So on that 09-10 roster

[OttoinGrotto]

Looks like there were 5 guys on the 09-10 roster that are going to end up cashing an NBA paycheck.

Wes Johnson
Andy Rautins
Kris Joseph
Arinze Onuaku
James Southerland

Now, granted, they're all pretty much roster filler, but there are worse things than being able to say you had a cup of coffee in the Association.

 

[Brooky03]

Not bad. This year's team has Ennis, Fair, and Grant as locks (barring something catastrophic). Who else we got?

Gbinije probably has a decent shot based solely on his size and skillset for his size. Roberson and BJ are in good shape, but it's wayy too early to tell. Cooney and Patterson are likely not gonna make it. Keita is not an NBA guy; Rak could be but hasn't shown the ability/motivation to improve enough, and I just don't think Coleman has the height or athleticism to produce at the next level.

 

[RandygoCuse]

and I just don't think Coleman has the height or athleticism to produce at the next level.

I remember when we found out we got Coleman, most people saw him going pro early. I for one didn't think he'd be a four year player. Now I think he will be, barring any heavy conflict with Boeheim.

 

[jr4750]

Looks like there were 5 guys on the 09-10 roster that are going to end up cashing an NBA paycheck.

Wes Johnson
Andy Rautins
Kris Joseph
Arinze Onuaku
James Southerland

Now, granted, they're all pretty much roster filler, but there are worse things than being able to say you had a cup of coffee in the Association.

Which is where the beauty and symmetry of that team came from. Talented players who were able to play together in a cohesive way, without ego... I'd trade that for the Kentucky model everyday. While they have potential to strike gold with their insane talent, they can just as easily blow up, like they did last year...

 

[Chosen0ne]

It's a damn shame that they didn't win the National Championship. With AO, I think they cruise to the title. Watching that team was basketball at its best--great chemistry, guys that played hard, and all easy to like.

 

[Eric15]

With AO, I think they cruise to the title.

Every year that goes by, the legend of the 2010 team grows a little bit more. In 10 years, SU fans will talk about how they could have beat the 1996 Bulls if only AO had not gone down.

Disclaimer: 2010 is my favorite SU team ever.

 

[Trueblue25]

I wish I knew what Silent G has in store for us...

I got a feeling he could be our missing link.

 

[strumpfasaurus]

2010 is like that girl that got away

 

[moqui]

Not bad. This year's team has Ennis, Fair, and Grant as locks

I wouldn't say any of them are locks. too many very good prospects have failed to make the Association for me to call any of our guys locks just yet.

Every year that goes by, the legend of the 2010 team grows a little bit more. In 10 years, SU fans will talk about how they could have beat the 1996 Bulls if only AO had not gone down.

Disclaimer: 2010 is my favorite SU team ever.

here is always an element of luck involved in a one-and-out tournament, so I don't know whether the Orange would have hoisted the trophy, but there is no doubt in my mind that they were the best team in the nation that year . . . and, before AO went down, both Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski said the same thing.

 

[strumpfasaurus]

Interesting that the 2012 team which went 30-1 regular season doesn't get the same praise as the 2010 team which went 28-3 and lost to a mediocre louisville team twice. Although in my opinion that 2012 team probably loses to Kentucky even with Fab.

 

[Brooky03]

I wouldn't say any of them are locks. too many very good prospects have failed to make the Association for me to call any of our guys locks just yet.

Fair is a first rounder and I don't really see Grant ending up worse than Southerland (no offense to James). Ennis is more up in the air because he's unproven. He has the size and fundamentals to project as a solid NBA PG, though.


For full disclosure, I'm not saying Grant and Ennis are NBA players right now.

 

[moqui]

Fair is a first rounder and I don't really see Grant ending up worse than Southerland (no offense to James). Ennis is more up in the air because he's unproven. He has the size and fundamentals to project as a solid NBA PG, though.


For full disclosure, I'm not saying Grant and Ennis are NBA players right now.

I don't think Fair is a first rounder myself, and I have not seen him listed as a first rounder in any of the early mocks, either.

