now to really muddy the waters

[Sgt Cuse]

Hey, don't shoot the messenger but he may not be the 4th guard.

What are you talking about, are you saying you could see FH as the 5th guard? I don't see how that is possible.

I am hoping FH gets more time than last year. I think he could be a good one later in his career and I would like to see him develop. In order to get FH time, I'm hoping AW3 spends most of his time at the 3.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

It will be fun to watch Frankie "Thickburger" Howard live up to his nickname.

 

[dasher]

What are you talking about, are you saying you could see FH as the 5th guard? I don't see how that is possible.

I am hoping FH gets more time than last year. I think he could be a good one later in his career and I would like to see him develop. In order to get FH time, I'm hoping AW3 spends most of his time at the 3.

I wasn't thinking 5th guard.

 

[SUFan44]

Hey, don't shoot the messenger but he may not be the 4th guard.

Somebody's gotta be. And I don't think it will be Battle unless he really underwhelms. Also don't think it will be Gillon as he transferred for a reason. White also didn't come to sit, but he could see time at the 3, too.

Good options to have, for sure!

 

[Jasoncuse]

If Frank can knock down 3's, he'll play. If he can hit FT's, he'll play late in games. If he can't shoot, Gillon will see more minutes without a doubt IMO.

If we do land AW, I can see a lineup with TL, AW, TB, Frank and JG running some press.

 

[RF2044]

Just my opinion, but I'm not sure Frank's shoot was as bad as we all think. I do believe he was absolutely told not to shoot the ball ever last year. There were times he was wide open 5' from the goal and he wouldn't shoot.

It became a self fulfilling prophecy. Howard was a solid mid range shooter in high school, and much better than he showed last year. He started off playing such inconsistent minutes, then got sick, and then slowly worked his way in. Shots just wouldn't drop--so at some point, it became one of those mental things.

BUT by the end of the year, he started knocking down shots. He'll be much improved moving forward.

 

[Orijinal]

Could this be it: ?????

Gillon
Battle
White (Yes. At the 3)
Lydon
Chukwu

 

[AZOrange]

Could this be it: ????? Gillon Battle White (Yes. At the 3) Lydon Chukwu

swap dc2 for chukwu and u got it

 

[Orijinal]

swap dc2 for chukwu and u got it

I can get down with that

 

[Deano]

Imagine that, another thread that turns into about who starts.

 

[Brooky03]

Gillon is a much better ball handler. He's quicker / faster. He's a much better PROVEN scorer. He is a better shooter, with significantly deeper range than Howard. He is a better finisher on drives. He's a better mid range scorer, both on pull ups and taking it to the tin. He's better against the press.

There are many facets of his game beyond shooting where he is "better" than Howard.

Also, I'm not sure which highlights you saw where you didn't get the impression that he was an ankle breaking water bug--he is.

Your assessment in the last two sentences aren't on target. Yes, he played at a mid-major--doesn't mean he can't ball, or that our expectations should be shaped by where he played previously. Prepare to be surprised--he's a much better player than you give him credit for.

And the news that Howard has improved quite a bit from last year is great news, as well. A strong, versatile backcourt is a boon to our team's postsesason chances.

All of your points centered on scoring, which I conceded. Most of Gillon's scoring is from jumpers. He got to the rim at a decent clip against smaller, less talented teams and I hope he can do that here, but I'm not counting it as automatic. Where you think Gillon's ballhandling is head and shoulders above Howard's, I think Howard's contributions on defense are going to be significantly better. Gillon seems like a perfect scoring punch off the bench if you ask me. He's a great athlete and very quick, but so is almost every guard in the ACC. Like I said, I like both players, but I'm hesitant to anoint Gillon as God's gift to the team.

Gillon is pegged as a PG because of his size. But Howard's game suits the position better. Howard never had much trouble getting into the lane and showed incredible vision at times.

