Some Soul Searching Needed Everywhere...

[pearl31]

IMO talent alone should have vaulted the team past SJU -- or made it even close -- IF there really was as much talent as people think on the team.

Well, talent that is just going through the motions vs an athletic/hungry team of good shooters = last night's disaster

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

IMO talent alone should have vaulted the team past SJU -- or made it even close -- IF there really was as much talent as people think on the team.

They are talented but don't play well at all together. The whole is always greater than the sum of the parts.

 

[tbonezone]

tyler lydon play a good game underneath last night ? or are we giving him another pass for playing the entire stinker ? anybody ?

 

[orangecuse]

That's a hypothetical...These 2 kids are hardly blue chip one and does...at least not on this planet.

You're apparently not grasping the larger point. That is...whether we bring JUCO talent, 5th year transfer talent or one and done blue chip talent, doesn't change the premise of those better/talented players catapulting over the existing "Syracuse" loyal incumbent. The best players play no matter what...this is Syracuse University, again, an alleged 'elite' program.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

You're apparently not grasping the larger point. That is...whether we bring JUCO talent, 5th year transfer talent or one and done blue chip talent, doesn't change the premise of those better/talented players catapulting over the existing "Syracuse" loyal incumbent. The best players play no matter what...this is Syracuse University, again, an alleged 'elite' program.

Well, I'd like to think JB's role is to put the best TEAM on the floor. That does not necessarily mean the 5 best players. That's my point.

 

[OttoMets]

IMO talent alone should have vaulted the team past SJU -- or made it even close -- IF there really was as much talent as people think on the team.

That and the Hall of Fame coach - people like to reference him defensively in arguments, but I'd think he should be a tremendous advantage against someone like Chris Mullin. But somehow with a much better coach and much better talent we're close to .500.

 

[orangecuse]

Well, I'd like to think JB's role is to put the best TEAM on the floor. That does not necessarily mean the 5 best players. That's my point.

Well, imo, the best 5 players should be playing and it's up to the coach to make sure that he buries any and all ego's, etc. People mock Calipari, but that's something he does exceptionally. He gets his BEST players to play as a TEAM in order to be as successful as possible. At the end of the day, coaching only gets you so far, it's the talent on the field/court that is the most decisive factor. A coach can draw up all the brilliant X's & O's in the world, but if the players don't have the TALENT to execute...well, then game over!

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

Well, imo, the best 5 players should be playing and it's up to the coach to make sure that he buries any and all ego's, etc. People mock Calipari, but that's something he does exceptionally. He gets his BEST players to play as a TEAM in order to be as successful as possible. At the end of the day, coaching only gets you so far, it's the talent on the field/court that is the most decisive factor. A coach can draw up all the brilliant X's & O's in the world, but if the players don't have the TALENT to execute...well, then game over!

Then he's failing miserably...or not playing the five best players...because this team is playing horribly. And he's recognizing it too. He did exactly what he needed to do at the presser last night.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Then he's failing miserably...or not playing the five best players...because this team is playing horribly. And he's recognizing it too. He did exactly what he needed to do at the presser last night.

Who's not playing who should be playing? Because everybody is getting time except Chukwu, who appears just not ready, and Roberson, who has had a couple crap games. When we started Roberson, Coleman and Frank the first few games this year, we couldn't break double digits in scoring in the first quarter of most games.

 

[orangecuse]

Then he's failing miserably...or not playing the five best players...because this team is playing horribly. And he's recognizing it too. He did exactly what he needed to do at the presser last night.

This team is failing horribly because, quite frankly, our guards are putrid and can not create a thing and/or run the show as a floor general...that is a talent deficiency.

 

[dan7800]

Because everybody is getting time except Chukwu, who appears just not ready,

PC is hurt

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

This team is failing horribly because, quite frankly, our guards are putrid and can not create a thing and/or run the show as a floor general...that is a talent deficiency.

