Tyler Lydon better be ready

[2-3zone]

CMAC gone will really hurt the front court depth

 

[jekelish]

From a skill and athleticism standpoint, he'll be ready. Literally the only thing I'm worried about with Tyler is whether he'll be able to compete from a strength standpoint. But he was planning on playing SF...so we will see.

Tyler Roberson, by the way...get your PF game ready, brother.

 

[Deano]

Don't sleep on this kid either -

 

[two3zone]

Don't sleep on this kid either -

Kid? He looks older than Dikembe Mutombo.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Does it really matter all that much if Lydon is 'ready'? Team is going to stink next year, regardless, so let the kid develop at his own pace.

 

[iommi]

Paging Tyler Lydon: Mr. Lydon... you are wanted in the nearest weight room.

 

[Deano]

Kid? He looks older than Dikembe Mutombo.

 

[Madbiker]

Lydon needs to get on the Jerami Grant body building plan with the 76ers. Maybe he can move in with Jerami for the summer.

 

[Jeremy L.]

Don't sleep on this kid either -

That's a manimal if I've ever seen one.

 

[RF2044]

Does it really matter all that much if Lydon is 'ready'? Team is going to stink next year, regardless, so let the kid develop at his own pace.

Way too pesimisitc.

They aren't going to "stink." They'll be better than the team was this year.

 

[Jasoncuse]

Way too pesimisitc.

They aren't going to "stink." They'll be better than the team was this year.

I find that hard to believe unless Joseph really steps up and we get good play out of freshman. Expecting those to definitely happen seems like a stretch to me.

 

[cuseguy]

Way too pesimisitc. They aren't going to "stink." They'll be better than the team was this year.

It's going to depend on Coleman's health.

He goes down and we're down to 9.

 

[RF2044]

I find that hard to believe unless Joseph really steps up and we get good play out of freshman. Expecting those to definitely happen seems like a stretch to me.

I don't find it difficult to believe that Joseph will step up at all. Nor that DC will perform at a high level.

I'd also expect that Richardson and Diagne will be solid contributors as bench guys.

We're returning to key wing players and a returning starter at PF who averaged 8/7 --that's a solid nucleus.

 

[longislandcuse]

Please start Richardson.

Cooney and Richardson up top. G, Roberson and Diagne on the back line.

Three - 3 point shooters on offense with a mid-range and in player and post player.

Joseph is our ball handler off the bench with DC2 as backup big man.

Howard and Lydon as wildcards.

 

[two3zone]

Way too pesimisitc.

They aren't going to "stink." They'll be better than the team was this year.

I don't know, I think they can be about the same but better is asking for a lot. We are losing an All American and to lesser levels BJ and Buss. If BJ wasn't going to get PT this year, I doubt Lydon will his first year. Richardson probably won't get a ton of minutes, I'm still guessing around 10-15 a game. Losing Rak is huge, without him we literally have 2 guys who can score, G and Cooney. On any normal Cuse team these guys are 3rd or 4th options. I'm not too optimistic.

 

[Col. Bleep]

Tyler Lydon may turn out to be the best player in the incoming class...(although not necessarily in his first year).
There.
I said it.

 

[Jasoncuse]

I don't know, I think they can be about the same but better is asking for a lot. We are losing an All American and to lesser levels BJ and Buss. If BJ wasn't going to get PT this year, I doubt Lydon will his first year. Richardson probably won't get a ton of minutes, I'm still guessing around 10-15 a game. Losing Rak is huge, without him we literally have 2 guys who can score, G and Cooney. On any normal Cuse team these guys are 3rd or 4th options. I'm not too optimistic.

Yeah, that's where I am. Some things can happen that will propel the team to a good season, but there are SO MANY question marks. Losing Rak is going to be huge, on both ends of the court. While he probably wasn't a superb defender, he knew how to handle the middle of the zone and was a good rebounder. Relying on Coleman or a freshman to play similarly is asking a lot.

Cooney struggled enough this year when we had a legit interior threat...what happens next year without one? I can see him just forcing up shot after shot.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Please start Richardson.

Cooney and Richardson up top. G, Roberson and Diagne on the back line.

