Upside/Downside: GMac Edition
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Bulldog04
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Love this. Let’s even make the downside positive…
I'll take a stab
Upside
Reviewing the list I can see why ADBB went with GMAC when Schertz backed out. BTW other than the offensive system... a LOT of the same downside comments apply to Schertz as to GMAC. Except I think Schertz is a bigger question mark on the NIL and recruiting front. GMAC has recruited in the ACC for many years and has been able to get into the convo with high end talent which is more than Schertz has done.
BH is a better recruiter... but then the downside list grows to include that he will jump at the first "better" job and his offensive system is more of a mess than even GMACs from what I saw.
Unless we could get a TJ Otzelberger or someone else at that level there is no sure thing. Dusty May was an only a little bit more proven before he went to Michigan but remember he lost to NW in the first round as an 8 seed. If we had reached out to Dusty after his 2023 F4 season we could have probably gotten him. Look where he is now.
These things are all abut weighing the risks and I don't think the difference between GMAC and Schertz is THAT great. I would have taken Schertz over GMAC only because I love a good offense. But I am ecstatic that we have GMAC, assuming he hires a GM, ace recruiter and an OC.
Upside
- It's GMAC! All time Syracuse great and legend.
- Huge fan interest, probably 20K+ butts in seats and a revived dome atmosphere, increased NIL
- Amazing story at the national level if he turns it around
- If he turns it around we have our coach for the next 2 decades and never have to worry about him leaving
- He took a 4 win program to 20+ wins and the dance in 2 years. He has proven HC experience and as many NCAA games played as any of the top competitors for the position.
- He is a coach in name, action and results... not just a rah rah guy or snake oil guy with a pitch and nothing to back not up. He is clearly passionate, does not like to lose and holds his players accountable and gets them to play hard and do what he wants. He has a plan beyond play hard and stay in front of your guy or just dribble until you get a shot.
- 8 or 9 players had +10 minutes mpg... he doesn't play just zone, there were cuts and ball screens and other non-iso ball sets. HE IS NOT JB in a different body
- He hasn't proven that he can recruit at an elite-ACC level. His track record while at Cuse was that he was a bridesmaid quite often... but do we credit him for getting us in the convo and JB didn't close or do we blame GMAC for that? I don't know
- He hasn't had to manage an NIL situation and go portal shopping at the level he will need to at Syracuse... he will also need to balance high school recruiting vs portal recruiting. He hasn't had to do this... none of his staff has had to do this.
- GMAC is a very loyal guy with a bench full of Syracuse guys and guys who never were above the MAAC level.. will he go outside and find the right people or will he rely on loyalty. I believe everyone should always find someone to challenge them and force them to grow... will GMAC find that person?
- When Duke clamped down and switched to a zone in the 2nd half his offense reverted to an iso-ball mess. His analytics ratings normalised for competitive level aren't great on offense... he will need to hire an OC methinks
Reviewing the list I can see why ADBB went with GMAC when Schertz backed out. BTW other than the offensive system... a LOT of the same downside comments apply to Schertz as to GMAC. Except I think Schertz is a bigger question mark on the NIL and recruiting front. GMAC has recruited in the ACC for many years and has been able to get into the convo with high end talent which is more than Schertz has done.
BH is a better recruiter... but then the downside list grows to include that he will jump at the first "better" job and his offensive system is more of a mess than even GMACs from what I saw.
Unless we could get a TJ Otzelberger or someone else at that level there is no sure thing. Dusty May was an only a little bit more proven before he went to Michigan but remember he lost to NW in the first round as an 8 seed. If we had reached out to Dusty after his 2023 F4 season we could have probably gotten him. Look where he is now.
These things are all abut weighing the risks and I don't think the difference between GMAC and Schertz is THAT great. I would have taken Schertz over GMAC only because I love a good offense. But I am ecstatic that we have GMAC, assuming he hires a GM, ace recruiter and an OC.
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cliftonparksufan
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The staff he assembles around him will be critical in recruiting the portal, implementing the system and culture in practices and with in game adjustments and coaching.
This is to be determined, but hopefully an upside vs a downside.
This is to be determined, but hopefully an upside vs a downside.
newmexicuse
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A learning curve is to be expected.
My goals for Mac would be for the first year would be to be several games above .500 and to be completive even against better ACC foes. No more wondering if we even make the ACC tournament - how depressing was that !!!
My expectation would be back to dancing in year two and forever after with eventual FFs and another title down the road.
My goals for Mac would be for the first year would be to be several games above .500 and to be completive even against better ACC foes. No more wondering if we even make the ACC tournament - how depressing was that !!!
My expectation would be back to dancing in year two and forever after with eventual FFs and another title down the road.
Orangezoo
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That’s a very patient set of year 1 goals. I’ll go over 20 wins and a tourney bid. If we have 12-13 million to spend and he is who I think he will be as a coach we will win more than people expect and be happy year 1. Oddly enough it’s going to be years 2 and 3 that give me heartburn. What kind of sustained momentum, inflow of $$ and growth do we get as he keeps moving forward do we get?
I know that seems an odd perspective but assuming the 13 million and counting is accurate we are talking about a bigtime roster that can be put together this year. That’s a huge boost, paired with a couple of solid players in the bench spots from Siena offering continuity and just loud crowds and ample buzz. It’s often very realistic and a bit easier to see a jumpstart to a program that way.
So cheers to SWC and hope this year gives him true joy as he does his net points and upside/downside from upstairs.
dan7800
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Upside:
Front page news of many news sites (main page, not sports).
A downside:
He's already an SU legend. Only really one way to go.
