Postgame Thoughts... Lehigh

[Orangezoo]

Sy will win us some games this year when Mintz is off. Great option to have on the team. Epitome of a team player.

The scoop comparisons aren't looking so crazy anymore. Of course he has a ways to go but lots to be optimistic about.

 

[OrangeDW]

Nice to have size and athleticism again.

Last year we were slow as molasses, the few years before that we were starting a 6’8 195 pound kid at center.

This team at least “looks” like Syracuse should look.

The main guys played like they should play against Lehigh. Nice to be able to throttle them, force some turnovers, get out and run a bit, own the boards, and get some dunks. Sight for sore eyes after last year.

Brown was productive - will be interesting to see if he can do that in ACC play. Bell getting first crack makes sense - his 3 looked good and the next one looked like it was going in too. We need another shooter besides Girard.

Will be interesting to see how the forward situation plays out. We’d be really good with Swider.

 

[OrangeDW]

The scoop comparisons aren't looking so crazy anymore. Of course he has a ways to go but lots to be optimistic about.

I think he’s more of the Griffin, Sims mold and perhaps the Sims career arc?

 

[Orangezoo]

I think he’s more of the Griffin, Sims mold and perhaps the Sims career arc?

Yeah I think all really are applicable.

 

[OrangeDW]

Also Peter Carey threw down a between his legs dunk in warmups.

 

[NineOneSeven]

I’d love to see it some. Last week I said I’d like it for 15 minutes a game against teams that play 3 guards are aren’t big teams. Sy is also a good rebounder for a guard so he could play on the back line when in zone vs those smaller teams. Hell, Nova faired pretty good playing a lot of 3 guard lineups.

Try a 4 guard lineup.

 

[Melancer46]

Some thoughts on the game in no particular order:

• Couldn't ask for more out of the guards tonight, particularly the top 3. 45 points on 23 FGA between Mintz, Girard, and Torrence; that's just awesome.
• Copeland was just trying to do too much during his minutes out there. Think he was only charged with 3 turnovers but probably deserved more. Respect the unselfishness and showmanship though; hopefully some of those passes get to the intended target moving forwards.
• Great start to the season from Jesse. Nothing really to add to that.
• The forwards were unsurprisingly the weak spot on the team.
• Benny struggled as per usual, but I will say I think his athleticism popped more tonight than we generally saw from him his freshman season. Had a nice pass out of the post to start the 2nd half as well. Unfortunately he still just doesn't look like he knows how to play basketball.
• The freshmen forwards didn't show all that much IMO. I still feel like Taylor looks like he belongs more than the other two, but obviously want to see better than 1/7 shooting out of him.
• It was fun to see man to man and a decent amount of ball movement for a change.
• All in all, a promising start to the year. If the guards can play like 80% of what they did tonight on a consistent basis, this team could be a bit frisky in the ACC.

 

[Melancer46]

wish the football team could schedule like this.

Brown will look good against weak competition. Smart. Heady. But seems to lack the explosiveness to compete against the better ACC front courts.

I'd be a lot more excited about him if he were a more explosive athlete; maybe some time in our weight room will get him there. It's hard to be the role player that kinda just mucks things up when you're SF/PF sized and struggle to get up as much as he does. Not impossible but it lowers the ceiling for sure.

 

[AngryOtto]

wish the football team could schedule like this.

Brown will look good against weak competition. Smart. Heady. But seems to lack the explosiveness to compete against the better ACC front courts.

He’s a only a freshman. He reminds me of players pit would get that would kill us on the boards and put backs.

 

[SWC75]

Far too early to actually tell hot take:
Benny Williams will barely be in the rotation come ACC play

Benny will score when he rebounds, (as he did in the IUP game). If he doesn't rebound, he'll wind up on the bench.

 

[SWC75]

This is going to sound bananas but Laphonso Ellis.

How is this for bananas: Carmelo minus a jump shot. Melo scored a lot of his points around the basket, cleaning up missed shots, moving smoothly around people, etc.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I hear and SEE what you are saying but I am still pulling for Benny. JB had an entirely different coaching style with Benny tonight. On two different occasions we saw JB talking with Benny without berating him. I agree that Brown can replace him but I still think Benny's passing and athletic ability can give us a big bump. It is hard to erase the Duke game last year from my memory. Benny needs to stop shooting threes for now. When he can hit them consistently in practice then let him shoot them in a game.

pulling has nothing to do with it. He has not developed some very basic basketball skills and unemotionally I can state that its too late to develop these skills if you haven't by the time you are a sophomore in college and have been playing since childhood. these are skills you obtain in middle school if you played since you were really young, and in high school if you started late. Sure, there are notable exceptions like Rony and Hakeem, but these are guys who didnt pick up a basketball till they were late teens.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Nice to have size and athleticism again.

Last year we were slow as molasses, the few years before that we were starting a 6’8 195 pound kid at center.

This team at least “looks” like Syracuse should look.

The main guys played like they should play against Lehigh. Nice to be able to throttle them, force some turnovers, get out and run a bit, own the boards, and get some dunks. Sight for sore eyes after last year.

