The only way to be in on Autry for 25-26 season

[Hopkins16]

The biggest change next year to see a drastic improvement is an upgraded coaching staff. We need a head coach who can motivate and inspire the players to play hard for 40 minutes and to really believe and buy into the system. None of this is evident this year. Certain players were mentioned as guys that need to go such as JJ and Bell. Both guys have proven that they can perform well when put in the right situations and not do things that will expose their weaknesses. JJ has been asked to play point and be the primary scorer, which is too much for a guy of his average talent. We saw that both he and Bell were good last year when we had a proficient (enough) point guard in Judah. Some of the best performing teams this year do not have superstars but very good coaches who demands nothing but the best from their players, and utilizes the strengths of their players within a system. We see some of the same mistakes game after game from the same players, which is maddening ( not going under or over ball screens when appropriate,lack of movement on offense, lack of communication, etc.). The only guy who could return but should go is Westry. He seems like a great person but sadly, I think he needs to focus on other aspects of his life and move on from basketball. Hopefully, guys such as Freeman and Moore will return, but if they do not, I understand. Cuffe has value, it’s all about how and when he is used. Again, it is coaching that is the main issue. It might take us a while to get a competitive NIL fund together and to be able to win the battle for the best players. But, all that will come together in time if we can put a team on the floor that fights hard and compete and shows heart and passion for 40 minutes, even in defeat.

 

[Red Holzman]

Assume that SU admin monitors this board where the most rabid SU BB fans reside-
They see what IMO appears to be near complete alignment on:
-State of the program.
-Growing apathy regarding the program.
-The idea of running it back "to save $9M".

Big gamble to continue the program's hibernation by running it back, while hoping the ongoing exodus of fans/revenue doesn't exceed the $9M they want to avoid spending.

I've gone from season tix, to attending some games, to TV, to stopped watching and checking scores/updates here.
I salute those of you who still attend games, or watch every game.
Results like yesterday's game confirm that not watching was a good choice for me -just can't take it anymore.
Disengagement trend appears to be snowballing.

 

[Dr. Bill]

No next year they will run it back with Red and it will probably be a little better than this year because they will get a better point guard than Carlos who can be a coach on the court at least on offense and get the team better organized and in better sets but we will not make the tournament and then we will see if all the tournament or fired talk is real or not

The basic tenets of basketball have not changed since it's inception. By that I mean, you assemble a team of talented players, as a coach, you provide guidance, direction, strategy, and mentoring, and hopefully, all of those things come together to produce wins on the court. What has changed and is challenging every college team right now, is how Talent is Acquired and Retained. The introduction of Money going directly to players has changed the entire dynamic. Syracuse has not figured out how to negotiate through this new landscape. There is no question that you need money to pay talented players to come to your school. We as fans, have no idea, how much money Syracuse has or doesn't have to pay players. One thing is clear though, Syracuse doesn't appear to have the large number of Mega Donors or the TV contract money that the SEC or The BIG schools have! For an example, Syracuse just announced this huge 50 Million Dollar Athletic Donation campaign, I think it is a 3 year project; Heck, when Texas A & M fired Jumbo Fisher, they owed him 70 million dollars: they got 4 Alumni to come together and say, don't worry about the 70 Million, go get a new coach, "We Got This". This is the landscape that Syracuse is walking around in...

 

[Scooch]

The difference is UConn moved off FAST from Ollie when they decided he wasn’t the answer (although it did cost them). And he had way more success than Red. Syracuse hems and haws after they make a bad decision hoping a miracle happens.

It’s possible to turn things around quickly when you have a completely different approach than Syracuse does. I think you’ve commented Syracuse doesn’t want to run athletics like “pro sports” - and that’s entirely the reason why a return to prominence is unlikely. Everyone else that is winning has moved on to a more professional model. In other words - if Syracuse wasn’t Syracuse, things could turn around quickly. But because they are Syracuse - it’s not going to happen.

The Ollie comparison is tough because Calhoun really stuck UConn with him. Whereas SU “chose” Red. Because of that I’m not surprised that the powers that be at UConn dumped Ollie as soon as they could. And I’m also not surprised that SU is giving Red one last chance.

Either way, it’s the coach that matters more than anything else. The right coach will find the way to fund NIL. The right coach will build the optimal roster. The right coach will get the best out of his team.

I’m pretty sure Red isn’t that guy. The past 12 months have been unimaginably awful. He’s done everything wrong.

So if he doesn’t make the tourney next year he gets fired and we hope the next guy is the right coach.

 

[gilardino]

Why I am responding to this, I have no idea. One, that isn't going to happen. Two, we have NIL this year and that can't be an excuse next year.

