Reality Rant

[cuse2013]

Reality (in my mind of course)

1) The reality is that we (without ban) are an NCAA tournament team. We will beat NC State + Duke or Virginia (20-40% chance at both).
2) The reality is that NCAA has not released findings/penalties because...the infractions are not serious enough. After a massive 7 year witch hunt, NCAA has found nothing but jaywalking level infractions and are embarrassed to release report. So they hunt on.
3) The reality is that maybe we made a mistake self-imposing a ban. Yes, we wouldn't win it all. But we could make a run at Sweet16 if Cooney is healthy. It's possible NCAA never gets us for anything bad and wouldn't have banned us anyway.
4) The reality is that Cooney is really really hurting. That's not an excuse for his poor shooting. That's a reality.
5) The reality is that our coaches are great, but whiffed on the sophomore class. Outside Ennis, of course, and Roberson I guess. You cannot win consistently if you have an entire recruiting class just not producing for the team. It doesn't matter what these guys "can" be. BJ, Ron, & Chino have not helped us nearly enough. And they have all had opportunities. Our last class that big was CJ, Dion, Fab, Baye. No contest.
6) The reality is that no team in America could basically lose its possibly (and arguably) 5 most talented players (CJ, Ennis, Grant, Dajaun, McCullough) and still be this competitive. None.
7) The reality is that no program in America could start 6 PG's in 7 years and not see at least one terrible season. Kaleb is our 6th starting Pg in 7 years and we will still win 20 games.
8) The reality is that Kaleb will be a great PG at Cuse. Sooner rather than later.
9) The reality is that Roc is getting screwed from not playing in either tourney. And it will hurt his draft stock.
10) The reality is that it will be our returning players who control our destiny next year, and not the freshmen.

The reality is that's a lot to digest but I needed to get it all out.

Go Orange

 

[bballbeadle]

I wonder oh I wonder if your point that the NCAA has nothing juicy to charge us with is true? That is speculation for the NCAA side of the board.

Here's my reality: When this season ends, SU will have another incredible story about a season of lost dreams, a stalking monster whom people fear but are also increasingly deriding, a noble band of kids who never gave up, and a student-athlete whose star rose up up up into the stratosphere, hanging over the city of Syracuse and the Carrier Dome, brilliant for all to see. A Christmas star.

 

[Orange Barrel]

#5. No. You can't say they whiffed and then list 2 exceptions. Way too early to judge the others and BJ doesn't belong in that group anyway.

 

[Toga]

Keeping it real.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Very good beadle especially your reality on Christmas. Seems like every year SU has a player that one can really admire not only for their on court talent but because they are a very honorable person!

 

[jordoo]

Reality (in my mind of course)


2) The reality is that NCAA has not released findings/penalties because...the infractions are not serious enough. After a massive 7 year witch hunt, NCAA has found nothing but jaywalking level infractions and are embarrassed to release report. So they hunt on.
This is true but they were going to use all the little things to hit us with 2 years and there are things we may or may not have done that they were charging us with that they cannot prove. These were not jaywalking type offenses. I don't think they are still hunting either I think they are figuring out the way to best salvage themselves in this situation.
3) The reality is that maybe we made a mistake self-imposing a ban.
This is not reality because we were going to get 2 years and then have to appeal or go to litigation so we did what we had to do to finally gain some control in this situation that has been going on for way too long. We also put the media to attention that our report is way over due as was our investigation which in turn puts the heat on the NCAA. We essentially minimalized the damage and applied pressure to end the whole thing.
5) The reality is that our coaches are great, but whiffed on the sophomore class. Outside Ennis, of course, and Roberson I guess. You cannot win consistently if you have an entire recruiting class just not producing for the team. It doesn't matter what these guys "can" be. BJ, Ron, & Chino have not helped us nearly enough. And they have all had opportunities. Our last class that big was CJ, Dion, Fab, Baye. No contest.
Ennis was a big hit. Roberson is a productive player as a sophomore. BJ will be a very productive college player. Buss was brought in for guard depth he's been that. You obviously do not understand why Chino is hear. One could maybe argue Buss was a miss or that Roberson and BJ haven't been as productive as the staff expected but to say they were complete misses is flat out wrong. We are not talking about Josh Wright type of players here and they all have 2 years of eligibility left.
10) The reality is that it will be our returning players who control our destiny next year, and not the freshmen.
Mostly correct but the freshman will play a key roll at least at the 5 spot and will provide much needed talented depth for practice and supporting cast to the returners which we have severely lacked this season.



Go Orange

Other than the above in red you had some great stuff in this post that I mainly agree with.
Edit: You will have to hit expand to read most of my responses. Sorry.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

#5. No. You can't say they whiffed and then list 2 exceptions. Way too early to judge the others and BJ doesn't belong in that group anyway.

I agree with you , shouldn't call this recruiting class a bust yet. Especially when you consider the majority of that class recruits were brought in as developmental recruits, brought in what appeared to be buried behind upperclassmen. I believe because of uniques circumstances (DC2, McC) our need to use them is slightly ahead of schedule. Way too early. I suspect we get excellent jr and sr years out of BJ and Roberson.

 

[Brooky03]

I don't necessarily agree with all the realities but I like the spirit!

 

[bballbeadle]

Other than the above in red you had some great stuff in this post that I mainly agree with.
Edit: You will have to hit expand to read most of my responses. Sorry.

Jordoo, you seem convinced that the NCAA was getting ready to hand down two years. I cannot wait until the story behind the story comes out!

 

[jordoo]

Jordoo, you seem convinced that the NCAA was getting ready to hand down two years. I cannot wait until the story behind the story comes out!

It probably never will. Likely the NCAA reports crimes that it feels match a one year ban, maybe slap some other minor things on us (that we appeal and possibly file litigation on and likely see go away) and then move on. It benefits neither side to go transparent with the whole process and that would be disastrous for the NCAA.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Could Rak try to sue the NCAA for possible lost wages due to not being able to get exposure playing in the ACC tournament and NCAA/NIT?

 

[UnderHisOwnPower]

Reality (in my mind of course)


5) The reality is that our coaches are great, but whiffed on the sophomore class. Outside Ennis, of course, and Roberson I guess. You cannot win consistently if you have an entire recruiting class just not producing for the team. It doesn't matter what these guys "can" be. BJ, Ron, & Chino have not helped us nearly enough. And they have all had opportunities. Our last class that big was CJ, Dion, Fab, Baye. No contest.


Go Orange

Tired of hearing the grief that is directed at the Sophs. The 4 year starter at PG left of his own accord, good luck to him. You have a 1,000 point guy in BJ emerging before our eyes, and Tyler will average a double/double as a Sr. 2 great, great program guys gaining invaluable experience this year that will propel them to great careers. It is ridiculous to portray them negatively. That is the real reality, and every recruiting class that results in that kind of production is a success.

 

[dasher]

Could Rak try to sue the NCAA for possible lost wages due to not being able to get exposure playing in the ACC tournament and NCAA/NIT?

The NCAA didn't ban us from the NCAA tournament this year. The school did.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The NCAA didn't ban us from the NCAA tournament this year. The school did.

Duh.

 

[CorduroyG]

It comes down to reality and that's fine with me cause I've let it slide.