James is a bad comparison for both Fair and Grant because James is a shooter - a true NBA skill (and as stated before, hitting for a high percentage does not by itself make one a shooter)

of course they are all prospects, but that is not even close to the same thing as being a "lock"

 

[orange79]

Fair is a first rounder and I don't really see Grant ending up worse than Southerland (no offense to James). Ennis is more up in the air because he's unproven. He has the size and fundamentals to project as a solid NBA PG, though.


For full disclosure, I'm not saying Grant and Ennis are NBA players right now.

Re: Fair and where he is drafted, it depends on who comes out and what Euro's are eligible. I see CJ as a classic tweener. He's got his work cut out for him. Having said that, I hope he excels. One of my all-time favorites.

 

[Eric15]

here is always an element of luck involved in a one-and-out tournament, so I don't know whether the Orange would have hoisted the trophy, but there is no doubt in my mind that they were the best team in the nation that year . . . and, before AO went down, both Bobby Knight and Mike Krzyzewski said the same thing.

I would argue that SU was one of three truly elite teams that season (along with Kansas and Kentucky), with Duke just a notch below that group.

I hate arguing against a team that I loved so much, but we lost three regular season games to relatively mediocre competition (Pitt, Louisville 2x), and were losing to 8-seeded Georgetown in the BET late in the 2nd half before AO went down. We also had some escapes against bad (UConn) and incredibly bad (Depaul) teams. We were an excellent but certainly beatable team.

 

[moqui]

I would argue that SU was one of three truly elite teams that season (along with Kansas and Kentucky), with Duke just a notch below that group.

I hate arguing against a team that I loved so much, but we lost three regular season games to relatively mediocre competition (Pitt, Louisville 2x), and were losing to 8-seeded Georgetown in the BET late in the 2nd half before AO went down. We also had some escapes against bad (UConn) and incredibly bad (Depaul) teams. We were an excellent but certainly beatable team.

it has been many a moon since there was an unbeatable team in D1 . . . my contention is that they were the best, not that they were perfect

 

[omniorange]

Interesting that the 2012 team which went 30-1 regular season doesn't get the same praise as the 2010 team which went 28-3 and lost to a mediocre louisville team twice. Although in my opinion that 2012 team probably loses to Kentucky even with Fab.

I think you hit upon why the 2010 is more highly regarded with this. Arinze injured, Fab headcase - 2010 likely NC, 2012 best showing probably runner-up to UK.

The 2012 team may have technically been the better team, but it was a roller coaster ride and most her probably acknowledge that the highest level even with Fab was probably Final Four losing to Kentucky in the championship game.

The 2010 team was a joy the entire regular season (at least to me anyway) and there is a strong belief that with a healthy Onuaku that we beat Butler, Kansas State, Michigan State, and Duke in the NC game.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Brooky03]

I don't think Fair is a first rounder myself, and I have not seen him listed as a first rounder in any of the early mocks, either.

James is a bad comparison for both Fair and Grant because James is a shooter - a true NBA skill (and as stated before, hitting for a high percentage does not by itself make one a shooter)

of course they are all prospects, but that is not even close to the same thing as being a "lock"

All fair points but I think CJ will be a first rounder by the end of the season and I don't think I'm in a significant minority in that regard. He is not as much of a tweener as some think. Not all or most NBA PF are physical monsters, so he has plenty of strength to hang in there and room to build on that. He is head and shoulders above most college PFs in mid range game and post moves, though, which could certainly earn him a roster spot. And that's what we're talking about here; being on the list of 15 going into the NBA season, not thriving in the League.

My confidence Grant will make a roster is probably 95%, vs. 99% for Fair. NBA pedigree (GM's love), athleticism to spare, a developing mid range game and a serviceable long range jumper. Seems like a strong foundation to build on to me and I don't really see any indicators he won't continue to improve. Barring injury, I don't see how he doesn't end up cashing a pro paycheck. I love the kid's mentality more than anything.

Ennis hasn't played a college game yet. Obviously I can't really provide backup for my assertion but I would bet more true freshmen handed the keys to a NC contender end up in the NBA than those who don't. Feel free to prove me wrong.

