So Far We Have the #9 Portal Class...

[Marroniac]

Noted over-exaggerator Jon Rothstein lol.

It's nice to get national recognition but rankings don't matter until the games start.

I refuse to get excited about someone ranking us #43 when we used to be ranked 4 or 3.

 

[Melancer46]

I can't remember the last time we were showing up in his daily top 45.

It was a few years back when we had a losing record for the first time in forever. Buddy's senior year. We were in the 30s that year.

 

[FasterCuse]

not the class I pictured we would have at this point but it could be worse. think gmac needs to figure out how to recruit with the big boys. maybe Fran give some pointers.

Not sure this is squarely on Gerry's shoulders. He just doesn't have the NIL to compete with these other schools. Even though our NIL increased it was outpaced by many others. This would be any coaches problem that came here, and why this job wasn't attractive to many.

I think Gerry will make the most with what he's got, and the coaching staff is miles better than what we've had the last couple of years. However, I still think this is a team that is going to be on the last 4 in/last 4 out bubble all season, which is an improvement. Not sure we'll ever see a perennial top 25 team here again with the current NIL structure.

 

[Scotch]

The talent is underwhelming but they'll win a few more games just by playing smarter and giving better effort. I'd expect their fundamentals to be a little better too

We will also play defense. I think most are concerned with talent in terms of offensive firepower - me included. But this group can defend.

 

[Scotch]

not the class I pictured we would have at this point but it could be worse. think gmac needs to figure out how to recruit with the big boys. maybe Fran give some pointers.

Right, in the age of NIL it’s a recruiting problem. Good god some of these takes.

 

[Orangezoo]

not the class I pictured we would have at this point but it could be worse. think gmac needs to figure out how to recruit with the big boys. maybe Fran give some pointers.

it’s a better class than you are giving it credit for having been put together in 3 weeks. HS recruiting will be part of the equation for next year as I assume euro scouting will too.

 

[Orangezoo]

Not sure this is squarely on Gerry's shoulders. He just doesn't have the NIL to compete with these other schools. Even though our NIL increased it was outpaced by many others. This would be any coaches problem that came here, and why this job wasn't attractive to many.

I think Gerry will make the most with what he's got, and the coaching staff is miles better than what we've had the last couple of years. However, I still think this is a team that is going to be on the last 4 in/last 4 out bubble all season, which is an improvement. Not sure we'll ever see a perennial top 25 team here again with the current NIL structure.

NIL could be better but it’s been effective enough so far honestly.

 

[CardiacCuse]

Not sure this is squarely on Gerry's shoulders. He just doesn't have the NIL to compete with these other schools. Even though our NIL increased it was outpaced by many others. This would be any coaches problem that came here, and why this job wasn't attractive to many.

I think Gerry will make the most with what he's got, and the coaching staff is miles better than what we've had the last couple of years. However, I still think this is a team that is going to be on the last 4 in/last 4 out bubble all season, which is an improvement. Not sure we'll ever see a perennial top 25 team here again with the current NIL structure.

players go to schools with track records of success...recent results matter way more than you are letting on here

it aint just pay the price and get the player - the players want to go to winning schools!

they dont only go to duke for the money - they go to win

i 100% guarantee you if SU starts winning...all of a sudden the top recruits will be options again...its really that simple

 

[GHLF]

NIL could be better but it’s been effective enough so far honestly.

Look at the Transfer portal classes as it relates to our peers, namely the Atlantic Coast Conference. I would definitely say we are in the top 3rd. I also like what the player development analysts are saying about our class being very calculated and planned. Definitively purposeful. Pitt seemingly has honestly a very good haul as well. At the very top you can tell there is massive dollars being pushed around. I think we did do very well and I believe our class is much better than it was last year overall, once again overall. and I believe we are going to get more out of the group for many reasons it will be required and there wasn't one definitive major star as it relates to NIL. That might be to our advantage in house as it relates to competition, cohesiveness and pushing each other. I think we've done pretty well and remember what GM said we have to at least get in the game year one, What did he mean by that? He knows he needs to at least win and compete at a relatively high level without maybe winning at all. I would have to say top 3rd. Then go from there, I think we are seeing a plan.

 

[PoppyHart]

Which rankings service(s) are viewed as more reliable/accurate? On3? ESPN? 247? Others?

 

[LAorange44]

players go to schools with track records of success...recent results matter way more than you are letting on here

it aint just pay the price and get the player - the players want to go to winning schools!

they dont only go to duke for the money - they go to win

i 100% guarantee you if SU starts winning...all of a sudden the top recruits will be options again...its really that simple

Whenever Paul S and Steve argue how strong our brand is, I always point out that your brand is what your last 7 years say it is. Kids today don’t care about Devo, Tyus, CJ Fair, Triche, Waiters, Lydon, and all the other recent greats from the glory days. For many recruits, we are a tier 3 team consistently on ACC Network, not the premier program on Big Monday competing for seeding and national titles. Winning consistently changes everything. Kids have very short memories.

