Brian for once I agree with you. I don’t see why people think he’s ready to come in and contribute. I wasn’t very impressed with him in his two years here but I hope I’m wrong!
In two seasons, Braswell has played 103 minutes, scored 38 points on 7/13 two pointers, (53.8%) 5/8 three pointers, (62.5%), an 9/12 free throws (75.0%), grabbed 18 rebounds, passed for 5 assists, made 9 steals and 1 block, committed 9 turnovers and 5 fouls.
Per 40 minutes that's 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 0 blocks vs. 3 turnovers and 2 fouls, with excellent shooting percentages.
The downside: that was virtually all against deep bench reserves and walk-ons in early season games and blow-outs.
But...he was doing that with pains in his lags from chin splints, which they hope will be cured or at least lessened next year. (If they aren't, he's not going to be able to play a lot.)
I'm impressed that as an inexperienced player, he committed few fouls, indicating that he knows where he's supposed to be and what he's supposed to be doing out there. The turnovers are really the only negative stat and he negates them with an unusual number of steals (he actually averaged 3.495 steals per 40 minutes, a phenomenal rate). And those shooting percentages are equally remarkable. Watching him on the floor, he seemed to be calm, comfortable and smooth. You wanted to see him get a better opportunity to show what he can do.
That doesn't mean that he's going to shine when he gets that opportunity and we don't know if he can overcome his physical problems end to play extensively. I'd just like to find out the answers to those questions with him in a Syracuse uniform, not somebody else's..
That said, i think Dolezaj and Guerrier will start and feel that both can shoot the ball better and become complete players and I think Woody newton could be quite a player for use, too. I think we are well blessed at the forward spots, so Braswell may not get his big chance yet. I hope he sticks it out.
Let's not over-hype him but don't under-estimate him, either.