With news of Kaleb Joseph's oral commitment today along with the start of the Canadian exhibition tour in four days, I thought it would be a good time to start this thread.
Coming off the Final Four run last year, this year's team is deep and certainly capable of making a return trip. Syracuse will boast arguably the best front court in the nation, led by ACC player of the year candidate CJ Fair. Fair put up 14.5ppg last year and 7rpg. He extended his range to the three point line to the tune of shooting 47% (30 of 64), though he wasn't hoisting up a ton of 3's. He was seldom the primary option on offense last year, though he had stretches where he carried the offense (see the Michigan game in the Final Four). How he adapts at being the primary focus of the defense this year will be one of the keys to the season for Syracuse. I expect that he's spent a ton of time this summer working on his handle. He is a very intelligent player who is a good decision maker with a good feel for the game. He has a nice touch around the basket and seems to have a good feel for angles (helps that he is lefty). His jumper has improved a ton since his freshman year, and he can be deadly knocking down mid range jumpers and, as previously mentioned, hit the three. The glaring weakness in his game, and the reason why he came back to school, is that he hasn't shown he can create his own shot off the dribble. That's the thing I will be zeroing in on during the scrimmages and early part of the season. He'll need to be able to create his shot off the dribble if he is to be a true number one scoring option for this team.
Beyond Fair, there is still a ton of depth and experience in the front court. Center will be a mix of Keita, Christmas, and Coleman.
Keita, the senior, provides a nonstop motor, unusual lateral quickness for a 6'10" guy, and a senior's understanding of the nuances of the zone. He even proved he could be a reliable free throw shooter last year. His downside is that he is still rail thin and can be pushed around and his offense is limited to putbacks and dunks (provided he actually catches the ball, which he did improve at last year).
Christmas will be a junior and has been a disappointment thus far. He was a McDonald's AA and while most Syracuse fans cut him slack for a lackluster freshman year, most expected a Fab Melo like improvement into his sophomore year. That didn't really materialize, and Christmas spent the season splitting minutes instead of owning the position. He has all the physical tools and is pretty good holding down the middle on defense. His problem is that he is a laid back personality and lacks any kind of motor. He seems to be the player that exasperates Boeheim the most, and it is easy to see why. If he could sustain any semblance of focus and intensity, he'd be a force. But he doesn't and skates by on his natural talent, which makes him serviceable. In my experience it rare to see a passive low motor type morph into a high motor aggressive type, but here's hoping.
Coleman, another McDonald's AA, had huge expectations last year (CALIPARI WANTED HIM!!!!) and was a disappointment, at least relative to expectations. Personally, I never expect much out of a freshman big. Regardless, Coleman came in as a hulking bruiser and learned quickly that he couldn't bowl over high D-1 post defenders the way he could high school bigs. Coleman struggled some with conditioning and especially with his lift, as he was frequently blocked in the post. He lost confidence and started fading away and focused on not getting blocked, which hurt his shooting percentage more. A midseason knee surgery knocked him out several weeks and when he returned he didn't even reclaim his token starting spot. Still, there is much to be encouraged by. Reports are that he has slimmed down in the offseason. He's always had light feet for a man his size and he does have unusual brute strength combined with a soft touch around the rim Once he figures out how to get his shot off, I think he'll be a dominant force on offense. He has always been a good rebounder, as he is a wide body and doesn't get pushed around. He has a high motor for rebounding too and collects his area and more. He could be a DaJuan Blair/Michael Sweetney type player once he is fully developed. For the third year in a row, Syracuse fans will be waiting anxiously to see what kind of leap a freshman big takes into his sophomore year.
