It's just my opinion. You are entitled to your opinion.
That's what this place is for.
I feel strongly about my opinion.
I really, really want to see SU win one more title before JB retires.
He really deserves it. He is an all-time great.
But as the clock ticks down, we have to be better than we have been.
Even though we have made a couple great runs that were unexpected in the NCAA's we were not really contenders to win it like we were in 1996 or, obviously, in 2003 (or 2010 or 2012). Those teams we knew could actually win it all.
I want one more team like that before he has to hang them up.
I think some roster mistakes, recruiting mistakes, lapses in effort due to age, less dynamic assistants, lots of factors, play into it. But make no mistake; add an Isaiah Stewart to the roster we have right now, and we are a whole different animal. We are just a couple players away from being a title contender. We have all the supporting pieces. We just need to get a couple alpha dogs.
Then we could make another real run or two, not a gimmicky run when the defense carries us, but we don't have enough offense to really have a shot at winning it all.
We have tons of offense now; we need that talented big guy or two inside.
Ithaca: Thought I'd try and contribute to this discussion since we are talking about guard play.
I am comparing apples to oranges here but I have had the ability to watch SUBB from 1962-63 till present being the spotter for the official scorer in 1962, 3,and 4 when Manley was brand new.
I have grown accustomed to teams, JB with whom I am a friend, that ran the fast break it seemed in all the years I have been watching except recently and I have gotten used to the excitement and ability of the teams that ran it, watching them run, pass and score with abandon and have been hoping for its return and a point who could lead it.
Specifically, I was shown what a fast break could do by Sherman Douglas from 1985 – 89. I have been waiting for a point guard who could continue what Douglas began and was hoping that Jalen Carey would break out of the freshman learning / development year and became the floor leader Douglas was.
I realize I am choosing the best PG in SU history. Depending on how old you are you may have seen him play and been amazed at what he was able to accomplish with his passing, distribution skills, scoring, and alley oops to Stevie Thompson, Coleman, and Seikaly.
I also want Buddy to be able to handle more minutes and think he has a great future as a player at SU, perhaps the best 3 point shooter ever. I agree with you that he wouldn't be able to handle that many minutes as a sophomore.
Here's the difference IMHO. We are looking at two very different players. One a 6' 0” 165 blur the other an adequate, as far as speed goes player, but a much better three point shooter. Also we had a great team in the four years Sherm was here. Douglas had to become a starter as a sophomore because Pearl left for the NBA. Not a lot was expected but he became a star. Some of his line as a sophomore was: Games 38, 32 MPG, 289 ASST, 17.3 PPG. He was the leading scorer at SU for some time. The experience of his team mates helped him become the leader he was and the team records during his tenure what they were. 85-86 26 – 6, 86-87 31-7 Nat'l Ch runner up, 87-88 26-9, 89 -90 30-8.
Buddy hopefully will be the recipient of some incoming team members who will be a help in getting him the ball. It is of interest to me to see how GIII's shooting translates to the ACC as well as other incoming players. I agree we need an alpha - preferably a BIG to add to the mix to develop into a team to get another title before Jim leaves. It would be great if that could happen while Buddy was a junior or senior. As you mentioned Jim deserves it. Hope the team can get it for him.