Syracuse hiring Alex Kline as GM

[Scooch]

We’ve been told we have money this offseason not including Melo’s input. This needs to be remembered so it is not an excuse next year.

I don’t believe it. It was said today that we have enough to sign 4-5 portal guys this offseason. We signed 4 last offseason. So what is “enough”?

 

[Cusefan0307]

I don’t believe it. It was said today that we have enough to sign 4-5 portal guys this offseason. We signed 4 last offseason. So what is “enough”?

I took it as signing guys that are better than we have now….Bulldog himself said they were budgeting a million for a center alone.

 

[MSOrange]

I took it as signing guys that are better than we have now….Bulldog himself said they were budgeting a million for a center alone.

I think that alone makes me concerned. Why are we running it back with building around a center, if that's the plan?

 

[Fly Rodder]

Bulldog himself said they were budgeting a million for a center alone.

Curious as to who they could be targeting ... I don't think there will be a lot of guys out there. The COVID extra year guys are done this season, right?

ETA: After a quick search, I think my first choice would be Taylor Bol Bowen from FSU

 

[djcon57]

I don't spend time on the recruiting boards, so I miss everyone's takes there.

But good gravy, that thread! I've been saying too many folks here lack humility, and reading that thread makes me believe that 1000% more.

The thing is there is a certain sub section of posters who've been wrong about nearly EVERYTHING since the offseason of the Sweet 16 year...yet they still view offseason observations that suggest it might not be that great as negative.

There has be some sort of reversal in the thought process with our fanbase...and I get it...because JB was right most of the time for most of his run...but things have changed.

 

[pwong]

We’ve been told we have money this offseason not including Melo’s input. This needs to be remembered so it is not an excuse next year.

I am very curious how we will be splitting rev share this year. Most schools should be on somewhat even playing field with rev share but however much schools will have in NIL collectives could be the true differentiator.

 

[hoopsupstate]

We’ve been told we have money this offseason not including Melo’s input. This needs to be remembered so it is not an excuse next year.

Have you seen the pile of cash? If not, no one really knows

 

[AcAndAc]

So, that's my concern with Alex Kline as the savior concept.

NO DOUBT, he is a rising star. And no doubt, he will identify lower level diamonds and kids who are undervalued from an NIL standpoint, using advanced analytics and his strong analytical acumen.

That's all great and would work phenomenally well if we were using the portal to supplement a solid foundation on the roster -- but given the massive attrition that we are about to have [which could very well include both of the current frosh, per some buzz], are those the types of players that are going to help push this team back into the tournament?

So, I believe in Kline. I think that he could help over time construct the right type of roster with the right personnel to sustain success. Problem is, we don't have a program "identity" right now. We don't have good systems on either side of the ball, either -- so what does "system fit" even mean?

We will be looking for more expensive players that cannot play offense or defense at this level...

 

[Jake]

Total retcon.

Unless Jake was lying here (which I don’t believe at all)

“The staff did not view Leffew as a 35 minute player - closer to 25….so the split was always going to get Carlos on the floor.”

Class of 2021 - PG Jaquan Carlos (NY) TRANSFERING TO SYRACUSE (4/24/24)

I'll see his grok and raise him with a take that Carlos is a cromulent addition to the team! (I know 721Comstock will appreciate this) D’oh

syracusefan.com

The feeling then was Leffew would start, slide to the 2 to rest JJ, and get Carlos on the floor.

Taylor was not in the conversation at that point and I believe they thought Choppa would get limited minutes and needed a year of seasoning.

I think the off season was a mess on several levels and therefore Kline can help organize and evaluate, both of which I think were missing last year.

 

[nyucuse]

Af

I think it will be difficult for us to land true difference makers / elite guys, because our program is really, really down right now. And because those type of transfers will have many suitors, and most will want to WIN. They can probably get the same money as we can offer, but also go somewhere where they can get to the NCAA tournament.

Maybe there are some guys we could overpay to land, but then we also have to deal with having somewhat limited NIL funds. And since we're going to need at least four transfers, since we'll have so much attrition this offseason. So... are we going to overpay to land multiple guys? Or can we even do that?

Chances are, we'll get decent depth pieces that fit Kline's model. I just question whether those guys will move the needle the way some are crossing their fingers for.

It would be different if we had a solid nucleus / foundation, and needed a piece or two to make the mixture pop. But if we lose Freeman [as some have suggested], then there isn't that nucleus in place. Hence, why I am not expecting miracles.

Long term, new coach -- I think Kline could work his magic and help get things back on track. But turning over the roster nearly fully this offseason? Not a formula for success next year, in all likelihood.

Agree. And will add that with so much relying on Kline to help construct the roster, what exactly is Autry being paid for? He needs to be the one to coach up the team and be a net +. Don't see that ever happening.

This will only turn around with a new staff in place who can convince players that SU is the place to be again, in a competitive BB world. I would hope Kline would stay around in such a scenario. All TBD

 

[djcon57]

The feeling then was Leffew would start, slide to the 2 to rest JJ, and get Carlos on the floor.

Taylor was not in the conversation at that point and I believe they thought Choppa would get limited minutes and needed a year of seasoning.

