Season 2 : Q&A 1
@Syracuse.Hoops Blog
Thank you for reading my blog! The Q&A was a huge success last year and I am excited to bring it back. There were so many questions this week that it was difficult to choose. If your’s was not answered, ask again next time. Follow me on Instagram @Syracuse.Hoops. I LOVE your feedback so comment on this blog or send me a DM. Enjoy the blog and go Cuse!
Q&A- Season 2 : Blog 1
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Q1: Will Tyus Battle stay?
-@Everyone
A: I do not know, I’m not him.
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Q2: I got tons of questions about starting lineups and rotations, so I will address them all right here as well as early predictions for each player. I will do one right now and right before the season starts.
A:
Starters:
PG- Frank Howard: Frank improved tremendously this season. He took on the starting point guard role and ran with it. He had career highs in almost all categories and adapted the leadership role for Cuse. Frank too will benefit from the guys coming in. He won’t have to play the whole game and be the only point guard running the offense. His biggest problem last season was sloppy turnovers. This number will surely go down. Half his turnovers were due to teammates that weren't good at offense. Frank will be the oldest guy on the team next year and I expect big things from him in his senior year.
SG- Tyus Battle: Will he go to the NBA? I have no clue. If he returns next season, He will be a favorite for ACC Player Of The Year., if not National Player Of The Year. He is one of the most prolific scorers in Syracuse history. He averaged almost 20 points per game and didn’t get a lot of help from teammates. Next season, his numbers may take a dip, but his efficiency will sky rocket. He will no longer have to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders. There are guys that will help him carry the load. He can relax more and play his game. Cuse has incoming shooters that will help space the floor making Tyus even more lethal. I cannot wait to see what Tyus can do next year with the incoming talent.
SF- Oshae Brissett: Oshae was a monster last year. He nearly averaged a double double and made the ACC All-Freshman team. He lead Cuse in rebounding and was a defensive presence in the zone. He shot the ball well from three at 33%. He has tremendous potential. Last year, his biggest weakness was finishing around the rim, connecting on just 35% of his field goals. Again, with increased floor spacing this number will only rise for Oshae. He was one of 3 players who primarily did the scoring which will no longer need to be the case. If Oshae can improve his game around the rim and tighten up his three point shot, he will be one of the best players in the ACC.
PF- Marek Dolezaj: If anyone benefited from Bazley’s decommitment it was Marek. Marek was the best surprise all of last season. He was relatively unknown before committing to Cuse and nobody knew what to expect from him. He struggled in the beginning of the year which is expected from a kid coming to a new country. However he flourished in the later part of the season. He replaced an injured Moyer in the starting lineup and took off from there. He developed a solid mid range game and knocked down some tough floaters. If he can bulk up he will be a force to be reckoned with. He would have been the odd man out, now he will have a better chance to further develop his game.
C- Paschal Chukwu: Paschal took on a huge roll this year. Often he was the only center available with the injury to Bourama. He improved greatly as the season progressed. The tallest player in Cuse history blocked shots, improved his rebounding, and became a consistent free throw shooter. He was a liability on offense, but next season Cuse won’t need him to do much with the ball. Just protect the rim and collect rebounds. Paschal will play a big role protecting the paint next season.
Bench:
Back Court:
G/F- Elijah Hughes: Elijah sat out last season after transferring from East Carolina. There he averaged 8 points in 20 minutes per game. He stands at 6’5” and can play the 2 or the 3. He is a great shooter and can put it on the floor. I would expect him to take over for Battle if he decides to leave.
CG- Jalen Carey: I am so excited to see what Jalen brings to the table. He is versatile as he can play either guard position. He is extremely explosive and can get to the rim at ease. He’s got a great handle and can make plays for other people. In his senior season, he averaged 22 points a game. I think he will thrive leading the second team, similar to Dion a few years back. Jalen will be a fun player to watch next season.
PG- Howard Washington: Howard’s season was cut short last season with a torn ACL. He was forced into the back up role when Geno left. He showed flashes of his potential and looked poised when he was on the court. He is a good shooter and has sneaky size. He will back up Frank next year and will be a solid starter in the future.
