Vegas

[CorduroyG]

Remember when the 2010 team (unranked at the time??? not sure) destroyed cal and carolina at that early season tournament at msg and everyone was like “oh my god its true this team is scary good”

Could that be this team in vegas???????? I think we’re all afraid to go all in on this team cuz theyve played 3 cupcakes and the team has sucked for so long. But holy cow they look goooooooooooooooood.

 

[721Comstock]

 

[Lukeyloo]

I’m hopeful, but It’s been so long since we’ve been truly good that I’m not sure that I know what that looks like for us at this point.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Let me stop you right there…

We aren’t going to be like our greatest team in SU history. I stand by that, btw. The numbers back it up. 1-7 that was the best team we’ve ever fielded.

If we keep it competitive with a shot down the stretch, I’ll take it. These are serious tests especially Houston.

I’m glad that I am not chalking it up as an automatic L, that’s for sure!

 

[OrangeFoo]

This team will compete on D as well as any of the elite JB teams for 40 minutes. But even against cupcakes the offense is not efficient. They got so many stops and possessions yesterday and somehow only scored 80. Until someone shows they can get their own shot against a good team I think this team will hang with teams and be competitive but lose by 10
to 15 with the leads ballooning in the last 5 minutes. Also thejr free throw shooting is going to be a problem against better teams when the margin is much smaller.

For a Vegas breakout to happen they need to find a higher gear on offense.. that means George has to take his game seriously one more level, or freeman finds a way to create his own shot and finds his jumper or JJ finds a way to be much much more efficient.

 

[DomeHolmes]

This team will compete on D as well as any of the elite JB teams for 40 minutes. But even against cupcakes the offense is not efficient. They got so many stops and possessions yesterday and somehow only scored 80. Until someone shows they can get their own shot against a good team I think this team will hang with teams and be competitive but lose by 10
to 15 with the leads ballooning in the last 5 minutes. Also thejr free throw shooting is going to be a problem against better teams when the margin is much smaller.

For a Vegas breakout to happen they need to find a higher gear on offense.. that means George has to take his game seriously one more level, or freeman finds a way to create his own shot and finds his jumper or JJ finds a way to be much much more efficient.

Three things I noticed yesterday. First George could’ve gotten to the hoop against that little guard so many more times and he was not as aggressive as often as he could’ve been. Also, when he did get to the hoop, there was nobody trailing for a drop off or an offensive rebound. Especially in the first half, we got zero help at the basket. George can only do so much without cutters.

Freeman’s shot selection sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. He goes to his fadeaway when a jump stop and baby hook would be preferable. I still am worried about our interior defense getting big boyed against better teams (and picking up fouls). It has been rare, but Freeman was a no show battling on the glass.

Finally on efficiency, I’m watching team after team put up 100 points and we have not cracked 90 yet. I’m not sure our points per possession, but it does seem that we waste too many opportunities. We are certainly not playing at the old Virginia pace where it would be understandable.

The key to the season will be how well George and Kingz increase their contributions as they get more comfortable. The last game they both gave incredible effort with OK results. Both are capable of putting in games like Donnie and Anthony. When (if) we start getting 25 to 30 points from them rather than 15-20 we will be cooking.

 

[Eric15]

Forgive me if I missed it but do we know the extent of Betsey’s injury?

 

[RedtheGOB]

Three things I noticed yesterday. First George could’ve gotten to the hoop against that little guard so many more times and he was not as aggressive as often as he could’ve been. Also, when he did get to the hoop, there was nobody trailing for a drop off or an offensive rebound. Especially in the first half, we got zero help at the basket. George can only do so much without cutters.

Freeman’s shot selection sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. He goes to his fadeaway when a jump stop and baby hook would be preferable. I still am worried about our interior defense getting big boyed against better teams (and picking up fouls). It has been rare, but Freeman was a no show battling on the glass.

Finally on efficiency, I’m watching team after team put up 100 points and we have not cracked 90 yet. I’m not sure our points per possession, but it does seem that we waste too many opportunities. We are certainly not playing at the old Virginia pace where it would be understandable.

The key to the season will be how well George and Kingz increase their contributions as they get more comfortable. The last game they both gave incredible effort with OK results. Both are capable of putting in games like Donnie and Anthony. When (if) we start getting 25 to 30 points from them rather than 15-20 we will be cooking.

The hundred point games from alot of teams is a mirage. We should know from the last few years. Winning games where cupcakes are scoring 85 a game is going to translate to losing seasons in the long run.

Player interviews last night they clearly said they did not even practice offense for most of the offseason. It was all defense at practice.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Forgive me if I missed it but do we know the extent of Betsey’s injury?

Post in thread 'Drexel Postgame Thoughts...'

Yesterday at 6:51 PM

Injury updates for JJ Starling, Tyler Betsey after Syracuse’s win over Drexel

JJ Starling didn't play in SU's win over Drexel on Saturday, while sophomore forward Tyler Betsey suffered an ankle injury.

www.syracuse.com

Syracuse forward Tyler Betsey seemed to roll his ankle midway through the first half of Saturday’s game. The sophomore forward had scored five quick points off the bench before going down in the lane with 9:31 remaining in the first half.

