The Black Hole Years

[Alsacs]

The Washington kid that went to Minnesota!

Wait, just checked and he’s averaging 8 and 2 and shooting 36% for a 15-16 team. Should’ve figured he’s not doing much since nobody posts about him anymore.

Isaiah Washington wasn’t the only kid.
We could have had McKinley Wright who I didn’t like but was available.

We could have had Jose Alvarado he was too short.

There were options at PG. I can go look through old posts. Francis outlined it well.

 

[cuseattle]

Somebody has to do it...

 

[NKR1978]

I don't think those words mean what you think they mean. Everyone SU fan is frustrated - I don't know many that are at a "breaking point".

4 really bad regular seasons is akin to the stretch 2004-05 to 2007-08 where we had 0 Tournament wins. At least we had a Final Four run in this stretch.

If next year's team isn't similar to the 2008-09 team, then we can be headed for some really dark days.

 

[moqui]

You'd figure with a HOF coach and all these NBA players, top 20 recruiting classes would give better result. Especially when you hear year after year how great each individual player is and how great the recruits coming in are.

At least we have a built in excuse for poor execution, roster management and the worst looking offense of all time.

you may be right; maybe probation and sanctions are just an excuse and in reality the program under jb has collapsed. i doubt it, but we'll find out either way soon enough. what we do know is that it is intellectually dishonest to dismiss the impact of sanctions until then. but then, syracusefan is not the place to go for either intellectualism or honesty, is it?

 

[FrancoPizza]

Came here to post exactly this. It's a point that gets overlooked or de-emphasized too often.

It’s just as often a scapegoat that some use to apologize for the program’s slide into mediocrity.

 

[orange79]

It’s just as often a scapegoat that some use to apologize for the program’s slide into mediocrity.

It doesn't make it any less true, as much as you might like.

 

[two3zone]

It doesn't make it any less true, as much as you might like.

While it may have some to do with it, there is plenty of issues not related to sanctions.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Probation did what it was supposed to do.

Have to wonder if it missed just one outcome the NCAA intended.

 

[orange79]

While it may have some to do with it, there is plenty of issues not related to sanctions.

Agreed. Just asserting that is it not as insignificant as many would have it be.

 

[Arangeman]

Sanctions had an impact. We also could have done a better job overcoming the sanctions.

 

[OrangeDW]

Sanctions had an impact. We also could have done a better job overcoming the sanctions.

I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m curious how many programs have gone to a final four while in the middle of sanctions.

 

[DoctorBombay]

 

[stuckinbig11]

You'd figure with a HOF coach and all these NBA players, top 20 recruiting classes would give better result. Especially when you hear year after year how great each individual player is and how great the recruits coming in are.

At least we have a built in excuse for poor execution, roster management and the worst looking offense of all time.

and who arranged that those recruits would leave early?

 

[two3zone]

and who arranged that those recruits would leave early?

I forgot we're the only program ever to have a guys leaving. Apologies.

 

[Day2]

I feel like I'm reaching my breaking point watching this basketball program over the last four seasons. Aside from the Final 4 run this has been absolutely abysmal. 13, 14, 15 losses respectively over the last three seasons, and a minimum of 13 this year. I now realize that this is probably what it feels like to be an NC State, or Marquette, or Georgia Tech fan... hope for lightning in a bottle one year, but probably going to be in double-digit loss territory. Just horrible going into a season w these feelings and then actually enduring it. We've been spoiled here no doubt. I'm just venting. I'll close w these two texts I sent to my buddies this morning.

"I will always call these the black hole years. Final four two week tourney stretch excluded... aside from that these are the Black Hole Years. 13, 14, 15, and now a minimum of 13 this year. Crazy.

We are getting destroyed more than any other program by NBA defections because we find fringe NBA talent like Lydon, Malachi, MCW, Ennis, that were genius recruiting hits, then as soon as they show NBA potential they're gone and we are left w a depleted roster w talent for a Final Four run gone. Other programs reload, but we lose the lucky finds and have to find more lucky finds. Hopefully this FBI bombshell evens the playing field."

