Class of 2025 PG Luke Fennell (Australia) COMMITTED & SIGNED TO SYRACUSE (10/23/24)

[GHLF]

The lack of respect some “fans” have for the program is amazing. Always anticipating the worst outcome from everything. I honestly don’t know why folks with that outlook even follow sports. It must be emotionally draining. Imaging being a person that upon hearing good news automatically internalizes it into all the negative things that could happen has a result.

Exactly, some people are literally just afflicted with massive negativity. It honestly pervades this board. I use to read Syracuse.com forums like 20 years ago, in school. It was toxic. I said see ya long ago. I was so happy to find this board. It is growing difficult. Having a little bit of knowledge, positivity about Syracuse University and its sports teams is so much fun. I am definitely a Syracuse Homer, I was there and it changed my life. So many good people and coaches have come through. Win lose or draw, big picture it has been so so amazing. Forever grateful, all I have to do is think about it.

 

[bnoro]

Exactly, some people are literally just afflicted with massive negativity. It honestly pervades this board. I use to read Syracuse.com forums like 20 years ago, in school. It was toxic. I said see ya long ago. I was so happy to find this board. It is growing difficult. Having a little bit of knowledge, positivity about Syracuse University and its sports teams is so much fun. I am definitely a Syracuse Homer, I was there and it changed my life. So many good people and coaches have come through. Win lose or draw, big picture it has been so so amazing. Forever grateful, all I have to do is think about it.

I was very pro-Red going into this season, ignored a lot of the warts with Carlos/Eddie/Bell, and thought we could be decent this year. It's not "haters are going to hate". It's "this program is in freefall and might never recover".

 

[orange79]

I was very pro-Red going into this season, ignored a lot of the warts with Carlos/Eddie/Bell, and thought we could be decent this year. It's not "haters are going to hate". It's "this program is in freefall and might never recover".

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When you've lost bnoro...

 

[OrangeXtreme]

When you've lost bnoro...

Never should have left the ECAC.

 

[SUFaninNJ]

I was very pro-Red going into this season, ignored a lot of the warts with Carlos/Eddie/Bell, and thought we could be decent this year. It's not "haters are going to hate". It's "this program is in freefall and might never recover".

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Freefall wouldn't include improving in two of the last three years. That being said, we're not where we used to be and this team is not that enjoyable to watch. It's why I put the Basketball Forum on ignore.

 

[bnoro]

Freefall wouldn't include improving in two of the last three years. That being said, we're not where we used to be and this team is not that enjoyable to watch. It's why I put the Basketball Forum on ignore.

We "improved" in non-conference and got blown out everywhere else. We're not even close to competing to make an NCAA tournament. Where are the positives?

 

[Oakland]

Exactly, some people are literally just afflicted with massive negativity. It honestly pervades this board. I use to read Syracuse.com forums like 20 years ago, in school. It was toxic. I said see ya long ago. I was so happy to find this board. It is growing difficult. Having a little bit of knowledge, positivity about Syracuse University and its sports teams is so much fun. I am definitely a Syracuse Homer, I was there and it changed my life. So many good people and coaches have come through. Win lose or draw, big picture it has been so so amazing. Forever grateful, all I have to do is think about it.

There is an ignore feature - it is very helpful.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

I will be in free fall next year if we don't have a respectable top 25 team - may go into free fall earlier if Freeman is not back

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[SUFan44]

I will be in free fall next year if we don't have a respectable top 25 team - may go into free fall earlier if Freeman is not back

You best purchase a parachute then.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Fennell could be our most influential player coming in next year. Womack is also highly skilled.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Fennell could be our most influential player coming in next year. Womack is also highly skilled.

Fennell has got some real skills and reads the floor well. Sees where the open spaces are. Has a very nice 3 point shot. But he is a bit slow. It will be interesting to see his adjustment to the NCAA. International ball is pretty good training, but it might take him a while to get up to speed. His upside to me is a poor man's Chris Mullin. There's a reason he's playing for his national team. The kid is talented.

 

[Cuse1055]

I hope he lives up to expectations but if we don’t bring in a legit portal PG then Autry is crazy and will absolutely be gone after next year (if not this year).

 

[SUFan44]

I hope he lives up to expectations but if we don’t bring in a legit portal PG then Autry is crazy and will absolutely be gone after next year (if not this year).

We won’t.

 

[Cuse1055]

We won’t.

Then better not delay the inevitable and fire him this year.

 

[SUFan44]

Then better not delay the inevitable and fire him this year.

We won't.

 

[kcsu]

Fennell has got some real skills and reads the floor well. Sees where the open spaces are. Has a very nice 3 point shot. But he is a bit slow. It will be interesting to see his adjustment to the NCAA. International ball is pretty good training, but it might take him a while to get up to speed. His upside to me is a poor man's Chris Mullin. There's a reason he's playing for his national team. The kid is talented.

Triche wasn't fast either. I like this kids strength. Hes going to be good.

 

[CuseMan4]

Fennell could be our most influential player coming in next year. Womack is also highly skilled.

Think Robert Braswell when you think of Womack. He won’t be playing much for a couple years. Would gladly eat my words

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Think Robert Braswell when you think of Womack. He won’t be playing much for a couple years. Would gladly eat my words

I don't mind a Big Bad Bobby Braswell on the roster.

 

[SUFan44]

I don't mind a Big Bad Bobby Braswell on the roster.

Braswell, amongst many others, was always overrated by this fanbase.

After 7 years in college, he's only now averaging double figures this year for a 9-17 Charlotte team.

If we can't find better players than Bobby Braswell, then we are in big, big trouble.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Think Robert Braswell when you think of Womack. He won’t be playing much for a couple years. Would gladly eat my words

Womack is a much better ball handler and passer. He affects the game in a lot of ways.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Triche wasn't fast either. I like this kids strength. Hes going to be good.

I hear what you're saying. I think he's going to be good, too. But he lacks elite athleticism. He's more of a basketball player, like you'd say about Petar this year.

Triche was pretty quick and could fill the lane on the fast break. He was physically very strong, built broadly.

Fennell isn't that guy. He cuts well without the ball and can get to the rim, but he doesn't power past people close to the rim. He might have trouble finishing through contact.

Who else played like Chris Mullin? Big guard, very good passer, sees the floor very well, can really hit an open three, almost automatic.

Ricky Rubio isn't as tall. Manu Ginobli is about the right size, was great from three, but kind of invented that Euro step on the drive. Fennell doesn't have that.

Maybe a Jon Scheyer type? He was a 6-5 combo, had about 3-4 assists a game and shot 38% from three.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Think Robert Braswell when you think of Womack. He won’t be playing much for a couple years. Would gladly eat my words

I would compare him to the other kid from that era, Woody Newton, or maybe Chris Bell. Braswell was a bit thicker in the middle, more of a rebounder.

 

[grepal]

I will be in free fall next year if we don't have a respectable top 25 team - may go into free fall earlier if Freeman is not back

We will need some really good portal adds to bring this talented class along.

 

[sutomcat]

Here is a cool web site that covers Australian basketball.

https://nbl.com.au/news/south-east-melbournes-newest-hometown-hero

Syracuse fans will want to watch the Heat Check video near the bottom of the page. It touches base on a lot of players but at the 16:20 mark, there is a brief discussion of Luke, with some video. Good to hear some objective discussion on him. Don't think they even know he has signed with Syracuse.

The guys mentioned with him are really good. Giddey and Daniels are in the NBA and Armstrong led the WAC in assists his first two years before going pro.

Hopefully he ends up doing similar things to these guys.