Syracuse hiring Alex Kline as GM

[MSOrange]

Do we need a better nerd?

Hired in June. This mess was put together before he was hired except Petar

 

[two3zone]

Hired in June. This mess was put together before he was hired except Petar

The geek stays then.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

The geek stays then.

He should pay dividends going into next season. Look at Kentucky. Nine transfers and three freshman and they will be ranked top ten next week.

We just need to get the right transfers. Hopefully Kline already has his list of targets. I'm bullish on next season already. I'm also looking forward to see what our upperclassmen transfers do next week against real competition.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I know we are a long ways from dumping Red, but if that is the route JW eventually ends up going I would be in favor of putting all of basketball operations under Alex Kline just like Stanford football is doing with Andrew Luck.

 

[MikeSU02]

I know we are a long ways from dumping Red, but if that is the route JW eventually ends up going I would be in favor of putting all of basketball operations under Alex Kline just like Stanford football is doing with Andrew Luck.

I don't know how any team that is currently aspiring or eventually aspires to vie for a chip can avoid setting up its program like they have in the NBA (scaled down, obvi).

Prez of Basketball Ops, GM, salary cap (err, budget for cbb I guess) specialist, analytics dept, etc.

I'm with you.

 

[kingtidge]

Do we need a better nerd?

He better be wearing a palm pilot on a lanyard...

 

[kingtidge]

He should pay dividends going into next season. Look at Kentucky. Nine transfers and three freshman and they will be ranked top ten next week.

We just need to get the right transfers. Hopefully Kline already has his list of targets. I'm bullish on next season already. I'm also looking forward to see what our upperclassmen transfers do next week against real competition.

We'll see.

The other worry is we continue with plan C or D at each target because that's what our NIL kitty can get (i.e. we don't have enough NIL to get our main targets.) That could yield the appearance of more swings and misses but will actually be about the cashmoney available...

My guess would be Kline would bow out in that scenario or we get real with publicly admitting we are short on NIL for the targets we want.

 

[two3zone]

He better be wearing a palm pilot on a lanyard...

Oh, if he isnt, epic fail.

 

[Ottoman]

If I'm JW, I would inform the staff that all roster construction decisions must involve the GM's buy-in from now on. I'm unsure if Kline will be more successful, but we have ample evidence that our current approach is not working. Some say our lack of success can be blamed on JB being old or lack of NIL funds. I'm not convinced.

Roster construction has been our Achilles heel for a decade now. Whatever his role, Red played a big part in personnel decisions during that time and is responsible for much of the outcome. It's time to delegate these decisions in my opinion.

 

[atlanticuse]

we’re making it seem like the NCAA is a mini NBA, but it’s not. When you’re drafted to a crap team, you go there.
In college, you choose where to go - both recruiting and transfers.
This Alex Klein thing is a charade or mockery.
If people don’t want to come here, it’s irrelevant. The top players will go to other programs until we make Syracuse more attractive - via location (impossible), NBA readiness (which has slipped dramatically), or NIL. but that’s the final piece.
(Then again new Michigan QB expecting $15m over his career is a big number)

 

[Cusefan0307]

we’re making it seem like the NCAA is a mini NBA, but it’s not. When you’re drafted to a crap team, you go there.
In college, you choose where to go - both recruiting and transfers.
This Alex Klein thing is a charade or mockery.
If people don’t want to come here, it’s irrelevant. The top players will go to other programs until we make Syracuse more attractive - via location (impossible), NBA readiness (which has slipped dramatically), or NIL. but that’s the final piece.
(Then again new Michigan QB expecting $15m over his career is a big number)

It’s not Kline has a lot of pull in grass roots basketball and has an NBA background. I suggest reading up on his career.

 

[Ottoman]

we’re making it seem like the NCAA is a mini NBA, but it’s not. When you’re drafted to a crap team, you go there.
In college, you choose where to go - both recruiting and transfers.
This Alex Klein thing is a charade or mockery.
If people don’t want to come here, it’s irrelevant. The top players will go to other programs until we make Syracuse more attractive - via location (impossible), NBA readiness (which has slipped dramatically), or NIL. but that’s the final piece.
(Then again new Michigan QB expecting $15m over his career is a big number)

You make great points. But yet schools like Creighton, Pitt, Dayton, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Utah State seem to be getting more productive players than the Cuse (a historically great program by any measure). Maybe I'm ill-informed, but I don't see how location or NIL is keeping us from competing with the programs listed above. NBA readiness has slipped a lot in recent years, but we have still produced many great NBA players over the years.

My bigger concern is that we are getting the players we want and the results speak for themselves. I got the feeling the staff was very confident coming into the season. Then came the shock.

 

[atlanticuse]

You make great points. But yet schools like Creighton, Pitt, Dayton, Wake Forest, Iowa State, Utah State seem to be getting more productive players than the Cuse (a historically great program by any measure). Maybe I'm ill-informed, but I don't see how location or NIL is keeping us from competing with the programs listed above. NBA readiness has slipped a lot in recent years, but we have still produced many great NBA players over the years.

My bigger concern is that we are getting the players we want and the results speak for themselves. I got the feeling the staff was very confident coming into the season. Then came the shock.

… over the years.
My recency bias is clouded by the last decade.
Or our last first round draft pick.

 

[kingtidge]

My bigger concern is that we are getting the players we want and the results speak for themselves. I got the feeling the staff was very confident coming into the season. Then came the shock.

