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Message: [QUOTE="Flacusian, post: 1265277, member: 264"] Sheesh... we enter the season with a roster which is seriously truncated by the early departure of several kids we ostensibly expected would be key contributors to this years team. We also learn that we will be without the services of a "big" who came to Syracuse much ballyhooed and anticipated but who has had their contributions and development limited by injury. We all watch the early part of the season and see that there clearly needs to be some ratcheted back expectations for this year and then our most promising recruit in nearly a decade goes down with a torn ACL. In spite of all this we nearly pulled off an upset against Nova and by most accounts could have/ should have won the game. The team, seemingly infused by the Nova game rather than mailing it in, go on a modest win streak albeit not against the top of the conference and then have a very poor showing against a conference foe on their home court. Subsequent to the game, some posters begin to think it's OK to eat their young and begin making premature and judgmental and ill conceived appraisals of the kids who have been thrust into roles that EVERYONE knows they are not really prepared or ready for. Perhaps some of the things noted have a kernel of truth but the harsh criticism doesn't serve anyone towards any positive end. These kids are carrying the Orange mantle for our program under less than favorable circumstances and they've done a pretty damn good job of it if you ask me. It never ceases to amaze me how people go after our players as if they are intentionally playing poorly. Some of the most emblematic players in our programs history come under fire by our own fanbase. GMAC is the perfect case in point. Now Cooney is having to be targeted with the same nonsense. These kids put enough pressure on themselves I'm sure and none of them feel good about having a game in which they are ineffective. I'm proud that they go out there and give the effort they do and have the courage to face the scrutiny they are subjected to. Being dismissive of the sophmore class when they are viewed within the context of what was expected of them at this point in time when they were recruited is premature at best and mean spirited at worst. If any of those kids are to prosper within our program it will be far more likely if they receive our unconditional support rather than harsh and premature criticism. And I"m not saying that they can't be criticized. I'm saying that assuming they won't develop and become valuable contributors to the program and weren't worthy of being recruited is wrong. [/QUOTE]

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