 

[Dave85]

If Frank can knock down 3's, he'll play. If he can hit FT's, he'll play late in games. If he can't shoot, Gillon will see more minutes without a doubt IMO.

If we do land AW, I can see a lineup with TL, AW, TB, Frank and JG running some press.

I think Frank will find his shot. He did not get enough playing time last season. He was working through his freshmen-itus. I think he's going to find his shot as his confidence increases. Man he looks like Triche did his junior year. The kid has been hitting the weights! The new found strength has got to help his confidence.

 

[SUskibum]

I'm hearing that Howard looks really, really good.

That is great news. I actually think that Frank still has a chance to earn meaningful (20+) mins

I see 7 players written in stone for the line up and the 8th will come down to Frank/TT

2 guards for sure - Battle/Gillon

2 forwards for sure - Lydon/Robey

2 centers for sure - DC/Chuck

That leaves AW who can get most of his minutes at the 3 if Frank is lights out or AW can get his minutes at the 2 if TT is lights out.

These are the options we like to have!

SUball

 

[RF2044]

All of your points centered on scoring, which I conceded. Most of Gillon's scoring is from jumpers. He got to the rim at a decent clip against smaller, less talented teams and I hope he can do that here, but I'm not counting it as automatic. Where you think Gillon's ballhandling is head and shoulders above Howard's, I think Howard's contributions on defense are going to be significantly better. Gillon seems like a perfect scoring punch off the bench if you ask me. He's a great athlete and very quick, but so is almost every guard in the ACC. Like I said, I like both players, but I'm hesitant to anoint Gillon as God's gift to the team.

Gillon is pegged as a PG because of his size. But Howard's game suits the position better. Howard never had much trouble getting into the lane and showed incredible vision at times.

Ball handling and breaking presses equates to scoring? Indirectly at best.

Agree to disagree on this topic. Like I said, you are selling Gillon far short based upon him playing at CSU.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I'm hearing that Howard looks really, really good.

They said the same thing about Kaleb Joseph this time last year.
That said, I think Frank has a better ability to run an offense.
The question is, has his shot gotten any better? We were told Kaleb's shooting was much improved, but it turned out that was the case only in practice.

 

[Cusefan0307]

They said the same thing about Kaleb Joseph this time last year.
That said, I think Frank has a better ability to run an offense.
The question is, has his shot gotten any better? We were told Kaleb's shooting was much improved, but it turned out that was the case only in practice.

I am positive that Dash said last year at this time that Kaleb was on the way out. Nobody wanted to believe him at the time.

The coaches tried to talk Kaleb up to the media, but clearly all trust was lost.

 

[Trueblue25]

Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim's Army Big on Current Orange Squad

Some high praise for Frank for past fan favorites.


Also anyone who watched Frank, even in limited time, last year knows that him and Kaleb are not comparable. Two completely different guards.

 

[ROCcuse]

40-0

I already have the shirts printed.

 

[two3zone]

Could this be it: ?????

Gillon
Battle
White (Yes. At the 3)
Lydon
Chukwu

Name one player as good as Roberson who has started for 2 years that lost their starting job. Roberson won't be the first.

 

[20Plus]

I'm hearing that Howard looks really, really good.

The Gonzaga game rewatch it you'll see

 

[IthacaMatt]

Syracuse Basketball: Boeheim's Army Big on Current Orange Squad

Some high praise for Frank for past fan favorites.


Also anyone who watched Frank, even in limited time, last year knows that him and Kaleb are not comparable. Two completely different guards.

If Frank can shoot the ball better this year and he's playing with confidence, he can help this team and he will be in the rotation. There have been recent years when we've played 8 1/2, 9 and even 10 guys. And there have also been years we were down to 6 or 7 in March. It all depends on how many guys can contribute and if they can give us different looks and different skills that the other guys don't offer.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Could this be it: ?????

Gillon
Battle
White (Yes. At the 3)
Lydon
Chukwu

Roberson and DC start.