Syracuse Basketball 2023-24

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

They play Jim boeheim's patented 2-3 zone. 

 

And Notre Dame has seen it dozens and dozens of times so they're well coached for it. They know how to beat it which is with good Crisp passing 

 

The thing with boeheim , is that he is the architect and master of this defense.. the little tweaks that most people can't see really change the game

 

Yes playing his patented press sped the game up and help immensely.. but so did how far out boeheim stretched his zone 

 

if you rewatch the second half Notre Dame's three-point shooters were two or three feet behind NBA 3-point line.. that is super deep range and most college players can't hit that consistently

 

In the first half they were all stepping into it at the college line.. the way he stretched Notre Dame behind the NBA line was huge

 

 

 

 

Honestly, today it didn’t look like any wizardry by JB or major adjustments. It looked like the addition of two better defenders for Two Worse ones, and guys just hustling and moving faster. 
 

I was just watching JB’s Presser and he basically said that he thought the press caused His D to just overall play with more energy and faster in the second half. 

[Buffalo716]

45 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Honestly, today it didn’t look like any wizardry by JB or major adjustments. It looked like the addition of two better defenders for Two Worse ones, and guys just hustling and moving faster. 
 

I was just watching JB’s Presser and he basically said that he thought the press caused His D to just overall play with more energy and faster in the second half. 

Yeah I watched his presser. But he absolutely made halftime adjustments to the spacing in his zone defense

 

And the press like he said provided energy in his full and half court defense.

 

Look how far out Notre Dame's guards and forward were handling the ball out in the second half compared to the first.. they were a full 3 ft behind NBA 3-point line.. that's the adjustment

 

And that's a trademark of Jim boeheims zone adjustment that he's always done.. ND was heaving up 30 footers because how far Jim stretched his zone defense out and they weren't willing to pound it inside

Edited February 21, 2021 by Buffalo716

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

46 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yeah I watched his presser. But he absolutely made halftime adjustments to the spacing in his zone defense

 

And the press like he said provided energy in his full and half court defense.

 

Look how far out Notre Dame's guards and forward were handling the ball out in the second half compared to the first.. they were a full 3 ft behind NBA 3-point line.. that's the adjustment

 

And that's a trademark of Jim boeheims zone adjustment that he's always done.. ND was heaving up 30 footers because how far Jim stretched his zone defense out and they weren't willing to pound it inside

You might be right. But this was a weird game, and you could be giving JB a little too much credit.
 

Seemed like the press just threw ND out of rhythm. They were so scared just bringing the ball up court, And when they did, it seemed like mass confusion on offense. 
 

this is what Buddy said— seemed like this had more with ND being totally out of sorts:

 

“Even after the press, we just went into zone and they looked like they didn’t know what to do,” Buddy Boeheim said. “Our defense was a little better in the 2-3 for sure, but like they were just passing around the perimeter. They weren’t looking inside. They weren’t looking for Durham on the lob or anything. … They were just out of sorts.”

 

Regardless, the defense really upped its game in the second half, and this comeback was really a great win. I hope they can build on it for the Duke game. 

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

You might be right. But this was a weird game, and you could be giving JB a little too much credit.
 

Seemed like the press just threw ND out of rhythm. They were so scared just bringing the ball up court, And when they did, it seemed like mass confusion on offense. 
 

this is what Buddy said— seemed like this had more with ND being totally out of sorts:

 

“Even after the press, we just went into zone and they looked like they didn’t know what to do,” Buddy Boeheim said. “Our defense was a little better in the 2-3 for sure, but like they were just passing around the perimeter. They weren’t looking inside. They weren’t looking for Durham on the lob or anything. … They were just out of sorts.”

 

Regardless, the defense really upped its game in the second half, and this comeback was really a great win. I hope they can build on it for the Duke game. 

