What will make or break this 2025-26 team?

[MediaMan2k]

When we look back at season's end, what will be the biggest factor that determined their success/failure?
- Coaching
- Chemistry
- Lack of a proven Center
- 3pt shooting
- Schedule

 

[Vorony]

Coaching

 

[cusefan88]

There's enough proven players with talent that it falls on Red now. His make or break season.

 

[hoopsupstate]

If this team defends, they will be tourney bound.

 

[Orangezoo]

It’s hands down coaching and it’s not close.

 

[Lukeyloo]

Having Weitsman bring celebrities to games

 

[RedtheGOB]

Are George/Donnie as advertised as a top of the ACC PG/PF back court / front court?

That’s really all that matters to me. The other guys are role players in my opinion and it all starts with them.

 

[IthaCuse]

If the team can’t get better on D all of the scoring improvement on earth won’t make a lick of difference. That’s what I’m watching for, is whether the team can get stops.

 

[McCuse]

Having a real PG that gets everyone involved. Alley oops to keep opposing D honest.

 

[Orangezoo]

Having a real PG that gets everyone involved. Alley oops to keep opposing D in honest.

Also a real PG that is a decent shot maker and keeps teams honest while being able to create for himself when it’s necessary and have the feel and IQ to make the right decision in those cases often. All of that of course with being an adequate or better on ball defender that is willing to fight through screens and go over/under consistent with knowing the scouting report.

 

[Eric15]

Obviously there are a ton of things that have to improve after last year's miserable season, but if I had to pin point one thing, it would be Donnie Freeman. I want to see him make the jump from solid role player to All-ACC star, which I think he's perfectly capable of.

 

[Orangezoo]

Obviously there are a ton of things that have to improve after last year's miserable season, but if I had to pin point one thing, it would be Donnie Freeman. I want to see him make the jump from solid role player to All-ACC star, which I think he's perfectly capable of.

Having re watched some of last years games that he played in- I completely agree. His presence on the boards , multi level ability to score and willingness as a defender one on one that just needs to improve with help and in the post he has everything in the toolbox to really blow up. Pair that with having a better defensive 5 to play with, a legit pass first PG and two capable wing scorers and it sets up well for him to be a true go to option/star this year.

 

[Eric15]

One more thing... I like JJ Starling. I think he's a solid player. But he absolutely can't be our leading scorer. He's just not efficient enough. I want to see him in a Scoop Jardine role, where he's our emotional leader, and quite possibly the guy with the ball in his hands at the end of games, but I want him to be our 3rd or so leading scorer.

Instead of averaging 18 per game on 40.7% from the field and 26.8% from three, I want to see him average say 13 per game and be in the high 40s and mid 30s with shooting percentages. That will be a really good sign for us if that's the case. It means other guys are stepping up and he doesn't have to carry the load.

 

[atlanticuse]

Coaching.
One or two players won’t win games nor get us to late March.

 

[McCuse]

One more thing... I like JJ Starling. I think he's a solid player. But he absolutely can't be our leading scorer. He's just not efficient enough. I want to see him in a Scoop Jardine role, where he's our emotional leader, and quite possibly the guy with the ball in his hands at the end of games, but I want him to be our 3rd or so leading scorer.

Instead of averaging 18 per game on 40.7% from the field and 26.8% from three, I want to see him average say 13 per game and be in the high 40s and mid 30s with shooting percentages. That will be a really good sign for us if that's the case. It means other guys are stepping up and he doesn't have to carry the load.

Our new floor general PG can help that become a reality.

 

[JeffCuse]

Coaching, emphasis on break. The real question i have is what will make or break NEXT year's team. Will Wildhack finally cut the cord on this experiment after yet another lost season?

 

[bnoro]

Red's coaching, and JJ Starling on both sides of the floor

 

[Niastri]

Red had a terrific offseason... In essence he successfully outsourced critical parts of building a program to other people who are better at it than he is.

Alex Kline took care of scouting and building a roster. I suspect he also helped with the NIL budgeting, though it hasn't been specifically stated anywhere reliable.

Rob Harris is taking care of building chemistry, strength and conditioning and motivational speaking (and back jumping, dude loves to jump on backs in celebration).

What Red didn't address, at all, is the actual basketball coaching. He went with the same staff.

In game coaching and on court instruction are all on him, which is how it should be... But he definitely shored up some other program weaknesses spectacularly.

If he's the same coach as last season, the record will still be much better because of the better roster and S&C. If Red gets better, the team could be vastly improved.

