The Reality Check comes to town... in spades

[Flacusian]

I suppose the 1st loss of any season gives rise to questions about the strengths and weaknesses of a team and for all who follow basketball it was known that today's game would put things into better perspective with respect them. With that having been said I know I have to say that I'm more than surprised at how poorly the team looked today. A couple of things really stand out.

1. Chuckwu is at this moment in time... a complete liability against good teams.
2. We don't have anyone who can effectively score off the dribble.
3. Andrew White may not be a one trick pony... but he certainly has a one trick pony routine.
4. Reports of TT being ready for prime time were... let's just say premature
5. Gillon conjures up memories of Johnny Flynn driving directly into the heart of the defense on the edge of out of control.
6. It's hard to imagine that more playing time by Battle wouldn't help this team.
7. It's hard to imagine that more playing time by Battle wouldn't help this team.
8. Our only ready for prime time player is Tyler Lydon. ( and he is not one to take over everything offensively)
9. Franklin Howard would serve himself well to not let his emotions overtake his game.
10. Anything close to the basket has the propensity to be really ugly.
11. Most concerning... is that there were several of our guys out there who seemed to resign themselves a little too early that this game was over. Last years team NEVER gave up. They left it all out there every game.

One play totally made me fall out of my chair. Syracuse was on offense and TT got the ball in his hands directly under the basket. Rather than just dunking the ball he gave a little shovel pass to Lydon who was standing right next to him. What??? are you kidding me. Needless to say Lydon did not score and it was just another one of what seemed like an endless stream of senseless turnovers.

The good news is... and I'm hopeful here. It's only one game and it will serve as a teaching moment for this group. They have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. The talent is there and after today... I hope... and I really don't think it can get much worse than what we saw today. Let's hope they can come out next game and show us what they are made of.

 

[SBU72]

The first lost, sky is falling woes. Except for the first line. the others can/will change with every game to come. Some up, some down.

 

[GardenOrange]

Significant step up in competition and the team did not rise to it. The "in your face" m to m employed by SC most of the game really kept SU from getting into any kind of offensive sync. Gillon's drives to the hoop ended in TOs today. Lydon did not play strong inside when he was down there. Frank sitting for long stretches of 1st half hurt. SU was outplayed in every aspect of this game. Hard to pick a guy who had a good game for SU. If the staff can use this game and film for teaching / correction it could be a net positive though. Looking to see improvement at Wisky.

 

[Widget24]

Hard to pick a guy who had a good game for SU.

But, but, but...this forum led me to believe that this team was SOOOOO deep that it would be impossible for the entire team to crap the bed. IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

 

[pearl31]

Lydon did not play strong inside when he was down there.

Mostly true, but he rarely had the chance to show otherwise - so many times our guys missed getting the ball to him when he had great position posting up smaller defenders - was pulling my hair out about this

 

[Forza Azzurri]

I suppose the 1st loss of any season gives rise to questions about the strengths and weaknesses of a team and for all who follow basketball it was known that today's game would put things into better perspective with respect them. With that having been said I know I have to say that I'm more than surprised at how poorly the team looked today. A couple of things really stand out.

1. Chuckwu is at this moment in time... a complete liability against good teams.
2. We don't have anyone who can effectively score off the dribble.
3. Andrew White may not be a one trick pony... but he certainly has a one trick pony routine.
4. Reports of TT being ready for prime time were... let's just say premature
5. Gillon conjures up memories of Johnny Flynn driving directly into the heart of the defense on the edge of out of control.
6. It's hard to imagine that more playing time by Battle wouldn't help this team.
7. It's hard to imagine that more playing time by Battle wouldn't help this team.
8. Our only ready for prime time player is Tyler Lydon. ( and he is not one to take over everything offensively)
9. Franklin Howard would serve himself well to not let his emotions overtake his game.
10. Anything close to the basket has the propensity to be really ugly.
11. Most concerning... is that there were several of our guys out there who seemed to resign themselves a little too early that this game was over. Last years team NEVER gave up. They left it all out there every game.

One play totally made me fall out of my chair. Syracuse was on offense and TT got the ball in his hands directly under the basket. Rather than just dunking the ball he gave a little shovel pass to Lydon who was standing right next to him. What??? are you kidding me. Needless to say Lydon did not score and it was just another one of what seemed like an endless stream of senseless turnovers.

The good news is... and I'm hopeful here. It's only one game and it will serve as a teaching moment for this group. They have a long way to go and a lot of work to do. The talent is there and after today... I hope... and I really don't think it can get much worse than what we saw today. Let's hope they can come out next game and show us what they are made of.

12. It's only November

13. JB learned more about his players today than he did in all the previous games combined.

14. Going to be fun to watch JB put the pieces together.

15. We did give up fewer points than our football team.

Color me Orange but don't color me concerned.

 

[Day2]

Several years ago, I played in this flag football league and one of my teammates was from Syracuse. Naturally we bonded over SU sports. I remember after the basketball team lost an early season game, he said he was fed up with Boeheim and the 2-3 zone. He even said JB should be fired on the spot and Bernie Fine deserved a chance to be the head coach. The game in question? The loss to Memphis at MSG to kick off the 2002-03 season.

Simmer down now.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Next year will be our year. Take it to the bank.

 

[CaptainJ]

Several years ago, I played in this flag football league and one of my teammates was from Syracuse. Naturally we bonded over SU sports. I remember after the basketball team lost an early season game, he said he was fed up with Boeheim and the 2-3 zone. He even said JB should be fired on the spot and Bernie Fine deserved a chance to be the head coach. The game in question? The loss to Memphis at MSG to kick off the 2002-03 season.

Simmer down now.

Listen, I kind of see it as a reaction to all of the clowns who overhyped this team and were doing their Aaron Rodgers title belt gesture to teams we were supposed to beat by 40, lol. It's kind of like not noticing a hard turn while driving and then overcorrecting and going off the road.

 

[Flacusian]

Next year will be our year. Take it to the bank.

Didn't you mean to post that on the football board?

 

[kirbivore]

Next year will be our year. Take it to the bank.