The Head Coach has been the issue since Day 1

[SUFan44]

I hate to break it to ya but it’s exactly Syracuse basketball historically

If you want to take a small sample size of this game, fine.

Over the course of the last 2+ years, that is simply not true. Last year's record was the worst since 1968-69.

I hope the team proves me wrong. But I'm not getting the warm and fuzzies, and see the same issues that have plagued us under this head coach.

 

[Lukeyloo]

To follow up on the lack of intensity I also place blame on JJ. He is a senior and supposed leader of the team. He needs to demand that the other players start to play with intensity and call out guys for playing soft. Don’t need to do it publicly yet but time to demand accountability as the senior leader.

Cant call out people if you're also one of the offenders.

 

[DoctahLexus]

Where did I say we were bad?

All that success without focus, energy, a gameplan, or a system? We were good while not having those things? I will go ahead and strongly disagree.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

You don't need one, but this is higher ed. There are often search committees to hire low-level academic advising staff. At some institutions it's mandated for many positions, and Men's Basketball HC is a pretty big one.

Fortunately, SU is not a state school or like the Louisiana Governor helping to pick their next Football coach, I do not think that NYS's Governor, although an SU alum, should have any input. I think Syverud and Wildhack should appoint a committee of Syracusefan.con posters who would be among the most intelligent and vested people to find the next coach.

Although, like others, I am cautiously optimistic that this team has enough moving parts to be better this season.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Ten things to know about the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season
Not really surprising.

As for the hot seat?

• Hubert Davis, North Carolina: Davis’ first four seasons at UNC have featured the highs of almost winning the national title in his debut campaign — and the lows of missing the Tournament altogether in 2023. The inconsistency and underwhelming seasons have to end for him to prove he’s the Tar Heels’ long-term leader, and someone befitting the contract extension he signed in December that ties him to the program through 2029-30.

• Adrian Autry, Syracuse: Following a legend like Jim Boeheim was never going to be easy, but Autry’s 34-31 record through two seasons simply isn’t good enough at a place with Syracuse’s tradition. The Orange had one of the more underrated offseasons nationally, thanks to general manager Alex Kline’s efforts, and should contend for an NCAA Tournament berth. Without it, it’s hard to see Autry getting a fourth season.

 

[OrangeFoo]

During the post game Red called out the problems. Lack of intensity, defensive issues the team playing soft. He sees the issues but unfortunately he is not able to get the players to change or commit. I know it’s his personality but when your team is playing soft you have to get fired up at them. You don’t need to throw chairs or go off the rails but you do have to take it up a level and call them out and show passion. May have to sit some players that don’t want to show 100% intensity. If you cannot get your team to play hard every game for 40 minutes then a coaching change is necessary.

This is the problem: "intensity", "playing soft". These are all red herrings... the issue on D is that he doesn't have a plan for when someone on his team gets beat by someone on the other team. Unfortunately in basketball this will happen more often than not, especially when playing teams with equal or better athletic talent. Coaching is having a plan for what happens when the man on the ball gets beaten and in year 3 WE STILL HAVE NO PLAN. That is inexcusable and in my opinion is a fireable offense.

 

[bnoro]

To follow up on the lack of intensity I also place blame on JJ. He is a senior and supposed leader of the team. He needs to demand that the other players start to play with intensity and call out guys for playing soft. Don’t need to do it publicly yet but time to demand accountability as the senior leader.

The program will improve when JJ leaves. He's not a winning player.

 

[OmahaCuse]

The program will improve when JJ leaves. He's not a winning player.

Great teammate and can get to the rim. Would be a good spark coming off the bench.

 

[baggerbob]

The program will improve when JJ leaves. He's not a winning player.

Unfortunately I think you are right, and Red will be gone as a coach. There is no way JJ should have played 30 minutes last night. 15 minutes might have been too much.

 

[Brooky03]

Effort comes from confidence. Confidence comes from knowing what you need to do.

We are falling down in the ‘knowing what you need to do’ category.

 

[Brooky03]

All that success without focus, energy, a gameplan, or a system? We were good while not having those things? I will go ahead and strongly disagree.

You don’t remember all those times the analysts would talk about our lazy zone defense that nobody was worried about? Or how we couldn’t get any players to score points and go to the NBA early because we just rolled the ball out and ran high ball screens? I’m pretty sure we never had any historic comebacks from our full court press either.

