Class of 2024 SG Jalil Bethea (PA) Portal from Alabama

[Sherman20]

Out of the following players.
JJ
Cuffe
Bell
Moore

Name the one player that actually won games for us, could get a basket when we needed one?

JJ. Yes he has flaws. So did Judah. But they could get a bucket when we needed one.
The three guys who are leaving are all average at best substitute players. You can't win games with Bell or Cuffe. They are not very good. Moore is a shooter who has the potential to be a decent but he is two seasons and a ton of work away.
We aren't losing anything that can't be replaced.
JJ for all his faults is a baller.
Keep Donnie
Add three solid portal players.
1,3,5 and we are a much better team.

This is correct. If we bring in a PG who can shoot and an experienced athletic 3-point marksman at the 3, JJ can reduce his volume on 3s and focus on driving the ball and scoring or kicking out to shooters. The big question with JJ is, can he improve his defense? If we finally hire an assistant coach who can really teach team man to man, hopefully JJ finally learns to defend and improves significantly on that end of the court.

 

[Sherman20]

The entire St. John’s and Arkansas game was iso ball yesterday. When teams can’t shoot, that’s how they play. JJ’s strength is not shooting threes, but few players in the country can put as much pressure on the rim as JJ. You may not like his style, but he has a skill that few can do. Was the team makeup bad for JJ? Probably, but if you surround JJ with a couple of shooters he will practically be unguardable attacking the rim. JJ’s problem this year was his usage was too high and he took too many threes. If he isn’t relied on to shoot threes his efficiency will go way up. His mid-range game could be very good. His defense is not consistent, but I watched St. Johns guards get torched the entire game off the dribble. Arkansas‘s guards were beaton the entire game, but they had shot blockers who covered up for them. SU needs to build a roster that can play to all of their players strengths and help to cover up their weaknesses. Trying to find five perfect players is not going to happen.

This post is entirely correct about JJ, and I suspect this is what the coaches are hoping they can achieve with better roster balance. We’ll see. I don’t have much faith in our coaches and their offensive and defensive vision (or lack thereof). But having JJ on the roster is better than not, as long as we can surround him with much better pieces, so he can play more efficiently.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Out of the following players.
JJ
Cuffe
Bell
Moore

Name the one player that actually won games for us, could get a basket when we needed one?

JJ. Yes he has flaws. So did Judah. But they could get a bucket when we needed one.
The three guys who are leaving are all average at best substitute players. You can't win games with Bell or Cuffe. They are not very good. Moore is a shooter who has the potential to be a decent but he is two seasons and a ton of work away.
We aren't losing anything that can't be replaced.
JJ for all his faults is a baller.
Keep Donnie
Add three solid portal players.
1,3,5 and we are a much better team.

Not this most recent season, but the one before that, Bell made a lot of big shots in our wins to bring us back or sustain leads.

 

[Hopkins16]

The entire St. John’s and Arkansas game was iso ball yesterday. When teams can’t shoot, that’s how they play. JJ’s strength is not shooting threes, but few players in the country can put as much pressure on the rim as JJ. You may not like his style, but he has a skill that few can do. Was the team makeup bad for JJ? Probably, but if you surround JJ with a couple of shooters he will practically be unguardable attacking the rim. JJ’s problem this year was his usage was too high and he took too many threes. If he isn’t relied on to shoot threes his efficiency will go way up. His mid-range game could be very good. His defense is not consistent, but I watched St. Johns guards get torched the entire game off the dribble. Arkansas‘s guards were beaton the entire game, but they had shot blockers who covered up for them. SU needs to build a roster that can play to all of their players strengths and help to cover up their weaknesses. Trying to find five perfect players is not going to happen.

I fully agree and hope JJ stays. I’ve said all season that the team is not constructed well and guys are asked to do more than they are capable of doing. Carlos was horrible but would have done better if he was a backup playing 10 to 15 mpg. JJ would have thrived if Bell didn’t disappear all year and Freeman spaced the floor with better 3 point shooting. Hopefully, the GM and Red, knowing in the next week or so what we have returning along with the incoming freshmen, can target and execute our needs from the portal.

 

[kcsu]

JJ was the only perimeter player that teams had to game plan for. Too many people are underestimating how big a role JJ plays. He has some weaknesses, but he’s the only one on this team that can create his own shot and can get to the rim. He would be a high priority for a lot of teams in the portal. He’s a top five scorer in the ACC with eligibility left and fans want to run him off. People think we can just pick up the phone and get a better player. Delusional!

Thank you. JJ and Lampkin were the only go to players on the roster once Donnie was out. Period.

 

[kcsu]

Not this most recent season, but the one before that, Bell made a lot of big shots in our wins to bring us back or sustain leads.

Bell is a good shooter who couldn't defend or rebound. He is a good bench piece. Not a starter. Hopefully he improves at his next stop.

