We're still Syracuse

[SWC75]

I've been hearing all day on the radio that we will stink next eyar because of the players we won't have. The presumption is that the returning guys won't be any better than what we've seen and the none of the members of what is still the #4 recruiting class in the country will be "ready to help us" (using a favorite JB term).

Next year we will have ten scholarship player son the roster, (same as he had this eyar: we normally don't have more than 10-11.)

We'll have three guys who can play center: Coleman, Obokoh and Diagne

Four guys that can play forward: Roberson, Diagne, Gbinije and Lydon

and five guys that can play guard: Gbinije, Joseph, Cooney, Richardson and Howard.

All these guys warranted at least some measure of respect as recruits and many were highly rated. We always have somebody develop into a much better player than we had seen, (Christmas and Gbinije last year). it will happen again. We may not be a national championship contender but we won't stink, either.

We'll still be 'Syracuse'

 

[two3zone]

I've been hearing all day on the radio that we will stink next eyar because of the players we won't have. The presumption is that the returning guys won't be any better than what we've seen and the none of the members of what is still the #4 recruiting class in the country will be "ready to help us" (using a favorite JB term).

Next year we will have ten scholarship player son the roster, (same as he had this eyar: we normally don't have more than 10-11.)

We'll have three guys who can play center: Coleman, Obokoh and Diagne

Four guys that can play forward: Roberson, Diagne, Gbinije and Lydon

and five guys that can play guard: Gbinije, Joseph, Cooney, Richardson and Howard.

All these guys warranted at least some measure of respect as recruits and many were highly rated. We always have somebody develop into a much better player than we had seen, (Christmas and Gbinije last year). it will happen again. We may not be a national championship contender but we won't stink, either.

We'll still be 'Syracuse'

I don't think the ship is burning but losing Rak and McCullough are huge no matter how you slice it. I think Cooney could get better numbers wise if he doesn't take the ridiculous shots he takes, G I think is going to get focused on more and is what he is. Joseph can improve a lot, Roberson on the offensive side can improve. Next year I think the biggest keys are Coleman and Joseph. If they fail we fail.

 

[DonLightfoot]

I'm in total disagreement with those radio stations which unfortunately I am unable to listen to where I live. I am very optimistic about next year, even with CMc going. I feel the same whether we get Bryant or not. I expect good improvements from Joseph and Roberson. I know very little about the recruits coming in, but apparently they are talented. We were spoiled with Rak's offence this year and that would be my one concern next year, regardless of who is playing that position. However, we may be going back in time to a point where our centers were basically defensive specialists, and that's OK with me.

CAVEAT - My optimism is based on spreading the minutes around, even if it is using ten players. Having some players going the full 40 minutes (or close to that) is just a signature for disaster late in the season in my opinion.

 

[WalkON]

If Coleman can give us 12 points a game and joseph can give us 10-12 points a game I think we will be okay. In my opinion Roberson will be really big for us and with g at sf along with cooney we should be decent. Add in a freshman or 2 that can help us off the bench and I think we'll be okay. I don't think we can get any worse than this year with the people we are bringing in.

 

[SWC75]

 

[SWC75]

 

[dasher]

I've been hearing all day on the radio that we will stink next eyar because of the players we won't have. The presumption is that the returning guys won't be any better than what we've seen and the none of the members of what is still the #4 recruiting class in the country will be "ready to help us" (using a favorite JB term).

Next year we will have ten scholarship player son the roster, (same as he had this eyar: we normally don't have more than 10-11.)

We'll have three guys who can play center: Coleman, Obokoh and Diagne

Four guys that can play forward: Roberson, Diagne, Gbinije and Lydon

and five guys that can play guard: Gbinije, Joseph, Cooney, Richardson and Howard.

All these guys warranted at least some measure of respect as recruits and many were highly rated. We always have somebody develop into a much better player than we had seen, (Christmas and Gbinije last year). it will happen again. We may not be a national championship contender but we won't stink, either.

We'll still be 'Syracuse'

I think we might be very good. If Dc is as good as I have heard, couple that with some improvement from Roberson, I like our team.

 

[MSOrange]

I think we might be very good. If Dc is as good as I have heard, couple that with some improvement from Roberson, I like our team.

Those would be huge plus Joseph needs to at least be serviceable for 30 min per game next year imho

 

[Cusefan0307]

The only person so far I heard say we are going to suck is Steve I'm trying to be Colin Cowherd Neikam.

 

[CorduroyG]

A week ago I thought we'd have both cmac and bryant. If we have neither of them it's another bubble season.

 

[Rautins07]

Silent G and Coleman are the key guys in my opinion. Coleman stays healthy he should gives us offense from the post, Silent G showed as the season went on that he could hit the 3, if he can turn his mid range into automatic from 15ft, stroke the 3 and he is big enough to take guys to the rack off the dribble. Also, needs to shoot at least 70% from the line. I think he can avg. 17/18 a game and become a serious go to guy. Richardson will be special. We are still CUSE!

 

[MikeSU02]

I think we will be solid. KJ's jump will be monumental.

