This will be Melo's last year in Orange

[Orangemen]

It's clicking for him. This is the biggest off season development for the team.

Xmas will be a star here. He's lacking the offense right now, but his D is very good, and he rebounds well. He's bigger than I expected (in terms of bulk), based on all the discussions I read. CJ brings a ton to the table, but I can easily see why JB is starting Xmas. He'll be a player for us this year, but next year, look out.

MCW looks good. He'll make his share of mistakes, but I liked what I saw.

Fair looks better than last year. I liked the 3 from the corner, though I wonder how many times we'll see that once the season starts. He does a little bit of everything, and does it all pretty well.

Really liked Cooney's confidence out there. Not sure how much he'll play, based on the reports of him struggling in practice, but the kid is a shooter. GMac better watch out, his (probably unreachable) legacy will get a run for it's money over the next 4 years.

Keita looks as good as last year. A little bigger, a little better overall. I'm glad we have this kid.

Everyone else looks basically the same.

KJ looks like he could dominate, but is still passive at times. He'll be great, and average for us this year.

Triche, Scoop, and Dion are all the same as last year. I hope we're all prepared for the usual he sucks/he's great arguments.

JSouth- why didn't he spend 4 hours a day dribbling the ball with gloves on and 4 hours a day learning how to fight for rebounds. He won't be a player for us unless/until he does that.

I'll never know why Mookie didn't transfer. He must love SU more than all of the posters on the this board combined. He could've been a player somewhere, but it's never gonna happen here. Seems like a good kid, and he supports his teammates well. With Cooney on board, Mookie's opps. will be limited.

 

[690West]

How old is Fab? Is he 20/21 already? I remember discussing that he's older than a normal frosh last year but I forgot

 

[SkanSU]

I was curious about ages... especially when I heard DC2 would be 20 coming to SU. So I checked and remembering that I was 17 when I was a freshman in college... here's a breakdown: (BTW if birthdays are this year, i.e. Nov.or Dec. I bumped them up a year)

MCW 20 Fr
Rak 20 Fr
Dion 20 Soph
CJ 20 Soph
Cooney 19 Fr
Melo 21 Soph
James 21 Jr
Scoop 23 Grad
Baye ? Soph
BT 20 Jr
Mook 21 Jr + RS
KJo 23 Sr

Interesting ... the only one seemingly "on target" is BT ... How come they are so "old" coming in?

 

[texascpa]

I was curious about ages... especially when I heard DC2 would be 20 coming to SU. So I checked and remembering that I was 17 when I was a freshman in college... here's a breakdown: (BTW if birthdays are this year, i.e. Nov.or Dec. I bumped them up a year)

MCW 20 Fr
Rak 20 Fr
Dion 20 Soph
CJ 20 Soph
Cooney 19 Fr
Melo 21 Soph
James 21 Jr
Scoop 23 Grad
Baye ? Soph
BT 20 Jr
Mook 21 Jr + RS
KJo 23 Sr

Interesting ... the only one seemingly "on target" is BT ... How come they are so "old" coming in?

Because many of the them were held back a year, most likely when they were young and most likely to have an age/experience advantage in competitive youth sports. It happens down here in Texas a lot, and I don't use that word often.

 

[bnoro]

I was curious about ages... especially when I heard DC2 would be 20 coming to SU. So I checked and remembering that I was 17 when I was a freshman in college... here's a breakdown: (BTW if birthdays are this year, i.e. Nov.or Dec. I bumped them up a year)

MCW 20 Fr
Rak 20 Fr
Dion 20 Soph
CJ 20 Soph
Cooney 19 Fr
Melo 21 Soph
James 21 Jr
Scoop 23 Grad
Baye ? Soph
BT 20 Jr
Mook 21 Jr + RS
KJo 23 Sr

Interesting ... the only one seemingly "on target" is BT ... How come they are so "old" coming in?

I turned 19 my freshman year of college and had a bunch of friends who did the same...

 

[SWC75]

That was one exhibtion game. Let's not put Melo in the NBA yet. Unless you meant he might be going to jail.