Ok so what is your solution. We have nil? Really?

 

[HakAttack]

I agree with you.

My only point is further damaging our reputation will have us at a point of not returning to national relevance for a long time.
You can only be bad for so long until everyone forgets about you and you become just another basketball team.

The prospects that grew up knowing us as National Champs have long dried up. The kids that looked up to Carmelo will soon go away. All this talk about bringing Red back may send us back to the stone ages.

I'd argue we're already at that point.

 

[HakAttack]

I haven’t watched more than 30 minutes since lemoyne. It’s just not a rewarding use of my time. Sucks but that’s just the reality when you have a busy life and kids etc.

I've been to two Syracuse games since COVID eased up in 2022, and that's pretty much the only times I've watched them, and I can see the Dome up the block from my house. The product that's been put on the floor since the 2021 S16 run certainly hasn't been worth anyone's time or money.

And with two four-year old kids, it's VERY easy to forget that there's a game on, much less have time to watch.

 

[Grbac]

I'd argue we're already at that point.

I think we have a chance to right the wrongs here. To me it’s new coach or bust. If we can get a new coach for next season I think it can reinvigorate the fan base and create some excitement.
Coming back with Red can and will put the nail in the coffin.
I’m holding on to that little glimmer of hope. Probably a 1% chance of it happening considering everyone is saying otherwise.

 

[tptcuse]

The future seems pretty obvious. Red has to make the Tourney next season or he’s out.

There’s no excuse for how flat footed everyone was with NIL and how terribly this roster was built. Hopefully we’ve fixed that. We’ll see. I have my concerns too.

But I don’t buy that the program is dead and buried if we don’t fire Red in 2 weeks. I think folks are angry and upset about everything.

The program is already dead. One more year isn't going to change that. However, if they don't absolutely crush the portal, the Vegas tournament is going to be a debacle and the Dome will be empty.

 

[DoctorBombay]

...I've gone from season tix, to attending some games, to TV, to stopped watching and checking scores/updates here.
I salute those of you who still attend games, or watch every game.
Results like yesterday's game confirm that not watching was a good choice for me -just can't take it anymore.
Disengagement trend appears to be snowballing.

 

[dasher]

Ok so what is your solution. We have nil? Really?

My solution is not to whine. We have raised more money than we had before. That is the good news. Do we have the money that the SEC and Big Ten teams do, no. But we have enough to compete. The solution is that first and foremost, we have to get better players. Our portal haul last year was woeful. Second, our coaching has to get a lot better. So far, it has been dreadful. Other than high school recruiting, this staff has done nothing well that I can see. I don't care who comes back from this team. They can all leave as far as I'm concerned. If Freeman comes back, okay. But our team plays dumb and plays no defense. My solution is to to build a team that at the very least, I want to watch.

 

[kingtidge]

My solution is not to whine. We have raised more money than we had before. That is the good news. Do we have the money that the SEC and Big Ten teams do, no. But we have enough to compete. The solution is that first and foremost, we have to get better players. Our portal haul last year was woeful. Second, our coaching has to get a lot better. So far, it has been dreadful. Other than high school recruiting, this staff has done nothing well that I can see. I don't care who comes back from this team. They can all leave as far as I'm concerned. If Freeman comes back, okay. But our team plays dumb and plays no defense. My solution is to to build a team that at the very least, I want to watch.

This^^^^

And maybe, if we're lucky, we get some pieces we can keep and build with for the new HC for the 2026-2027 season.

We're not very lucky tho, so a complete teardown and rebuild under a new HC will likely be necessary.

 

[hoopsupstate]

My solution is not to whine. We have raised more money than we had before. That is the good news. Do we have the money that the SEC and Big Ten teams do, no. But we have enough to compete. The solution is that first and foremost, we have to get better players. Our portal haul last year was woeful. Second, our coaching has to get a lot better. So far, it has been dreadful. Other than high school recruiting, this staff has done nothing well that I can see. I don't care who comes back from this team. They can all leave as far as I'm concerned. If Freeman comes back, okay. But our team plays dumb and plays no defense. My solution is to to build a team that at the very least, I want to watch.