 

[kcsu]

This is correct. If we bring in a PG who can shoot and an experienced athletic 3-point marksman at the 3, JJ can reduce his volume on 3s and focus on driving the ball and scoring or kicking out to shooters. The big question with JJ is, can he improve his defense? If we finally hire an assistant coach who can really teach team man to man, hopefully JJ finally learns to defend and improves significantly on that end of the court.

Anyone can improve their D. Coaching matters but effort matters more. It's not like these kids haven't been playing D since they were 7 years old. They have been guarding someone in 1000s of games. It's actually hilarious to read " we need a defensive genius " to coach these kids D. If you've ever played then you know D comes down to a few basic things. It's not complicated.
It starts with good scouting which every team has. Then it's match ups. Then it's takeaway what each player wants.
Move them off their spot
Switch or not
Under or over picks
Take away right or left.
Its simple to teach. The execution isn't so much about knowing what to do it's about having the ability
Size speed length height to do it. Mostly it's about busting your balls and a mindset. Effort, hustle, balls to the walls want to.
Our players know what to do they lack the toughness and grit to do it.
That is were the Coaching comes in. It's called motivation desire . The x and o part is easy.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Guys we were what 14-19 team this year what difference does it make who we really lose?

bc red takes 5 months to get his team gelling even with players he is familiar with

i shudder to think of how long he'd take with a totally new roster

 

[ezbeezy214]

He's gonna be like Bugs Bunny vs. the Gashouse Gorillas -

PG - Luke Fennell
SG - Luke Fennell
SF - Luke Fennell
PF - Luke Fennell
C - Luke Fennell

WE ALL DREAM OF A TEAM OF LUKE FENNELLS, A TEAM OF LUKE FENNELLS

 

[cali315phan]

I would bet on bethea not coming to cuse

 

[TinyManInside]

JJ was the only perimeter player that teams had to game plan for. Too many people are underestimating how big a role JJ plays. He has some weaknesses, but he’s the only one on this team that can create his own shot and can get to the rim. He would be a high priority for a lot of teams in the portal. He’s a top five scorer in the ACC with eligibility left and fans want to run him off. People think we can just pick up the phone and get a better player. Delusional!

In the last 4 days I’ve seen about 40 guards who are better than JJ. He’s a top 5 scorer in the ACC because he was given free rein to shoot as much as he wants.

Almost every player in D1 who shot as many 3s as JJ made more than he did.

I’d like a shooting guard that can actually, you know, shoot…

 

[orangefog]

In the last 4 days I’ve seen about 40 guards who are better than JJ. He’s a top 5 scorer in the ACC because he was given free rein to shoot as much as he wants.

Almost every player in D1 who shot as many 3s as JJ made more than he did.

I’d like a shooting guard that can actually, you know, shoot…

IT'S IN THE FREAKING NAME!!!!!

 

[dasher]

In the last 4 days I’ve seen about 40 guards who are better than JJ. He’s a top 5 scorer in the ACC because he was given free rein to shoot as much as he wants.

Almost every player in D1 who shot as many 3s as JJ made more than he did.

I’d like a shooting guard that can actually, you know, shoot…

Well, he is going to be back so...

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

Well, he is going to be back so...

He and Freeman?

 

[dasher]

He and Freeman?

Unless he wows the pros, I believe so

 

[orangefog]

Well, he is going to be back so...

JJ is a great athlete. Hopefully he spends the offseason working on his jumpshot and his left hand.

 

[dasher]

JJ is a great athlete. Hopefully he spends the offseason working on his jumpshot and his left hand.

And his defense. The guy I'm hearing at the pt, he reminds me of...JJ

 

[orangefog]

And his defense. The guy I'm hearing at the pt, he reminds me of...JJ

Absolutely, of course, defense. The guy you are hearing for PG is also a weak defender?

 

[hoopsupstate]

And his defense. The guy I'm hearing at the pt, he reminds me of...JJ

Will we even know this kid?

 

[Cusefan0307]

And his defense. The guy I'm hearing at the pt, he reminds me of...JJ

Why do you have to do this to us. Going to guess it’s the Bonnie’s point guard. That’s a huge friggin mistake if that’s the route we go. I don’t even have to hear the name of the guy.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I could see Duke’s Caleb Foster entering the portal with the Boozer boys coming in. He’s was out of the rotation until Proctor got hurt. He has been getting regular minutes lately. His game is a little unsettled.

 

[W'boro'Cuse315]

And his defense. The guy I'm hearing at the pt, he reminds me of...JJ

So your physical therapist has been your insider source all these years?

 

[orangefog]

Why do you have to do this to us. Going to guess it’s the Bonnie’s point guard. That’s a huge friggin mistake if that’s the route we go and I don’t even have to hear the name of the guy.

Either Red nails this roster and we win enough to keep his job, which presumably is make the tournament. Or, the roster is a mess and Red is gone. Which is better?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Either Red nails this roster and we win enough to keep his job, which presumably is make the tournament. Or, the roster is a mess and Red is gone. Which is better?

Fair point! Easy to lose games with bad defense and terrible shooters.

 

[dasher]

So your physical therapist has been your insider source all these years?

I must admit, I don't get it.