247 Final 2022 Rankings


ThePearl

Well-known member
Mintz will be PG1
JG3 SG1
Taylor SF1
Benny PF1
Jesse C1
Torrence might start to begin the year but he's honestly a good 6 man and his passing is a great boost off the bench. He plays kinda like how Rajon Rondo plays nowadays. I just think Mintz will be such a complement to Joe and he will set up Joe so well that I'd be suprised if Joes doesn't avg close to 20 a game just because of how well he'll be set up!
That's my prediction for the starting lineup also. I think Mintz is almost certainly the starter. His biggest concern during recruiting was playing time, that's why he committed to Pitt and was looking closely at DePaul. I don't think he was guaranteed the starting position but he was probably told he can win it. I think he's a made man. Boeheim has his favorites, and it's the guys he can rely on to score in the teens every game. I think he sees Judah that way and he will give him a long rope as a freshman. And I don't know where people get the idea Boeheim doesn't play freshmen, he's had plenty of freshman starters. Boeheim also likes scoring point guards and Symir doesn't give him that. We'll need it with no reliable big scorer at either forward spot. Need three scorers in the lineup.

Taylor vs Bunch at the small forward is a lot more up in the air. It will probably be decided this summer and in early season games. But I think Boeheim always saw Taylor as a freshman starter in place of Buddy and he might still see him as a starter but at forward. Whoever starts, they should both see lots of time. Maybe they end up splitting forty minutes. Taylor could also get a few minutes at the two, it's either him or Judah as Joe's backup.
 

ThePearl

Well-known member
I think GMac will be a big help to Taylor.
It will be interesting to see if Taylor works with the forwards or guards. I don't know how they do practices but I would expect him to be with the forwards this year when they're in position groups, but he should still be able to work with Gerry too.
 

MassaCusetts

Well-known member
It will be interesting to see if Taylor works with the forwards or guards. I don't know how they do practices but I would expect him to be with the forwards this year when they're in position groups, but he should still be able to work with Gerry too.
He should work with both. I’m not saying this as a negative at all, just what I think will be the case….if he played the 3 he’s going to struggle to rebound. It’s hard to be “stationary” and have to rebound from that wing spot. Now you’re not really stationary, but that is hard. I’m not sure he or Bunch is ready to do that. They’d rebound better out of a man. That’s my concern. He (or Bunch) can comfortably (relative to skill set, if not execution against P5 guys) play the 3 offensively. I have HUGE concerns about either defensively. Hence why I think they are insane not finding a 4/5 in the portal rather than a 5 stiff.
 

ThePearl

Well-known member
He should work with both. I’m not saying this as a negative at all, just what I think will be the case….if he played the 3 he’s going to struggle to rebound. It’s hard to be “stationary” and have to rebound from that wing spot. Now you’re not really stationary, but that is hard. I’m not sure he or Bunch is ready to do that. They’d rebound better out of a man. That’s my concern. He (or Bunch) can comfortably (relative to skill set, if not execution against P5 guys) play the 3 offensively. I have HUGE concerns about either defensively. Hence why I think they are insane not finding a 4/5 in the portal rather than a 5 stiff.
Agree. Rebounding is my biggest concern with this team. Like Benny for much of last season, Bunch shows no inclination to rebound. When a shot goes up they both usually watch other guys go get the ball. Hopefully that’s changed with Benny, it began to late last season. Taylor is a more willing rebounder than Bunch and he isn’t afraid of some contact, but he is still undersized and will probably be overmatched under the boards going against college forwards. Rebounding might be the biggest reason why we need to play some man this coming season.

I’m less concerned with their defense. Despite Bunch’s often lackadaisical defensive effort in high school, he has the length and athleticism to be a plus defender in the back of the zone. Obviously the effort and focus every posession need to greatly improve but that’s a relatively easy fix. I did see him occasionally lock in on defense and move his feet. And he likes to be a weakside shot blocker that has been a hallmark of our zone when it’s good. Benny and Bunch are capable of being prototypical forwards in the Syracuse zone.

I think Taylor can be a good defender in man and also in the zone, but to me he seems best suited for guard in our zone. I think our guards have to cover less ground than the forwards do (it seemed to be even more pronounced the last few years with Buddy and Joe). Taylor doesn’t have the length or quickness to be out contesting a three point shot and still get back and defend the rim like we want from our forwards, and he’s not a shot blocker. But with his size at guard and overall athleticism he can be a good defender out front in the zone.
 

MassaCusetts

Well-known member
Agree. Rebounding is my biggest concern with this team. Like Benny for much of last season, Bunch shows no inclination to rebound. When a shot goes up they both usually watch other guys go get the ball. Hopefully that’s changed with Benny, it began to late last season. Taylor is a more willing rebounder than Bunch and he isn’t afraid of some contact, but he is still undersized and will probably be overmatched under the boards going against college forwards. Rebounding might be the biggest reason why we need to play some man this coming season.

I’m less concerned with their defense. Despite Bunch’s often lackadaisical defensive effort in high school, he has the length and athleticism to be a plus defender in the back of the zone. Obviously the effort and focus every posession need to greatly improve but that’s a relatively easy fix. I did see him occasionally lock in on defense and move his feet. And he likes to be a weakside shot blocker that has been a hallmark of our zone when it’s good. Benny and Bunch are capable of being prototypical forwards in the Syracuse zone.

I think Taylor can be a good defender in man and also in the zone, but to me he seems best suited for guard in our zone. I think our guards have to cover less ground than the forwards do (it seemed to be even more pronounced the last few years with Buddy and Joe). Taylor doesn’t have the length or quickness to be out contesting a three point shot and still get back and defend the rim like we want from our forwards, and he’s not a shot blocker. But with his size at guard and overall athleticism he can be a good defender out front in the zone.
It’s not inclination…or even what people perceive for effort. It’s hard. You have to cover a lot of ground to perhaps get a body on a very large, athletic, moving body…who is crashing down on you. That’s not so easy at this level. There’s just a knack if you’re not a special type of athlete. It’s just hard. I think Taylor can cover enough ground. I’m not sure he will be ready to rebound well out of that spot (but he might be the most ready to try).
 
Last edited:


Top