Absolutely Notre Dame look confused and rattled. The look on Brey's face said it all 

 

and that point about not willing to go inside was kind of what I was getting at. Jims 2-3 zone will lull you into just passing around the perimeter until the shot clock expires 

 

And he just keeps pushing you beyond the arc further and further.. but you're absolutely right it started with boeheims vaunted press which absolutely sped them up too fast

 

 

 

 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

The tide turned both on offense and defense when #3 entered the game in the 2nd half.  I called it as it was happening, as I was talking to my buddy who needed ‘Cuse -2.5 to finish off a 4 team parlay.  IMO, enough can’t be said about the difference Kadary makes when he’s in the game.  Totally different team.

[Buffalo716]

8 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

The tide turned both on offense and defense when #3 entered the game in the 2nd half.  I called it as it was happening, as I was talking to my buddy who needed ‘Cuse -2.5 to finish off a 4 team parlay.  IMO, enough can’t be said about the difference Kadary makes when he’s in the game.  Totally different team.

Yea he had a huge part in it. 

 

But I think the big fact that nobody's talking about is Alan Griffin being benched. He was playing horrible, selfish, and the ball wasn't moving when he was in there

 

They take him and Girard out 

 

Put in a lineup of Richmond, boeheim, Woody Newton, guerrier, and dolezaj and the ball started to suddenly move and they had life

 

Richmond is tremendous defensively but honestly this whole year they look like a different team when Griffin is on the bench.. sure he can score but they have no energy on offense when out there

 

 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yea he had a huge part in it. 

 

But I think the big fact that nobody's talking about is Alan Griffin being benched. He was playing horrible, selfish, and the ball wasn't moving when he was in there

 

They take him and Girard out 

 

Put in a lineup of Richmond, boeheim, Woody Newton, guerrier, and dolezaj and the ball started to suddenly move and they had life

 

Richmond is tremendous defensively but honestly this whole year they look like a different team when Griffin is on the bench.. sure he can score but they have no energy on offense when out there

 

 

 

Griffin is maddeningly inconsistent.  They do play better when they penetrate and dish though.  I wish KR3 had that little Josh Pace “lob shot” in his arsenal.  He gets to the paint so easily, but if no one is open he seems to be reluctant to put it up.  I’m sure he’s handcuffed by JB on offense.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

5 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yea he had a huge part in it. 

 

But I think the big fact that nobody's talking about is Alan Griffin being benched. He was playing horrible, selfish, and the ball wasn't moving when he was in there

 

 

 

Even when Griffin is hitting his shots, the offense doesn’t look great with him out there. He’s just an ISO, shoot-first player, with a quick trigger. It’s great when he makes his shots, but even then, the offense is stagnant. 
 

And he’s not good as a defender in the zone— he is just slow to rotate and get out on shooters on the wing. He can sometimes recover with ridiculous blocks, but all those easy high-lows are usually Griffen’s Fault. (To be fair, he would probably not look nearly as bad in the zone playing next to a legit 5). 

3 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

Griffin is maddeningly inconsistent.  They do play better when they penetrate and dish though.  I wish KR3 had that little Josh Pace “lob shot” in his arsenal.  He gets to the paint so easily, but if no one is open he seems to be reluctant to put it up.  I’m sure he’s handcuffed by JB on offense.

I agree. Will be great to see him develop a more Complete game over time. For now though, KR almost doesn’t need that little floater or pull up. He seems to get to the rim At will, with great body control to sort of hang to make some tough finishes. 
 

He has to be one of my most favorite freshmen in years. 

[Bermuda Triangle]

5 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yea he had a huge part in it. 

 

But I think the big fact that nobody's talking about is Alan Griffin being benched. He was playing horrible, selfish, and the ball wasn't moving when he was in there

 

They take him and Girard out 

 

Put in a lineup of Richmond, boeheim, Woody Newton, guerrier, and dolezaj and the ball started to suddenly move and they had life

 

Richmond is tremendous defensively but honestly this whole year they look like a different team when Griffin is on the bench.. sure he can score but they have no energy on offense when out there

 

 

Braswell, not Newton.

 

Newton is getting no PT, which is puzzling to me, because he looked like he could play.

[Buffalo716]

23 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Braswell, not Newton.

 

Newton is getting no PT, which is puzzling to me, because he looked like he could play.