Betsey hobbled off the court and then limped into the team’s locker room for a few minutes before returning to the bench. Betsey never re-entered the game.

“I think it was his ankle, so I think he might’ve twisted...

• OrangeXtreme

• 

 

[Nicknack]

Three things I noticed yesterday. First George could’ve gotten to the hoop against that little guard so many more times and he was not as aggressive as often as he could’ve been. Also, when he did get to the hoop, there was nobody trailing for a drop off or an offensive rebound. Especially in the first half, we got zero help at the basket. George can only do so much without cutters.

Freeman’s shot selection sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. He goes to his fadeaway when a jump stop and baby hook would be preferable. I still am worried about our interior defense getting big boyed against better teams (and picking up fouls). It has been rare, but Freeman was a no show battling on the glass.

Finally on efficiency, I’m watching team after team put up 100 points and we have not cracked 90 yet. I’m not sure our points per possession, but it does seem that we waste too many opportunities. We are certainly not playing at the old Virginia pace where it would be understandable.

The key to the season will be how well George and Kingz increase their contributions as they get more comfortable. The last game they both gave incredible effort with OK results. Both are capable of putting in games like Donnie and Anthony. When (if) we start getting 25 to 30 points from them rather than 15-20 we will be cooking.

A lot here I agree with.

I really hope Freeman doesn't play small against better teams but I can see it happening. I want him to attack. Take the open 3, that's fine, but limit the turn around fadeaways.

If Kingz can start getting it going, that will help our offense a LOT. He's got to bring his A game to vegas.

 

[RedtheGOB]

This team will compete on D as well as any of the elite JB teams for 40 minutes. But even against cupcakes the offense is not efficient. They got so many stops and possessions yesterday and somehow only scored 80. Until someone shows they can get their own shot against a good team I think this team will hang with teams and be competitive but lose by 10
to 15 with the leads ballooning in the last 5 minutes. Also thejr free throw shooting is going to be a problem against better teams when the margin is much smaller.

For a Vegas breakout to happen they need to find a higher gear on offense.. that means George has to take his game seriously one more level, or freeman finds a way to create his own shot and finds his jumper or JJ finds a way to be much much more efficient.

What's your take with us still running 10 guys though and that's without JJ.

You mentioned Freeman and George. They are both averaging only 26 mins a game. Let's say we add 10 mins a game or even 5 mins to their stat sheet. Freeman has also been playing the 5 for a handful of mins. Box score will look alot more efficient running those 2 on the court all game.

I'm not disputing the offense, but I'm also watching a defense just dominate opponents down the stretch of games because they're playing 10 guys and just wearing out the other teams (i know cupcakes), but still.

 

[upperdeck]

Drexel had a ton of long possessions, and we lost the board battle the first half. That alone is worth 10 pts.

We shot 50% 37% and went 11-15 on Fts. Colgate got to 90 but also shot 60/60 and got almost 30 fts. Thats not sustainable either.

 

[DomeHolmes]

The hundred point games from alot of teams is a mirage. We should know from the last few years. Winning games where cupcakes are scoring 85 a game is going to translate to losing seasons in the long run.

Player interviews last night they clearly said they did not even practice offense for most of the offseason. It was all defense at practice.

IMO There is nothing that is a mirage about the way Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, Alabama, Kentucky, st John’s, Yukon, etc. are playing offense. I do believe we have the talent to compete with those teams this year, but as of now they are more polished offensively than we are. The question is, how fast can we gel? Because if we could get to the level they play on offense, we could beat anyone.

The mirage comes from teams like Kennesaw State who leads the nation in scoring because they played two division two schools with enrollment smaller than many high schools.

 

[DomeHolmes]

Drexel had a ton of long possessions, and we lost the board battle the first half. That alone is worth 10 pts.

We shot 50% 37% and went 11-15 on Fts. Colgate got to 90 but also shot 60/60 and got almost 30 fts. Thats not sustainable either.

That is an excellent point about Drexel‘s long possessions. Using 25 seconds then another 15 when they get offensive rebounds, certainly limits our possessions. That is why I was interested to see our points per possession as opposed to just the raw score.

The flipside of that coin is in order to be not just a good offensive team, but a high scoring offensive team, you need to be better at defensive rebounding.

While the 60/60 Colgate shooting percentage is not repeatable as you said, the fact that they got 30 free throws to our 15 means they were more aggressive offensively than we were. (In all likelihood). We settled for, and took too many bad shots and only shot 50% when we could’ve attacked the rim better than we did, shot a higher percentage as a result, and gotten fouled more.

 

[McCuse]

A lot here I agree with.

I really hope Freeman doesn't play small against better teams but I can see it happening. I want him to attack. Take the open 3, that's fine, but limit the turn around fadeaways.

If Kingz can start getting it going, that will help our offense a LOT. He's got to bring his A game to vegas.

Kings is going to get his 3s eventually. Too good a shooter not to start hitting the shots. They will come. I'm pleasantly surprised by the other aspects of his game. 9 rebounds yesterday! He can take it to the hoop as well.