Pete Thamel

[Fly Rodder]

What leverage does red have in regards to a buyout?!? How in gods name does he even have one??? What other programs were wanting his services that badly where we had to offer a buy out. Fireable offense for whomever made that deal. Wow.

I don't think there's a buyout, but that the contract is guaranteed. Therefore, were the school to relieve him of his duties before the contact is over, they're on the hook to pay him the remainder. Buyouts typically go to a school in order for them to let their coach sign with another school.

 

[phil77]

I think this clip is super important. Not saying kids on SU don’t play hard or try hard, but the blowouts and what not, doesn’t seem like they hate to lose. I know for the 5000th time the coaching could be better, but I’ve heard what’s said over and over to these kids about being tougher and everything like that so that has been discussed at length. I’ve seen the full contact drills at practice to build some toughness. The kids seem okay with losing. They seem okay with letting teams score 97 points on them. I may be out of line with this, but that’s what I see. They are okay with losing especially because they are getting paid now….

Again, this will be no offense to Red but this is why we needed a complete break away from what we have been doing. This has been the culture for the past decade here and we desperately needed to break free of it as a program. We needed a jolt of new energy, new passion, and new fire into the program. Not someone to keep the status quo of what has been going on. Like you said, Red can say all the things he wants, but the continuation hire means the culture is the same, and that is what is killing or has killed the program, and has pulled Red down with it. And I don't think he will be able to change that at this point.

 

[cuseguy]

We need an elite PG regardless of what Starling does. He's not a PG in any way.

He’s a combo guard. But he also doesn’t play well unless he’s creating with the ball in his hands. Move him back to two guard, Anthony doesn’t play and Moore transfers. Suppose that could happen.

 

[Cuse12]

Uncomfortable in Syracuse?! With the media there?

I’m sure you’re right. It’s just that the idea of there being a contentious press conference in Syracuse is hysterical. Syracuse media is Charmin soft.

And if they aren’t, they end up losing their radio show

 

[NKR1978]

I’ll be honest, I don’t get particularly passionate about head coaching decisions anymore.

Like, there was every reason for the Pats to can Mayo after one season. He was awful. But if Kraft brought him back I wasn’t going to scream about it.

Same here. This year has been so bad that there’s every reason to let Red go. He couldn’t have blown the offseason worse. And there has been zero improvement from anyone on the team.

But when the inevitable press conference comes that proclaims Red back for another season I’m not going to wail and moan and say the program is dead. It’s one season. He’ll either fix it (unlikely but not impossible) or he’ll be let go around this time next year.

If the press conference bringing back Red is honest and acknowledges the mistakes made and explains the steps they're making to be better, that's one thing. But if they gaslight (20 wins in year 1!) or whine about money, then it's another and I wont bemoan anyone who throws a fit over it.

 

[Cusefan0307]

He’s a combo guard. But he also doesn’t play well unless he’s creating with the ball in his hands. Move him back to two guard, Anthony doesn’t play and Moore transfers. Suppose that could happen.

28% from 3 and 69% from the foul line for a 2 guard is not going to get it done.

 

[Sbucketball]

I think the bottom line is that we're always likely to underperform with Red vis-a-vis the team's talent level.

With elite ACC talent, I see Red peaking at top 3rd of conference
With above average ACC talent, it's bubble territory (SU 25-26)
With average ACC talent, we finish bottom 3rd (SU 24-25)
With minimal ACC talent, it's 2025 Miami bad

100% agree. This is all that matters. Red is a net negative on our talent. We need a coach who gets more wins than our talent's worth, not less. This is why the talk about reloading, recruits, nil portal etc. is just wasted time and energy.

 

[pearl31]

Brutally honest opinions re: SU state of the program in the replies here. Without orange-colored glasses, this doesn't end well.

I mean anyone paying attention and with the slightest bit of objectivity agrees that the program is currently in bad shape. But anon Monday morning qb twitter replies make it official?

 

[Scooch]

He’s a combo guard. But he also doesn’t play well unless he’s creating with the ball in his hands. Move him back to two guard, Anthony doesn’t play and Moore transfers. Suppose that could happen.

He has to find a way. He's a terrible distributor and not a particularly good outside shooter.

I'd like him to stay with the program, but he simply can't have the ball in his hands nearly as much as he has this season. Or we're going to stink again.

 

[phil77]

People still think that this team just needs a little improvement around the edges and we're safely in the tourney are deluding themselves. The roster needs a complete overhaul and, even then, it's going to be an uphill slog.

Correct

 

[IthacaMatt]

We have to pay for JJ any way right not like he is free? Use his money for a replacement that plays defense that works hard.

It seems to me that we have to retain one of JJ or Choppa, and Choppa is prolly cheapa.
We also really need to keep Freeman.

 

[phil77]

He has to find a way. He's a terrible distributor and not a particularly good outside shooter.

I'd like him to stay with the program, but he simply can't have the ball in his hands nearly as much as he has this season. Or we're going to stink again.

But then there is really no role for him, right? I mean, think about our offense right now if he doesn't have the ball in his hands, where would he be on the court? Our other wing players usually are in the corners waiting for kick outs that can't be JJ either (think Carlos and Taylor they just run to the corner). 6th man off the bench? Maybe but I doubt his ego would handle that. Inefficient ISO scorers just aren't the way to win anymore, they really don't have a role unless they are taking a high volume of shots.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We have to pay for JJ any way right not like he is free? Use his money for a replacement that plays defense that works hard.

Who’s going to pay him though? I doubt his market is anything close to what people think here. After seeing some guys like AJ Storr completely flame out with their new teams I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s buyer beware when it comes to high volume scorers this year.