My b, i don't know why I said Newton. I don't think he's played in a month

 

Braswell hit some 3 and had had energy and he's a rs jr

 

Boeheim always has a short bench and very rarely plays freshman minutes unless they are studs like Richmond

Edited February 22, 2021 by Buffalo716

[transplantbillsfan]

That was the first Syracuse game I watched all season. Fun watching them come from behind like that, but it was also against mediocre competition.

 

What does everyone think our odds are of making the tournament?

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

That was the first Syracuse game I watched all season. Fun watching them come from behind like that, but it was also against mediocre competition.

 

What does everyone think our odds are of making the tournament?

A win again duke would really help. 

 

They are right on the cusp like the last four or five years.. ending the regular season on a winning streak will be huge

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

44 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

That was the first Syracuse game I watched all season. Fun watching them come from behind like that, but it was also against mediocre competition.

 

What does everyone think our odds are of making the tournament?

Firmly on the bubble. I don’t think they will Make it. 
 

I also doubt they will hold an NIT tournament. I think it would be cool if some of the teams that don’t make the NCAA, instead hold a mini-tourney— maybe like an 8-team bubble tournament over a week. 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Duck Fuke!!!!

 

A win tonight would go a long way in terms of improving our tourney resume.  I still think we have a decent chance to get in.  A win over Duke and Georgia Tech just might do it.  

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

20 hours ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Braswell, not Newton.

 

Newton is getting no PT, which is puzzling to me, because he looked like he could play.

I was guessing that Newton was injured. Newton looked great early in the year, and then JB mentioned getting him “back in” a few games ago. It made me think that he was dealing with some Injury, but I could be wrong. 

[Buffalo716]

11 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I was guessing that Newton was injured. Newton looked great early in the year, and then JB mentioned getting him “back in” a few games ago. It made me think that he was dealing with some Injury, but I could be wrong. 

Could be but boeheim just plays a short bench always 

 

He's usually not playing two forwards off the bench unless there's foul trouble.. and even then he has no problem playing people with three and four fouls

 

 

 

 

[Steptide]

Well this is a pathetic effort from cuse tonight 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

My mom always told me if you don’t have ANYTHING nice to say....

 

Kadary Richmond is far and away the best player on this team.  Also, Marek Dolezaj is one of my favorite players of the last decade.  Kid always brings it.  

 

That was painful and disgusting 😔

 

G’nite ‘Cuse nation 🍊

[Buffalo716]

21 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

My mom always told me if you don’t have ANYTHING nice to say....

 

Kadary Richmond is far and away the best player on this team.  Also, Marek Dolezaj is one of my favorite players of the last decade.  Kid always brings it.  

 

That was painful and disgusting 😔

 

G’nite ‘Cuse nation 🍊

Yeah I've been saying Richmond is the best player for a while

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Syracuse just always looks overwhelmed at Duke. Even the fake crowd Was making them nervous! 

[The Poojer]

We need Johnny Hammersticks to find out who the starter that didn't play defense was, saw one person say JGIII, personally I assumed it was Geurrier...he just flat out didn't play last night and barely played the past few games.  He is so frustrating to watch

[Johnny Hammersticks]

17 minutes ago, The Poojer said:

We need Johnny Hammersticks to find out who the starter that didn't play defense was, saw one person say JGIII, personally I assumed it was Geurrier...he just flat out didn't play last night and barely played the past few games.  He is so frustrating to watch

 

I’m assuming it’s the starter who didn’t start in the 2nd half, but Guerrier was awful last night too.

[Back2Buff]

Crazy to see how far Cuse hoops have fallen.  Feel like its been years since they have been relevant.  

[Johnny Hammersticks]

37 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

Crazy to see how far Cuse hoops have fallen.  Feel like its been years since they have been relevant.  

 

Well, to be fair, Syracuse was in the final 4 just five years ago and the elite 8 just three years ago, so I think this take is a bit much.

 

That said, yeah things have been pretty bad the past few seasons.  For this 2-3 zone thing to work, you at least need a big shot blocking center in the middle.  Boeheim has had immense trouble recruiting bigs.

