Red opens up about new Syracuse players:

[General20]

And given last year's defensive struggles, it is difficult to pinpoint whether the defensive shortcomings were due to personnel or due to flawed coaching / defensive concept. Probably a little from column A and a little from column B.

Agree that the approach will be to solidify the base concept, with that being the practice emphasis. Difficult to envision that they would seek to implement an entirely new core defensive concept for that reason.

Not suggesting that we WON'T press, or seek to implement that package, just that the concentration will be elsewhere.

Definitely fair to question the coaching, the verdict is 100% out on this staff, but last years defensive struggles were definitely a player problem. None of those guys were good defensively. It was known going into the season. Good coaching doesnt usually turn bad defenders into good defenders. Look at the Knicks. Thibodeau has an earned reputation as a good defensive coach, but when Brunson and KAT played the Knicks were poor defensively. Nothing could be done about it, those guys just aren't good defenders. Their offense was good enough so Knicks were still a 3 seed that made it to the conference finals and I think that is what SU was going for last year, but Freeman and Westey missing the year hurt and Bell regressing to a back up was pretty much a death blow. Expectations would have been rock bottom going into last year had we known about those 3 guys going into the season.

I dont think next year's team has the makings of a great defensive team either. They need to be good enough on D and legitimately good on offense to be successful. If they are they will be a fun team to watch.

 

[RF2044]

Definitely fair to question the coaching, the verdict is 100% out on this staff, but last years defensive struggles were definitely a player problem. None of those guys were good defensively. It was known going into the season. Good coaching doesnt usually turn bad defenders into good defenders. Look at the Knicks. Thibodeau has an earned reputation as a good defensive coach, but when Brunson and KAT played the Knicks were poor defensively. Nothing could be done about it, those guys just aren't good defenders. Their offense was good enough so Knicks were still a 3 seed that made it to the conference finals and I think that is what SU was going for last year, but Freeman and Westey missing the year hurt and Bell regressing to a back up was pretty much a death blow. Expectations would have been rock bottom going into last year had we known about those 3 guys going into the season.

I dont think next year's team has the makings of a great defensive team either. They need to be good enough on D and legitimately good on offense to be successful. If they are they will be a fun team to watch.

Agree about the players, but I also think that coaching was a factor. Our systems on both sides of the ball seem so basic and underdeveloped, it is hard not to see the correlation there, even with the player limitations.

 

[Owens guy]

I have no idea what kind of team we will have next season and I'm limiting my optimism until the season starts but I'm so, so thankful that the roster has almost completely been turned over.

Last season was the only time I've EVER not looked forward to watching a Syracuse basketball game and I hope it never happens again. I hope my enjoyment comes back next season!

 

[pearl31]

Agree about the players, but I also think that coaching was a factor. Our systems on both sides of the ball seem so basic and underdeveloped, it is hard not to see the correlation there, even with the player limitations.

Right, and even if we accept the premise that it was a players issue and not an in-game coaching issue, and "it was known before the season" regarding defense - a huge part of the HC's job is to assembling the players to be a team capable of winning games and playing "meaningful games in March"

 

[Niastri]

Right, and even if we accept the premise that it was a players issue and not an in-game coaching issue, and "it was known before the season" regarding defense - a huge part of the HC's job is to assembling the players to be a team capable of winning games and playing "meaningful games in March"

Nobody went into the season knowing that Westry and McLeod were basically out for the season, that Freeman was going to be out for the season after fourteen games, and Bell was going to regress from a borderline star shooter to a guy who was only playable because the team was so bad…

If we had known that going in, nobody would have felt good about our chances.

For instance, going into the season, I was the biggest Highlander fanboy around, but he was rarely healthy enough to play, and less effective than expected when he could play.

 

[007]

Agree about the players, but I also think that coaching was a factor. Our systems on both sides of the ball seem so basic and underdeveloped, it is hard not to see the correlation there, even with the player limitations.

Coaching was a factor. You don't have to be an above average defender to know to fight over the top of screens, or to know when or how to provide help, or to be in position, or to not turn your back on the ball, or to communicate on the floor, or to stay locked in, or to give maximum effort...ad nauseam.

To be clear, I am not discounting talent, athleticism, quickness, length as factors. But coaching and holding players accountable, to my eye anyway, was a factor.

 

[McCuse]

I have no idea what kind of team we will have next season and I'm limiting my optimism until the season starts but I'm so, so thankful that the roster has almost completely been turned over.

Last season was the only time I've EVER not looked forward to watching a Syracuse basketball game and I hope it never happens again. I hope my enjoyment comes back next season!

Last year was the first time I actually changed the channel on an SU basketball game. It felt weird but I couldn't watch anymore that game. Hoping it's the last time I do that as well.

 

[pearl31]

Nobody went into the season knowing that Westry and McLeod were basically out for the season, that Freeman was going to be out for the season after fourteen games, and Bell was going to regress from a borderline star shooter to a guy who was only playable because the team was so bad…

If we had known that going in, nobody works have felt good about our chances.