Our PG play has to be better. If KJ doesn't make a leap, that is going to put a lot of pressure on G to be the primary ball handler.

 

[cuse2013]

Losing Chris Mc is an overrated loss. If we had him full strength ready for first day of practice? different story. But him coming back in December off a torn ACL? And working his way back in?

 

[Dave85]

I've been hearing all day on the radio that we will stink next eyar because of the players we won't have. The presumption is that the returning guys won't be any better than what we've seen and the none of the members of what is still the #4 recruiting class in the country will be "ready to help us" (using a favorite JB term).

Next year we will have ten scholarship player son the roster, (same as he had this eyar: we normally don't have more than 10-11.)

We'll have three guys who can play center: Coleman, Obokoh and Diagne

Four guys that can play forward: Roberson, Diagne, Gbinije and Lydon

and five guys that can play guard: Gbinije, Joseph, Cooney, Richardson and Howard.

All these guys warranted at least some measure of respect as recruits and many were highly rated. We always have somebody develop into a much better player than we had seen, (Christmas and Gbinije last year). it will happen again. We may not be a national championship contender but we won't stink, either.

We'll still be 'Syracuse'

I agree. With G, KJ2, TC, and TR as core players we will be pretty good. G was terrific this year. KJ2 is going to be much better. TC will be better. And TR could be the X-Factor we need next season. The rest of the players will contribute. I think we will be fine. If we get TB we may have enough bigs to make a deep tournament run.

 

[sususpicious]

I love folks' enthusiasm. But at the same time, I can't help but hear JB's words ringing in my ears that this past year's team wouldn't have won 10 games without Rak. So now we have lost Rak and we have basically the same lineup back without our best player ... I'm not saying we're only going to win 9 games without him, but at the same time, we essentially have four of the same starters from a team that JB felt wasn't good enough to win 10 games. Of course we can project (hope?) that Joseph and Roberson, etc., will be improved, but our centers will be a guy who hasn't played in about 2 years, another who clearly has a limited skill set, and a third who is only 6-8 and is a freshman on top of that. So I'm not sure I can completely buy into the overall enthusiasm of this thread. That being said, if we could land Bryant, then I might be persuaded otherwise!

 

[longislandcuse]

We're still Syracuse and doggone it, people like us.

 

[HoustonCuse]

I love folks' enthusiasm. But at the same time, I can't help but hear JB's words ringing in my ears that this past year's team wouldn't have won 10 games without Rak. So now we have lost Rak and we have basically the same lineup back without our best player ... I'm not saying we're only going to win 9 games without him, but at the same time, we essentially have four of the same starters from a team that JB felt wasn't good enough to win 10 games. Of course we can project (hope?) that Joseph and Roberson, etc., will be improved, but our centers will be a guy who hasn't played in about 2 years, another who clearly has a limited skill set, and a third who is only 6-8 and is a freshman on top of that. So I'm not sure I can completely buy into the overall enthusiasm of this thread. That being said, if we could land Bryant, then I might be persuaded otherwise!

G is our best player. What on earth makes you think CMac was our best player. Our best wins happened without him and our worst losses happened with him!

The big impact of him leaving is it means G has to play forward. That is a hit because I think our best chance to be great was with him at PG or SG. That would take pressure off KJ and also allow Cooney to get some rest throughout the season - which I am convinced is mandatory for him to be a high performer. Now it will be Cooney 40 minutes a game again. But either way - we only need a 40% success rate with our freshman class for us to have plenty of options. I feel Syracuse is hugely attractive to Bryant with CMac gone so I am hoping we'll have him as well.

 

[SWC75]

I love folks' enthusiasm. But at the same time, I can't help but hear JB's words ringing in my ears that this past year's team wouldn't have won 10 games without Rak. So now we have lost Rak and we have basically the same lineup back without our best player ... I'm not saying we're only going to win 9 games without him, but at the same time, we essentially have four of the same starters from a team that JB felt wasn't good enough to win 10 games. Of course we can project (hope?) that Joseph and Roberson, etc., will be improved, but our centers will be a guy who hasn't played in about 2 years, another who clearly has a limited skill set, and a third who is only 6-8 and is a freshman on top of that. So I'm not sure I can completely buy into the overall enthusiasm of this thread. That being said, if we could land Bryant, then I might be persuaded otherwise!

We won 23 games with GMAC in 2005-06 and 24 games without him the next year.

 

[Flacusian]

I'm not so sure about anything next year. What I don't read here from anyone is the impact of JB having a truncated season with respect to his presence around the team. To think that having your head coach essentially taped up and locked up in the NCAA hoosegow not being impactful is wishful thinking. As much as Hop and the other assistants are involved in the day to day process of coaching the team I've got to believe this is going to hurt us moving forward.

I also have read a lot of "if's" in most of the upbeat projections about next season. The truth is we have more questions than we have answers. It will be interesting to say the least and I remain hopeful regardless of the challenges which lie ahead. Getting the most out of what we do have will be the key. Some of the current circumstances surrounding the team and it's personnel will spell opportunity for some and some will rise to the occasion while others may not. Typically some players surprise you with the progress they show from year to year while others leave you shaking your head. I suspect next season will be no different.