 

I have been a Boeheim apologist/defender for a long time, but I’m beginning to think he just needs to retire.  His stubbornness is maddening.

[Back2Buff]

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

Well, to be fair, Syracuse was in the final 4 just five years ago and the elite 8 just three years ago, so I think this take is a bit much.

 

That said, yeah things have been pretty bad the past few seasons.  For this 2-3 zone thing to work, you at least need a big shot blocking center in the middle.  Boeheim has had immense trouble recruiting bigs.

 

I have been a Boeheim apologist/defender for a long time, but I’m beginning to think he just needs to retire.  His stubbornness is maddening.

 

I think all these old coaches need to retire.. Izzo, K, Williams, Boeheim

[The Poojer]

I think he really wants to have both kids on the court before he retires.  I think he has earned that at this point.  I also hope that Hop is still in their sites and that he comes back once Boeheim leaves.

 

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

Well, to be fair, Syracuse was in the final 4 just five years ago and the elite 8 just three years ago, so I think this take is a bit much.

 

That said, yeah things have been pretty bad the past few seasons.  For this 2-3 zone thing to work, you at least need a big shot blocking center in the middle.  Boeheim has had immense trouble recruiting bigs.

 

I have been a Boeheim apologist/defender for a long time, but I’m beginning to think he just needs to retire.  His stubbornness is maddening.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

Well, to be fair, Syracuse was in the final 4 just five years ago and the elite 8 just three years ago, so I think this take is a bit much.

 

That said, yeah things have been pretty bad the past few seasons.  For this 2-3 zone thing to work, you at least need a big shot blocking center in the middle.  Boeheim has had immense trouble recruiting bigs.

 

I have been a Boeheim apologist/defender for a long time, but I’m beginning to think he just needs to retire.  His stubbornness is maddening.

we have had a lot of bad luck at center with injuries. Sidibe has just been cursed his entire career. it would be nice to get a big block head like

a Craig Forth to just eat up space for 4 years and at least have the Bball IQ to generally know where to stand.

 

my other theory is that the zone has just become less effective now that we are in the ACC. The ACC teams on a whole have more skilled guys and it is less physical than the old big East. Once the coaches And players got used to it, it hasn’t been as effective. 

[Steptide]

13 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yeah I've been saying Richmond is the best player for a while

Ofcourse he never starts though 🙄. He should start the rest of the games 

[Johnny Hammersticks]

47 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

we have had a lot of bad luck at center with injuries. Sidibe has just been cursed his entire career. it would be nice to get a big block head like

a Craig Forth to just eat up space for 4 years and at least have the Bball IQ to generally know where to stand.

 

my other theory is that the zone has just become less effective now that we are in the ACC. The ACC teams on a whole have more skilled guys and it is less physical than the old big East. Once the coaches And players got used to it, it hasn’t been as effective. 

 

I don’t think the zone has been less effective because of ACC competition, I think the zone is less effective because we don’t utilize the proper personnel.  We’ve had Dolazaj playing center for the past 2 seasons.  Dolezaj is wonderful, but he’s not going to cut it against any good teams.  Also, Girard is a terrible defender, Buddy is just average, and Griffin has been so up and down (more down than up).

1 hour ago, The Poojer said:

I think he really wants to have both kids on the court before he retires.  I think he has earned that at this point.  I also hope that Hop is still in their sites and that he comes back once Boeheim leaves.

 

Yeah, he definitely has this blind loyalty to JG3 and Buddy.  I don’t think he has earned that though.  He has an obligation to win games.  He just doesn’t care anymore, and the university would never, ever get rid of him.  

 

Hop is having an off year in Washington.  I hope he eventually comes back to CNY, but he’s still recruiting very well out west.  We’ll see 🤷🏾‍♂️

[Metal Man]

3 hours ago, Back2Buff said:

Crazy to see how far Cuse hoops have fallen.  Feel like its been years since they have been relevant.  

 

Didn't Syracuse win the national championship just last year?