I was the biggest Highlander fanboy around, but he was rarely healthy enough to play, and less effective than expected when he could play.

Yep for sure, especially if you were one of the folks (I was, admittedly) expecting a healthy/capable Westry. But still, even with that issue of missing key personnel at different points - the glaring lack of defensive fundamentals (as 007 references above), the mystifying substitutions, the starting games seemingly unprepared... that team, especially considering how weak the ACC was, should have still been .500 at the very worst

 

[Niastri]

Coaching was a factor. You don't have to be an above average defender to know to fight over the top of screens, or to know when or how to provide help, or to be in position, or to not turn your back on the ball, or to communicate on the floor, or to stay locked in, or to give maximum effort...ad nauseam.

To be clear, I am not discounting talent, athleticism, quickness, length as factors. But coaching and holding players accountable, to my eye anyway, was a factor.

I agree, the coaching was a factor. But we did see Freeman improve tremendously in a short period of time.

He was completely clueless in help defense to start the year. It was like he didn’t even know he was supposed to rotate to protect the basket. Yet, by the time he was injured, he was rotating well, at least some of the time.

That’s coaching.

 

[RF2044]

Yep for sure, especially if you were one of the folks (I was, admittedly) expecting a healthy/capable Westry. But still, even with that issue of missing key personnel at different points - the glaring lack of defensive fundamentals (as 007 references above), the mystifying substitutions, the starting games seemingly unprepared... that team, especially considering how weak the ACC was, should have still been .500 at the very worst

That's a salient point. In what was perhaps the worst ACC field in at least a decade, and probably longer, we finished near the bottom and were in danger of missing the ACCT.

Normally, in a down conference, you can "load up" on wins since teams aren't as good, and we couldn't. And we benefitted frankly from playing a beneficially imbalanced amount of teams who were in the bottom half.

It was ugly, beyond just the W/L record.

 

[cusefan88]

They barely beat some crappy teams to start last season, winning the opening games with ease would be nice to see.

 

[Todoubled23]

 

[IthacaMatt]

The way I see it, we don’t really have a point guard when George is on the bench. Watching Fennell play, he’s the closest we have, but he’s really more of a combo guard. We know what Starling brings as a combo…

The best way to minimize damage when George is resting is to have them both out there. Starling in particular is good in the open court, where he can go straight to the basket.

Also, we have the bodies to play pressing full court from time to time. White, Kyle, Souare, maybe Betsey and Fennell all have good builds for press defense, long limbs and quick feet.

Combining the lack of a true point guard, and the physical characteristics of our guys, I think pressing when George is resting is a strong option. It also can give short minutes to guys that otherwise won’t play very much that have a big impact. If you’re playing 10 minutes a game, but the team is pressing full court for 8 of them, you really feel like you did something…

Fennell is more of a PG than many of the people we have played in that position in the last 10 years.

 

[justgold315]

View attachment 252594

Should have went with the script. I'm guessing you're saving it for 2027

 

[Scooch]

Good article.

No excuses this year, talent has been upgraded.

I completely agree with there being no excuses.

I’m not sure if we have enough talent. I think there are holes on this roster that might prove problematic.

However… this roster is precisely what Red wanted. That’s why there are no excuses.

If the talent doesn’t pan out there can’t be any contrarian takes about how we lost out on so-and-so because of NIL. Or any of the other excuses people lobbed out over the last 12 months.

If we’re lamenting the flaws that make us a bubble team or worse then it is ALL on Red.

 

[Niastri]

I completely agree with there being no excuses.

I’m not sure if we have enough talent. I think there are holes on this roster that might prove problematic.

However… this roster is precisely what Red wanted. That’s why there are no excuses.

If the talent doesn’t pan out there can’t be any contrarian takes about how we lost out on so-and-so because of NIL. Or any of the other excuses people lobbed out over the last 12 months.

If we’re lamenting the flaws that make us a bubble team or worse then it is ALL on Red.

What holes do you see?

 

[Orangezoo]

I completely agree with there being no excuses.

I’m not sure if we have enough talent. I think there are holes on this roster that might prove problematic.

However… this roster is precisely what Red wanted. That’s why there are no excuses.

If the talent doesn’t pan out there can’t be any contrarian takes about how we lost out on so-and-so because of NIL. Or any of the other excuses people lobbed out over the last 12 months.

If we’re lamenting the flaws that make us a bubble team or worse then it is ALL on Red.

There might be 5-7 rosters without a major question (or less) heading into next year. Then you have another 40-45 with possible holes but that are put together well with adequate combinations of talent and athleticism. After that it begins to tail off quickly in that there will be some surprises but all those teams have real reasons based on roster makeup to expect challenges especially in the power 4.

Last year we were clearly in that last bucket and down the list. I’d argue this year without a doubt we are in that second tier and on paper competitive with any of those teams right now from a roster standpoint. It’s a good roster that any P4 coach that’s worth their chops should be able to win a lot of games with, certainly enough to make the tourney. Thus this is where there are no more excuses.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I completely agree with there being no excuses.

I’m not sure if we have enough talent. I think there are holes on this roster that might prove problematic.