I think the off season was a mess on several levels and therefore Kline can help organize and evaluate, both of which I think were missing last year.

Totally. I'm saying I believe what you were told. Unfortunately, Carlos isn't even a 3rd guard on a good ACC team.

 

[Jake]

Totally. I'm saying I believe what you were told. Unfortunately, Carlos isn't even a 3rd guard on a good ACC team.

I know, I was just restating.

 

[atlanticuse]

So, that's my concern with Alex Kline as the savior concept.

NO DOUBT, he is a rising star. And no doubt, he will identify lower level diamonds and kids who are undervalued from an NIL standpoint, using advanced analytics and his strong analytical acumen.

That's all great and would work phenomenally well if we were using the portal to supplement a solid foundation on the roster -- but given the massive attrition that we are about to have [which could very well include both of the current frosh, per some buzz], are those the types of players that are going to help push this team back into the tournament?

So, I believe in Kline. I think that he could help over time construct the right type of roster with the right personnel to sustain success. Problem is, we don't have a program "identity" right now. We don't have good systems on either side of the ball, either -- so what does "system fit" even mean?

The diff between draft (NBA, MLB, NFL) and college (out of high school and transfer) is whether they want to come here, and the power that recruits/transfers yield.
So while Kline could IDENTIFY diamonds in the rough, we have to (a) convince them to come, which is program-wide and correlated to our coaching staff a la Red, and (b) RETAIN them - unlike the pro sports where they hold power over rookies for 3, 5, whatever number of years.
I think we're forgetting about that.

 

[orangefog]

We will be looking for more expensive players that cannot play offense or defense at this level...

I think all players are capable, some more than others, but coaching is the difference. I hope we see at least one or two assistants replaced in the offseason.

 

[Scooch]

I took it as signing guys that are better than we have now….Bulldog himself said they were budgeting a million for a center alone.

That’s a fair assumption. But as usual people don’t provide much beyond vague references. It’s all very cloak and dagger and I find it silly.

Bulldog has been pretty transparent this season, which has been great.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Kansas paid $1 million for the guy from Wisconsin and he’s averaging 6.5 points and about 4 rebounds. Be careful what you pay for.

 

[pwong]

I took it as signing guys that are better than we have now….Bulldog himself said they were budgeting a million for a center alone.

$1M this offseason won’t go as far as $1M last off season though. There is going to be price inflation this year due to everyone getting rev share.

 

[Fly Rodder]

$1M this offseason won’t go as far as $1M last off season though. There is going to be price inflation this year due to everyone getting rev share.

And a decrease in supply since the COVID extra eligibility is gone.

 

[Cusefan0307]

$1M this offseason won’t go as far as $1M last off season though. There is going to be price inflation this year due to everyone getting rev share.

I took it as this was outside of rev share.

 

[sufan59]

And a decrease in supply since the COVID extra eligibility is gone.

I think we will also see more retention of players producing at stable programs as well like we pretty much saw in Football this past portal cycle than the previous two seasons. I think we are in general learning from mistakes and putting things in place to correct those mistakes. But hopefully we are also taking steps to go beyond just correcting last offseason mistakes because you have to assume programs that did it right are also going to be better this offseason. So it’s more than just catching up to what should’ve been in place last off season, but going above and beyond that.

 

[pwong]

I took it as this was outside of rev share.

I’m saying since most other schools also have rev share… it means more schools will have additional NIL funds outside of their collective, resulting in NIL price inflation this offseason.

Next year, total NIL budgets will come from both rev share and NIL collectives. Rev share is capped but NIL collectives amount will bring TTL NIL budgets up.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I’m saying since most other schools also have rev share… it means more schools will have additional NIL funds outside of their collective, resulting in NIL price inflation this offseason.

Next year, total NIL budgets will come from both rev share and NIL collectives. Rev share is capped but NIL collectives amount will bring TTL NIL budgets up.

I was speaking to NIL specifically. Nothing I stated was related to revenue sharing. Supposedly there’s other donors that stepped up.

 

[AcAndAc]

Kansas paid $1 million for the guy from Wisconsin and he’s averaging 6.5 points and about 4 rebounds. Be careful what you pay for.

Can he play defense though? I am not saying we pay $1M for a guy to block shots... but I am saying that it might not be a bad idea to put some funds into a couple of guys who pretty much just play effective defense down low. We won a national title with Craig Forth and Jeremy McNeil. I don't think you need a big offensive numbers out of the C position to go from below .500 to above .500.

We can be more aggressive on defense knowing that there is a backstop. If we start being a very good defense team, most fans will live with growing pains on offense. Good defense can lead to a few upsets.

 

[pwong]

I was speaking to NIL specifically. Nothing I stated was related to revenue sharing. Supposedly there’s other donors that stepped up.

I understand but I’m saying the total amount of money all schools have to pay players will go up due to rev share + NIL collectives so the price for players this offseason will likely increase significantly. $1M this offseason could be worth closer to $500k was this last cycle.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I understand but I’m saying the total amount of money all schools have to pay players will go up due to rev share + NIL collectives so the price for players this offseason will likely increase significantly. $1M this offseason could be worth closer to $500k was this last cycle.

Agreed. We are being told we have more now outside of revenue sharing. That is the point.