 

I mean they played the last game of the NCAA college basketball season and they won it, so that seems pretty conclusive to me. 😄

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

35 minutes ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

I don’t think the zone has been less effective because of ACC competition, I think the zone is less effective because we don’t utilize the proper personnel.  We’ve had Dolazaj playing center for the past 2 seasons.  Dolezaj is wonderful, but he’s not going to cut it against any good teams.  Also, Girard is a terrible defender, Buddy is just average, and Griffin has been so up and down (more down than up).

 

 

 

I believe it is multiple issues-- personnel, for sure-- but I do think these teams in the ACC have adjusted and just play it a lot better now, and they have the better personnel to beat it.

 

For example, gone are the days when we used to let a guy catch and shoot the ball from the high post, figuring that a bigger forward out there couldn't beat us on 17-footers or be a nimble passer. That used to be a viable strategy.  The only guys in the old Big East who would really give us consistent issues in that spot were Dante Cunningham at Villanova, and Chevy Troutman at Pitt, when he would absolutely dice us up with shooting or great high/low passing. Other than that, we could live with giving up a 17-footer to a power forward in the middle of the zone. 

 

Now-- every decent team in the ACC pretty much has a guy who can kill you from that spot.

 

On a related note, I was thinking about the last great center Syracuse had--at least great defensive center.  Tough to recall.  Maybe Rakeem Christmas (though he was more of a 4).  Possibly Keita?

 

 

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, The Poojer said:

I think he really wants to have both kids on the court before he retires.  I think he has earned that at this point.  I also hope that Hop is still in their sites and that he comes back once Boeheim leaves.

 

Both kids on the court? His oldest graduated Cornell and buddy has 1 year left

[The Poojer]

No Jimmy is in transfer protocol, perhaps a graduate transfer

Just now, Buffalo716 said:

Both kids on the court? His oldest graduated Cornell and buddy has 1 year left

sorry if it wasn't clear, when i said 'both kids' i meant both Jimmy and Buddy

 

1 hour ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

 

I don’t think the zone has been less effective because of ACC competition, I think the zone is less effective because we don’t utilize the proper personnel.  We’ve had Dolazaj playing center for the past 2 seasons.  Dolezaj is wonderful, but he’s not going to cut it against any good teams.  Also, Girard is a terrible defender, Buddy is just average, and Griffin has been so up and down (more down than up).

 

Yeah, he definitely has this blind loyalty to JG3 and Buddy.  I don’t think he has earned that though.  He has an obligation to win games.  He just doesn’t care anymore, and the university would never, ever get rid of him.  

 

Hop is having an off year in Washington.  I hope he eventually comes back to CNY, but he’s still recruiting very well out west.  We’ll see 🤷🏾‍♂️

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, The Poojer said:

No Jimmy is in transfer protocol, perhaps a graduate transfer

 yeah Cornell canceled their season so I forgot he left 

 

And he's not coming to Syracuse. 

 

With guerrier, Griffin, Newton and 5* Benny Williams he would not play at forward

 

Not to mention marek could technically come back since everyone is getting a red shirt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2021 by Buffalo716

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Tough loss to G Tech. Nice to see Edwards get some quality minutes and he did pretty well.
 

When the offense went a little stagnant with about 7 minutes left, that’s really when it got away from them.  

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Totally forgot to DVR the UNC game. Just caught the last 2 minutes. Anyone have any thoughts on the game?

[Buffalo716]

36 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Totally forgot to DVR the UNC game. Just caught the last 2 minutes. Anyone have any thoughts on the game?

Buddy boeheim is unstoppable when he is on hahaha 

 

Richmond and Quincey both went out with something aggravating them and the final few minutes got real tense 

 

Edwards had some solid moment's on offense. 

 

 

[Buffalo716]

Big game for the orangemen today! 

 

Move the rock and play some defense today boys!

[Buffalo716]

Solid victory!

 

Hopefully not too little too late

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Solid victory!

 

Hopefully not too little too late

One of their best defensive efforts. Offense was a bit stagnant at times, but then the “good” streaky Griffen showed up. 
 

I actually thought JG3 played pretty well on both sides of the floor.