MBB: Syracuse Dominates Lehigh in Season Opener


MassaCusetts

Well-known member
Definitely an improvement from the exhibitions, which is great. My big takeaways:
1. It’s nice to have a more athletic team again. I’m not sure how this team will compare to last as the season rolls on, but I think we’d have had a harder time with Lehigh last year simply because of more athletic parity. Long term that’s a big positive.
2. Edwards has to be willing to give up occasional easy buckets to stay out of foul trouble. The drop off after him is so massive (which is more about him being a good player), he’s gotta be on the floor 30+ minutes. I doubt we play man against good teams, in part to protect him.
3. Turnovers will be problematic against better teams.
4. Benny Williams….he can’t have games like that, especially against teams that bad. He should have had a workman’s 10 & 8 just hustling, cutting, being active. It’s gotta click sooner than later for SU, or it’s a problem. Doesn’t have to be a shooter or dynamic wing (and disappointingly, maybe he never will be), just scrappy, athletic, and active.
 

Cusealum05

Well-known member
Definitely an improvement from the exhibitions, which is great. My big takeaways:
1. It’s nice to have a more athletic team again. I’m not sure how this team will compare to last as the season rolls on, but I think we’d have had a harder time with Lehigh last year simply because of more athletic parity. Long term that’s a big positive.
2. Edwards has to be willing to give up occasional easy buckets to stay out of foul trouble. The drop off after him is so massive (which is more about him being a good player), he’s gotta be on the floor 30+ minutes. I doubt we play man against good teams, in part to protect him.
3. Turnovers will be problematic against better teams.
4. Benny Williams….he can’t have games like that, especially against teams that bad. He should have had a workman’s 10 & 8 just hustling, cutting, being active. It’s gotta click sooner than later for SU, or it’s a problem. Doesn’t have to be a shooter or dynamic wing (and disappointingly, maybe he never will be), just scrappy, athletic, and active.
Agree with you on the athleticism, that and size definitely stuck out to me.

Agree with you on Williams, wish we had brought in an experienced portal forward last cycle.
 

MassaCusetts

Well-known member
Agree with you on the athleticism, that and size definitely stuck out to me.

Agree with you on Williams, wish we had brought in an experienced portal forward last cycle.
He’s a tricky one because he needs to play as part of his development. His jumper has issues that I don’t understand why it’s not fixed, because they aren’t of the type that should be so hard. He’s so narrow, particularly with his left, and I think it adds to that aiming, flat stroke (and overall adding loft to his shot is critical). He just seems bigger than he was as a junior in high school, versus actually much better. That’s disappointing but I hope he can work through it.
 

djorange1989

Well-known member
no question that the athleticism on this team is miles ahead of last year, that was the least athletic SU I have ever seen by a lot, and what do you know, the first losing season for JB ever. I really hope something clicks for Benny, he still looks so lost. I worry about outside shooting beyond Joe, we will see how Bell can do when he is in there. Love that we are playing M2M when feasible.
 


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