While you are true about the guard play, that's only a symptom. There is something else far more destructive going on.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

Who's not playing who should be playing? Because everybody is getting time except Chukwu, who appears just not ready, and Roberson, who has had a couple crap games. When we started Roberson, Coleman and Frank the first few games this year, we couldn't break double digits in scoring in the first quarter of most games.

Matt, until he gets these kids to buy into each other and to buy into the system and to TRUST one another, it won't matter who he plays because they will continue to fold at the earliest sign of adversity.

 

[OrangeAl]

The astounding thing was how the team was reduced to a comical fumbling of the ball and brainless actions in the second half. DaJuan launching a three pointer? You could feel the terror in their hearts. First time I've ever felt pity toward my SU basketball team.

 

[MSOrange]

The astounding thing was how the team was reduced to a comical fumbling of the ball and brainless actions in the second half. DaJuan launching a three pointer? You could feel the terror in their hearts. First time I've ever felt pity toward my SU basketball team.

I missed the 1st half and my heart wasn't in it when I was watching the 2nd. Coleman launched a 3?? wow

 

[IthacaMatt]

Matt, until he gets these kids to buy into each other and to buy into the system and to TRUST one another, it won't matter who he plays because they will continue to fold at the earliest sign of adversity.

I agree that there is a trust issue. I also have seen times when it looks to me like the 2 5th year guys trust each other more than the incumbents. I have seen times when Lydon has been open in the post against a zone defense, and Gillon just won't pass it to him, several times while they were both on the floor.

Now, in Gillon's defense, Lydon had a crap start to the year, while Andrew White was the guy carrying the team, and maybe they reacted poorly to JB force-feeding minutes to Lydon when he had not yet earned them, to try to get Lydon back on track.

They may have also have felt overlooked compared to Battle getting all the kind words and press from JB about how he's going to be a pro for a long time, and Battle was brought in to start at the SG spot, at least for a few games. I think the grad guys have maybe disrupted chemistry, but that's also on the incumbent guys, because they probably have not welcomed them sufficiently into the fold.

Of course, White could have helped enormously with that by having committed during the summer and been here in July and August to get to know his new teammates before practices started.

Chemistry and respect have to be two-way, or they else don't exist.

 

[SaltLakeOrange]

I agree that there is a trust issue. I also have seen times when it looks to me like the 2 5th year guys trust each other more than the incumbents. I have seen times when Lydon has been open in the post against a zone defense, and Gillon just won't pass it to him, several times while they were both on the floor.

Now, in Gillon's defense, Lydon had a crap start to the year, while Andrew White was the guy carrying the team, and maybe they reacted poorly to JB force-feeding minutes to Lydon when he had not yet earned them, to try to get Lydon back on track.

They may have also have felt overlooked compared to Battle getting all the kind words and press from JB about how he's going to be a pro for a long time, and Battle was brought in to start at the SG spot, at least for a few games. I think the grad guys have maybe disrupted chemistry, but that's also on the incumbent guys, because they probably have not welcomed them sufficiently into the fold.

Of course, White could have helped enormously with that by having committed during the summer and been here in July and August to get to know his new teammates before practices started.

Chemistry and respect have to be two-way, or they else don't exist.

Concur completely on all accounts. I think JB discounted the trust aspect and it's cost us enormously. He should of recognized that the two new guys needed to be held to the same standards as the incumbents (and he should of told them that from the get go). Instead they have been given free reign to make freshmen mistakes that got the incumbents benched when they committed them. I just hope he and the coaches can get these kids on the same page. We are toast otherwise.

 

[SBU72]

Troll Alert:

But a coaching search would be more apt.

Do you really think another school would allow SU to talk to its current staff. You can't do a coaching search mid way through a current season. It's not like the pros where those things are done.

 

[orangehomer]

Do you really think another school would allow SU to talk to its current staff. You can't do a coaching search mid way through a current season. It's not like the pros where those things are done.

For real. imagine if it got out that we offered jay wright 5 million or something midseason. that would be freaking crazy.