Cry me a river.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Cry me a river.

Really, three pages are superfluous. This is all that needed to be said.

 

[Day2]

Fab and Rak didn't improve? Interesting.

Bernie gets credit for Fab. We’re in agreement otherwise.

 

[orangecuse]

I don’t know the answer to this, but I’m curious how many programs have gone to a final four while in the middle of sanctions.

That Final Four run was spectacular. I was in Chicago for the Regionals (stayed with my sister's fam) and in Houston at the team Marriott for the Final Four. It was an incredible run and experience. That being said, it was only a 4 game stretch, which, from a pure timing standpoint, happened to come at the most opportunistic one. I am by no means dismissing the achievement, but it's not an accurate picture at all of who we've been over the past 4 years. Our ACC record and double digit defeats in the loss column these past 4 seasons really speaks for itself, and, quite honestly, depicts our true colors.

 

[Caboose]

Cry me a river.

Damn ya got me there Mr original

 

[Caboose]

That Final Four run was spectacular. I was in Chicago for the Regionals (stayed with my sister's fam) and in Houston at the team Marriott for the Final Four. It was an incredible run and experience. That being said, it was only a 5 game stretch, which, from a pure timing standpoint, happened to come at the most opportunistic one. I am by no means dismissing the achievement, but it's not an accurate picture at all of who we've been over the past 4 years. Our ACC record and double digit defeats in the loss column these past 4 seasons really speaks for itself, and, quite honestly, depicts our true colors.

Thank you. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[br801]

Really, three pages are superfluous. This is all that needed to be said.

Less truly is more.

 

[OrangeDW]

That Final Four run was spectacular. I was in Chicago for the Regionals (stayed with my sister's fam) and in Houston at the team Marriott for the Final Four. It was an incredible run and experience. That being said, it was only a 4 game stretch, which, from a pure timing standpoint, happened to come at the most opportunistic one. I am by no means dismissing the achievement, but it's not an accurate picture at all of who we've been over the past 4 years. Our ACC record and double digit defeats in the loss column these past 4 seasons really speaks for itself, and, quite honestly, depicts our true colors.

Fair enough. I really was just curious how often it’s been done though.

 

[rocklloyd]

When the scholarship reductions came down, we said we could not afford to “miss” on a recruit, meaning the guys we brought in could not be busts. In my opinion the frequency of that happening has not changed which is the difference over the last several years. Yes, he only plays 7 but you need those 7 to be studs. We don’t have that this year.

 

[Brooky03]

It’s just as often a scapegoat that some use to apologize for the program’s slide into mediocrity.

a slide that, as a point of fact, wouldn't have occurred without the sanctions.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

That Final Four run was spectacular. I was in Chicago for the Regionals (stayed with my sister's fam) and in Houston at the team Marriott for the Final Four. It was an incredible run and experience. That being said, it was only a 4 game stretch, which, from a pure timing standpoint, happened to come at the most opportunistic one. I am by no means dismissing the achievement, but it's not an accurate picture at all of who we've been over the past 4 years. Our ACC record and double digit defeats in the loss column these past 4 seasons really speaks for itself, and, quite honestly, depicts our true colors.

How do the last four years show SU's true colors? The last few years have had sanctions, injuries, and coaching questions. That seems to be outside the normal. Hopefully next year gets us back to what I consider to be SU's true colors, and I'm glad we have JB to bring it back.

IMO, the program is getting back to the way it likes to operate, good program 4 year kids who slowly increase their roles and minutes, paired up with a couple of highly recruited stud players who have a 1-2 year expectancy. So now the program kids, those with the mindset of being able to slowly progress - FH, PC, Hughes, Moyer, Sid, and Buddy are here (and I hope HW stays in the mix). Add in Carey and Baz as the traditional stud influx. This is how the successful program used to operate and it looks to be back!

The last couple of years have not gone according to plan but are much more the outliers under JB. The SU/JB true colors are not the last 2 years at all. C'mon.