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

[BEGood]

No thanks to DJ Wagner
No thanks to Donnie at his current price
No thanks to Estrella
No thanks to ever mentioning Calvin Russell with basketball again

This would be a disappointment

I think we don’t get Estrella but I’m confident Wagner will be here

 

[jdubs30]

I think we don’t get Estrella but I’m confident Wagner will be here

Interesting.. doesn’t seem like a Gerry guy to me

 

[NineOneSeven]

Hypothetical Syracuse 2026 Team:
guess only
Guards:
Anthony
Fennell
Doty
Moesch
Wagner
Wilkins
Lobdell

Forwards/Centers
White
Freeman
Folefac
Mahmutovič
Estrella

Injured Reserve:
Russell

Openings to be filled: 2
Backup Center and ??

That team needs a starting center, not a backup one.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think we don’t get Estrella but I’m confident Wagner will be here

Wagner stinks.

 

[bnoro]

Hypothetical Syracuse 2026 Team:
guess only
Guards:
Anthony
Fennell
Doty
Moesch
Wagner
Wilkins
Lobdell

Forwards/Centers
White
Freeman
Folefac
Mahmutovič
Estrella

Injured Reserve:
Russell

Openings to be filled: 2
Backup Center and ??

This team goes 17-15

 

[Cusefan69]

If Syracuse has the money that has been suggested, then we should be able to aggressively go after a couple top end players. I keep seeing reference to nothing but mid to lower end or upside guys (but for Estrella). I am not saying those aren't also needed but I don't see anyone projecting out any top level guys when we have the money for them.
How about Somto Cyril? Dedan Thomas? John Blackwell? Paulus Maraukus?
I mean we need an alpha or two here if the goal is to get back to the tourney and be competitive.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

If Syracuse has the money that has been suggested, then we should be able to aggressively go after a couple top end players. I keep seeing reference to nothing but mid to lower end or upside guys (but for Estrella). I am not saying those aren't also needed but I don't see anyone projecting out any top level guys when we have the money for them.
How about Somto Cyril? Dedan Thomas? John Blackwell? Paulus Maraukus?
I mean we need an alpha or two here if the goal is to get back to the tourney and be competitive.

To me, we need someone better than Freeman, ESPECIALLY if Freeman leaves.

 

[tptcuse]

To me, we need someone better than Freeman, ESPECIALLY if Freeman leaves.

I posted this a time or two: we had draft picks every year from 2007-2017. It’s not unreasonable to hope for at least one player at that level.

 

[Cusefan0307]

To me, we need someone better than Freeman, ESPECIALLY if Freeman leaves.

Maybe that’s Sadiq White. Who knows.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Maybe that’s Sadiq White. Who knows.

No. No.

I like Sadiq a lot.

But Gerry is here to bring in talent.

We need big portal wins.

The job's too hard without that.

This is like when the Jazz front office would whiff in free agency and not make any major trades to add a guy and tell people they won the off season because they counted a guy coming back from injury as a huge addition.

This is how we rationalize losing and having low expectations.

 

[br801]

Maybe that’s Sadiq White. Who knows.

White is primed to make a big leap forward as a sophomore. He'll probably never be the multi-level scorer that Freeman has shown himself to be at times, but I think he has a better motor and will do everything else better very soon.

 

[Cusefan0307]

No. No.

I like Sadiq a lot.

But Gerry is here to bring in talent.

We need big portal wins.

The job's too hard without that.

This is like when the Jazz front office would whiff in free agency and not make any major trades to add a guy and tell people they won the off season because they counted a guy coming back from injury as a huge addition.

This is how we rationalize losing and having low expectations.

I agree with this. I guess what I am saying is a Donnie/Sadiq situation has a chance to be a Paul Harris/Wes Johnson situation.

That said I don't get too worked up if anyone leaves. It happened to both Miami and UVA last season with their coaching changes.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I agree with this. I guess what I am saying is a Donnie/Sadiq situation has a chance to be a Paul Harris/Wes Johnson situation.