Three - 3 point shooters on offense with a mid-range and in player and post player.

Joseph is our ball handler off the bench with DC2 as backup big man.

Howard and Lydon as wildcards.

Reminds me of a slightly taller Nova lineup. Not that that's a bad thing.

 

[RF2044]

I don't know, I think they can be about the same but better is asking for a lot. We are losing an All American and to lesser levels BJ and Buss. If BJ wasn't going to get PT this year, I doubt Lydon will his first year. Richardson probably won't get a ton of minutes, I'm still guessing around 10-15 a game. Losing Rak is huge, without him we literally have 2 guys who can score, G and Cooney. On any normal Cuse team these guys are 3rd or 4th options. I'm not too optimistic.

I understand where you and Jason are coming from, but I don't agree with the logic b/c I don't think either of you are accounting for the improvement we'll get from Joseph / Roberson this offseason. If [or optimisitcally, "when"] those two take it up a notch, we'll have four experienced starters returning. I'm encouraged by the reports I'm hearing about Coleman's readiness. And the incoming class will FINALLY supply us with some much needed depth at numerous positions where we've lacked it for the past two years.

Sure, there are questions marks. Every team in college basketball has question marks every single year, due to attrition. We're going to be fine next season. Especially if we land Bryant.

 

[jekelish]

Tyler Lydon may turn out to be the best player in the incoming class...(although not necessarily in his first year).
There.
I said it.

I'll go a step beyond this. I think he WILL end up being the best player in this class, when it's all said and done.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I'll go a step beyond this. I think he WILL end up being the best player in this class, when it's all said and done.

Agreed. I think people forget he was on the USA U-18 team. His game isn't flashy, but he can rebound and shoot. We need that here.

 

[jekelish]

Agreed. I think people forget he was on the USA U-18 team. His game isn't flashy, but he can rebound and shoot. We need that here.

And rebound is the key there with regard to the U-18 team. He's skinny, yes...but he led that team in rebounding anyway. He's stronger than he appears. He obviously still needs to add a good 15 pounds of muscle, but he's not some little waif.

 

[RF2044]

I understand where you and Jason are coming from, but I don't agree with the logic b/c I don't think either of you are accounting for the improvement we'll get from Joseph / Roberson this offseason. If [or optimisitcally, "when"] those two take it up a notch, we'll have four experienced starters returning. I'm encouraged by the reports I'm hearing about Coleman's readiness. And the incoming class will FINALLY supply us with some much needed depth at numerous positions where we've lacked it for the past two years.

Sure, there are questions marks. Every team in college basketball has question marks every single year, due to attrition. We're going to be fine next season. Especially if we land Bryant.

THAT SAID, I certainly understand the counter arguments / skepticism:

• Joseph seemed like Josh Wright caliber inept last year...
• Cooney stinks and shoots an awful percentage...
• Gbinije is maxed out and can't improve...
• Roberson didn't do much offensively and is mechanical...
• Rak is gone, and he was the team's best player...
• Coleman is injured, and who knows whether he'll be able to play...
• Richardson stunk it up in the McDonald's all star game last night and he plays lazy...
• Freshman bigs like Diagne stuggle...
• Obokoh isn't high major D1 caliber...
• Lydon is too skinny to play...

There is a valid basis for every one of those cocners / question marks. Doesn't mean that's how things will turn out, but they are legitimate things to question.

 

[RF2044]

And rebound is the key there with regard to the U-18 team. He's skinny, yes...but he led that team in rebounding anyway. He's stronger than he appears. He obviously still needs to add a good 15 pounds of muscle, but he's not some little waif.

And he put on 15 pounds this past year. He was 185 when he committed, and is around 200 now after a year of prep school. It sounds like he's got good work ethic around lifting to add strength / weight. In two years, he'll be 220.

 

[jekelish]

And he put on 15 pounds this past year. He was 185 when he committed, and is around 200 now after a year of prep school. It sounds like he's got good work ethic around lifting to add strength / weight. In two years, he'll be 220.

Yep. And he takes the shots about him being too skinny very seriously and I think a little personally. He's going to have a chip on his shoulder when it comes to his strength, and he's going to want to prove people wrong. I'm 100% certain of that.