 

[Orangezoo]

Which rankings service(s) are viewed as more reliable/accurate? On3? ESPN? 247? Others?

None of the above honestly. It’s a crapshoot. The top 3-5 are unlikely to be a miss but outside of that…

 

[Goin' Deep]

Whenever Paul S and Steve argue how strong our brand is, I always point out that your brand is what your last 7 years say it is. Kids today don’t care about Devo, Tyus, CJ Fair, Triche, Waiters, Lydon, and all the other recent greats from the glory days. For many recruits, we are a tier 3 team consistently on ACC Network, not the premier program on Big Monday competing for seeding and national titles. Winning consistently changes everything. Kids have very short memories.

Cuse was barely .500 over the past 5 years. Attendance became a disaster. So GMAC and co. should be able to put together a "top 20" Portal class? I mean we have a new top tier AD too...come on!!! What's the hold up?

All I KNOW IS... This year's team will be better in February than November. And recruiting, portal and high school, will be much better for year 2. Cuse participates in '28 March Madness.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

That duke game was a one off perfect storm. Duke came in looking towards round 2 and Siena was ready to play. If that game was played 10 times duke wins all 10 by an average of 20 points. Duke shut them down most of the 2nd half.

So, Gerry outcoached Scheyer, who didn’t have his team ready. Sounds good for us

 

[Scooch]

So, Gerry outcoached Scheyer, who didn’t have his team ready. Sounds good for us

The question is, why didn't Gerry outcoach Indiana? The Hoosiers were pretty mediocre yet led Siena by 26 at the half.

For that matter, why didn't he outcoach the Bonnies, Colgate, Vermont, Iona, Merrimack (x2), Sacred Heart, St. Peter's, Quinnipiac, and Fairfield?

Siena had a wonderful 32 minutes against Duke. They should all be proud of that.

But if people are going to point to one close loss as "proof" of something, then it's strange to ignore the other 11 losses. Many of which were to vastly inferior teams compared to Duke.

 

[Scooch]

BTW, I'm not suggesting Gerry can't be a successful coach at SU. I hope to hell he is wildly successful.

Just noting that folks aren't being particularly intellectually honest when they hold up one game as "proof".

 

[bnoro]

Which rankings service(s) are viewed as more reliable/accurate? On3? ESPN? 247? Others?

Any service that isn't beholden to subscribers will be more reliable. But none are reliable at all. Its a money grab.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Not sure this is squarely on Gerry's shoulders. He just doesn't have the NIL to compete with these other schools.

He is the head coach. EVERYTHING is on his shoulders. That's what being the head coach means.

 

[Orangezoo]

That duke game was a one off perfect storm. Duke came in looking towards round 2 and Siena was ready to play. If that game was played 10 times duke wins all 10 by an average of 20 points. Duke shut them down most of the 2nd half.

That Duke game people miss the point on. It was the preparation and execution of a game plan that is what matters. This just a few days removed from great preparation and execution in the conference tourney championship. The opponent showed he and his staff and punch above their weight but no one is saying he would go out and have Siena beat the top 10 in a round robin.

What mattered more is that he brought that staff that was able to scheme and execute like they did against the best of their peers and then a top D1 program and then he brought that staff with him and added two more really important additions included one with a long resume and another up and coming to pair with his own staff. People take the top line of all this with Gerry makes tourney and almost beat Duke with 5 players and miss the facts of how it happened. They developed players over two years after effectively evaluating talent and when injuries added a lot of adversity they found solutions to keep winning.

Now with him on staff I don’t mind a staff that goes out and is bringing in players that weren’t pre scouted and obsessed over by the fanbase that chases names they know. Could that be a bad decision and not work out? It absolutely could. So far though the process of how he handled things the previous two years, the recognition of staffing and NIL needs and the recognition in doing to the leg work as a staff to go after the right guys with productivity, size, potential and fit not to mention a winning back ground for most is all a positive to date. It won’t be a win or a successful hire until that first slate of games where you see a product that makes it clear we are getting what we wanted as a fanbase again.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The question is, why didn't Gerry outcoach Indiana? The Hoosiers were pretty mediocre yet led Siena by 26 at the half.

For that matter, why didn't he outcoach the Bonnies, Colgate, Vermont, Iona, Merrimack (x2), Sacred Heart, St. Peter's, Quinnipiac, and Fairfield?

