This is reassuring

[CuseRunner]

You guys are insane to ask about nepotism. I would be hiding waiting for that reply.

If you ask it respectively and fairly there is no reason JB can't respond.

I hope Steve asks when he calls in Thursday night. Steve please.

 

[Cuse1055]

Runner pleading and begging for SWC to ask questions for him on the radio cracks me up lol.

 

[Cusefan0307]

You guys are insane to ask about nepotism. I would be hiding waiting for that reply.

Yeah there's a way to tactfully ask questions. That is why Steve get's good responses.

 

[FrancoPizza]

Yeah there's a way to tactfully ask questions. That is why Steve get's good responses.

Tactful is one thing. I get the impression Steve has to walk on eggshells and has legal counsel dissecting all the different ways that JB could perceive an honest inquiry as an insult.

 

[SWC75]

I would definitely leave out the nepotism word. You can say- my friends keep saying that Buddy seems to have a separate set of rules and able to play though mistakes and bad shots, but I've been sticking up for you. Why do you think they say that?

"What has it been like coaching your own son? Have the allegations of nepotism, bother you? Have any of the other players reacted negatively?"

 

[Alsacs]

"What has it been like coaching your own son? Have the allegations of nepotism, bother you? Have any of the other players reacted negatively?"

Yeah I mean this kinda gives you cover but I still would never use the word nepotism.
I would say coaches like Tubby Smith, Eddie Sutton(RIP),John Beilein coached their sons and and dealt with blowback is it harder to coach your son critically as a result of any potential backlash.

That is like the only way to ask it. I am going to ask him from the prospective of Triche-Waiters-Jardine compared to Buddy-JG3-Richmond why the minutes aren’t simlair to the former rotation especially since Richmond is a good defender and have the stats to backup.

 

[CuseRunner]

"What has it been like coaching your own son? Have the allegations of nepotism, bother you? Have any of the other players reacted negatively?"

Thank U Steve. Couldn't have asked it better myself.

 

[Brooky03]

Yeah I mean this kinda gives you cover but I still would never use the word nepotism.
I would say coaches like Tubby Smith, Eddie Sutton(RIP),John Beilein coached their sons and and dealt with blowback is it harder to coach your son critically as a result of any potential backlash.

That is like the only way to ask it. I am going to ask him from the prospective of Triche-Waiters-Jardine compared to Buddy-JG3-Richmond why the minutes aren’t simlair to the former rotation especially since Richmond is a good defender and have the stats to backup.

The minutes are similar to that rotation. Your point previously, I thought, was that Kadary’s minutes should be higher because Buddy and Joe aren’t as good as Scoop and Triche.

 

[Alsacs]

The minutes are similar to that rotation. Your point previously, I thought, was that Kadary’s minutes should be higher because Buddy and Joe aren’t as good as Scoop and Triche.

Buddy plays 14 MPG more than Kadary.
In 2012 the minutes difference between the 3 guards was 3 MPG.

So sorry but your wrong.
Buddy plays more than any Scoop-Dion or Triche in that 3 man rotation.

 

[Brooky03]

Buddy plays 14 MPG more than Kadary.
In 2012 the minutes difference between the 3 guards was 3 MPG.

So sorry but your wrong.
Buddy plays more than any Scoop-Dion or Triche in that 3 man rotation.

Waiters as a Freshman is the more apt comparison. Kadary plays more than Waiters did as a Freshman and Kadary is probably not as good as Waiters was (I’m not saying definitely one way or the other). Buddy’s minutes are higher because he plays some Forward which Scoop, Triche, Waiters did not.

If you want to ask why Kadary doesn’t play more, I think you need to frame it differently than in terms of that rotation of guys from 10-11, or even 11-12 for that matter. Sophomore Waiters playing 3 more minutes per game than Freshman Kadary isn’t nuts.

No need for the passive aggressive “sorry, but you’re wrong” nonsense.

 

[Alsacs]

Waiters as a Freshman is the more apt comparison. Kadary plays more than Waiters did as a Freshman and Kadary is probably not as good as Waiters was (I’m not saying definitely one way or the other). Buddy’s minutes are higher because he plays some Forward which Scoop, Triche, Waiters did not.

If you want to ask why Kadary doesn’t play more, I think you need to frame it differently than in terms of that rotation of guys from 10-11, or even 11-12 for that matter. Sophomore Waiters playing 3 more minutes per game than Freshman Kadary isn’t nuts.

It’s not a good comp.
Nobody on the 2011 team took within 5 shots per game what Buddy does this year.

 

[Brooky03]

It’s not a good comp.
Nobody on the 2011 team took within 5 shots per game what Buddy does this year.

It sounds like your question has more to do with Buddy’s playing time than the guard rotation. The 80 minutes at the two guard positions are broken up similarly to the Scoop-Triche-Waiters rotation.

