The Anti Meltdown Thread

[UpstateSM]

Rutgers is probably a legit top 25 team and I think we were better than them with what we had tonight. Throw in our two missing starters and it isn’t even a question.

Going to UNC anything less than 7-1 will be a massive disappointment after tonight. The team has set the bar high and that’s exciting.

 

[billsin01]

Richmond makes this team different. This game was choked away but the pieces we didn't have would likely have prevented that. We need Sids rebounding.

When Buddy returns for starters we will be better. This was a tough first test being down two starters. Rutgers made 3s and FTs. I am far less upset about this one than okie st and Penn St last year.

Woody, Buddy, Kadary and Griff are just flat out better players than Joe in the backcourt. JB isn't blind.

Griff needs a lot of coaching. His shot selection is horrific.

This team has a lot of talent and is just so much better than last year's team.

Most importantly- we have 4 games of hoops in during a pandemic that has blown up any chance of normalcy. If you aren't taking that into consideration, do yourself a favor and recalibrate.

This board is incredible. Tough loss. It hurts. Could've been a win. Probably needed to go to the bench more in the second half. But down two starters, playing tough on the road and seeing some young kids get minutes and respond well. I wouldn't say I'm super excited we lost by 10 to rutgers but the panic and vitriol here given the circumstances is funny.

Joe needs to drop weight and pick up intensity. Buddy, even though he only plays b/c he's the coach's kid, and sidibe will help significantly. Kadary will play a ton. Will be interesting to see on Woody but kid's been really solid so far. Quincy has played really consistently, which is great.

 

[Orangezoo]

I always thought MCW had exceptional vision. Really liked the way that kid played.

I think he saw the court well and when I say vision I mean seeing the pass before it is there. Kadary had defenders clueless because he saw it before they did.

 

[OrangeDW]

Where is Kadary gonna go? Transfer? The NBA? I don’t see that yet. He’s gonna need two or three years to really develop an outside shot until he’s ready to be drafted. Love his game though. My favorite player to watch this season.

I watched the NBA draft and like 6 of the first 8 picks they’re like “well, he can’t really shoot but...”

On the plus side(for us), he doesn’t jump off the page as super athletic.

Kid’s b-ball court sense is off the charts. Forget this combo guard mess. He should have the ball as much as Ennis did.

 

[Orangezoo]

Rutgers is probably a legit top 25 team and I think we were better than them with what we had tonight. Throw in our two missing starters and it isn’t even a question.

Going to UNC anything less than 7-1 will be a massive disappointment after tonight. The team has set the bar high and that’s exciting.

They definitely are. We had them and then Griff and Joe really hurt us with their decision making on several straight possessions. At that point we needed to put the ball in Kadary and Marek's hands and that didn't happen.

 

[sdorange]

Yeah...it was tough to watch, but you are correct in a lot of what you wrote.

Sid’s presence will help. Buddy will take shots away from Griffin - which would be welcome.

Griffin plays like he doesn’t understand value of each possession - like at all.

Girard played like a guy who was watching his minutes melt away before his eyes with every play by Richmond.

The film session is not going to be kind to Girard and Griffin. No hiding some of those decisions.

Will be very interesting to see the backcourt when Buddy comes back. My guess is Joe starts with a very short leash, which will lead to him pressing, which will lead to more bad decisions, which will ultimately lead to Kadary starting.

Tbe best comparison I can come up with for Kadary is Sherman...because I think both of those players saw the game 2 seconds into the future and knew where the ball should go. Enjoy him while you can...he ain’t gonna be here long.

Great post, to your point, Kadary guided his teammates (either eye contact or leading the pass to them) to the best angle to pass them the ball. The pass underneath to Q I believe was a good example, he saw it before it developed.

 

[UpstateSM]

They definitely are. We had them and then Griff and Joe really hurt us with their decision making on several straight possessions. At that point we needed to put the ball in Kadary and Marek's hands and that didn't happen.

I 100% agree with JB on needing to make up for lost practice time. The stuff we struggled with, especially playing in transition and the way we closed with a lead, are things that get better with reps. Guys also need to settle into their roles and that’s tough to do with limited court time.

Tonight stings but I’m still really confident in this team. We really need to string together some wins with the schedule coming up though because the Covid layoff excuse is going to be worn out if we lose to BC or ND.

 

[Orangezoo]

I 100% agree with JB on needing to make up for lost practice time. The stuff we struggled with, especially playing in transition and the way we closed with a lead, are things that get better with reps. Guys also need to settle into their roles and that’s tough to do with limited court time.

Tonight stings but I’m still really confident in this team. We really need to string together some wins with the schedule coming up though because the Covid layoff excuse is going to be worn out if we lose to BC or ND.

This is the best I have felt about a team since 2016 or earlier.

 

[UpstateSM]

This is the best I have felt about a team since 2016 or earlier.

Me too. It would have been nice to have pulled it off tonight and went on a run before the meat of ACC play.

I want to remember what it feels like to have a little number next to our name and have people talk about us.

 

[OrangeDW]

Oh man, are these people serious?? Lmao!!!

ScarletDave
All American




11 minutes ago

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• #3

Half the people who work for ESPN went to Syracuse. ESPN is the ACC network. And the game was against Rutgers, their hated school in the battle over NYC. That’s 3 big non-conspiracy but still not-fair reasons why you’ll be hard-pressed to find the highlights of this game on that network. At least we got Crispin somehow on the broadcast so it was a familiar BTN face who despite going to PSU actually is fond of Pike and our b-ball team and I like him

 

[OttoinGrotto]

They definitely are. We had them and then Griff and Joe really hurt us with their decision making on several straight possessions. At that point we needed to put the ball in Kadary and Marek's hands and that didn't happen.

Also... we need to feed Guerrier on the block. That needs to be a regular part of the offense.

 

[Orangezoo]

Also... we need to feed Guerrier on the block. That needs to be a regular part of the offense.

Yes. Kadary/Marek/Q/Buddy should be the focal points. Griff as a spot up shooter and cutter and Sid a dump down. We don't need hero ball shot hunting. If Joe wants to be part of this he needs to play defense like his life depends on it, run like Cooney did to get open and be a pass first guard when on the ball.

 

[Dollar Dog]

I began the season very optimistic about this team. It reminded me a little of the 2008-09 team. Talented, but disappointing the year before. Mix of youth & experience. Lost their best player (Greene then, Hughes now) but I thought was way better than pre-season expectations. The 2008 team had a sluggish game against Richmond (like Bryant this year) but was 3-0 going into its first big test in the CBE Tournament. There, they upset Florida and Kansas on the way to a Top 25 team, BET Finalist, and Sweet 16 season.

Our 2020-21 team has a lot of weaknesses, even with Buddy coming back. After failing its initial test, they may be closer to our "new normal" bubble-rider than upper-level ACC. RU is good and the season is early but I have adjusted my expectations a little.

 

[Newhouser]

There are reasons for optimism... if minutes are allocated appropriately. Guess we’ll see.

That is the question - will JB change his stripes. Going to be interesting.