Little was expected of Jerami Grant coming into his freshman year, and he exceeded even the most wildly optimistic expectations in becoming a consistent rotation player. He displayed stunning athleticism and his 7'2" wingspan made him a terror rotating on defense, shot blocking, and rebounding. He showed the makings of a solid jumper and even knocked down his share of 3's (though it wasn't a big part of his game last year). Like most freshmen, consistency was an issue and he needs to get stronger. He made the U19 US team this summer, but a bout with mono knocked him out of action. While he'll need to mature into his body and, like Fair, develop more of a handle, the sky is the limit with him. It is entirely possible that, in Fair and Grant, Syracuse will have two NBA first round draft picks at forward in next year's draft.
So, like I mentioned, the front court is stacked. The back court has talent, but it is young and unproven. Much of the success of Syracuse's season falls on the shoulders of their freshman PG, Tyler Ennis. The good news is that Ennis (6'2" with a 6'5" wingspan) was a 5 star recruit and one ID'ed early and pursued unusually hard by Boeheim. Ennis is an excellent ball handler, capable shooter, and is able to penetrate and get to the rim. He is comfortable distributing the ball and running an offense looking to get everyone involved. He does not have elite athleticism and is a bit of an old school guard in that he employs a lot of changes of pace and uses angles to get defenders off balance. He played at St. Benedicts and competed against other elite high school talent and did well, which is encouraging. Still, nothing in high school compares to playing major D-1 basketball, especially for a team with Final Four aspirations. Having a true freshman PG is a scary thing and there is bound to be a learning curve, but Ennis is all Syracuse has right now. He's the only PG on the roster, and the biggest hole on this team is the lack of a backup PG (which makes the Joseph commitment so important for next year). But hey, Syracuse did ok the season when Gerry McNamara was a freshman PG, right? :whistling:
Joining Ennis in the backcourt will be Duke transfer, redshirt sophomore Michael Gbinije and redshirt sophomore Trevor Cooney.
To be blunt, Cooney was an absolute disaster last year. He was a highly sought after recruit and widely considered to be one of the best 3 point shooters in his class. He redshirted his freshman year having Scoop/Triche/Dion/MCW ahead of him in the backcourt and much was expected of him last year after hearing reports of how hard he worked and how lights out he was shooting in practice all year. Rather than being a sharp shooter, he flat out couldn't shoot (27% from 3). Supposedly, much of his problem is mental, as he has a good stroke and kills it in practice. He is a very intense competitor and often times last year seemed overexcited on the court and rushed his shot. Hopefully the game slows down for him this year and he can relax and knock down 3's. If not, he'll be stapled to the bench and probably transfer (sucks for him that he already burned his redshirt year). He's actually pretty good on defense, as he is very active and his understanding of the zone rotations lets him accomplish more than his average lateral quickness should allow. At 6'4" he has the size Syracuse covets at the top of the zone. I know it was fashionable to hate on Cooney last year, and I certainly had my share of moments of cursing at the tv after yet another rushed airball, but I defended the kid all last year and I still believe in him. There's no simulating the pace, intensity, and pressure of the real games and some kids adjust mentally faster than others. I look at him and see someone who, if they would just relax, could be that deadeye shooter every team covets. Even I will concede, though, that if he has another year this year like last year, then he should probably never see the floor for meaningful minutes again.
Gbinije is another big question mark. He was a top 30ish recruit coming out of high school and signed with Duke where he played a little bit as a freshman. He somewhat unexpectedly decided to transfer from Duke and even more unexpectedly (both given Syracuse's move to the ACC and Boeheim and Coach K's friendship) landed at Syracuse. Gbinije is a 6'7" swingman who will mostly play the 2 for Syracuse. He ran the point for the scout team all last year while he sat out, going against MCW and held his own by the end of the season. If so, he'll likely be the guy who takes over point while Ennis gets a blow. Boeheim said that he wouldn't want Gbinije playing point 20mpg, he thinks Gbinije can do it 8-10mpg. What makes Gbinije so interesting is that he was a 2 in high school, a 3 at Duke, and is a 1/2 at Syracuse (with some 3 if they need to go small or add shooters). Flexibility is good, and I love his size and athleticism at the top of the zone. It is somewhat of an open question who will start at the 2, but my money is on Gbinije with Cooney coming off the bench.
