offseason. But Kline likely had valuable and extensive notes on potential player acquisitions.

 

[Sherman20]

We will see in his press conferences and media appearances on his approach to the game (though I'm sure he will never tell the secret sauce to his approach), but something tells me that GMAC way is going to be getting guys that embody the way he played the game and try to gain a competitive advantage with good fundamentals, relentless effort, and a scouting operation to neutralize the analytic and algorithm based programs. I'm sure they will still embrace analytics to help with player shot selection and to design schemes. But I'd expect the GMAC way will be a hunters approach to the games vs being hunted. To be a good basketball program, you either need to be good at being the hunter (outscouting your opponents and responding to the hunted teams adjustments) or respond well as being the hunted (having good systems that establish the conditions to the game and the ability to adjust when your opponent has figured out what you are trying to do). What's going to be fun is when we run into programs that are built on the same concepts of what I think GMAC will bring here 'hunter' mentality and that's when we will start to experience the old Big East rock fights we used too be apart of. You saw Autry try to modernize Syracuse, I think you see GMAC try to modernize the Boeheim way.

A big heck no to rock fights. We need to be tough as nails on defense and on the boards, but no one wants to see the games devolve into rock fights.

And I have no idea what this means but it seems stuck in the past:
“a scouting operation to neutralize the analytic and algorithm based programs.”

Scouting is key, and I actually think scouting and game planning is a Gmac strength. But if you’re not using analytics to guide all your decisions, then you’re not going to win at a high level. I hope Gmac can follow the Hurley path of embracing the offensive side of the ball in an innovative and modern way in addition to being a hard-nosed defensive and rebounding team.

 

[Orangezoo]

Yeah, a big heck no to rock fights. We need to be tough as nails on defense and on the boards, but no one wants to see the games devolve into rock fights.

And I have no idea what this means but it seems stuck in the past:
“a scouting operation to neutralize the analytic and algorithm based programs.”
Scouting is key, and I actually think scouting and game planning is a Gmac strength. But if you’re not using analytics to guide all your decisions, then you’re not going to win at a high level. I hope Gmac can follow the Hurley path of embracing the offensive side of the ball in an innovative and modern way in addition to being a hard-nosed defensive and rebounding team.

Analytics are a tool not a guide. That’s something coaches are finding out the hard way as they aim to use them appropriately and manage where you lean on them vs not.

Gameplanning is critical on both ends of the court and should absolutely be the 1a to analytics being 1b or 1c.

 

[Franz69]

Two things GMac stressed at the end of the interview. Ball security and free throws. Only 6 turnovers for Siena vs. Duke.

 

[pearl31]

IMO sadiq white for one will thrive with this coaching change

 

[br801]

IMO sadiq white for one will thrive with this coaching change

Hope he's back. Great skills and athleticism. Potential beast in waiting.

 

[orangepassion]

Two things GMac stressed at the end of the interview. Ball security and free throws. Only 6 turnovers for Siena vs. Duke.

Did he say anything about needing to Run the ball and stop the run?