Red is a good guy and bed SU. His legacy is somewhat tainted - hate to see that happen to GMAC.
Front page news of many news sites (main page, not sports).
A downside:
He's already an SU legend. Only really one way to go.
Red is a good guy and bed SU. His legacy is somewhat tainted - hate to see that happen to GMAC.
HyattsCuse
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Cusean
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Unfortunately a few games above 500 would be seen as a failure *if* the NIL figures come through. I think with a top third ACC budget, we need to be a bubble team at very minimum and not a bunch of 20+ point blowouts. A top third ACC budget should get you to the tourney comfortably though barring major injuries.
let's be brutally honest... what this echo chamber of a board deems a failure or success DOES NOT MATTER. What matters is does he show enough to give fans and NIL donors hope. I think you are underestimating the fanbase wildly there.
newmexicuse
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If we correlate top third NIL to top third performance, we are a bubble team. Last season the bottom of the top third ACC teams were Louisville, NC State, and Fla. St. Lville was 11-7 in conference, the other two were 10-8. Lville and NC State won 20 games plus overall. Lville made the tourney outright. NC State played and lost in the play-in game. Fla State was out.
So the reasonable expectation should be the bubble.
Outside of NIL the next biggest thing I’m watching is how far GMacs loyalty really goes.
Everyone is like he’s the “most loyal guy”. Oh really. Let’s just see cuz I’m not sure he felt the loyalty for the last 3 years. In fact I’m not sure felt any loyalty until about 2 weeks ago.
And for the record I want to see him not be loyal. I wouldn’t even care if he went on a little payback tour to throw out some of the clowns that put our program in the toilet.
People in the other thread are so worried about the old man in the corner office. Gmac after all these years should know how to play the old man.
Everyone is like he’s the “most loyal guy”. Oh really. Let’s just see cuz I’m not sure he felt the loyalty for the last 3 years. In fact I’m not sure felt any loyalty until about 2 weeks ago.
And for the record I want to see him not be loyal. I wouldn’t even care if he went on a little payback tour to throw out some of the clowns that put our program in the toilet.
People in the other thread are so worried about the old man in the corner office. Gmac after all these years should know how to play the old man.
50YRsofCuse
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OT: whomever JAB’s replacement was would have been unjustifiably predicted/ doomed to be a failure. Unfortunately, it was a real nice guy, Adrian Autry.
GMAC needs to be successful and given his nature will be but he is not replacing JAB, a legend. He is replacing Adrian Autry. So the pressure although always present, it is not as great.
Scooch
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One thing about the bubble...
There are 37 at large bids for the tourney. This year 33 of them went to Power 5 schools. Add in the 5 auto-qualifiers from those conferences and 38 of the 78 P5 schools made the tourney.
49%
I'm certainly not suggesting that Gerry must make the tourney in year 1. However, if we are flush with cash and bring in a great portal class, I'd expect it.
Don't get defensive. I'm not hating or saying he'd be a failure if he misses the tourney. Just that I'd expect it given we essentially have a coin flip chance of making it.
There are 37 at large bids for the tourney. This year 33 of them went to Power 5 schools. Add in the 5 auto-qualifiers from those conferences and 38 of the 78 P5 schools made the tourney.
49%
I'm certainly not suggesting that Gerry must make the tourney in year 1. However, if we are flush with cash and bring in a great portal class, I'd expect it.
Don't get defensive. I'm not hating or saying he'd be a failure if he misses the tourney. Just that I'd expect it given we essentially have a coin flip chance of making it.
orange79
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His biggest test of loyalty will be if Doty is better than Kiyan.
Cusefan0307
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I expect to make the tournament next year.
ManleyRocks
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I want to see maximum effort for 40 minutes. No lazy cross court passes. No whining to the refs by the players. Free throws made. No 20 pt plus boat races. In game adjustments. At least 33.33% three point shooting. Don’t foul the 3 pt shooter. Don’t inadvertently step out of bounds. Is this too much to ask for?
Give me the above, winning will take care of itself.
Give me the above, winning will take care of itself.
orange79
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I was told he should be fired if he doesn't make the tournament next year.
Orangezoo
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Yep. Of course I’ve been in the more optimistic side of this but as someone among others willing to put money towards this year, I absolutely expect we make the tourney and honestly this kind of investment behind him we should quietly demand it.
Nate George was a flop this year alongside JJ too. That said - even then if Red had some coaching chops like we’ve see Gerry have some with running better sets and solid defense- we are over 20 wins, likely don’t lose that Houston game and are in the tournament. It was a capable roster with some guys very good at certain things like Nate Kingz needing to be the starting 2 and primary option next to Donnie all year etc..
bballbeadle
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I hope Gerry talks to Scheyer and gets some pointers. One thing Scheyer did is bring in mostly outside people for his staff. I like the idea of AO for big man coach (have we ever had one since Bernie?) but there may be better people out there.I wonder what Gerry’s relationship with Carmelo will be because Kiyan needs a lot of work. (I do think both Carmelo and Kiyan realize this.)
In the past few weeks every time I saw someone in SU gear I asked them what they thought of Gerry as the next coach. Every single person’s eyes lit up. Yes, these were probably uninformed fans, but so what? They got excited. That’s what we need!
I have made this point in another thread but it can’t be emphasized enough: Gerry looks like an angel and Hodgson looks like a devil.
In the past few weeks every time I saw someone in SU gear I asked them what they thought of Gerry as the next coach. Every single person’s eyes lit up. Yes, these were probably uninformed fans, but so what? They got excited. That’s what we need!
I have made this point in another thread but it can’t be emphasized enough: Gerry looks like an angel and Hodgson looks like a devil.
