Wildhack is on the Clock

[CuseCPT]

This is Syracuse you have had 2 years to build your roster. You have hand picked the current roster only 1 hold over from JB teams who you made a priority to stay. You have zero game plan on offense or defense side of ball. You get out coached by every opponent we face. You team looks unprepared and unorganized every game. You are a bottom 5 P4 team in nation. You are on pace to be the worst Syracuse team in our history. You are on pace to not make the ACC tournament not the NCAA tournament the ACC tournament. Our attendance is going to the drain. You are losing the casual fan as well as die hards. All these things are currently true.

All that and you are going to bring him back for another year. Basically Red is one of the worst coaches in the nation at a P4 level. And we are going to bring him back because he has a decent freshman class coming in when the landscape of how to win in colllege hoops have changed.

I don't think that gets discussed enough. IMHO freshmen recruits are a lot less important than the portal and the ability to build a cohesive team out of the parts you strategically acquire. The de-emphasis on freshmen recruits is not new. Look Kentucky in the era of one and dones. Each year Cal brough in the next years NBA all-rookie team and they typically flamed out spectacularly. Freshmen, even great freshmen, still do freshmen things. It's why we started to see 1 seeds lose to 16s. We saw it under JB. We kept getting guys good enough to leave after a year, but not good enough to get you to the promised land.

In some ways getting star freshmen recruits may be fools gold now. You spend all the time and effort to get them, drop a lot of NIL money on them, they make all their freshmen mistakes with you, then the leave for the NBA or the SEC.

 

[dasher]

You'll notice a lot of the insiders don't really seem to upset by that turn of events. Draw your own conclusions.

I don't know why you would say that? No one likes wasting money or even worse, time. For example, I have a birthday this month. My life expectancy is 16 more years. I don't have the time to waste and not making the tournament. The bigger donors have to feel the same way.

 

[FloridaCuse]

Adam W., Banned? Why? SEC Billionaires , Walmart Heirs, Texas Big Oil men, NIke founder's Money, Never heard of a school banning a mega donor , but Cuse...

The source of the supposed "ban" is Adam Weitsman. An article published on Syracuse.com in April 2023 had the headline:

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances​

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances

Weitsman said Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud is the reason he's stepping away.

www.syracuse.com

The article states:

"Weitsman cited Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud as the reason for stepping away. While he has never met Syverud, Weitsman got the impression the chancellor did not want him involved in supporting SU athletics."

The article then quotes Adam W.:

“From what I understand, hearing it from sources at the university, he did not like the high-profile nature of the celebrities coming to games and the way I was going about NIL, discussing it with the media,”

Other sources:

Adam Weitsman to no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse

Adam Weitsman will no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse. He told Syracuse.com that Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud was the reason behind his departure. He will also stop bringing high-profile celebrities.

dailyorange.com

Syracuse Orange pushing out Adam Weitsman ‘unheard of’ – NIL attorney

Attorney Darren Heitner, a well-known and well-respected NIL expert who has advised Adam Weitsman and many other clients across the country on name, image...

insidetheloudhouse.com

 

[GreekFreak]

Fab Melo?

RIP.

 

[Scooch]

The source of the supposed "ban" is Adam Weitsman. An article published on Syracuse.com in April 2023 had the headline:

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances​

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances

Weitsman said Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud is the reason he's stepping away.

www.syracuse.com

The article states:

"Weitsman cited Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud as the reason for stepping away. While he has never met Syverud, Weitsman got the impression the chancellor did not want him involved in supporting SU athletics."

The article then quotes Adam W.:

“From what I understand, hearing it from sources at the university, he did not like the high-profile nature of the celebrities coming to games and the way I was going about NIL, discussing it with the media,”

Other sources:

Adam Weitsman to no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse

Adam Weitsman will no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse. He told Syracuse.com that Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud was the reason behind his departure. He will also stop bringing high-profile celebrities.

dailyorange.com

Syracuse Orange pushing out Adam Weitsman ‘unheard of’ – NIL attorney

Attorney Darren Heitner, a well-known and well-respected NIL expert who has advised Adam Weitsman and many other clients across the country on name, image...

insidetheloudhouse.com

It was well discussed that Weitsman putting recruits on private jets was drawing unwelcome scrutiny on the program.