 

[orangecuse]

Listen, I loved Adrian Autry as a player. The '94 game vs. Missouri remains one of the all-time impressive performances by an SU player, even in a loss (the and-one that wasn't from the knees!).

But I don't see how anyone can look at the situation we have and state they have ever felt that the current head coach had a handle on what to do with this program in order to succeed.

First, it was lack of preparation for the portal due to being hired late (he wasn't). Then, it was lack of NIL resources. Now, what's the excuse?

This team has PLENTY of talent to win games. And I am hopeful they prove me wrong and he proves me wrong -- certainly the LeMoyne exhibition is vividly etched in my memory as a cautionary tale to read too much into these games.

However, I continue to see the same things over and over again with the way this team plays. Lack of focus, lack of energy, lack of plan or system. It's not Syracuse basketball.

But, what is, Syracuse basketball? I mean how many years have to go by before one can honestly say, this is what we are, have become nowadays, the new normal? Just look at Syracuse's overall ACC conference record since we have been in the ACC. And, the ACC has been a middling, mediocre top to bottom conference throughout our duration in it, for the most part.

As wonderful and crazy as that 2016 Final Four run was, it was nearly a decade ago. And, that was the year that somehow, someway, we snuck into the Dance as a 10 seed, the bracket leak year. We were a middling team (as had been the norm) that year, most (including here) thought the loser of the Pitt/SU game in the ACC Tourney was out. We lost (the 3rd time that year to an average Pitt team), but again, somehow, someway, found ourselves getting in.

Syracuse University (the one I think you're referring to) used to be annually ranked, win conference titles, routinely get to the conference semis and finals, etc. SU, since we have been in the ACC has NEVER gotten to a semi final conference game and has never won more than one consecutive conference tournament game to date.

What we see nowadays, and for sometime now, unfortunately, IS exactly Syracuse basketball...its new normal.

 

[Orangezoo]

I don't see any upside in midyear coaching changes at the college level unless there is a possible coach in waiting on the bench that they want to give a trial run to. There is NO ONE on that bench who is even close to a head coach spot (sorry Griff loved you as a player and all that goodness you stood for when waiting your turn and making the most of it when you got your shot).

if we are 7-10 I suspect/hope/pray there will be a search committee and talent firm put n place to begin the process so that by March after the team loses in the first round of the ACC, the new coach is ready to be announced and can pound the portal and hopefully bring in some high end talent.

Here’s what Hodgsons team of 13 new guys at USF did vs their first D2 exhibition…

USF Men’s Basketball Dominates Saint Leo 120-63 in Exhibition - USF Athletics

Bulls Show Off Offensive Depth and Strong Defense in 120-63 Win.

gousfbulls.com

 

[OrangeFoo]

Here’s what Hodgsons team of 13 new guys at USF did vs their first D2 exhibition…

USF Men’s Basketball Dominates Saint Leo 120-63 in Exhibition - USF Athletics

Bulls Show Off Offensive Depth and Strong Defense in 120-63 Win.

gousfbulls.com

Who is Hodgson and why do we care about him? Sorry genuine question... I assume he's a potential future coach, but why?

 

[Zelda Zonk]

During the post game Red called out the problems. Lack of intensity, defensive issues the team playing soft. He sees the issues but unfortunately he is not able to get the players to change or commit. I know it’s his personality but when your team is playing soft you have to get fired up at them. You don’t need to throw chairs or go off the rails but you do have to take it up a level and call them out and show passion. May have to sit some players that don’t want to show 100% intensity. If you cannot get your team to play hard every game for 40 minutes then a coaching change is necessary.

That is a nice start on some of the problems.

I’m not sure how anyone watching our offense can think that we are actually running plays. One guy has the ball, he dribbles a bit. If the seas don’t miraculously part for him, he gives it up and the next guy does the same thing until it gets late in the clock and someone takes a very challenged fade away/leaning/twisting jumper or an unwise three. Meanwhile the other four players have been standing around on the perimeter. If one of those players happens to move during the dribbling, it almost seems incidental, and it’s only when he maybe spots an opening. It’s all very park casual, unorganized, easily defensible, lazy. It elicits bad shots far too often.

The guy we brought in to be the floor general, because he demonstrated he was a floor general with his last team… now looks like he doesn’t have a clue. A taller Carlos. Methinks, unfortunately, his generalship was related to his former team having an offensive system.