Syracuse adds 5 freshmen to the mix this year. I already touched on Ennis, who will be relied on heavily. The others will need to earn their time.
BJ Johnson, my personal favorite and sleeper pick, is a 6'8" two guard from Lower Merion (Kobe's hometown). His dad is a former D-1 player at LaSalle who played a bit professionally in Europe. BJ is one of the youngest players in his class and has a lot of filling out to do, but he has a fantastic handle and very good shooting stroke. His dad has raised him well in the game and has guided his development, so BJ has a mature understanding of the game and works hard. I'm particularly enamored with having a 6'8" two guard and have dreams of a lineup of 6'7" Gbinije and 6'8" Johnson at the top of the zone along with Grant/Christmas/Fair with their 7 foot plus wingspans along the back. We saw how effective the zone could be with tall guards with MCW last year. That would be an insane defensive alignment. Anyway, the 4th guard spot is pretty wide open (and 3rd if Cooney doesn't improve). If BJ can knock down open 3's (and at 6'8" he should get his share of open looks over shorter guards) he'll get minutes. At the same time, given his young age and immature physique, part of me hopes Cooney/Patterson can fill out the guard rotation and BJ can redshirt. I really think he could be a monster down the road.
Ron Patterson (6'3" SG) - I mentioned him previously, and he is the opposite of BJ Johnson in that he is an older freshman, having spent a year in prep school when Indiana, who he had committed to out of high school, didn't admit him (he was eligible by NCAA standards, but Crean over recruited. Shady stuff by Crean if you ask me.) He spent a year at Brewster, alma mater of CJ Fair and where current Syracuse super recruit Chris McCullough plays. Patterson has the rep of being a top notch athlete, and absolute terror on defense, and a guy who can knock down an open 3. His handle needs work and he can be a bit reckless in going to the hoop and with his decision making in general.
Chinoso Obokoh (6'10" C) - project big from nearby Rochester. He is a likely red shirt candidate and the hope is he becomes a solid program player. His upside is Keita with a bit more of an offensive game. He was high school teammates with 5 star 2015 target Thomas Bryant, which can't hurt.
Tyler Roberson (6'7" PF) - the highest rated recruit besides Ennis (he picked Syracuse over Villanova and Kansas). He has the talent to push his way into a crowded Syracuse front court and gives Syracuse some insurance should Grant blow up and leave for the NBA after this year. Roberson is a tough, physical player with both an inside game and a jumper that extends to the arc. He can put it on the floor.
The Syracuse basketball program is a machine that churns out 20 win seasons, and recently has taken a step forward into being a perennial top 10 team (two 1 seeds and a final four berth in the last 4 tournaments). Recruiting is consistently at the highest level it has been since the 80's. There is a ton of talent on this team and, as I said at the outset, a Final Four run is realistic. Still, there are some glaring holes. Backup PG is an issue, and PG as a whole will be an issue should Ennis get hurt or be slow to adjust to the college game. Syracuse also has very little in the way of proven perimeter shooting, though there is potential there on paper.
The defense should again be a strength of this team. They have the length and athleticism to execute the zone at a high level and will be in a conference that isn't as familiar with it, the way several BE schools seemed to acclimate to it (unfortunately, Pitt is one of those teams). I think the ACC style of play is a better fit for what Syracuse has always wanted to be on offense. The BE wrestling matches I always felt stymied what Syracuse wanted to do (I'll be interested to see how Pitt adjusts to the less physical ACC). I was sad to see the demise of the Big East, but it was inevitable and the BE leadership certainly proved inept in dealing with the realities of college athletics. So while I was sad to see all the historic rivalries be altered, I'm glad Syracuse ended up in the ACC. I think it is a good fit for the school and this new basketball conference will be insane. The Duke game at the Dome on February 2nd where they may put the court in the center and open up the entire Dome for seating will certainly be memorable.