That said I don't get too worked up if anyone leaves. It happened to both Miami and UVA last season with their coaching changes.

I do think White will be a plus level starter next season.

Not a star yet, but better than most he'll match up against.

 

[RedtheGOB]

I disagree with alot of takes here today. Personally I believe Gmac's path is below in this order.

-Change Losing Culture
-Improve Staff
-Portal out players -->Culture/Fit, Motor, Hoops IQ, --> Then Talent
-Portal in players -->Culture/Fit, Motor, Hoops IQ, --> Then Talent
-Win

Too many people want to play the "talent" card with our potential returners but you cannot change a losing locker room when it's the same guys in the locker room. If the Frosh want to come back and play off the bench then cool, but it really doesn't matter because they cannot be relied on right now.

 

[baggerbob]

He’s a GMac type of player, so it’s probably a good assumption that he’s hanging around. I think it’s a plus.

You nailed it exactly he plays in film of him like Gmac scrappy, maybe not the most talented. But can play off the ball, and with the ball in his hands. And the thing that I like is he is big enough to occasionally play that 3rd position of small forward.

 

[Cusefan69]

I disagree with alot of takes here today. Personally I believe Gmac's path is below in this order.

-Change Losing Culture
-Improve Staff
-Portal out players -->Culture/Fit, Motor, Hoops IQ, --> Then Talent
-Portal in players -->Culture/Fit, Motor, Hoops IQ, --> Then Talent
-Win

Too many people want to play the "talent" card with our potential returners but you cannot change a losing locker room when it's the same guys in the locker room. If the Frosh want to come back and play off the bench then cool, but it really doesn't matter because they cannot be relied on right now.

Disagree. You make it sound like GMac/staff can't chew gum and walk at the same time. He is getting paid to bring in talent, push, teach and challenge the team and win. In the portal era that can absolutely happen year 1. We should not be expecting anything less.

 

[007]

If Syracuse has the money that has been suggested, then we should be able to aggressively go after a couple top end players. I keep seeing reference to nothing but mid to lower end or upside guys (but for Estrella). I am not saying those aren't also needed but I don't see anyone projecting out any top level guys when we have the money for them.
How about Somto Cyril? Dedan Thomas? John Blackwell? Paulus Maraukus?
I mean we need an alpha or two here if the goal is to get back to the tourney and be competitive.

Those "references" are mostly coming from posters on this board. I don't think there will be a lot of leaks on who the real portal targets are. But, I think people are going to be disappointed if the expectations are for more than 1 or 2 high end portal additions.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I’m anxious to see who GMAC retains because he’s the one who said the cupboard is not bare and there’s talent on the current roster. As of this moment, no one has confirmed they’re staying. Several have already left.

 

[Orangezoo]

Those "references" are mostly coming from posters on this board. I don't think there will be a lot of leaks on who the real portal targets are. But, I think people are going to be disappointed if the expectations are for more than 1 or 2 high end portal additions.

I would argue in the absence of another 5 star recruit (domestic or euro)or another major portal add 2 seems more likely than one but that’s purely speculative logic and looking at the numbers floated in terms of budget.

Again retention final details matters on that front too…

 

[Cusefan69]

Those "references" are mostly coming from posters on this board. I don't think there will be a lot of leaks on who the real portal targets are. But, I think people are going to be disappointed if the expectations are for more than 1 or 2 high end portal additions.

Yep agree. That is why I said we need one to two alphas(high end) in the overall mix. Build from that.

 

[Melancer46]

I’m anxious to see who GMAC retains because he’s the one who said the cupboard is not bare and there’s talent on the current roster. As of this moment, no one has confirmed they’re staying. Several have already left.

It will look a little odd if he said that just to have the entire team besides Kiyan leave lol

 

[007]

It will look a little odd if he said that just to have the entire team besides Kiyan leave lol

2 to Tango kind of a thing.