William Kyle appears to be on the shorter side

[Cuse_NYC]

but but but everyone on here says height doesnt matter and he plays taller

lol

im gonna reserve final judgement until the real games start...but personally I wouldnt trust a small center ...it could work, but im skeptical

If Donnie was a shot blocker, I wouldn’t care, but he isn’t. Hopefully Sadiq can pitch in there…

 

[Cuse_NYC]

Game film showed that he isn't much of a defender, especially against multiple P4 caliber teams. Agree that his athleticism makes him a decent weakside shotblocker.

He is a terrific rebounder, which is good. But he isn't an elite defender by any means. Guys his size who were P4 opponents scored right over him.

This is the worry

 

[RedtheGOB]

but but but everyone on here says height doesnt matter and he plays taller

lol

im gonna reserve final judgement until the real games start...but personally I wouldnt trust a small center ...it could work, but im skeptical

Serious question are there any Centers in the ACC over 7 that are starters?

 

[letsgorange]

Kyles a hair undersized but an A+ athlete with wingspan. I think he'll do fine. As mentioned, we also have Souare who played a lot the 2nd half of last season. 2 headed monster...we good!

 

[CardiacCuse]

Serious question are there any Centers in the ACC over 7 that are starters?

lousiville has 5 players 610 or taller
duke has a 7 footer, a 611 and maliq brown
UNC only has 2 610s (but usually seems to have some size)
Kansas has a 611 and 2 69s
noter dame has 2 610 and 1 611
uva 2 610s, 1 611
nc state only has 1 610
houston has 611
tennessee has 2 611
st johns has 2 71s and a 610 (i think pitino knows what hes doing)
georgetown has 1 7, 1 611, and 3 69s
uconn has 2 610s
florida (defending champs) 1 79, 1 71, 2 611s and 1 610 (cant wait to see if we play them at some point lol)
arizona has a 72, and 2 7s
ucla has a 73
cal has 611 and 610
FSU has a 7, 2 611s and 2 610s
clemson has 7, 2 611s and 2 610s

idk it seems most teams can at least run out a 611 guy or better...and a lot of the good teams have at least 1 7 footer, if not multiple.

it does seem this year is somewhat lighter on big star centers than is sometimes the case, like when clingan was on uconn for example...like kentucky and auburn are really small fwiw

also, i resent the implication in your post as if all that matter is what happens in the ACC. firstly, non-conf is make or break in this era. you MUST do well in non-conf or your season is basically already over now...and this years non con is prtty challenging imo second, this should be a nationally looking program...not one that is fine and dandy with only whatever happens in conference. I realize the results havent been there lately, but assessing this roster and team should be done in a national context, not a local one, imo

 

[Tony DeFranco]

Kyle is 6-9 230 with a 7-3 wing span and 44" vertical. That's what matters way more than the height differences.

Is the 44 inch vertical actually confirmed? Holy moly

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

The stats may beg to differ with you.

Syracuse Orange Basketball Top 100 Block Shots

Rank of Syracuse University Basketball All-Time Top 100 blocked shots for the Orange.

www.orangehoops.org

IF you set the bar at 2.0 blocks / game or better, then (sadly) McNeil doesn't even make the cut.
There are 8 Cuse players who averaged 2+ blocks/gm for their careers.


On a per-game basis, it's Etan by a mile at 3.5 - and then Rosie Bouie next at 2.8.
Rony and DC also stand out.

Surprise entries in the 2+ Club: Chewie, and CMac.


Fab was great at positional D and drawing charges. He was elite at that.
And yes - he was an effective shotblocker, but not as prolific in that regard as others.

Do it by minutes played

 

[IthacaMatt]

Bob Dooms says “hold my beer”

(For my fellow OG’s)

Andre Hawkins, too.

 

[Orangezoo]

Oh here we go again around the obsession over height….

 

[Orangezoo]

If Donnie was a shot blocker, I wouldn’t care, but he isn’t. Hopefully Sadiq can pitch in there…

He played 14 games as a frosh. The jury is still out on his ability to defend the rim. Too early to make that assertion.