The guy was asked to tone it down and he refused. Took his ball and went home.

Whatever. Life goes on. We had some of our worst seasons when he was most prominent. So whatever he was doing wasn’t working anyway.

 

[sufan59]

The frustration from fans comes in that this sentiment is understood, but the starting lineup also features two McDAA, along with a Center that was paid big money, and that lineup is barely going to crack double digit wins.

So even if the talent is in place, what evidence is there to suggest the coaching is near capable of utilizing that talent on the court effectively? And then asking fans/donors to pony up for it...

Boeheim at the end was doing more with less talent. Now the less talent part is certainly something that he owns responsibility for, but I certainly felt like he got a lot out of those teams that many coaches would struggle getting double digit wins. Now we have the opposite problem, we are doing less with more. We have not played a team this season including Tennessee where I felt like even if we played our best there talent was just too much for us to overcome. We had plenty of situations with the Boeheim final teams where we did play our best, but didn’t have the bodies to physically win those games. See if the Melo family wasn’t in the picture next season, I think we are looking at a roster that physically couldn’t beat some teams on the best nights. The fact that they are will keep this roster as mostly 4 and 5 stars next season. I would have to imagine we are losing momentum recruiting beyond 2025 right now. We will have to be better than just a tournament team next season, we will need to be elite for Autry to maintain recruiting momentum to be successful beyond Kiyan Anthony. The question we all need to think about is if anyone has hope we can be an elite basketball squad ever with Autry? If the answer to that is no then why does Autry automatically get year 3. Whether it’s through the rest of the games this season or press conferences, Autry needs to instill hope that we can be an elite basketball team under his direction.

 

[Sherman20]

I'm referring to the forced retirement plan where JB would have stepped down in April 2018.

JB left in 2023 because we sucked and the thrill was gone. And because Juli told him to.

JB was essentially forced to step down by Wildhack. Finally. After years of mediocrity and little effort put into recruiting and leaving the program on autopilot. Other posters on here have confirmed that Wildhack was finally freed up to force JB into retirement.

 

[dasher]

The source of the supposed "ban" is Adam Weitsman. An article published on Syracuse.com in April 2023 had the headline:

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances​

Adam Weitsman: I will no longer support Syracuse athletics with NIL, celebrity appearances

Weitsman said Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud is the reason he's stepping away.

www.syracuse.com

The article states:

"Weitsman cited Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud as the reason for stepping away. While he has never met Syverud, Weitsman got the impression the chancellor did not want him involved in supporting SU athletics."

The article then quotes Adam W.:

“From what I understand, hearing it from sources at the university, he did not like the high-profile nature of the celebrities coming to games and the way I was going about NIL, discussing it with the media,”

Other sources:

Adam Weitsman to no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse

Adam Weitsman will no longer provide NIL opportunities at Syracuse. He told Syracuse.com that Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud was the reason behind his departure. He will also stop bringing high-profile celebrities.

dailyorange.com

Syracuse Orange pushing out Adam Weitsman ‘unheard of’ – NIL attorney

Attorney Darren Heitner, a well-known and well-respected NIL expert who has advised Adam Weitsman and many other clients across the country on name, image...

insidetheloudhouse.com

When the NCAA met and discussed what boosters could and couldn't do, they used AW as an example of what a booster couldn't do. AW also went his own way when dealing with kids and NIL. Not necessarily what the coaches wanted. I wish it would have worked out. But and I have made my feelings and thoughts about the Chancy known, he wasn't in the wrong. And on the other hand, AW has a right to do what he wants with his own money. Sometimes, things just don't work out.

 

[FloridaCuse]

It was well discussed that Weitsman putting recruits on private jets was drawing unwelcome scrutiny on the program.

The guy was asked to tone it down and he refused. Took his ball and went home.

Whatever. Life goes on. We had some of our worst seasons when he was most prominent. So whatever he was doing wasn’t working anyway.

You mean like putting recruits on private planes with famous rappers?