 

[orangecuse]

Just because he prefers not to play M2M doesn't mean they can't play M2M. That's all I was saying/implying.

Do we even know why JB still prefers 100% zone over any m2m nowadays? As others have mentioned, when we have had the appropriate personnel to maximize the zone's benefit, it can be quite problematic for the opponent. However, not having the necessary personnel, along with how the game has evolved, etc. (as others have also mentioned) why hasn't JB adjusted to the times? Is it simply his stubbornness and being unwilling to adapt? It reminds me of my old man (and other's of that age group) in how they are so rigid to change as the world around them changes, etc. You know, that; why do I have to file my taxes electronically, I've been doing it by hand for years and it's been fine, etc., mentality and/or the like.

If using an 'exclusive' zone only defense was so enigmatic to its opponents, advantageous, etc., than why don't so many other schools follow suit? In reality, it's just the opposite where just about all of them play m2m as their primary defense. Additionally, along the "can't" front, Syracuse is in the top 6 of all time wins in NCAA history, let alone being in the ACC, a premier P5 conference. Therefore talent (being physically able to play adequate m2m) should really never be an issue here.

Jay Bilas, who is as big of a fan of JB in the national media that isn't an alum, on color last night was as polite about our horrendous D as he could have been. Pointing out that UVA only had two shooters, especially their best one in Wisky transfer in Hauser. Yet, our D left him continuously wide open from 3 and we paid dearly for it. The obvious/given retort is not just simply saying; well our defender(s) continuously erred getting sucked in, etc. as to why that was the case. I mean, we are now less than a week from February, it isn't as if this was a November, December game when early season learning type excuses can be more easily accepted or tolerated. IMO, it was the broader scope of playing zone, and its inherent weaknesses, especially with our current personnel.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Waiters as a Freshman is the more apt comparison. Kadary plays more than Waiters did as a Freshman and Kadary is probably not as good as Waiters was (I’m not saying definitely one way or the other). Buddy’s minutes are higher because he plays some Forward which Scoop, Triche, Waiters did not.

If you want to ask why Kadary doesn’t play more, I think you need to frame it differently than in terms of that rotation of guys from 10-11, or even 11-12 for that matter. Sophomore Waiters playing 3 more minutes per game than Freshman Kadary isn’t nuts.

No need for the passive aggressive “sorry, but you’re wrong” nonsense.

I highly doubt Buddy's minutes at forward are enough to affect his overall mpg this season.

 

[OrangeDW]

It sounds like your question has more to do with Buddy’s playing time than the guard rotation. The 80 minutes at the two guard positions are broken up similarly to the Scoop-Triche-Waiters rotation.

No, they really aren’t.

Buddy has played SF in like 2 games. He’s playing a solid 35 mpg or so at guard.

 

[Brooky03]

I highly doubt Buddy's minutes at forward are enough to affect his overall mpg this season.

It affects his average minutes per game enough to matter

 

[CuseFaninVT]

It affects his average minutes per game enough to matter

Show me please.

 

[Brooky03]

No, they really aren’t.

Buddy has played SF in like 2 games. He’s playing a solid 35 mpg or so at guard.

Kadary is playing 21. Subtract out the games when Buddy wasn’t available and he’s still averaging more minutes than Waiters as a Freshman.

The numbers are what they are

 

[Brooky03]

Show me please.

He played 21 minutes at Forward between Miami and VT. He’s played 11 games. That comes out to about 2 minutes per game.

 

[OrangeDW]

Kadary is playing 21. Subtract out the games when Buddy wasn’t available and he’s still averaging more minutes than Waiters as a Freshman.

The numbers are what they are

Kadary playing 17.5 mpg when Buddy plays.

I don’t know why you keep talking about 2011 in response to people saying they want a 2012 type guard rotation.

*Waiters should’ve played more than he did in 2011 too.

 

[Brooky03]

Kadary playing 17.5 mpg when Buddy plays.

I don’t know why you keep talking about 2011 in response to people saying they want a 2012 type guard rotation.

*Waiters should’ve played more than he did in 2011 too.

It’s the better comp. Buddy and Joe aren’t as good as Scoop and Triche. Yeah. Well, Freshman Kadary isn’t as good as Sophomore Waiters by an equal margin.

my argument all along has been to let Kadary grow into a role, just like Waiters did. That means 25-30 minutes next year or by the end of this season.

We’ve been starved for Guard talent so Kadary looks like a world beater compared to that. I like his game a lot but it has flaws. His ball security is not great and if he’s not beating his guy off the dribble (there are more than a couple ACC defenders who can check him) he’s not contributing much for himself or others on offense. Joe and Buddy, obviously, have flaws too.

 

[Scooch]

"What has it been like coaching your own son? Have the allegations of nepotism, bother you? Have any of the other players reacted negatively?"

"Coach, first time, long time. Question... how do you decide who to scream at during a game? Do you do that to everyone, or do you take into consideration their respective psyches? I'll hang up, hide under my couch, and listen."