Brown was productive - will be interesting to see if he can do that in ACC play. Bell getting first crack makes sense - his 3 looked good and the next one looked like it was going in too. We need another shooter besides Girard.

Will be interesting to see how the forward situation plays out. We’d be really good with Swider.

the lack of outside shooting has forced us into developing actual offensive sets. I think you can have the best of both worlds. Lack of shooting early leads to a more well rounded overall offensive scheme, then shooting comes along as youngsters get acclimated and mature, and now you can have a legit inside / outside offensive machine.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Benny will score when he rebounds, (as he did in the IUP game). If he doesn't rebound, he'll wind up on the bench.

thats how I see it. He can be a solid contributor based on effort, size, athletic ability. grab boards, set screens, pass the ball. score on some garbage put backs, but he should not be shooting much.

 

[kcsu]

The team took a step forward tonight. Thought Sy made the difference. JB said it all about Mintz in the post game. " Hes a scorer that's what he does"
With Sy pushing the ball we got into a nice flow. He made everyone better.
Benny has to play interior ball. Forget anything outside of the foul line. Rebound and play D. Hit the offensive boards. He isn't a shooter. Cope has to let the game come to him. Brown was excellent. Hima what a great game and we are really fortunate to have him. Edwards looked smooth. Played a smooth game on each end. Looked 10x better tonight then the last exhibition. Taylor looks the part but needs time.
Good outing, solid improvement.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

The team took a step forward tonight. Thought Sy made the difference. JB said it all about Mintz in the post game. " Hes a scorer that's what he does"
With Sy pushing the ball we got into a nice flow. He made everyone better.
Benny has to play interior ball. Forget anything outside of the foul line. Rebound and play D. Hit the offensive boards. He isn't a shooter. Cope has to let the game come to him. Brown was excellent. Hima what a great game and we are really fortunate to have him. Edwards looked smooth. Played a smooth game on each end. Looked 10x better tonight then the last exhibition. Taylor looks the part but needs time.
Good outing, solid improvement.

few seconds watching Hima and you can tell he will be perfectly serviceable as the backup 5.
-he catches the ball clean.
-he positions himself well.
-he can make a lay-up.
Doesn't seem like much, right? There have been YEARS where we lacked a backup 5 who could do this.

 

[kcsu]

few seconds watching Hima and you can tell he will be perfectly serviceable as the backup 5.
-he catches the ball clean.
-he positions himself well.
-he can make a lay-up.
Doesn't seem like much, right? There have been YEARS where we lacked a backup 5 who could do this.

He could start for many teams. We lucked out with him. Great addition.

 

[Irt4su]

There was one offensive series in the mid to late second half where I saw Taylor running around screens from one side to the other aka cooney or rautins. Hadn’t seen that in a while. It didn’t result in a basket or even a pass to Taylor but it reminded me of something I loved and it made me smile. Working to get open, set plays, hustle, etc. not a drive a kick out or an iso. It was nice to see and I hope to see more of it regardless of if Taylor, joe, bellbunch, etc.

 

[Red Holzman]

Brown immediately caught my eye. Agree with the other comments -he's intriguing.
For a first game, very fluid and confident in what he was doing out there.
I liked the way he moved and how he positioned himself on both ends of the floor.
Yes, the jury is out until we see Brown against better competition-
but what a nice contrast to freshman Benny.

 

[RF2044]

Benny and Bell -- not a good debut. Bell had zero rebounds.

Sy needs to play more.

 

[smartman]

Edwards
Brown
Sy
Joe
Judah

Thats my 5.

I was telling a buddy the same although I don’t know how much we will see that on the floor. Need another forward to step up.

 

[smartman]

Tyler Roberson Consistently Dialed In

I’d take that!

 

[81South]

I missed the majority of the game…..when our boys came out playing man I fainted l, hit my head and was out cold for a bit………I kid I kid.

 

[CuseCPT]

I don't know who looked happier after hitting their big shot: the dude that nailed the shot from the adjustable bed or JBA.

 

[Hopkins16]

We are solid at the guard positions. Joe, Judah and Sy should see minutes together in a 3 guard lineup. Quadir could easily join the group if he settles down and stop looking to be be flashy and spectacular on every play. If he settles down, we have 4 solid guards with one (Quadir) who can reliably play the forward position in the zone defense.

We need Taylor to come alive. Of our freshmen, he looks the part as being the most ready due to his demeanor and size and perceived maturity. He carries himself and looks the part of an upperclassman but his play says otherwise. We need his contribution as he can strengthen both the guard and forward positions.

Hima will do an admirable job backing up Jesse. In the zone defense, he will have to learn not to always sit deep under the basket but close out quick enough to defend against shot attempts close to the basket.

Bell and Brown have a lot of potential but will be inconsistent. Benny must be the steady forward and can be that if he plays into his strengths (defense, rebounding and scoring around the basket). I'm worried that he still looks so lost out there. If I did not follow our team and watched last night's game, I would have thought he was one of the freshmen and not a five star upperclassman. Benny, please find hope and inspiration from Cole's tweet, perhaps it was directed to you.

Overall, the group looks promising and it's good to see that we have good length with athleticism. If this team gels as the season goes on and we can pull off enough wins to make it to the tournament....