Syracuse Basketball Preseason...
Just wanted to take advantage of the football bye week to let everyone know that our basketball coverage will be ramping up starting on Monday, including coverage of media day on Wednesday. If you have opinions, questions, etc., feel free to use this thread as a place to put them.
You may have already seen it, but my first player profile is up on the site. Donnie Freeman kicks things off.
A lot going on with hoops in the last 24 hours on the site. We have my look at Ibrahim Souare, a wrap up of ACC media day voting, including where Syracuse was picked and some preseason honors, and Brian Higgins on preseason polls.
We also have quick looks at ACC opponents Clemson and Georgia Tech, the first two conference foes on the Orange slate, with more to come as season tip-off nears.
It's media day at the Melo Center, so we'll have coverage on that coming up, as well, including live quotes from head coach Adrian Autry's press conference on Twitter and Bluesky.
I know all the reasons not to take exhibition games as meaningful, but I was pretty disappointed in last night's effort against Buffalo. The Bulls went 9-22 last season and brought in multiple transfers from lower levels of competition, including D2 and NAIA. This should have been a laugher.
I understand you don't want to show your full hand as a coach, but with an almost entirely new roster that you are trying to build into a cohesive team in a hurry, including mindset and intensity, they spent a lot of time playing in second gear. You have to build habits and identity quickly.
Starting with a few lowlights...
Shot selection is infuriating at times. Starling still is a primary offender and watching Anthony stand 29' from the rim without any defensive attention and shoot from there as soon as he got the ball back... If they're ignoring you, take two steps in and get closer to the line for an easier shot. All in all, giving players this degree of freedom on offense is a problem because that freedom gets exploited.
Team was extremely casual on offense, leading to many sloppy/lazy turnovers.
Betsey might be passable defensively in 1-on-1 situations win the post, but awareness and team defense concepts desperately need work. When he doesn't shoot well, his shortcomings will be much more noticeable.
The side inbounds play with one second on the shot clock... have an actual play. Doesn't need to be the best one you got, but do something. How about a screen for Kingz? You have him on the opposite side low block, so it sure looks like he's going to be on the move for a shot.
Kingz played 19:08 and had four field goal attempts. I didn't write that he might be the best shooter in college basketball for hype. It might actually be true. Give him touches so he can score, as well as open space for his teammates on the floor.
I am extremely concerned if this is what focusing on defense generates. White was out, but a freshman who is likely a reserve cannot be the person who sets the defensive tone for your team. This is not a call to start White if he is the guy who makes that much of a difference on defense. This is concern that the "escort" 3/4-court ball pressure and basic man-to-man is not going to cut it.
George and Kyle were the most impressive players to me last night. George turned it over too much, but he will hopefully have the ball in his hands more when the games go in the standings. Hope Kyle's defensive rebounding holds up against better opponents and higher intensity. I'm not going to worry about his foul shooting because it is what it is. He shot 121-for-200 (60.5%) over two years at South Dakota State, so he has shown to be better than what he did in a much smaller sample last year at UCLA. Media focusing on it is not going to help.