Sorry this is so long. I start typing, and before I know it this happens. Anyway, Go Orange!
Coming off the Final Four run last year, this year's team is deep and certainly capable of making a return trip. Syracuse will boast arguably the best front court in the nation, led by ACC player of the year candidate CJ Fair. Fair put up 14.5ppg last year and 7rpg. He extended his range to the three point line to the tune of shooting 47% (30 of 64), though he wasn't hoisting up a ton of 3's. He was seldom the primary option on offense last year, though he had stretches where he carried the offense (see the Michigan game in the Final Four). How he adapts at being the primary focus of the defense this year will be one of the keys to the season for Syracuse. I expect that he's spent a ton of time this summer working on his handle. He is a very intelligent player who is a good decision maker with a good feel for the game. He has a nice touch around the basket and seems to have a good feel for angles (helps that he is lefty). His jumper has improved a ton since his freshman year, and he can be deadly knocking down mid range jumpers and, as previously mentioned, hit the three. The glaring weakness in his game, and the reason why he came back to school, is that he hasn't shown he can create his own shot off the dribble. That's the thing I will be zeroing in on during the scrimmages and early part of the season. He'll need to be able to create his shot off the dribble if he is to be a true number one scoring option for this team.
Beyond Fair, there is still a ton of depth and experience in the front court. Center will be a mix of Keita, Christmas, and Coleman.
Keita, the senior, provides a nonstop motor, unusual lateral quickness for a 6'10" guy, and a senior's understanding of the nuances of the zone. He even proved he could be a reliable free throw shooter last year. His downside is that he is still rail thin and can be pushed around and his offense is limited to putbacks and dunks (provided he actually catches the ball, which he did improve at last year).
Christmas will be a junior and has been a disappointment thus far. He was a McDonald's AA and while most Syracuse fans cut him slack for a lackluster freshman year, most expected a Fab Melo like improvement into his sophomore year. That didn't really materialize, and Christmas spent the season splitting minutes instead of owning the position. He has all the physical tools and is pretty good holding down the middle on defense. His problem is that he is a laid back personality and lacks any kind of motor. He seems to be the player that exasperates Boeheim the most, and it is easy to see why. If he could sustain any semblance of focus and intensity, he'd be a force. But he doesn't and skates by on his natural talent, which makes him serviceable. In my experience it rare to see a passive low motor type morph into a high motor aggressive type, but here's hoping.
Coleman, another McDonald's AA, had huge expectations last year (CALIPARI WANTED HIM!!!!) and was a disappointment, at least relative to expectations. Personally, I never expect much out of a freshman big. Regardless, Coleman came in as a hulking bruiser and learned quickly that he couldn't bowl over high D-1 post defenders the way he could high school bigs. Coleman struggled some with conditioning and especially with his lift, as he was frequently blocked in the post. He lost confidence and started fading away and focused on not getting blocked, which hurt his shooting percentage more. A midseason knee surgery knocked him out several weeks and when he returned he didn't even reclaim his token starting spot. Still, there is much to be encouraged by. Reports are that he has slimmed down in the offseason. He's always had light feet for a man his size and he does have unusual brute strength combined with a soft touch around the rim Once he figures out how to get his shot off, I think he'll be a dominant force on offense. He has always been a good rebounder, as he is a wide body and doesn't get pushed around. He has a high motor for rebounding too and collects his area and more. He could be a DaJuan Blair/Michael Sweetney type player once he is fully developed. For the third year in a row, Syracuse fans will be waiting anxiously to see what kind of leap a freshman big takes into his sophomore year.
Little was expected of Jerami Grant coming into his freshman year, and he exceeded even the most wildly optimistic expectations in becoming a consistent rotation player. He displayed stunning athleticism and his 7'2" wingspan made him a terror rotating on defense, shot blocking, and rebounding. He showed the makings of a solid jumper and even knocked down his share of 3's (though it wasn't a big part of his game last year). Like most freshmen, consistency was an issue and he needs to get stronger. He made the U19 US team this summer, but a bout with mono knocked him out of action. While he'll need to mature into his body and, like Fair, develop more of a handle, the sky is the limit with him. It is entirely possible that, in Fair and Grant, Syracuse will have two NBA first round draft picks at forward in next year's draft.