Siena had a wonderful 32 minutes against Duke. They should all be proud of that.

But if people are going to point to one close loss as "proof" of something, then it's strange to ignore the other 11 losses. Many of which were to vastly inferior teams compared to Duke.

What would we consider to be Gerry's best win as head coach?

We will likely need him to reset that bar over and over again in the OOC part of the schedule if we hope to make the tournament.

 

[Orangezoo]

Not sure if Duke will be better than Louisville this year. The Cards are having a nice off season

Maybe. Shelstad was not the right PG for them. They have a bunch of big names but it’s a lot to fit together.

The way you build a super expensive team - look instead at St John’s. 4 or 5 now overseas guys in their core 8 so far. When comparing the two that’s money more well spent come next March I bet. The two additions we added if successful over the next year or two are hopefully our doorway into a pipeline every year. Paired with working the talent with the programs we retain strong relationships with in the Northeast and DMV.

 

[Nicknack]

The question is, why didn't Gerry outcoach Indiana? The Hoosiers were pretty mediocre yet led Siena by 26 at the half.

For that matter, why didn't he outcoach the Bonnies, Colgate, Vermont, Iona, Merrimack (x2), Sacred Heart, St. Peter's, Quinnipiac, and Fairfield?

Siena had a wonderful 32 minutes against Duke. They should all be proud of that.

But if people are going to point to one close loss as "proof" of something, then it's strange to ignore the other 11 losses. Many of which were to vastly inferior teams compared to Duke.

Yes, I agree with all of that. As much as I enjoyed watching (and was rooting hard) for Siena to pull the upset, and as much as I respect the Siena players and coaching staff for almost doing it, nothing was proven by a close loss. Duke was limping along in the tourney and took Siena lightly.

 

[721Comstock]

What would we consider to be Gerry's best win as head coach?

We will likely need him to reset that bar over and over again in the OOC part of the schedule if we hope to make the tournament.

The 1st half of the Dook game!!
DUH!!!!

But seriously, maybe beating regular season conf champs Merrimack in their conf tourney game?

Otherwise….

 

[Orangezoo]

Yes, I agree with all of that. As much as I enjoyed watching (and was rooting hard) for Siena to pull the upset, and as much as I respect the Siena players and coaching staff for almost doing it, nothing was proven by a close loss. Duke was limping along in the tourney and took Siena lightly.

USF went on an impressive run in the American and then underwhelmed for 35 minutes against a undermanned Louisville team. BH isn’t proven or a fraud because of it. Gerry isn’t proven or a fraud because they did what they did or because Duke took them for granted.

All this stuff is fluid in the moment subject to further evidence. Schertz now will have more money but be without Avila. He could see his SL team lose 13 games this year and everyone is shocked.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

That Duke game people miss the point on. It was the preparation and execution of a game plan that is what matters. This just a few days removed from great preparation and execution in the conference tourney championship. The opponent showed he and his staff and punch above their weight but no one is saying he would go out and have Siena beat the top 10 in a round robin.

What mattered more is that he brought that staff that was able to scheme and execute like they did against the best of their peers and then a top D1 program and then he brought that staff with him and added two more really important additions included one with a long resume and another up and coming to pair with his own staff. People take the top line of all this with Gerry makes tourney and almost beat Duke with 5 players and miss the facts of how it happened. They developed players over two years after effectively evaluating talent and when injuries added a lot of adversity they found solutions to keep winning.

Now with him on staff I don’t mind a staff that goes out and is bringing in players that weren’t pre scouted and obsessed over by the fanbase that chases names they know. Could that be a bad decision and not work out? It absolutely could. So far though the process of how he handled things the previous two years, the recognition of staffing and NIL needs and the recognition in doing to the leg work as a staff to go after the right guys with productivity, size, potential and fit not to mention a winning back ground for most is all a positive to date. It won’t be a win or a successful hire until that first slate of games where you see a product that makes it clear we are getting what we wanted as a fanbase again.

This is a solid take.

I think it's pretty simple though. Everything comes down to whether we make the tournament. Any judgment before that does or does not happen is inevitably premature.

Barring some kind of surprise, it looks like we have the core of the team. It seems that anyone we add from here is likely coming off the bench.

Do we have enough talent to comfortably say we look like a tournament team?

Again, it's a premature judgment, but there are a lot of "ifs" when you look at our players, and a critical mass of those "ifs" need to happen to be tourney bound.

Ideally we would have a lot fewer "ifs."

I suspect this is one of the weakest rosters we'll field in my lifetime. We saw that Gerry can win the MAAC conference tournament when he's the conference's top NIL dog. It is an unknown what he can accomplish at Syracuse with however our resource level compares with the rest of the ACC.