 

[Orangezoo]

One thing that’s important here is that you could have 3 great shot blockers on your team but if your guards and wings can’t stop the ball or effectively know the scouting report to funnel guys towards the help defender - then those shot blockers arent doing much for you and likely are going to have major issues staying out of foul trouble.

The same goes for defending any entry passes into the post. There aren’t many players who can clean up every mistake just as there aren’t many who are consistent threats on the block just because they run 6-10 or bigger.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Oh here we go again around the obsession over height….

Like clockwork, this and "where's the beef" on the football side when talking about the lines.

 

[IthacaMatt]

He played 14 games as a frosh. The jury is still out on his ability to defend the rim. Too early to make that assertion.

For those of us who remember, he spent more time playing as Kevin Durant than using his height on offense or defense.

 

[Orangezoo]

For those of us who remember, he spent more time playing as Kevin Durant than using his height on offense or defense.

Sure - and It was also a poorly constructed roster, which was evident by the second exhibition. With the role
Eddie had, Donnie was put into that position too. The backcourt couldn’t defend anyone so there was never any chance to see what the actual talent was capable of.

 

[tee1222]

Like clockwork, this and "where's the beef" on the football side when talking about the lines.

Feels like I'm being baited into posting a Wendy's gif.

 

[Surfan06001]

Many people are saying we should force Kyle into the portal.

Seven foot kings only

 

[orange79]

Like clockwork, this and "where's the beef" on the football side when talking about the lines.

HiS OnLy oFfEr iS FrOm gEoRgIa sOuThErN!!!

 

[Cuse_NYC]

He played 14 games as a frosh. The jury is still out on his ability to defend the rim. Too early to make that assertion.

Not at all. He was a bad shot blocker at IMG as well. He has trouble locating the ball. Even as a help defender to get a cheap block, he doesn’t get many. I’m hopeful that Sadiq can block some.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

One thing that’s important here is that you could have 3 great shot blockers on your team but if your guards and wings can’t stop the ball or effectively know the scouting report to funnel guys towards the help defender - then those shot blockers arent doing much for you and likely are going to have major issues staying out of foul trouble.

The same goes for defending any entry passes into the post. There aren’t many players who can clean up every mistake just as there aren’t many who are consistent threats on the block just because they run 6-10 or bigger.

We’re relying on WK to be the only shot blocker in our starting lineup. And at a generous 6’9, there has to be concern. As he had trouble at UCLA with bigger bodies. Hopefully we get something from Sadiq and Souare. We need to protect the rim at a MUCH higher clip than we have been.

 

[Cheriehoop]

We’re relying on WK to be the only shot blocker in our starting lineup. And at a generous 6’9, there has to be concern. As he had trouble at UCLA with bigger bodies. Hopefully we get something from Sadiq and Souare. We need to protect the rim at a MUCH higher clip than we have been.

It could very well be the reason we’re fortunate to have all 3. Matchups matter.

 

[RealMcNeil]

Did WK not have a blk% of 9 last season, and over 7 at SDSU? Settle down, fam.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

Did WK not have a blk% of 9 last season, and over 7 at SDSU? Settle down, fam.

He’s the guy at the 4 we would love to have weakside block. Should we be fake optimistic like every other season? It’s negative until proven positive at this point

 

[Cuse On 3]

He’s the guy at the 4 we would love to have weakside block. Should we be fake optimistic like every other season? It’s negative until proven positive at this point

We get it guy, you don’t like William Kyle. Give it a rest. I’m sorry shirtless Greg Oden when he played at Ohio state isn’t walking through the door anytime soon, but you haven’t seen Kyle play yet. Enough with the needless negativity.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

We get it guy, you don’t like William Kyle. Give it a rest. I’m sorry shirtless Greg oden when he Played at Ohio state isn’t walking through the door anytime soon, but you haven’t seen Kyle play yet. Enough with the needless negativity.

No you don’t get it. I’m hoping he’s great and have no hate towards him. Just worried about him at the 5.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

We get it guy, you don’t like William Kyle. Give it a rest. I’m sorry shirtless Greg Oden when he played at Ohio state isn’t walking through the door anytime soon, but you haven’t seen Kyle play yet. Enough with the needless negativity.

It’s a board about the team we care about. We’re allowed to have opinions. This isn’t a church preaching positivity