So, like I mentioned, the front court is stacked. The back court has talent, but it is young and unproven. Much of the success of Syracuse's season falls on the shoulders of their freshman PG, Tyler Ennis. The good news is that Ennis (6'2" with a 6'5" wingspan) was a 5 star recruit and one ID'ed early and pursued unusually hard by Boeheim. Ennis is an excellent ball handler, capable shooter, and is able to penetrate and get to the rim. He is comfortable distributing the ball and running an offense looking to get everyone involved. He does not have elite athleticism and is a bit of an old school guard in that he employs a lot of changes of pace and uses angles to get defenders off balance. He played at St. Benedicts and competed against other elite high school talent and did well, which is encouraging. Still, nothing in high school compares to playing major D-1 basketball, especially for a team with Final Four aspirations. Having a true freshman PG is a scary thing and there is bound to be a learning curve, but Ennis is all Syracuse has right now. He's the only PG on the roster, and the biggest hole on this team is the lack of a backup PG (which makes the Joseph commitment so important for next year). But hey, Syracuse did ok the season when Gerry McNamara was a freshman PG, right? :whistling:
Joining Ennis in the backcourt will be Duke transfer, redshirt sophomore Michael Gbinije and redshirt sophomore Trevor Cooney.
To be blunt, Cooney was an absolute disaster last year. He was a highly sought after recruit and widely considered to be one of the best 3 point shooters in his class. He redshirted his freshman year having Scoop/Triche/Dion/MCW ahead of him in the backcourt and much was expected of him last year after hearing reports of how hard he worked and how lights out he was shooting in practice all year. Rather than being a sharp shooter, he flat out couldn't shoot (27% from 3). Supposedly, much of his problem is mental, as he has a good stroke and kills it in practice. He is a very intense competitor and often times last year seemed overexcited on the court and rushed his shot. Hopefully the game slows down for him this year and he can relax and knock down 3's. If not, he'll be stapled to the bench and probably transfer (sucks for him that he already burned his redshirt year). He's actually pretty good on defense, as he is very active and his understanding of the zone rotations lets him accomplish more than his average lateral quickness should allow. At 6'4" he has the size Syracuse covets at the top of the zone. I know it was fashionable to hate on Cooney last year, and I certainly had my share of moments of cursing at the tv after yet another rushed airball, but I defended the kid all last year and I still believe in him. There's no simulating the pace, intensity, and pressure of the real games and some kids adjust mentally faster than others. I look at him and see someone who, if they would just relax, could be that deadeye shooter every team covets. Even I will concede, though, that if he has another year this year like last year, then he should probably never see the floor for meaningful minutes again.
Gbinije is another big question mark. He was a top 30ish recruit coming out of high school and signed with Duke where he played a little bit as a freshman. He somewhat unexpectedly decided to transfer from Duke and even more unexpectedly (both given Syracuse's move to the ACC and Boeheim and Coach K's friendship) landed at Syracuse. Gbinije is a 6'7" swingman who will mostly play the 2 for Syracuse. He ran the point for the scout team all last year while he sat out, going against MCW and held his own by the end of the season. If so, he'll likely be the guy who takes over point while Ennis gets a blow. Boeheim said that he wouldn't want Gbinije playing point 20mpg, he thinks Gbinije can do it 8-10mpg. What makes Gbinije so interesting is that he was a 2 in high school, a 3 at Duke, and is a 1/2 at Syracuse (with some 3 if they need to go small or add shooters). Flexibility is good, and I love his size and athleticism at the top of the zone. It is somewhat of an open question who will start at the 2, but my money is on Gbinije with Cooney coming off the bench.