 

[SWC75]

Thank U Steve. Couldn't have asked it better myself.

I'll still go with my question about three point shooting percentage, (we are now #233). I'll see what response Alsacs gets. If JB doesn't address coaching his son directly, I might ask my version of the question, (I'll replace the word "nepotism" with 'criticism') in a future show.

"What has it been like coaching your own son? Has criticism bothered you or Buddy?, Have any of the other players reacted negatively?"

Or you could call that in...

 

[OrangeDW]

It’s the better comp. Buddy and Joe aren’t as good as Scoop and Triche. Yeah. Well, Freshman Kadary isn’t as good as Sophomore Waiters by an equal margin.

my argument all along has been to let Kadary grow into a role, just like Waiters did. That means 25-30 minutes next year or by the end of this season.

We’ve been starved for Guard talent so Kadary looks like a world beater compared to that. I like his game a lot but it has flaws. His ball security is not great and if he’s not beating his guy off the dribble (there are more than a couple ACC defenders who can check him) he’s not contributing much for himself or others on offense. Joe and Buddy, obviously, have flaws too.

It’s not, for the discussion at hand though. 2012 was unique for us because the guard off the bench played as much as the starters. It was a true 3 guard rotation. Some are calling for that this year.

One could argue we should’ve did it in 2011 too. Dion was kinda under wraps and Scoop played and popped too much that year. IMO.

Kadary doesn’t have to be a world beater to play more on this team. He’s better than the other two guards at most things...including ball security.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Do we even know why JB still prefers 100% zone over any m2m nowadays? As others have mentioned, when we have had the appropriate personnel to maximize the zone's benefit, it can be quite problematic for the opponent. However, not having the necessary personnel, along with how the game has evolved, etc. (as others have also mentioned) why hasn't JB adjusted to the times? Is it simply his stubbornness and being unwilling to adapt? It reminds me of my old man (and other's of that age group) in how they are so rigid to change as the world around them changes, etc. You know, that; why do I have to file my taxes electronically, I've been doing it by hand for years and it's been fine, etc., mentality and/or the like.

If using an 'exclusive' zone only defense was so enigmatic to its opponents, advantageous, etc., than why don't so many other schools follow suit? In reality, it's just the opposite where just about all of them play m2m as their primary defense. Additionally, along the "can't" front, Syracuse is in the top 6 of all time wins in NCAA history, let alone being in the ACC, a premier P5 conference. Therefore talent (being physically able to play adequate m2m) should really never be an issue here.

Jay Bilas, who is as big of a fan of JB in the national media that isn't an alum, on color last night was as polite about our horrendous D as he could have been. Pointing out that UVA only had two shooters, especially their best one in Wisky transfer in Hauser. Yet, our D left him continuously wide open from 3 and we paid dearly for it. The obvious/given retort is not just simply saying; well our defender(s) continuously erred getting sucked in, etc. as to why that was the case. I mean, we are now less than a week from February, it isn't as if this was a November, December game when early season learning type excuses can be more easily accepted or tolerated. IMO, it was the broader scope of playing zone, and its inherent weaknesses, especially with our current personnel.

As to the why: I think it is two things.
1. He knows it can be an effective defense. It is far more effective than most M2M defenses when played properly with the right personnel. We know that, we've seen it.
2. College teams have very limited practice time so committing to one thing increases the efficiency of practice time. There is also no doubt that this is true and is an absolutely reasonable approach to college basketball.

Problems:
1. This is clearly the very worst zone defense I have ever seen. Last night was laughable to an extreme degree.
2. That is likely an outcome of what was said above: there has been far less practice time than a normal season and our players, specifically the top of the zone are particularly ill suited to playing it well.
3. The fundamental problem with item two is that Buddy and JG3 are partly ill suited for the zone due to a lack of length (Joe) and a lack of athleticism (both). Both of those problems would be even more glaring in a M2M defense.

Kadary has the length and athleticism to be murderous at the top of the zone, but he doesn't have nearly the experience with it (he also left shooters wide open last night) and that problem isn't likely to be solved overnight.

All that said: the typical arguments against playing M2M are outlined above and they are reasonable, even if you don't like it. This year, since the zone is so bad, it might be reasonable to try M2M because how could it be worse. I suspect what JB would say is that using last night's game as a reason to switch is illogical because, while we might do better against a team like UVA, we might lose to other teams as a result of playing a M2M that we didn't get much practice time to refine, or matchups would be different in such a way that the zone would fare better.

I would agree partially with that. Let's face it, we can't use UVA as a litmus test to determine if our approaches are valid at this time. We just can't. They have what, 8 losses in ACC play since 2017? And hell I think two of them are to us. So NOBODY does well against them (we maybe one of the best against them in all honesty) and it is a sort fools errand to try to mold our entire approach to that particular team when we are having trouble beating teams of the ilk of Pittsburgh.