Well I think that's exactly what Kline is here to deal with (among other things).

e.g. Carlos:
Kline's evaluation (hopefully) would have been he is too slow and not physical enough to play as a starting PG at Syracuse or the P4 level.

I think the real question is, if we had that assessment last Spring, what do we do with it?

• Will Kline's assessments hold any weight in the actual decision-making process or would/could Red just say "ok thx., but I like him and we're signing him anyways..."
• Will others be involved (say Wildhack or his say his new "NIL team") in reviewing NIL potentials and have a say in who we sign now that the schools will soon be directly involved in NIL funding?
• What exactly does this new workflow look like and how are decisions made?

Lot's of questions...

 

[Ottoman]

Well I think that's exactly what Kline is here to deal with (among other things).

e.g. Carlos:
Kline's evaluation (hopefully) would have been he is too slow and not physical enough to play as a starting PG at Syracuse or the P4 level.

I think the real question is, if we had that assessment last Spring, what do we do with it?

• Will Kline's assessments hold any weight in actual in the decision-making process or would/could Red just say "ok thx., but I like him and we're signing him anyways..."
• Will others be involved (say Wildhack or his say his new "NIL team") in reviewing NIL potentials and have a say in who we sign now that the schools will soon be directly involved in NIL funding?
• What exactly does this new workflow look like and how are decisions made?

Lot's of questions...

I agree with your thoughts. Kline is much younger and less experienced than members of our staff. Will JW do what it takes to ensure his input is followed? I haven't heard anything to that effect yet. Personally, I'd like to see what a roster built by Kline looks like.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Sorry I was too busy watching our team stunk.

To me until he’s done something he’s a social media photo posting influencer with no authority over the staff (like Andrew Luck has).

Oh so you‘re purposely being ignorant then. Nice.

I agree with your thoughts. Kline is much younger and less experienced than members of our staff. Will JW do what it takes to ensure his input is followed? I haven't heard anything to that effect yet. Personally, I'd like to see what a roster built by Kline looks like.

I wouldn’t say he’s that inexperienced. He’s been involved with hoops since he’s been in HS. About 15 years. He’s got experience with the Pelicans and Knicks. Someone like him could be CEO of the entire basketball program.

 

[kingtidge]

I agree with your thoughts. Kline is much younger and less experienced than members of our staff. Will JW do what it takes to ensure his input is followed? I haven't heard anything to that effect yet. Personally, I'd like to see what a roster built by Kline looks like.

Yeah, I guess that is my broader point...

Now that the schools are going to be heavily involved in NIL funding and the sheer amounts of big $$$ involved, this is BIG BUSINESS and warrants business management principles, analysis, processes, and decision-making to help guarantee the best ROI.

What does that model look like, how will it best work, and how are the decisions made?

Lot's of questions...

Thankfully, there are answers and a framework:

 

[atlanticuse]

Well I think that's exactly what Kline is here to deal with (among other things).

e.g. Carlos:
Kline's evaluation (hopefully) would have been he is too slow and not physical enough to play as a starting PG at Syracuse or the P4 level.

I think the real question is, if we had that assessment last Spring, what do we do with it?

• Will Kline's assessments hold any weight in the actual decision-making process or would/could Red just say "ok thx., but I like him and we're signing him anyways..."
• Will others be involved (say Wildhack or his say his new "NIL team") in reviewing NIL potentials and have a say in who we sign now that the schools will soon be directly involved in NIL funding?
• What exactly does this new workflow look like and how are decisions made?

Lot's of questions...

But then what?
Carlos wasn't our #1 target. We took him because he was available.

The NCAA is not Moneyball.

 

[kingtidge]

But then what?
Carlos wasn't our #1 target. We took him because he was available.

The NCAA is not Moneyball.

Going forward, hopefully we have other targets that are gettable that Kline has helped identify or you target some combo guards as well for the PG role (we and plenty of other teams have experience with that.)

You can say it's not Moneyball, but NIL is now a business.

Programs that can source competitive funding, target and seal good players, and manage NIL well will see success.

Those that don't will fail.

 

[jdubs30]

x.com

x.com

Very interesting

 

[atlanticuse]

sign me up

 

[cuseattle]

x.com

x.com

Very interesting

Well that would sure be different.

 

[Ottoman]

Yeah, I guess that is my broader point...

Now that the schools are going to be heavily involved in NIL funding and the sheer amounts of big $$$ involved, this is BIG BUSINESS and warrants business management principles, analysis, processes, and decision-making to help guarantee the best ROI.

What does that model look like, how will it best work, and how are the decisions made?

Lot's of questions...

Thankfully, there are answers and a framework:

Who am I to argue with Ron Swanson?

 

[IthacaMatt]

Carlos wasn't our #1 target. We took him because he was available.

The NCAA is not Moneyball.

Actually, now it is. The SEC teams have Yankees / Mets / Dodgers kind of money. We have like a Cleveland budget.

 

[atlanticuse]

Actually, now it is. The SEC teams have Yankees / Mets / Dodgers kind of money. We have like a Cleveland budget.

But again, NCAA ≠ professional leagues on a number of levels.
I’m great with analytics - as is Jeff Rubin - but then what?
No one forces recruits to come here. Until we have a draft, it’s all recruiting with some weight on NIL.
maybe that’s the solution - a draft.