This team will surprise

[kcsu]

Ill go out on a limb and make a few projections for next years team.

1: much better chemistry.
2: significantly improved rebounding and D
3: twice as many transition points
4: winning record in ACC
5: more road wins
6: 1st ACC tourney win
7: 8 seed in NCAA

 

[Cusefan0307]

Yeah I'll believe the transition when I see it. We haven't run in 4-5 years. This team is constructed to win half court rock fights. If everything else happens we should be better than an 8 seed.

 

[DonLightfoot]

I am probably a "little" more optimistic than most on this board and would love to see your projections come about. However, I am also a realist so "all" of those items might be a stretch.

I would be happy to see the following and let the results speak for themselves, be it good or bad:
- more hustle and desire.
- more grit and toughness.

To me it's all about effort. We may not have great talent, but if the effort is there I will be happy regardless how our record turns out.

 

[Brooky03]

Yeah I'll believe the transition when I see it. We haven't run in 4-5 years. This team is constructed to win half court rock fights. If everything else happens we should be better than an 8 seed.

Transition comes down to rebounding. If our Centers (and forwards, to an extent) rebound well, we have some transition potential. Frank has to work on his decision making, but we don't have anybody holding us back in transition at the SG-PF positions.

 

[Brooky03]

Ill go out on a limb and make a few projections for next years team.

1: much better chemistry.
2: significantly improved rebounding and D
3: twice as many transition points
4: winning record in ACC
5: more road wins
6: 1st ACC tourney win
7: 8 seed in NCAA

I think 1, 2, and 5 are almost locks. #3 is a little hyperbolic, I think. I'd say we'll see a better transition team on the court, though probably not 2x better. 4 and 6 are doable but tough. If the team does all of the above, 7 sounds about right.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Transition comes down to rebounding. If our Centers (and forwards, to an extent) rebound well, we have some transition potential. Frank has to work on his decision making, but we don't have anybody holding us back in transition at the SG-PF positions.

We will be a terrible defensive rebounding team. Even our good teams are terrible at defensive rebounding because of the zone. See 2012 and 2013.

Our teams that have run do so because they force turnovers. (Think MCW/Triche/Dion) We had players capable of running this year, but we didn't force turnovers(Gillon was horrible defensively). Will we this year? That's to be seen.

 

[jordoo]

If the team rounds out the way I think it will then there is a chance we could be good. That said there are a mountain of "if's" that need to be answered on the positive side for this edition to be really good. Its happened before though. Going into 09 we lost Devo, Harris and Flynn. We knew Wes was supposed to be good. We knew that Rick and AO would be pretty good. We knew Andy could shoot. We didn't have a great idea of what to expect from Scoop, Kris and Triche. I'm not suggesting we will be 09 good by any stretch, just pointing out that plenty of seasons guys surpass expectations or the team in general seems better than the sum of its parts.

 

[Fly Rodder]

I'd wager that surprise is the right word.

There are a lot of question marks on this team, as constructed, and a lot of unknowns already. The returning guy with the most Orange career minutes played is Battle (1044), Frank Howard (868), Thompson (602), and then Chukwu (108). Keep in mind that a full season is around 900 minutes. The good news is that there is some new talent, and things could go very well.

I don't think anyone will have a solid idea what to expect until around November.

 

[kcsu]

Favorite color: orange
Fish: orange roughy
Dessert: orange sherbet
Europe vacation: Syracuse
Number: 44
What can i say once a homer always a homer

 

[GooseMutt]

I am probably a "little" more optimistic than most on this board and would love to see your projections come about. However, I am also a realist so "all" of those items might be a stretch.

I would be happy to see the following and let the results speak for themselves, be it good or bad:
- more hustle and desire.
- more grit and toughness.

To me it's all about effort. We may not have great talent, but if the effort is there I will be happy regardless how our record turns out.

We we have the athlectism, height, length, skills but now need a competent quarterback( point guard). The brains. The guy that gets the pieces moving and utilized I'm being reserved till I know who that is

 

[Brooky03]

We will be a terrible defensive rebounding team. Even our good teams are terrible at defensive rebounding because of the zone. See 2012 and 2013.

Our teams that have run do so because they force turnovers. (Think MCW/Triche/Dion) We had players capable of running this year, but we didn't force turnovers(Gillon was horrible defensively). Will we this year? That's to be seen.