It wouldn't surprise me if we earned ten more wins than the 14 we won last season. It would surprise me, but doesn't seem impossible to me, if Syracuse doubled it's win total year over year.

A lot of that improvement depends on the quality of the in game coaching. All of that is on Red.

 

[nyucuse]

Red had a terrific offseason... In essence he successfully outsourced critical parts of building a program to other people who are better at it than he is.

Alex Kline took care of scouting and building a roster. I suspect he also helped with the NIL budgeting, though it hasn't been specifically stated anywhere reliable.

Rob Harris is taking care of building chemistry, strength and conditioning and motivational speaking (and back jumping, dude loves to jump on backs in celebration).

What Red didn't address, at all, is the actual basketball coaching. He went with the same staff.

In game coaching and on court instruction are all on him, which is how it should be... But he definitely shored up some other program weaknesses spectacularly.

If he's the same coach as last season, the record will still be much better because of the better roster and S&C. If Red gets better, the team could be vastly improved.

It wouldn't surprise me if we earned ten more wins than the 14 we won last season. It would surprise me, but doesn't seem impossible to me, if Syracuse doubled it's win total year over year.

A lot of that improvement depends on the quality of the in game coaching. All of that is on Red.

Agree with all of this. The one obvious off-season move, or lack there of, was on the coaching staff - X&Os. Not clear to me why Red did not address that glaring deficiency from last season - maybe it's insecurity re his coaching performance and questions if improvement is due to him or those he has brought on. But this year has to be make or break. And I hope that doesn't mean 19-12 and an 11 seed gets another go. It's got to be solid, and directionality indicating headed back to annual top 25 status.

So long story short this team's biggest question mark is far and away it's coaching. A proven, competent coach comfortably gets this team to the tournament with potential for S16 and maybe more.

 

[Giants1973]

When we look back at season's end, what will be the biggest factor that determined their success/failure?
- Coaching
- Chemistry
- Lack of a proven Center
- 3pt shooting
- Schedule

Coaching, Defense and 3 point shooting

 

[Orangezoo]

Red had a terrific offseason... In essence he successfully outsourced critical parts of building a program to other people who are better at it than he is.

Alex Kline took care of scouting and building a roster. I suspect he also helped with the NIL budgeting, though it hasn't been specifically stated anywhere reliable.

Rob Harris is taking care of building chemistry, strength and conditioning and motivational speaking (and back jumping, dude loves to jump on backs in celebration).

What Red didn't address, at all, is the actual basketball coaching. He went with the same staff.

In game coaching and on court instruction are all on him, which is how it should be... But he definitely shored up some other program weaknesses spectacularly.

If he's the same coach as last season, the record will still be much better because of the better roster and S&C. If Red gets better, the team could be vastly improved.

It wouldn't surprise me if we earned ten more wins than the 14 we won last season. It would surprise me, but doesn't seem impossible to me, if Syracuse doubled it's win total year over year.

A lot of that improvement depends on the quality of the in game coaching. All of that is on Red.

Good summary. To tack on, all the talent and athleticism additions we added elevate the roster as whole outside post offense. With that said the current version of all these guys as of end of the season last year is still not good enough if we want to be a tournament team. A shaky bubble team is what we are if no one gets stronger or improves,

Thus coaching and then development( which has a large pct tied to coaching) factors greatly. All these kids returning and who we added have a lot of room to improve their games. Guys like Eddie were clearly maxed out to be a known quantity already.

We need guys like George to take the next step as a leader to controls the game for example while improving on defense and as a scorer when needed. To me when you factor the points you locked in on along with others on coaching paired with development then we are going to get there should these things go as we hope.

 

[Briancuse]

Coaching 3 pt shooting and interior scoring are my three biggest concerns going in to the season.

 

[McCuse]

Good summary. To tack on, all the talent and athleticism additions we added elevate the roster as whole outside post offense. With that said the current version of all these guys as of end of the season last year is still not good enough if we want to be a tournament team. A shaky bubble team is what we are if no one gets stronger or improves,

Thus coaching and then development( which has a large pct tied to coaching) factors greatly. All these kids returning and who we added have a lot of room to improve their games. Guys like Eddie were clearly maxed out to be a known quantity already.

We need guys like George to take the next step as a leader to controls the game for example while improving on defense and as a scorer when needed. To me when you factor the points you locked in on along with others on coaching paired with development then we are going to get there should these things go as we hope.

George is going to bring a whole new freshness to the offense. He is the real deal as a PG. Should be some beautiful alley oops to the long athletes around the rim. Which will keep defenses honest and open up 3 point line.