William Kyle Appreciation Thread

[STEVEHOLT]

The late great Al Mcguire once said Otis Hill is 6'8 but he has wide shoulders which makes him 7 feet. Note he did not say that his height plays up to 7 feet or he is LIKE a 7 footer. He said his wide shoulders mean he IS 7 feet. Loved that guy. Also wipe out by TODD

 

[Dmcnabbrules]

Jeremy McNeil was a block machine, especially in the comeback game during the 2003 run, and Otis Hill was fine down low. They were both 6'8". I'm less concerned with height and more with athleticism and physicality. Those guys were both 250 lbs and McNeil had springs for legs. If he can have some resemblance to them, we'll be happy.

Not that it matters but Jeremy is about two inches taller than Otis. Hill might be 6’6 with shoes on. My point is listed heights can be modified by a few inches, if you can play you can play.

 

[Sherman20]

That’s true, he does appear to be on the short side, but if he is able to make plays like this one regularly, then I’m not too worried about his height.

Yeah, wing span and vertical matter more.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Jeremy McNeil was a block machine, especially in the comeback game during the 2003 run, and Otis Hill was fine down low. They were both 6'8". I'm less concerned with height and more with athleticism and physicality. Those guys were both 250 lbs and McNeil had springs for legs. If he can have some resemblance to them, we'll be happy.

McNeil was great to run the press with. He would pretty much block every shot if a team broke the press .

 

[RF2044]

I feel like he was brought in to defend the post, so I sure hope he is a plus defender!

Even though it wasn't a major conference, it looks like he blocked a bunch of shots for the jackrabbits.

William Kyle III Career Stats - NCAAM - ESPN

Complete career NCAAM stats for the Syracuse Orange Forward William Kyle III on ESPN. Includes points, rebounds, and assists.

www.espn.com

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.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Not that it matters but Jeremy is about two inches taller than Otis. Hill might be 6’6 with shoes on. My point is listed heights can be modified by a few inches, if you can play you can play.

Outside of Fab and Etan, McNeil was the best shot blocker we have ever had.

 

[721Comstock]

Outside of Fab and Etan, McNeil was the best shot blocker we have ever had.

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.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

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.

I feel like this is a place where per 40s would be a better comparison point than per game averages.

 

[721Comstock]

I feel like this is a place where per 40s would be a better comparison point than per game averages.

You can feel free to compile those stats.

But yes - a guy like McNeil (or Fab for that matter), who "only" played about half a game on average, would have much better per-40 #'s than per-game #'s.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

You can feel free to compile those stats.

But yes - a guy like McNeil (or Fab for that matter), who "only" played about half a game on average, would have much better per-40 #'s than per-game #'s.

Everyone keeps trying to make me do math.

 

[Orangezoo]

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.

From the looks of the schedule we will see more guys that are a threat via forcing a switch off a ball screen than guys who can do damage posting up around the rim. So it’s going to be on Red to hopefully make the right call as to whether he’s running Kyle or Souare etc at the pivot. A big part of that too is how well Donnie and Nate defend alongside etc.

He shouldn’t run into the issues of being unable to switch and recover like Lampkin and he should have help defending the rim given the personnel we have this year. Should is going to be my operative reference at this point…

 

[baggerbob]

Outside of Fab and Etan, McNeil was the best shot blocker we have ever had.

DC blocked over 100 shots as a junior when he had to play center.

 

[RF2044]

Outside of Fab and Etan, McNeil was the best shot blocker we have ever had.

Darryl Watkins is up there, too.

 

[kingtidge]

but how long are his arms?

Think T-rex ratio.

He's gonna get tomahawked regularly.

 

[Sudano]

lol what the hell do you mean a real 6’9. They’re both quite literally factually and scientifically 6’9. William Kyle is strong and athletic as hell and is by no means slender

Factually and Scientifically?! They weren't scientific study specimens...
You obviously don't understand the concept in many cases the difference between athletic program published heights and reality.

 

[Cuse On 3]

Factually and Scientifically?! They weren't scientific study specimens...
You obviously don't understand the concept in many cases the difference between athletic program published heights and reality.

 

[Sudano]

View attachment 255484

 

[Cuse On 3]

 

[CardiacCuse]

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.

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

 

[sufandu]

McNeil was great to run the press with. He would pretty much block every shot if a team broke the press .

Oklahoma St. agrees with you.

 

[longtimefan]

Bob Dooms says “hold my beer”

(For my fellow OG’s)

As broad a set of shoulders as I've ever stood next to.

 

[23Zone]

Outside of Fab and Etan, McNeil was the best shot blocker we have ever had.

Conrad McRae had the flair for the nasty rejection

 

[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?