 

[Newhouser]

But then there is really no role for him, right? I mean, think about our offense right now if he doesn't have the ball in his hands, where would he be on the court? Our other wing players usually are in the corners waiting for kick outs that can't be JJ either (think Carlos and Taylor they just run to the corner). 6th man off the bench? Maybe but I doubt his ego would handle that. Inefficient ISO scorers just aren't the way to win anymore, they really don't have a role unless they are talking a high volume of shots.

Exactly his minutes would take the same hit that JG3's were going to take when Red showed him the door. We should not keep him if the only thing he can handle is his current role of being below average at every part of the game.

 

[phil77]

It seems to me that we have to retain one of JJ or Choppa, and Choppa is prolly cheapa.
We also really need to keep Freeman.

This is the correct way to go, I would keep Moore over JJ. Cheaper next year, more years can mold into the program more etc etc etc just can do more things with him compared to JJ, especially at the state of our program so I would value Moore over JJ to help build a foundation of the program.

But but but but Red needs to win to keep his job so I think he would value JJ over Moore because I think he would think JJ gives him a better chance of winning a game tomorrow.

Freeman is a wildcard I would lean towards him being gone but crazier things have happened but if he is back it will take a big bag and a good chunk of our NIL budget I doubt he stays on the cheap again.

 

[phil77]

Who’s going to pay him though. I doubt his market is anything close to what people think here. After seeing some guys like AJ Storr completely flame out with their new teams I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s buyer beware when it comes to high volume scorers this year.

He can get money from a team like Seton Hall Providence etc a team like that will give him cash and the ball.

 

[pearl31]

Yeah I'd say if Red just approaches next season with the same role/usage of JJ then that's (along with how the portal goes) is definitive proof that Red is done for

 

[hoopsupstate]

JJ has to improve in a lot of areas. He could be a big time slasher if we can surround him with shooters and playmakers. Teams would be hard pressed to keep him out of the lane. First of all, he has to make a commitment to playing defense. He accepts getting beat way too easily. That should be message number one from Red to JJ. Play defense or lose minutes. If that’s a reason to portal, so be it. It has to be understood. Freeman and Moore need to hear the same thing.

 

[Cuse12]

I just keep going back to this conversation in my head and it goes like this:

“okay so we all know this highly likely isn’t going to be successful long term solution at HC, and we are essentially just sacrificing another year of this program due to a poorly agreed upon contract. So everyday with our current HC is just delaying us a day until the inevitable happens, and delaying the hopeful answer to this problem. So essentially I’m just losing a precious SU bball season in my life. And the older I get (still luckily “young” in terms of life but starting to think about this more) the more I realize how few seasons of everything in life there are.”

Then I end with a sigh and say a prayer to Kyle McCord and FB for helping make cuse fball very fun this year.

 

[IthacaMatt]

But then there is really no role for him, right? I mean, think about our offense right now if he doesn't have the ball in his hands, where would he be on the court? Our other wing players usually are in the corners waiting for kick outs that can't be JJ either (think Carlos and Taylor they just run to the corner). 6th man off the bench? Maybe but I doubt his ego would handle that. Inefficient ISO scorers just aren't the way to win anymore, they really don't have a role unless they are taking a high volume of shots.

Let's say we got a top PG who can shoot the 3 and generate 5 assists a game.
And then let's say that we add a SF who is a big threat from 3.
Then you can play JJ at the 2G and let him do what he does now, only for about 25 minutes a game.
It could work that way.

 

[pwong]

Brutally honest opinions re: SU state of the program in the replies here. Without orange-colored glasses, this doesn't end well.

Also shows one of the reasons why the ACC has been consistently the worst HM conference in the past few years… coaching and overall commitment to basketball (coaching, NIL, resource allocation, etc).

 

[tbonezone]

JJ has to improve in a lot of areas. He could be a big time slasher if we can surround him with shooters and playmakers. Teams would be hard pressed to keep him out of the lane. First of all, he has to make a commitment to playing defense. He accepts getting beat way too easily. That should be message number one from Red to JJ. Play defense or lose minutes. If that’s a reason to portal, so be it. It has to be understood. Freeman and Moore need to hear the same thing.

judah mintz was better on the drive and drawing contact than J.J.
and we still missed the tourney. a lone out of control me first scorer don't work .
especially when he only brings it the final 5 minutes every game.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Let's say we got a top PG who can shoot the 3 and generate 5 assists a game.
And then let's say that we add a SF who is a big threat from 3.
Then you can play JJ at the 2G and let him do what he does now, only for about 25 minutes a game.
It could work that way.

Point guard needs to be a big threat from 3 too.

 

[longtimefan]

Appearing on lists like these make it even harder to accept the fact they run it like a poverty program.

https://www.2adays.com/blog/top-10-division-i-basketball-programs-by-revenue/

#2 in revenue! #2!

I would love to know how $34 million in annual revenue is allocated. Has some of it been going to football to help them get up to speed? Dome renovations I figure, subsidize the other sports and then towards to the general fund leaving hardly any left over for the actual bball program?

If you have a revenue producer, you need to keep allocating sufficiently towards that revenue producer, feed that golden goose.

I hope I'm not just spreading an unconfirmed rumor, but. . .
I have read that the lion's share of AD funds were moved to the football program. Which certainly worked out this season. Long-term success TBD.

 

[Sbucketball]

Also shows one of the reasons why the ACC has been consistently the worst HM conference in the past few years… coaching and overall commitment to basketball (coaching, NIL, etc).

ACC had great coaches, all of which were of a certain age. ACC leadership should have been more concerned and proactive about that. Not hard to see they'd all be gone within a close time period with the system completely changing. SEC leadership demanded the programs spend big on coaches.