Class of 2026 PG Deron Rippey Jr. (NY/NJ) Offered

[Melancer46]

Yeah I’m with you. The good news is it’s really all driven by the defense which at least gives us logic on our side vs just emotion and optimism. Seeing Bingo run with Gtown and put up 70 gives me even more hope given we could have held them to even less and put up 100 to go with.

Houston is solid but they don’t look like the juggernaut they did last year, Kansas is too one dimensional with Peterson and then even Tennessee looks more beatable. All that said we have to show against Drexel that the defense is legit and can travel and the identity of this team is what we have seen in the first two games on the exhibitions.

Yeah, I definitely want to see if our style of play translates against better athletes but it's been such an incredibly promising start and that's with Kingz not finding his jumpshot yet and George having a mostly bad 2nd game (and obviously JJ missing the 2nd game as well). I came into the season just hoping if everything clicks we could be a bubble team, but these first couple games have me dreaming of being legitimately good.

 

[Orangezoo]

Yeah, I definitely want to see if our style of play translates against better athletes but it's been such an incredibly promising start and that's with Kingz not finding his jumpshot yet and George having a mostly bad 2nd game (and obviously JJ missing the 2nd game as well). I came into the season just hoping if everything clicks we could be a bubble team, but these first couple games have me dreaming of being legitimately good.

Yeah it’s really noteworthy your points on Kingz, George and JJ. Add to that the first game featured Kyle over the top on offense and then game two was a much different look in terms of where points came from.

The defense though both in hedging the screens, helping on drives and staying glued to the shooters all while picking up ball handlers nearly full court is just impressive in terms of execution, especially with what we saw in the exhibitions being far less crisp. If we put the clamps down on Drexel and then hammer Monmouth as well seeing very little cracks in the armor this is going to be the most exciting early season non conference Cuse games in a long time when we get to Vegas.

It would be a cherry on top to see them in these games throw out a nasty couple minutes of zone in to flummox opponents later in those games.

All that said you showcase this kind of intensity and then open court freedom for a PG and slay a couple of top teams or at least one but run with them to the buzzer and that has to resonate with a kid like Rippey.

 

[cuseallday]

I honestly can't believe that I'm at the point now where I feel like we have a real chance of winning these games. They're going to trample on my heart again aren't they?

Totally hear you, my friend. Not saying Syracuse will win those games. But - but - just based on the defense over the first two games, I think Syracuse has a shot. Last year, Syracuse beat LeMoyne by four points, Colgate by two points and Youngstown State in double OT to start the season. This year, SU is allowing 45 points per game and blowing out its opposition. It's a small sample, but I'm just pumped to see how SU fares against elite competition. Of course, my post here just jinxed it. Syracuse will now lose to either Drexel or Monmouth before Vegas, and I should be booted out of this forum.