If no one comes back we’ll have to fill 12 scholarships. Hopefully $10,000 a piece will get it done. Starting from scratch with an entire new roster is a recipe for another disaster of a season. Seriously, I’m not sure you can win with ten guys getting $200,000 a piece. You need some alpha players who have a set to close out games. I’ll give JJ some credit. He wasn’t afraid to take over at end of games. He wasn’t always successful, but he wasn’t afraid. Not all players can or will do it. We need Donnie, JJ, Moore and Petar back. That gives us four solid kids to mix in with some upper crust portal kids. Starting from scratch scares the hell out if me and doesn’t make me look forward to even a little success next year. We’re really missing some skilled forwards who can score and create. A quality point guard is absolutely essential. Every team in America is looking for the same things as us. I’m not sure if we can get it done in the portal.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Watching Michigan St. and Wisconsin show what playing hard looks like. Give me Kohler from MSU and you win a lot of games. He’s one tough SOB. Neither team is filled with exceptional athletes, but they play hard and are all tough as nails.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Offer the freshman point guard Richardson from MSU the house. He’s a great looking point guard who plays both ends of the house. He’s going to need an ATM at the end of the year.

 

[dasher]

Watching Michigan St. and Wisconsin show what playing hard looks like. Give me Kohler from MSU and you win a lot of games. He’s one tough SOB. Neither team is filled with exceptional athletes, but they play hard and are all tough as nails.

Ah, we saw what these guys can do. And we have seen what JJ can do on defense (nothing) and from outside shooting (nothing). There will be guys out there that can help us win that we can get. I hope and trust that we are far ahead of where we were on player evaluations last year. If those guys want to come back, at our price, and play hard, I'm not going to run them off. But we need winning players. Guys that play hard on defense and can make a 3. We don't have any of that right now. If those guys leave, they leave.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Ah, we saw what these guys can do. And we have seen what JJ can do on defense (nothing) and from outside shooting (nothing). There will be guys out there that can help us win that we can get. I hope and trust that we are far ahead of where we were on player evaluations last year. If those guys want to come back, at our price, and play hard, I'm not going to run them off. But we need winning players. Guys that play hard on defense and can make a 3. We don't have any of that right now. If those guys leave, they leave.

I don’t disagree, but every school has a GM now. Everyone is doing player evaluations. Why do we think Kline has the magic touch over everyone else?

 

[Cusefan0307]

I don’t disagree, but every school has a GM now. Everyone is doing player evaluations. Why do we think Kline has the magic touch over everyone else?

Actually not every team does. It’s far less than you think.

 

[dasher]

I don’t disagree, but every school has a GM now. Everyone is doing player evaluations. Why do we think Kline has the magic touch over everyone else?

Did I say that Kline had the magic touch? Have I ever said anything like that? I have no idea what type of job he will do. I think I even used the word hope.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Did I say that Kline had the magic touch? Have I ever said anything like that? I have no idea what type of job he will do. I think I even used the word hope.

I’m not saying you said that. Everyone is expecting so much from Alex, I just hope he can do half of what everyone is expecting. Kline might do a great job evaluating players, but I’m concerned if we can get any of them. I’m hoping his connections with agents and scouts will have some clout.

 

[dasher]

I’m not saying you said that. Everyone is expecting so much from Alex, I just hope he can do half of what everyone is expecting. Kline might do a great job evaluating players, but I’m concerned if we can get any of them. I’m hoping his connections with agents and scouts will have some clout.

Whatever he does, and you can't say this often, it will have to be better than the process and the players we got last year. Putting it bluntly, we didn't know what we were doing last year. And, we didn't have enough money anyway.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Whatever he does, and you can't say this often, it will have to be better than the process and the players we got last year. Putting it bluntly, we didn't know what we were doing last year. And, we didn't have enough money anyway.

You’re 100% correct. It is very obvious we had no clue last year. I’m wondering how soon the coaching staff will expect players to say what their plans are for next year. You have to think they must have some idea. It could be telling if any of our assistant coaches look around after the season.

 

[atlanticuse]

Not as many people yammering about Red’s stunning 20* wins last year.
Which was 19, plus a div 2 consolation prize.

Dude can’t coach.
Next year will be hot seat from day 0.

 

[dasher]

You’re 100% correct. It is very obvious we had no clue last year. I’m wondering how soon the coaching staff will expect players to say what their plans are for next year. You have to think they must have some idea. It could be telling if any of our assistant coaches look around after the season.

If you were an ass't coach, wouldn't you be looking to get out of Dodge? Oh, and it will be impossible to replace them with anyone decent. If you had a option, would you choose us?

 

[atlanticuse]

I’m not saying you said that. Everyone is expecting so much from Alex, I just hope he can do half of what everyone is expecting. Kline might do a great job evaluating players, but I’m concerned if we can get any of them. I’m hoping his connections with agents and scouts will have some clout.

I said the same thing.
In pro sports you can outright out bid others.
MLB has huge turnover - look at Buehler on BOS and Hendricks on LAA. (LAD, NYY, SDG, and NYM are silly)
That doesn’t guarantee winning, which is where analytics and coaching come into play. KC, ATL, TAM stand out here; now DET and previously… OAK)