Talk me off the ledge...what's different about this year vs last year

[djcon57]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

 

[Marsh01]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

Joseph got a concussion and had knee issues all season
Fab was fat
Dion still sat at the kids table
CJ was a freshman
BMK had a serious hand injury
The BE was far better than this year

That about sum it up?

 

[Orangezoo]

Completely different team IMO in a lot of ways. First of all Rick was tough downlow but not nearly as dominating as Fab. James was not as consistant. The offense primarily ran through Scoop and Kris and scoop playing a two man game with RJ that often led to scoop jacking far too many shots. Dion has become a bigtime playmaker on both sides of the ball and bigtime shotmaker. CJ's mid range game keeps defenders honest, Kris is letting the game come to him and yet still taking over when needed and Scoop is picking and choosing his spots. Brandon is playing his game , Baye is nice off the bench. Big thing also is reduced turnovers and better defense. Ball movement is better as well. Fab is a great passer in the post. We are not slow anywhere 1-10. Our depth is also ensuring Scoop/Dion/Triche are replaced accordingly when they are not playing well.

Amazing how really a team with two slight contributors along with a huge improvement from 3 guys (Fab, Dion, Southerland) looks like a different team. The biggest two items are Dions ability to take over stretches of the game on the perimeter while Fab does it downlow.

 

[MikeSU02]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

To add on what everyone else is saying, I think we are beating teams before the opening tip. I think our program finally has a swagger about it that scares the crap out of teams before they ever start the game.

That mental advantage is huge.

 

[shermstheman]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

We're much more versatile. James is better (much). CJ's improved. D is better. Scoop doesn't turn it over so much. We've got legitmate go to guys (KJo and Dion) at the end of the game. We are close to the annual slump time but it will be short this year...if it happens at all. I do expect us to lose but the BE seems to be down- we SHOULD beat Pitt and UConn whereas before it's been COULD beat them. Lastly, several players seem to be on the upswing as to improvement so we should get better. I think we belong with NC, KY, et al this year. I don't think anyone really felt that way last year.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Options.
More & better...at EVERY position.

 

[longislandcuse]

Defense is wayyy better. Honestly we might have the best defense in the country.

People severely overestimate Rick Jackson.

We really are better and deeper at every position.

 

[jordoo]

Last years team struggled through that 17-0 start. Kris was just learning how to be THE MAN and he suffered head and knee injeries. He never became THE MAN and we had to rely on Scoop to be Scoop to win games since Dion was going through a personal growth experiance (to put it nicely). Fab couldn't provide anything and Baye was hurt which put Rick at the 5 most of the time. Still taht team bounced back and had we not had such a bogus second round matchup against a conference team that was the absolute worst matchup for us we make the S16 and possibly the E8 with that flawed team. Remember we had Uconn in OT in the BET and came closer to beating them than anyone the rest of that or the NCAAT.

This years team struggled at the garden but took care of business and has really seemed to find themselves since then and improved ever since then.

James has turned the corner and will be a contributer all season. This is huge for us flexibility wise on both ends and allowing us to press if needed. Last year if he didn't shoot he didn't contribute.

Fab is a new man and the key to our defense. he allows everyone to close out hard and extend at all times. He is also continuing to improve and at this point if he was the best NCAA big by touney time I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. Last year he couldn't play.

Baye is healthy and a great lunch pail type career backup big who can block shots. Last year he was a buying us minutes at the 5.

CJ improved his jumper and his D but also seems to have a knack for dfiguring out what is most needed of him and doing it. He was a glue guy last year but this year he's superglue.

Dion, Scoop and Brandon are all beter playing about the same minutes and enjoying sharing the ball withe ach other and their team mates. Our gaurd play is tons better. Dion is the playmaker we needed at times last year and he is doing it so efficiently while also passing more.

Kris is our senior leader who doesn't run guys over while driving anymore.

MCW and Rak add depth to an already deap team.

Our defense is much better than last year and can handle bad offensive games and still gie us a chance to win.

 

[rrlbees]

We are up and some of our usual tougher opponents are down. During our tailspin last year we even lost to some of the mid level teams like SHU who we just destroyed this year.

 

[newmexicuse]

Defense is wayyy better. Honestly we might have the best defense in the country.

People severely overestimate Rick Jackson.

We really are better and deeper at every position.

Can't agree about Rick. Rick gave us a consistant in the box offensive threat. That is one piece that we do not have right now, even though we have improved in almost every other aspect as a team.

 

[longislandcuse]

I guess. Ive seen downlow post threats. AO was a post scoring threat, not sure I would call Rick one.