 

[SkanSU]

That's interesting ... I wasn't particularly precocious as a child but still was 17 as a freshman ... here in NY that is standard age (17-18) going in as a freshman if one isn't held back or starts kindergarten late (6 instead of 5). Hmmmm.

 

[Eric15]

That's interesting ... I wasn't particularly precocious as a child but still was 17 as a freshman ... here in NY that is standard age (17-18) going in as a freshman if one isn't held back or starts kindergarten late (6 instead of 5). Hmmmm.

Same here. I started kindergarten at 4 and college at 17. God it was embarrassing having to get a fake ID to get into 18-and-over bars those first couple months.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

The only thing I take away from this game is something Hopkins said about James Southerland during his frosh year. "He has to work". It is now clear that he doesn't want to work on his game. I imagine this kid just takes 3's and dunks all summer long...I really thought this kid had potential. Weren't some on this board even singing his potential NBA praises last year? :rolling:

 

[EastCoast2]

I turned 19 my freshman year of college and had a bunch of friends who did the same...

I thought that was the norm... I graduate HS at 18, turned 21 my jr year, graduated college at 22... then again I wasn't a D-1 prospect

 

[JohnCuse44]

I love this board... :rolling:

Yeah he looked good but we don't know anything yet. He beat up on a D2 team that doesn't exactly make him a lottery pick. Remember when J-South was 7-7 vs. the same team a couple years back? How did that workout for him oh yeah...

 

[arbitragegls]

...perhaps i am missing something...let's review...
1. Melo did not get winded...he played 5 minutes straight
2. He displayed a good looking stroke from 15 ft
3. He bounced for rebounds and blocks
4. He did not turn the ball over a bunch
5. He made FTs
6. He was our best player on the floor
If all that isnt positive, then what do we say about others...my fav Triche 2 for 11; Waiters being its ME--all about ME...Scoop playing fairly under control...most of game...KJ looking tentative...C'mon...Melo plays to level that this game showed...we are a final 4 team...

 

[chakka3421]

Depends on how well he plays in conference. OOC games just isn't same level as BE conf games.

 

[bnoro]

...perhaps i am missing something...let's review...
1. Melo did not get winded...he played 5 minutes straight
2. He displayed a good looking stroke from 15 ft
3. He bounced for rebounds and blocks
4. He did not turn the ball over a bunch
5. He made FTs
6. He was our best player on the floor
If all that isnt positive, then what do we say about others...my fav Triche 2 for 11; Waiters being its ME--all about ME...Scoop playing fairly under control...most of game...KJ looking tentative...C'mon...Melo plays to level that this game showed...we are a final 4 team...

Exactly, not to mention last year against terrible competition he was terrible. So it's a big positive.

 

[SkanSU]

Hey Arb ... I'm not saying Fab won't be a crapload better this year (which wouldn't be a stretch) and for the sake of the team and the NC let's hope he is ... but let's not make him a #1 lottery pick next year based on his performance against a D2 team with the tallest man being 6'9" and resembling a mountain man. He did look good yesterday and I loved seeing him smile for a change ... hope he develops a ton of confidence b/c that is what he needs. I hope more that we see that same Fab in our OOC and conference games.

 

[personalbias]

All legitimate points. What I liked in Melo last night was intrinsic. He actually had a flow to his game and synched within the game. D II, yep, however last year he was a day late and a dollar short, always. Last night he looked like he played basketball before, and if he does indeed continue to develop...he'll be a monster

 

[SUFAN1]

One Game a Pro does not make !

 

[Czar]

Hey Arb ... I'm not saying Fab won't be a crapload better this year (which wouldn't be a stretch) and for the sake of the team and the NC let's hope he is ... but let's not make him a #1 lottery pick next year based on his performance against a D2 team with the tallest man being 6'9" and resembling a mountain man. He did look good yesterday and I loved seeing him smile for a change ... hope he develops a ton of confidence b/c that is what he needs. I hope more that we see that same Fab in our OOC and conference games.