 

[dasher]

Boeheim at the end was doing more with less talent. Now the less talent part is certainly something that he owns responsibility for, but I certainly felt like he got a lot out of those teams that many coaches would struggle getting double digit wins. Now we have the opposite problem, we are doing less with more. We have not played a team this season including Tennessee where I felt like even if we played our best there talent was just too much for us to overcome. We had plenty of situations with the Boeheim final teams where we did play our best, but didn’t have the bodies to physically win those games. See if the Melo family wasn’t in the picture next season, I think we are looking at a roster that physically couldn’t beat some teams on the best nights. The fact that they are will keep this roster as mostly 4 and 5 stars next season. I would have to imagine we are losing momentum recruiting beyond 2025 right now. We will have to be better than just a tournament team next season, we will need to be elite for Autry to maintain recruiting momentum to be successful beyond Kiyan Anthony. The question we all need to think about is if anyone has hope we can be an elite basketball squad ever with Autry? If the answer to that is no then why does Autry automatically get year 3. Whether it’s through the rest of the games this season or press conferences that, Autry needs to instill hope that we can be an elite basketball team under his direction.

I couldn't disagree more with the idea that our roster is anywhere near good enough. I think we missed on all 4 of our portal guys. And while Moore and Freeman have great potential, neither of them can guard a chair. We are at a major disadvantage with every team we play at the 1. We aren't good enough and we aren't coached well either. An impossible situation to overcome.

 

[Cuse12]

This just popped in my head, hard to explain but maybe you will all get my point.

Dino babers came in as cuse coach and had a clear direction of where he wanted to go his first few year. (We know what happened later on). But his first few years we were like 4-8. But, we saw why he was brought in, fast offense that was an obvious visual difference and noticed by all. He had lackluster records but we could see something changing and an identity at least.


I now go to red, and I have no clue what we are. He wanted to play fast, and I guess we do shoot fast in the half court, but not many fast breaks and pushing tempo at all. He has not been able to establish his identity and culture as a coach at all, and that’s what concerns me!

 

[Scooch]

You mean like putting recruits on private planes with famous rappers?

Dasher nailed it. Weitsman was *literally* the example of what not to do.

He was asked to tone it down and he refused. That was his choice.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I don’t think it’s just PG, quite frankly every portal player has been disappointing. The NIL ROI is catastrophic, and if I was a big booster and saw what my NIL dollars went too, I wouldnt be jumping to give more. Its not hey we are a bubble team, and losing JJ for a
Month cost us a tournament game we just are flat out terrible. We have a lot more of the season to play out, and maybe the team will somehow get to 12-13 wins but we statistically played pretty well yesterday and lost by 16, so I have little confidence that will transpire. I’m not sure what will happen with red, but revenue generation, NIL contribution and donor angst will determine red fate. The question I’m asking what the true cost of keeping red another year and can any of that risk be mitigated. Is the long term upside of keeping him worth it.

Taylor and Davis would have been fine as role players. The problem is the misses everywhere else has lead us to needing more out of them. The Lampkin and Carlos moves have been a disaster.

 

[althea]

Taylor and Davis would have been fine as role players. The problem is the misses everywhere else has lead us to needing more out of them. The Lampkin and Carlos moves have been a disaster.

Arguably the 2 most important positions.

 

[phil77]

Taylor and Davis would have been fine as role players. The problem is the misses everywhere else has lead us to needing more out of them. The Lampkin and Carlos moves have been a disaster.

Outside of maybe JJ and Freeman we have a team full of bench players.

 

[dasher]

Arguably the 2 most important positions.

Not really arguably.

 

[pwong]

I actually think if Red is gone and they hire someone with zero SU ties (as they should), I could see Hop returning as an assistant to finish out his career.

Pretty sure Hop current has a role with the Phoenix Suns.

 

[sufan59]

I couldn't disagree more with the idea that our roster is anywhere near good enough. I think we missed on all 4 of our portal guys. And while Moore and Freeman have great potential, neither of them can guard a chair. We are at a major disadvantage with every team we play at the 1. We aren't good enough and we aren't coached well either. An impossible situation to overcome.

From 247 sports
Jaquan Carlos- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Jyare Davis- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Eddie Lampkin- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Lucas Taylor- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Donnie Freeman- 5 star in HS
Elijah Moore- 4 star in HS
Kyle Cuffe Jr- 4 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Naheem McLeod- 3 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Chance Westry- 4 star in HS, 4 star transfer
JJ Starling- 5 stars in HS, 4 star transfer
Chris Bell- 4 star in HS

Understand we have had injuries, maybe poor roster construction, or just bad evaluation done on our players specifically from the recruiting services. But on paper, we are doing less with more right now. It’s not even close.