 

[CaliCuse]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

YES Others are better as well The word is DEPTH That is the big difference and maybe desire. That remains to be seen for the whole season beyond yesterday and tomorrow.SUball

 

[orangepassion]

The biggest difference is the unbelievable improvements of Fab and Waiters. They are different players than last year.

 

[longislandcuse]

The biggest difference is the unbelievable improvements of Fab and Waiters. They are different players than last year.

Absolutely. They have the potential to be the best at their respective positions by tourney time. Critics claimed we had alot of really good players but no stars. Fab and Dion can be those stars easily.

 

[All4SU]

I really wonder how much our opponents are down. They may be down right now, but by the end of the season, many of them may be right back up again. Young teams do that.

There are no guarantees. This season may end with a thud. It may not. Enjoy the ride. The fun is in getting there.

 

[CorduroyG]

I really wonder how much our opponents are down. They may be down right now, but by the end of the season, many of them may be right back up again. Young teams do that.

There are no guarantees. This season may end with a thud. It may not. Enjoy the ride. The fun is in getting there.

Big east is way down this year, thats not gonna change by the end of the season.

 

[CorduroyG]

I guess. Ive seen downlow post threats. AO was a post scoring threat, not sure I would call Rick one.

Never a big rick fan, could never count on him to bring it every game. Wasnt concerned at all about losing him.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Never a big rick fan, could never count on him to bring it every game. Wasnt concerned at all about losing him.

LOL, "count on him to bring it every game" What does that mean? Yes, he had off nights like everyone else but Rick had nice low post moves and gave us a decent scoring and rebounding guy down low, better than we have right now. It will be missed at some point. He was forced to play out of position quite a bit because Fab wasn't ready. But the BS that Rick didn't bring it last year is nonsense, he came out in the best shape of his life and a very solid senior year. He had some limitations as most do.

 

[AZOrange]

Biggest differences: Focus, Discipline, Chemistry. All radically improved.

 

[rrlbees]

Biggest differences: Focus, Discipline, Chemistry. All radically improved.

 

[AZOrange]

Never a big rick fan, could never count on him to bring it every game. Wasnt concerned at all about losing him.

I loved Rick's emotion and energy, but his bball talent was not all that exceptional. He was a hard working player that improved every year, and I appreciate what he was.

That said, in the BE tourney last year, I had the growing sense that Melo could be something at some point (didnt figure it would be all this year). But the absolute key player this year is Dion Waiters. He makes the team exceptional offensively and defensively.

 

[Oakland]

We were undefeated and ranked 4th at this time last year...and had some decent wins, but nothing great (same as this year)...and ended in a thud.

But...Fab and Dion are better and we are deeper this year. Right? RIGHT?

Significantly better defense.

More experience. Everyone focuses in on the 'jumps' that Fab and Dion have made, and they are important. But 8 guys in the rota have 1 year more experience, and experience playing together - this is the 'mid-major effect' that allows 3 star talent teams to compete with elite teams. It is a big part of the reason that the defense is better, that transition is so good, that Fab and Dion are better, that we are seeing more mid-range jumpers and far less charges, that we have better chemistry and have blown out all the cupcakes, etc., etc., etc.

BTW, we have not fully replaced RJs productivity, and if I can figure out how to post tables I will demonstrate that.

 

[CusefanATL]

Joseph got a concussion and had knee issues all season
Fab was fat
Dion still sat at the kids table
CJ was a freshman
BMK had a serious hand injury
The BE was far better than this year

That about sum it up?

this post alone could have levitated and brought back to safety someone who had stepped a little too close to edge and slipped off.

life saver.

 

[HouseOfCuse]

Last year we had 4 freshman we needed to play minutes. This year we have 2 freshman playing and don't have to rely them at all and we are still 8 guys deep. As Mentioned Joseph was hurt and two of our freshman were out of shape.

 

[CorduroyG]

LOL, "count on him to bring it every game" What does that mean? Yes, he had off nights like everyone else but Rick had nice low post moves and gave us a decent scoring and rebounding guy down low, better than we have right now. It will be missed at some point. He was forced to play out of position quite a bit because Fab wasn't ready. But the BS that Rick didn't bring it last year is nonsense, he came out in the best shape of his life and a very solid senior year. He had some limitations as most do.

It means when the going got tough, i was never confident that rick would get going. You dont think rick had a tendency to completely disappear some games? Thats different than just having an off night, he would play soft. Even last year when he finally got in good shape (what took him 3 years?) and was playing consistent, i never trusted him in the biggest spots. And sure enough he played another soft game in the tourny that ended our season.