However… this roster is precisely what Red wanted. That’s why there are no excuses.

If the talent doesn’t pan out there can’t be any contrarian takes about how we lost out on so-and-so because of NIL. Or any of the other excuses people lobbed out over the last 12 months.

If we’re lamenting the flaws that make us a bubble team or worse then it is ALL on Red.

I think you can make an argument center isn’t as good as we would hope. The rest of the guys are fine. I wouldn’t have kept JJ, but that’s Reds decision. The point guard is a 1000% upgrade.

 

[Orangezoo]

I think you can make an argument center isn’t as good as we would hope. The rest of the guys are fine. I wouldn’t have kept JJ, but that’s Reds decision. The point guard is a 1000% upgrade.

JJ is an interesting decision when you consider you have several guys who could play that spot, obviously two that are inexperienced freshmen but still. End of the day when local talent that’s top 50 or better is in play the staff seems to feel it’s better to be a program that has continued to work to keep them close to home vs pushing them out.

I know some look at how good of a kid and how motivated he is to help the program in his backyard but these days those things I’m afraid just don’t matter quite as much

 

[007]

I think you can make an argument center isn’t as good as we would hope. The rest of the guys are fine. I wouldn’t have kept JJ, but that’s Reds decision. The point guard is a 1000% upgrade.

Obviously, there is a substantial difference between Red's assessment of JJ's ability to lead this team and the opinion of some posters. I can tell you with certainty that keeping JJ on board for his Sr season was priority #1 for the off season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and how "opinions" may or may not change, now that the roster seems to be better constructed to take advantage of JJ's strengths.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Obviously, there is a substantial difference between Red's assessment of JJ's ability to lead this team and the opinion of some posters. I can tell you with certainty that keeping JJ on board for his Sr season was priority #1 for the off season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and how "opinions" may or may not change, now that the roster seems to be better constructed to take advantage of JJ's strengths.

I hope so. He shot 33% from Jan 29th on. His best stretch of play was immediately following his return from injury. He basically lost the SMU and VT games single-handedly down the stretch.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Obviously, there is a substantial difference between Red's assessment of JJ's ability to lead this team and the opinion of some posters. I can tell you with certainty that keeping JJ on board for his Sr season was priority #1 for the off season. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and how "opinions" may or may not change, now that the roster seems to be better constructed to take advantage of JJ's strengths.

I will say I’m 100% guilty of not wanting JJ to be the #1 option this year. 3rd option is where I saw him after Freeman and now that we have George. My opinion changed tho when we locked up Freeman and JJ as an early package at what I am reasonably sure is somewhat of a discount given they did not even enter the portal.

If we were gonna keep JJ this is how it needed to go down.

Also one thing I really want to see is how JJ holds up for a whole season and if he can get through healthy and not playing more mins than he should. At ND he was thrown to the wolves with Breys last year and got banged up and then last year with his wrist. Also not to be forgotten just how many hard fouls and nasty falls he took, I think he landed on his head 2-3 times last season. Not ideal for our only scoring threat most games.

 

[cuseincincy]

I will say I’m 100% guilty of not wanting JJ to be the #1 option this year. 3rd option is where I saw him after Freeman and now that we have George. My opinion changed tho when we locked up Freeman and JJ as an early package at what I am reasonably sure is somewhat of a discount given they did not even enter the portal.

If we were gonna keep JJ this is how it needed to go down.

Also one thing I really want to see is how JJ holds up for a whole season and if he can get through healthy and not playing more mins than he should. At ND he was thrown to the wolves with Breys last year and got banged up and then last year with his wrist. Also not to be forgotten just how many hard fouls and nasty falls he took, I think he landed on his head 2-3 times last season. Not ideal for our only scoring threat most games.

Without defending JJ for last season I will say that there were lots of JJ type players playing in the S16 and F4 last season (and most). If he is one of 8+ players with a common goal I think he will be a great asset for this team. How Red handles JJ's role in the offense is critical to team success in my opinion. If teams have 2 or more other players to worry about it could free JJ up not being the focal point.

 

[djcon57]

What holes do you see?

The starting center averaged 3 pts and 2 boards a game.
The backups are projects

I get the obvious upside and I'm optimistic about them, but I don't think anyone would be shocked if we are halfway through the season and bemoaning the fact that we didn't get an experienced center.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Without defending JJ for last season I will say that there were lots of JJ type players playing in the S16 and F4 last season (and most). If he is one of 8+ players with a common goal I think he will be a great asset for this team. How Red handles JJ's role in the offense is critical to team success in my opinion. If teams have 2 or more other players to worry about it could free JJ up not being the focal point.

Agree. Defensively who knows. Not going to even pretend to opine on how we’ll look on D because I don’t think anyone knows.

On offense though there is no reason for JJ to ever take a 3 unless he’s wide open by a mile. Drive and get to the line or drive and kick is the name of the game. Kiyan when he gets in should be taking the 3’s, he’s got the cleaner moves and release from distance. If he’s hot then it’s a win and if he’s not then we have other options too