 

[althea]

Not really arguably.

I know, but I’m sure some will argue about it.

 

[dasher]

From 247 sports
Jaquan Carlos- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Jyare Davis- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Eddie Lampkin- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Lucas Taylor- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Donnie Freeman- 5 star in HS
Elijah Moore- 4 star in HS
Kyle Cuffe Jr- 4 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Naheem McLeod- 3 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Chance Westry- 4 star in HS, 4 star transfer
JJ Starling- 5 stars in HS, 4 star transfer
Chris Bell- 4 star in HS

Understand we have had injuries, maybe poor roster construction, or just bad evaluation done on our players specifically from the recruiting services. But on paper, we are doing less with more right now. It’s not even close.

stars really don't matter much and if you look at most of our great teams , 2010 being an exception, they didn't have many 3 stars. You have watched the real ability of these guys. Is Taylor a 4 star transfer? Or Carlos? Or davis? Westry? These guys can't play at a high level and that isn't just coaching. They aren't good players at this level.

 

[phil77]

From 247 sports
Jaquan Carlos- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Jyare Davis- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Eddie Lampkin- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Lucas Taylor- 3 star in HS, 4 star transfer
Donnie Freeman- 5 star in HS
Elijah Moore- 4 star in HS
Kyle Cuffe Jr- 4 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Naheem McLeod- 3 star in HS, 3 star transfer
Chance Westry- 4 star in HS, 4 star transfer
JJ Starling- 5 stars in HS, 4 star transfer
Chris Bell- 4 star in HS

Understand we have had injuries, maybe poor roster construction, or just bad evaluation done on our players specifically from the recruiting services. But on paper, we are doing less with more right now. It’s not even close.

The landscape of college sports has changed. It isn't about collecting the most stars anymore. You need a couple of things

1-You need to assume that everyone is gone year to year. No build around this player or that player. That is going to be a rare thing moving forward. You may get 2-3 important pieces to stay but most will move on or the portal players you bring in are seniors so they will leave anyway.

2-You need offense and defensive systems in place and find talent that works within your systems. Not roll the ball out AAU style of play we do now. It wont work anymore because teams will not develop chemistry instead your offense and defensive systems are the chemistry. (This is very important probably the most important)

3-Each year you need to fill your team in with players. If someone isn't working you need to have the talk as you need to have as much money as possible (Bell). Each offseason is team team-building chance. Assume nobody is back and start building your team and looking at your team needs. (Like we needed a true lead guard and a defensive center and we failed this offseason.)

 

[kingtidge]

Taylor and Davis would have been fine as role players. The problem is the misses everywhere else has lead us to needing more out of them. The Lampkin and Carlos moves have been a disaster.

We replaced Jesse with McClod.

A polished starting P4 center was replaced with a 7'-4" project that forced us to start guards at center.

100% whiff.

Next year, Lampkin... Paid for a polished, P4 starting center... Got a guy with finishing skills that can't rebound and plays very poor defense and is not in shape to play starter minutes. A decent backup that fleeced us for starter NIL.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Because we were about to get hit with MAJOR NCAA sanctions, and SU was trying to lessen the blow. We took a self-imposed tournament ban in 2015 (not that we were making the tournament after CMC tore his ACL anyways).

We still got dinged with 4 years of scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions, and JB lost 101 wins.

It's been public knowledge for 10 years.

And this program has never fully recovered.

 

[pokercuse08]

I find “coaching trees” to be one of the stupider tropes in sports. Guys succeed, or don’t, on their own abilities. And some “legends” were greatly helped by their assistants. See: Parcells, Bill.

Some coaches are better at hiring good assistants, giving them an environment to grow and thrive, and setting them up for success. Boeheim didn't seem to do a good job of ~any of that - at least not over th last 10-15 years.

 

[bnoro]

Adam W., Banned? Why? SEC Billionaires , Walmart Heirs, Texas Big Oil men, NIke founder's Money, Never heard of a school banning a mega donor , but Cuse...

Billionaire hero worship is sad. It's crazy how much press this guy made for himself by using SU for headlines. No one knew who he was before and now people pine for him.