Looking like he did yesterday, it really doesn't matter. As a 7 footer who will probably show an ABILITY to shoot mid range and do what he did, he'll be drafted high in the NBA on upside alone. It's a lot different for big men in the draft. Especially since American centers RARELY have any kind of developed offensive game like Fab does.

 

[fanfanclubclub]

I love this board... :rolling:

Yeah he looked good but we don't know anything yet. He beat up on a D2 team that doesn't exactly make him a lottery pick. Remember when J-South was 7-7 vs. the same team a couple years back? How did that workout for him oh yeah...

Big difference with Melo though.

At his size, all he needs to do is excel at running, jumping, and be decent at positioning and finishing. With that sort of height advantage, it simply has to click: and it has. I think he is definitely gone, 1st round.

For combo forwards like Southerland, the bar is much higher as far as repeatable skills that need to be demonstrated before the NBA.

[haha just read the post above me, didn't mean to be redundant]

 

[hungrychuck]

Last year in Orange? Is Nike changing our color to silver next year?

Great job by Fab to get his body in shape. I was a big fan of his last year despite his problems with weight.

But he's not going anywhere, at least not just off last night's performance against a 6-7 center.

Suspect we'll see Fab in some Syracuse color next year.

 

[Czar]

Last year in Orange? Is Nike changing our color to silver next year?

Great job by Fab to get his body in shape. I was a big fan of his last year despite his problems with weight.

But he's not going anywhere, at least not just off last night's performance against a 6-7 center.

Suspect we'll see Fab in some Syracuse color next year.

Methinks you don't get how the NBA draft works.

Daniel Orton was a reserve on the 2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, where he averaged 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game. He got drafted in the first round, and was only 6'10" with half of the skills of Melo.

 

[orangefan13]

Fab is going to be drooled over for potential but that doesn't necessarilly mean he will leave. Think of Warrick. Jonny also came back as well and may have if he was around a number 20 pick.

The kid is a slightly goofy smiling lovable kid and a less me only type. After a good season this year he should be in high spirits to stay with a winning team.

He could stay up his draft stock and play on another stacked basketball team. No reason we couldn't give Fab 30 minutes Bay 20 and DC and Rak 15 as Fresh sophmores. Especially with the loss of Joseph.

The problem is outside of Sullinger and maybe Davis you will have a hard time finding a better big man the Melo. Melo had a Future NBA All Star ceiling potential look after yesterday.

 

[Czar]

Fab is going to be drooled over for potential but that doesn't necessarilly mean he will leave. Think of Warrick. Jonny also came back as well and may have if he was around a number 20 pick.

The kid is a slightly goofy smiling lovable kid and a less me only type. After a good season this year he should be in high spirits to stay with a winning team.

He could stay up his draft stock and play on another stacked basketball team. No reason we couldn't give Fab 30 minutes Bay 20 and DC and Rak 15 as Fresh sophmores. Especially with the loss of Joseph.

The problem is outside of Sullinger and maybe Davis you will have a hard time finding a better big man the Melo. Melo had a Future NBA All Star ceiling potential look after yesterday.

Warrick needed all four years to be drafted where he did. The draft is way different for everyone but centers. Yeah, he could stay on a winning team. But he could also leave and probably be guaranteed of a Top 10 pick no matter what he does barring utter and complete failure.

Also DC will get way more than 15 per game as a freshman.

 

[Knicks411]

Warrick needed all four years to be drafted where he did. The draft is way different for everyone but centers. Yeah, he could stay on a winning team. But he could also leave and probably be guaranteed of a Top 10 pick no matter what he does barring utter and complete failure.

Also DC will get way more than 15 per game as a freshman.

I think we're way ahead of ourselves projecting Melo as no worse than a top 10 pick after one exhibition game.

I hear what people are saying about Melo being a 7 footer and all that, but he needs to show a ton more to be a top 10 pick.

 

[OttoMets]

I hear what people are saying about Melo being a 7 footer and all that, but he needs to show a ton more to be a top 10 pick.

And do so consistently, for 40 games, against Division I teams.

He had a very nice game against Kutztown or the other D-II team last November; that sure didn't have any bearing on his play for the rest of the year.