So when is our next best shot at an NC?

[omniorange]

In 2010 we lost out on what was a sure NC with AO's injury.

We thought going into the 2011-2012 season we had a great shot at our second NC with Fab, Rak and BMK at the center position; Scoop, BT, Waiters, and rookie MCW at guard; and KJ, Fair, and Dirty at the forward slots. Rak and MCW didn't develop as fast as we would have liked and then the Fab academic issues and a loaded Kentucky team tempered those expectations during the season.

We thought going into this season we might have another FF team if everything broke right (which it did) but we knew shortly into the BE regular season there wasn't likely enough fire power to win it all.

Next year, except for Fair (and this assumes he stays) we look really young. Is the next window for getting our second NC now 2014-15, when next year's crop of youngsters with a year of seasoning are joined by McCullough?

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Neil

 

[PauliePeppas]

In todays day and age every year u got a shot...unless your rutgers, but seriously i think your right. Well be abolutely loaded when Mccullough gets to the hill...no early defevtions and its ennis gbinije roberson grant coleman with cooney buss bj chino and another stud 2014 guard yikes

 

[HoustonCuse]

Realistically 2014-15, but you never know. Boeheim, against all odds seems to do best in the tournament when playing with totally untested PGs.

1987 - Sherm Douglas, first year starting
1996 - Laz Sims, first year starting
2003 - GMac, true freshman
2013 - MCW, first year starting
2014 - Tyler Ennis... wait and see

 

[Marsh01]

All teams really need to do is just get into the tournament and hope for a good draw. I watched Wichita State lose to Creighton in their conference title game and would never have thought that they would almost go to the title game.

 

[doc05]

Sad thing is - in reality you really only get a few legit chances at a NC. We hadn't been in the ff in 10 years before this..and we've had some very loaded teams since then . As much talent as we may be getting - who knows if it could be another 10 years? The tourney can be a crapshoot.

 

[jordoo]

I think we have reached the point where its always next year. Hopefully we can keep that type of program going post JB.

I do agree that it would seem like 14/15 is more likely but if Ennis is the real deal from day one, CJ learns to use his right, Grant and Coleman make the big Soph leap and MikeG, Cooney, BJ and Bus can shoot it well enough next year is not out of the question. I actually feel really good about next years club if we can have a legit post threat in DC2.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Sadly, NCAA sanctions may be a bigger obstacle than personnel over the next 3-4 years.

 

[Czar]

Easy answer is when McCullough gets here.

 

[SoBeCuse]

All teams really need to do is just get into the tournament and hope for a good draw. I watched Wichita State lose to Creighton in their conference title game and would never have thought that they would almost go to the title game.

It is all about the draw. You're right. IMHO, we would've been sent home by Wichita St. or Creighton. Our offense wasn't good enough this year to make a Wichita St. work too hard on D.

 

[MikeSU02]

We had legit shots in 2010 and 2012.

This year was a great run, but we overachieved.

Next year I would expect at least a 4 seed, which is what we had this year, if not higher. This is assuming CJ comes back.

I think we will field strong NCAAT teams the next two years. CJ leading the charge next year and then McCullough being on board the year after.

Lot of talent here and coming in.

 

[orange79]

OK, maybe I missed nickname day, but who is Buss/Bus? Thanks.

 

[cuseguy]

OK, maybe I missed nickname day, but who is Buss/Bus? Thanks.

Patterson


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[orange79]

Patterson

Thanks.

 

[HouseOfCuse]

Definitely 2014-2015 will be our best shot.

We'll have a sophmore PG Ennis with a year starting and a junior SG Gbinje or Cooney. Plus a sophmore Patterson and BJ Johnson. Our back court will be very experience. Where next year it won't.

Then we have Grant and Roberson at the forwards with McCullough coming in as a freshman. Then Rak and DC at the center spot.

Every position has depth, talent and Experience.

next year has talent and depth but not much experience at the guard postions

 

[SWC75]

I tell Jim on his show every year: The great thing about being a Syracuse basketball fan is that you know we'll be good every year with the potential for something great to happen.

This wasn't a year people pointed to as a potentially great year but we made the Final Four. 2010 and 2012 looked golden but we came up short. You never know.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Dont just look at us. Look at the entire landscape of college bball. Whoever was good this year is losing a ton . We will be right in the thick of it come tourney time. Our defense will be just as good if not better, and with improvement from grant, coleman, and the steady rise of CJ, our offense will be more balanced.

 

[Orangezoo]

If guys like Porter, Oladipo, Zeller, Burke all jump we are right there again. UK will be loaded with the top frosh class - Kansas is always good and right there - The ville will lose a lot but with Hancock, Blackshear and Harrell - they will be right there. Duke will be around again as Sulaimon ( sp?) is going to be a good one and already is. Michigan it will depend on who else leaves other than Burke. If everyone else stays they will be at the top as well. I am thinking next year could look similar to this year in that there will be 15 good teams. I am going to guess that this year is the beginning of many similar years where without a clear dominate team.

 

[HoustonCuse]

I hate to say it, but there is every reason to expect Kentucky to be dominant next year, even if only half of their freshmen pan out, they could win the NC. If all of them do, they have a legit shot at going 40-0 out of a weak SEC.

 

[igor]

when jb is fired or retires. no sanctions i predict 2 in first 5 years

 

[All4SU]

I'm going to go way out on a limb and say our next bet shot at a NC is 2014... After that, it's very likely that our next best shot is 2015.

 

[jekelish]

Definitely the 2014-15 season, as others have mentioned. Ennis and Silent G at the guard spots with Cooney and Buss backing them up, and BJ Johnson able to play either the 2 or the 3.

Grant (assuming he's still here; NBADraft.net has him as the 16th pick in next year's draft) will be an All-ACC player by that point, and I fully expect McCullough to be a top 5 draft pick in 2015, maybe even #1 overall. I honestly think he'll be that good. Then you add in DC2, Roberson, and MAYBE Rak, not to mention Chino and whoever else we add in McCullough's class (Whitehead and/or Kaleb Joseph to give us even more guard depth?), and that team is absolutely LOADED.

 

[CuseTroop]

when jb is fired or retires. no sanctions i predict 2 in first 5 years

I know we don't have a dislike button, but I wish we had a "someone should walk into your house and take your keyboard" button

 

[Captnhowdy]

Sadly, NCAA sanctions may be a bigger obstacle than personnel over the next 3-4 years.

I have a hard time seeing SU get sanctions before Miami.

 

[SWC75]

You don't win the national title by putting together a team with so much talent that they can't lose. You do it by creating a program that produces a good team each season, some of which will be playing well enough at the right time for a good post season run. Maybe one, (or more) of those will survive and advance to the title game and make the plays at the end of the game necessary to win a national championship. That's what we have and that's what it will take.

 

[SWC75]

when jb is fired or retires. no sanctions i predict 2 in first 5 years

Tell us how this team made it to Final Four, Igor. I think we'd all love to hear your take on it.

But I don't think we'll get it.