I am screaming Wallace Shawn in my head—it’s inconceivable! How does one man—Red—not want to run plays? How do the other coaches not recognize the constant ISO ball is not sustainable against equal or greater competition, and not tell Red? I don’t know what the staff does except clap in Instagram clips.

 

[Orangezoo]

Who is Hodgson and why do we care about him? Sorry genuine question... I assume he's a potential future coach, but why?

Up and comer who was discussed at length in future coach threads and is from Olean. He was extremely impressive at Arkansas state and just noting he seems to have a whole new team of kids playing hard out of the gates in his new gig in a bigger pond.

 

[Cuse12]

Who is Hodgson and why do we care about him? Sorry genuine question... I assume he's a potential future coach, but why?

I’m clueless but believe he is from the area somewhat? Proven up and comer I think.

 

[Zelda Zonk]

All that success without focus, energy, a gameplan, or a system? We were good while not having those things? I will go ahead and strongly disagree.

That’s not what he said.

What he said was true, at least since I started watching in ‘85. Boeheim teams took a lot for granted, seemingly were unmotivated until ‘provoked,’ and won on sheer talent disparity. As for the “system,” JB hisself [sic] said a few times something like SU ‘had only about ten plays, because players couldn’t remember more than that.’

When we were in the BE, every year, we were in the top three in terms of talent. The results were unsurprisingly commensurate.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Who is Hodgson and why do we care about him? Sorry genuine question... I assume he's a potential future coach, but why?

Used to be an asst at UBuffalo before becoming the HC at Arkansas St.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Personally, I measure a team's prospects by how hard they give effort no matter what, and especially on defense. I've coached basketball for middle-schoolers and let my kids know, unequivocally, a lack of effort especially on the defensive end, was simply unacceptable. Period.
Whenever a parent approached me about Johnny's lack of PT, the answer was always the same- "Ask Johnny WHY he's not getting any run. He knows why". That was it...you play hard, or you sit, no excuses.
Been troubled by this aspect of Red's coaching since day 1. IMO, it's a total lack of respect for his position as HC, as evidenced by the last 2 years.
I don't get why Red doesn't coach like his azz is on fire, and set the tone IMMEDIATELY, exhibition or not. It's disappointing, and very disheartening. JMHO

 

[DoctahLexus]

That’s not what he said.

What he said was true, at least since I started watching in ‘85. Boeheim teams took a lot for granted, seemingly were unmotivated until ‘provoked,’ and won on sheer talent disparity. As for the “system,” JB hisself [sic] said a few times something like SU ‘had only about ten plays, because players couldn’t remember more than that.’

When we were in the BE, every year, we were in the top three in terms of talent. The results were unsurprisingly commensurate.

Actually unbelievable. Completely unbelievable. I cannot even begin to describe how strongly I disagree with this. Will just leave it be I guess.

 

[AZOrange]

All that success without focus, energy, a gameplan, or a system? We were good while not having those things? I will go ahead and strongly disagree.

We had exquisite talent…but you can’t tell me that historically jbs team didn’t suffer from effort, focus work ethic type issues.

 

[AZOrange]

We are line shifting lineups with like 10 new guys. It doesn’t take much looking tho to see the talent level difference between this year and last. This will gel over the next month as red shortens the rotation. This team will make the ncaa and will be a top third team in acc easily.

 

[Orangefizz]

Listen, I loved Adrian Autry as a player. The '94 game vs. Missouri remains one of the all-time impressive performances by an SU player, even in a loss (the and-one that wasn't from the knees!).

But I don't see how anyone can look at the situation we have and state they have ever felt that the current head coach had a handle on what to do with this program in order to succeed.

First, it was lack of preparation for the portal due to being hired late (he wasn't). Then, it was lack of NIL resources. Now, what's the excuse?

This team has PLENTY of talent to win games. And I am hopeful they prove me wrong and he proves me wrong -- certainly the LeMoyne exhibition is vividly etched in my memory as a cautionary tale to read too much into these games.

However, I continue to see the same things over and over again with the way this team plays. Lack of focus, lack of energy, lack of plan or system. It's not Syracuse basketball.

I agree with you. Red seems to be the problem. If this season doesn’t go well this will be his last on the orange bench

 

[OrangeAl]

We had exquisite talent…but you can’t tell me that historically jbs team didn’t suffer from effort, focus work ethic type issues.

That's why they only won 75% of the time, instead of 100%, which we all know they should have.