 

[jordoo]

Interesting that the 2012 team which went 30-1 regular season doesn't get the same praise as the 2010 team which went 28-3 and lost to a mediocre louisville team twice. Although in my opinion that 2012 team probably loses to Kentucky even with Fab.

It would have been an interesting game. UK had guys who could do damage off the bounce and from the FT line but they struggled against zone that season and hadn't seen one as good as ours. I also think we could have given them trouble off the bounce with our guards. With Fab I feel we are in that game though.

I think the big perception difference between those two teams was that the 10 team played a much more appealing to the eye style and could really make you pay inside compared to the 12 team.

 

[jordoo]

Ok now I have to pop in a game from that season.

I went with Senior Day vs St. John's also the outright BE regular season outright clincher.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think people remember that team so fondly because basically everything went right. Arinze and Andy were exceptional senior leaders, a big question heading in to the season. Scoop embraced his role coming off the bench after redshirting. Wes was everything we could have hoped for. Joseph broke out. Triche was a solid freshman. Rick Jackson improved. The team really embraced the zone. They had no weaknesses and did everything well as a group.

If we've had a team to love, I think that was it.

 

[moqui]

I think people remember that team so fondly because basically everything went right. Arinze and Andy were exceptional senior leaders, a big question heading in to the season. Scoop embraced his role coming off the bench after redshirting. Wes was everything we could have hoped for. Joseph broke out. Triche was a solid freshman. Rick Jackson improved. The team really embraced the zone. They had no weaknesses and did everything well as a group.

If we've had a team to love, I think that was it.

yup . . . I have already circled the otherwise unremarkable Lakers vs. Pelicans game on my calendar; my goal is to get a pic with Wes & AO.

 

[moqui]

And that's what we're talking about here; being on the list of 15 going into the NBA season, not thriving in the League.

Just hoping to scratch you way onto a 15 man roster, even if that means an inactive assignment to the D League, is far from being a "lock."

Can they make it? of course. That's not my point

I would bet more true freshmen handed the keys to a NC contender end up in the NBA than those who don't. Feel free to prove me wrong

right off the top of my head: Mike Edwards, starting freshman point guard for the Preseason #1 Syracuse Orangemen

 

[OttoMets]

I think people remember that team so fondly because basically everything went right. Arinze and Andy were exceptional senior leaders, a big question heading in to the season. Scoop embraced his role coming off the bench after redshirting. Wes was everything we could have hoped for. Joseph broke out. Triche was a solid freshman. Rick Jackson improved. The team really embraced the zone. They had no weaknesses and did everything well as a group.

If we've had a team to love, I think that was it.

And consider all that in the context of the previous four or five seasons. Especially the previous two.

Unselfish style of play - coachable kids who took pride in playing defense.

It was like stepping out into the sunlight.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

And consider all that in the context of the previous four or five seasons. Especially the previous two.

Unselfish style of play - coachable kids who took pride in playing defense.

It was like stepping out into the sunlight.

Agree 100%. I also think that the attitude of that team embracing the zone set the stage for all of our following success, and recruiting too since we stopped trying to fit square pegs in to round holes.

 

[OttoMets]

Agree 100%. I also think that the attitude of that team embracing the zone set the stage for all of our following success, and recruiting too since we stopped trying to fit square pegs in to round holes.

That's part of the reason we regard 2010 more highly than 2012, I think.

2010 will go down as a turning point, not just in Boeheim's career but in the history of Syracuse basketball. One can easily envision a scenario in which too many 10-loss seasons, unresponsive players, and off-court crap combined with an associated decline in recruiting and drove Boeheim into retirement.

Such a situation would have left Hopkins in a much more difficult position. It'll be much easier (though by no means easy) for him to recruit and win coming off Final Four seasons and .800 winning percentages than it would have been if the 2005-2009 trend continued for a few years.

Can't be understated: Andy Rautins is one of the most valuable players in school history. And he had good help from his coaches and the underclassmen on his final team.