Turnovers are part of the equation but I think rebounding is the bigger piece. The 2010 team was good at creating turnovers but they got in transition mostly because Rick and Arinze secured rebounds quickly and got the ball out to the guards quickly. Wes was a allowed to leak out more often because he didn't have to hang back for boards as much. I'm not saying we have Arinze and Rick Jackson type guys this year, but they should be an improvement over what we had since we'll actually have Centers in the game for once.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Turnovers are part of the equation but I think rebounding is the bigger piece. The 2010 team was good at creating turnovers but they got in transition mostly because Rick and Arinze secured rebounds quickly and got the ball out to the guards quickly. Wes was a allowed to leak out more often because he didn't have to hang back for boards as much. I'm not saying we have Arinze and Rick Jackson type guys this year, but they should be an improvement over what we had since we'll actually have Centers in the game for once.

That team wasn't a good defensive rebounding team either. We still gave up Offensive Rebounds on 35% of all misses. The same percentage as this year. The rebounding issues are more to do with the zone/scheme than the players.

 

[Trueblue25]

I expect defensive rebounding to improve with TT, brisset, moyer and even Frank. Who knowd what PC's height will help with besides shot disruption.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

This team, as currently constituted, will stink, unless Washington is all ACC rookie team good, and one of the frosh big guys can play.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Optimism and rooting interest have to be tempered by reality.

The only "sure things" (to the extent that concept even exists) is that Tyus Battle is going to a force on both ends and Taurean Thompson will score inside.
Other than that the Orange have a lot of question marks.

Will Thompson improve his D and get on the boards?
Can Frank run the team?
How will new players who have never been in a single SU game perform?
What can Chukwu do?
And what - if anything - will the loss of Mike Hopkins mean for their play?

I have no idea on any of these things.
Can just hope for the best.

 

[cusefan88]

Personally the only thing I wanna see is the heart and fight every game. Too many times this past season I watched in frustration as the effort didn't look great.

Fans can accept a bad season as long as the players are giving it 100%.

 

[JLine]

I really think the freshmen class we have so far is underestimated. This is a new day and age where many are ready to contribute right away. Even if they aren't 5 star recruits just stopping by for a year.

We do need Marek, and Thorpe/Ayala. Especially Marek though, in my opinion. Then I believe this is a Tournament team.

TT will learn how to raise his arms. Simple fix. Battle is Battle. Moyer looks great after a red shirt year from what has been out there. OB is a beast, and physically ready. HW can facilitate, and shoot. He may not be ready for the speed of the game though.

Hopefully PC improves. If not, Sidibe has great potential, or TT holds down the fort. We have enough at the 4 for TT to play the majority of minutes at the 5. He wants to improve, and sounds like a hard worker.

Frank is a junior, so he easily could put it together and I believe he will. Just want Marek to clear, and to add Thorpe. Which seems likely when the staff knows what Ayala finally decides.

All is well. We aren't going to be a .500 team.

 

[Delmar]

"This team will surprise."

That's not necessarily a good thing. Last year's team surprised.

 

[GooseMutt]

"This team will surprise."

That's not necessarily a good thing. Last year's team surprised.

Hate to be in a fox hole with you

 

[Dave85]

I'm not excited. The successful teams we've had in the past have had very experienced PGs. I could list them here but I'll just make the point. I think this team will have a pretty bad record and about half way through the season they will have some good moments. I don't expect this team to make the NCAAs. I just don't. Maybe if Moyer shoots as well as Andrew White we will do as well as last year.

I can't shake the darkness.

 

[Trueblue25]

I dont know why we'd be satisfied with .500 in ACC play. We have a hallf of fame coach, 2 nba calibre returners, a 7'2 center and a few solid recruits. You guys say we're turning into the providence of the ACC. Well i've seen them do better than .500 with less talent.

 

[cuseincincy]

Hopefully we'll have a better idea of the line up going into the season than we did last year. Incredible that there was no constant to last years line up position wise.

Beginning: Ending:
1 - Howard 1- Gillon
2 - White 2- Battle
3 - Lydon 3- White
4- Roberson 4- Lydon
5- Coleman 5- Thompson

It took the coaching staff way too long to get Battle and Gillon in the starting lineup. I rarely criticize the coaches but they should have known. And I think there is way too much hand wringing on the board over Thompson. I said it last year and I'll say it again, Thompson is the best NBA prospect on this team. I do hope the staff has been able to improve his defense and am confident that they have. He is too good of an athlete not to be able to handle the 4 or the 5 in the zone. Offensively Thompson will likely explode this season.

 

[Alsacs]

As long as Frank Howard is the starting PG and we have no viable backup I am beyond scared for next year.
PG is the most important position in college basketball.

 

[DoctorBombay]

As long as Frank Howard is the starting PG and we have no viable backup I am beyond scared for next year.
PG is the most important position in college basketball.

I think Frank will surprise.

 

[Delmar]

Hate to be in a fox hole with you

With your St. Bernard in there with you, I doubt I would fit.