Syracuse adds 5 freshmen to the mix this year. I already touched on Ennis, who will be relied on heavily. The others will need to earn their time.
BJ Johnson, my personal favorite and sleeper pick, is a 6'8" two guard from Lower Merion (Kobe's hometown). His dad is a former D-1 player at LaSalle who played a bit professionally in Europe. BJ is one of the youngest players in his class and has a lot of filling out to do, but he has a fantastic handle and very good shooting stroke. His dad has raised him well in the game and has guided his development, so BJ has a mature understanding of the game and works hard. I'm particularly enamored with having a 6'8" two guard and have dreams of a lineup of 6'7" Gbinije and 6'8" Johnson at the top of the zone along with Grant/Christmas/Fair with their 7 foot plus wingspans along the back. We saw how effective the zone could be with tall guards with MCW last year. That would be an insane defensive alignment. Anyway, the 4th guard spot is pretty wide open (and 3rd if Cooney doesn't improve). If BJ can knock down open 3's (and at 6'8" he should get his share of open looks over shorter guards) he'll get minutes. At the same time, given his young age and immature physique, part of me hopes Cooney/Patterson can fill out the guard rotation and BJ can redshirt. I really think he could be a monster down the road.
Ron Patterson (6'3" SG) - I mentioned him previously, and he is the opposite of BJ Johnson in that he is an older freshman, having spent a year in prep school when Indiana, who he had committed to out of high school, didn't admit him (he was eligible by NCAA standards, but Crean over recruited. Shady stuff by Crean if you ask me.) He spent a year at Brewster, alma mater of CJ Fair and where current Syracuse super recruit Chris McCullough plays. Patterson has the rep of being a top notch athlete, and absolute terror on defense, and a guy who can knock down an open 3. His handle needs work and he can be a bit reckless in going to the hoop and with his decision making in general.
Chinoso Obokoh (6'10" C) - project big from nearby Rochester. He is a likely red shirt candidate and the hope is he becomes a solid program player. His upside is Keita with a bit more of an offensive game. He was high school teammates with 5 star 2015 target Thomas Bryant, which can't hurt.
Tyler Roberson (6'7" PF) - the highest rated recruit besides Ennis (he picked Syracuse over Villanova and Kansas). He has the talent to push his way into a crowded Syracuse front court and gives Syracuse some insurance should Grant blow up and leave for the NBA after this year. Roberson is a tough, physical player with both an inside game and a jumper that extends to the arc. He can put it on the floor.
The Syracuse basketball program is a machine that churns out 20 win seasons, and recently has taken a step forward into being a perennial top 10 team (two 1 seeds and a final four berth in the last 4 tournaments). Recruiting is consistently at the highest level it has been since the 80's. There is a ton of talent on this team and, as I said at the outset, a Final Four run is realistic. Still, there are some glaring holes. Backup PG is an issue, and PG as a whole will be an issue should Ennis get hurt or be slow to adjust to the college game. Syracuse also has very little in the way of proven perimeter shooting, though there is potential there on paper.
The defense should again be a strength of this team. They have the length and athleticism to execute the zone at a high level and will be in a conference that isn't as familiar with it, the way several BE schools seemed to acclimate to it (unfortunately, Pitt is one of those teams). I think the ACC style of play is a better fit for what Syracuse has always wanted to be on offense. The BE wrestling matches I always felt stymied what Syracuse wanted to do (I'll be interested to see how Pitt adjusts to the less physical ACC). I was sad to see the demise of the Big East, but it was inevitable and the BE leadership certainly proved inept in dealing with the realities of college athletics. So while I was sad to see all the historic rivalries be altered, I'm glad Syracuse ended up in the ACC. I think it is a good fit for the school and this new basketball conference will be insane. The Duke game at the Dome on February 2nd where they may put the court in the center and open up the entire Dome for seating will certainly be memorable.
Sorry this is so long. I start typing, and before I know it this happens. Anyway, Go Orange!