Meanwhile, I'll be checking this forum every day 365 like I always do and I'll be hanging on every development, practice, recruiting rumor, pre season game, and real games that count like I have for each of the past 33 seasons I've been a Syracuse Fanatic. And I'll cheer from them no differently than any other season. Life's greatest triumphs are often born on the heels of adversity. I like the post "We are still Syracuse". And what we do is win a lot of games and bring a brand of basketball which is unique in many ways. We have a proud tradition and it's also our tradition to be proud of our team... no matter what.

 

[cuseattle]

We will survive.

 

[longislandcuse]

I'm not so sure about anything next year. What I don't read here from anyone is the impact of JB having a truncated season with respect to his presence around the team. To think that having your head coach essentially taped up and locked up in the NCAA hoosegow not being impactful is wishful thinking. As much as Hop and the other assistants are involved in the day to day process of coaching the team I've got to believe this is going to hurt us moving forward.

I also have read a lot of "if's" in most of the upbeat projections about next season. The truth is we have more questions than we have answers. It will be interesting to say the least and I remain hopeful regardless of the challenges which lie ahead. Getting the most out of what we do have will be the key. Some of the current circumstances surrounding the team and it's personnel will spell opportunity for some and some will rise to the occasion while others may not. Typically some players surprise you with the progress they show from year to year while others leave you shaking your head. I suspect next season will be no different.

Meanwhile, I'll be checking this forum every day 365 like I always do and I'll be hanging on every development, practice, recruiting rumor, pre season game, and real games that count like I have for each of the past 33 seasons I've been a Syracuse Fanatic. And I'll cheer from them no differently than any other season. Life's greatest triumphs are often born on the heels of adversity. I like the post "We are still Syracuse". And what we do is win a lot of games and bring a brand of basketball which is unique in many ways. We have a proud tradition and it's also our tradition to be proud of our team... no matter what.

The "ifs", and there are a lot of them, aren't crazy though. That makes me somewhat optimistic.

We'll be led by Senior - Cooney, Senior - G and Junior - Roberson. When's the last time we had 3 upperclassmen like that in the starting lineup?

We have the 4th ranked recruiting class coming in. Richardson gives us much needed length at the top of the zone and, hopefully, a 3rd 3 point threat. Diagne along with Coleman (if healthy) gives us a really talented C rotation.

Joseph was a highly recruited kid and should improve.

No one knows what Lydon or Howard might be able to give us next year and we have Obokoh as emergency Center.

If anything, we should, in theory be able to put multiple 3 point shooters on the floor and be led by upperclassmen. It's a start...

 

[sususpicious]

G is our best player. What on earth makes you think CMac was our best player. Our best wins happened without him and our worst losses happened with him!

The big impact of him leaving is it means G has to play forward. That is a hit because I think our best chance to be great was with him at PG or SG. That would take pressure off KJ and also allow Cooney to get some rest throughout the season - which I am convinced is mandatory for him to be a high performer. Now it will be Cooney 40 minutes a game again. But either way - we only need a 40% success rate with our freshman class for us to have plenty of options. I feel Syracuse is hugely attractive to Bryant with CMac gone so I am hoping we'll have him as well.

 

[sususpicious]

I did not say CMac was our best player. I only referred to the fact that Rak was gone, and HE WAS OUR BEST PLAYER last year. Most of my post was referring to Rak and the fact that we had TC, G, TR and KJ returning as starters; I wasn't referring to CMac at all. And yes, I am fully aware that G is now our best player this year. Sorry for the confusion. And here's hoping we get some good news soon regarding Big Thomas!

 

[Flacusian]

The "ifs", and there are a lot of them, aren't crazy though. That makes me somewhat optimistic.

We'll be led by Senior - Cooney, Senior - G and Junior - Roberson. When's the last time we had 3 upperclassmen like that in the starting lineup?

We have the 4th ranked recruiting class coming in. Richardson gives us much needed length at the top of the zone and, hopefully, a 3rd 3 point threat. Diagne along with Coleman (if healthy) gives us a really talented C rotation.

Joseph was a highly recruited kid and should improve.

No one knows what Lydon or Howard might be able to give us next year and we have Obokoh as emergency Center.

If anything, we should, in theory be able to put multiple 3 point shooters on the floor and be led by upperclassmen. It's a start...

LongIsland... You make a significant point about having 3 kids who are upperclassmen as starters on the team. Much had been made about this with the Wisconsin team and some extent the Michigan State team. G has an opportunity to really establish himself with the attendant national recognition next year given the opportunity he'll be presented. And you have to believe Cooney will have a better year when we have more than one player in Orange who can drain a trey. I suppose I'm really hoping we get Bryant now since the one extra player with talent could make an enormous difference with respect to our options.

 

[orange2win]

Every team in the final 4 has somebody shooting treys at +40%. Our 3pt specialist is barely shooting 30%. I don't see that being fixed next year, so I don't think we can go far. Maybe if Silent G takes over that role we can do better.