G/F- Buddy Boeheim: Buddy is a very intriguing acquisition. It will be interesting to see how his dad integrates him in the lineup next year. He is a tremendous shooter, one of the best in the whole country. There will certainly be scenarios where we need some quick points or a shooter to stretch the floor. However, his playing time will be affected by the decision of Tyus Battle who plays the same position. None the less, it will be fun to watch Buddy grow as a player.
Front Court:
C- Bourama Sidibe: Bourama battled knee tendonitis all year. He had knee surgery and will hopefully be 100% by the start of next year. When healthy, he was a defensive juggernaut. He had a couple highlight reel blocks in the preseason. Hopefully he will be ready to go come the start of the season. His defense will earn him minutes behind Paschal.
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Q3: Would we be in next years preseason AP Poll? If so,where?
-Via @Matty_Boy_P
A: Before Bazley left I would have said definitely: Tyus or not. However there is no guarantee now. I think they will be in the 15-20 range, pending Tyus’ decision. They cover most categories of a top tier team, They have a dominant defense, (Defense wins championships of course) versatile scorers, and knock down shooters. However, they lack front court depth. If Syracuse can make the Sweet Sixteen with the team they had, they will surely give them the respect with the guys they have incoming.
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Q4: How does Darius leaving effect Cuse?
-Via @Will_prkr
A: Well I’m not gonna lie, Darius leaving screwed Cuse. It was so last minute that it left them no time to search for a replacement. Moyer left because he saw the little time he’d get with Darius ahead of him, so that’s two forwards we lost. Cuse went from great front court depth to almost none. It will hurt even more if Tyus leaves. Darius could have filled the void as the number 1 scoring option, and him and Oshae would have been a deadly combo. However he opted it would be better for him to join the NBA G-League.
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Q5: If everyone stays this year, how many players will leave after next season?
-Via @Bryce__Kelly
A: This is a great question. Cuse will have a lot of roster turnover in 2019. Let’s start with the seniors. Frank Howard will have graduated and will be an NBA hopeful. He will have lead Cuse for two straight years at the point guard. I’d expect Howard Washington to be ready to assume the starting point guard role after he leaves. Paschal is a wild card. He may apply for a medical redshirt for all the time he missed with a torn retina last year. He played in only 7 games before the gruesome eye injury. He couldn’t even practice. He has a legitimate case to gain a year back. If not, he too will be an NBA hopeful and Bourama Sidibe will assume the center role. Now come the potential NBA departures. If Tyus were to stay another year, he will surely leave for the NBA after his junior season. He will be a top candidate for player of the year. He is a phenomenal scorer and will be a lottery pick in the 2019 draft. Next is Oshae Brissett. He is returning for his sophomore year. He has shown the potential to be a star. As I said, he will be one of the best players in the ACC. I expect him to leave for the NBA. He has all the traits necessary to be a lottery pick as well. Jalen definitely will be in the NBA conversation at some point, I just do not think it will be next season. The 2019-20 roster will be quite a bit different than next years team.
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Q7: How far do you think we will make it in the tournament next year?
-Via @Sam_Moritz
A: This question lies on the shoulders of Tyus Battle. If he stays, this team is capable of beating anyone. They will have various options on offense. And they have two of the best shooters in the country with Buddy and Eli. They are loaded in the back court with numerous capable starters. Last season they made the Sweet Sixteen. What were their biggest problems? Guard depth, lack of scorers, and shooting. Imagine what they could have done with all those holes filled. Then add a year of experience. This team’s combination of talent is primed for a deep tournament run.
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Q8: What is your favorite Cuse roster?
A: This is a tough question. There are so many deserving teams that were awesome to watch. Obviously the championship team is up there. That team did something no other team in Cuse history has done. This year's team is up there too because I am so excited to see what they can do. That being said, my favorite Cuse team is the 2011-2012 squad. That team is the best Cuse team ever in my opinion. They had so many classic Cuse players: Scoop, CJ, Dion, Triche, Kris, Southerland, Fab, MCW… the list goes on. That team would have won the championship if not for some BS from the NCAA. They only lost three games all year in a blood bath Big East. They were a joy to watch and my favorite team ever.
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Thank you for reading the Q&A! I got a hundreds of questions and it was so difficult to pick the best ones. Please ask your question again next time and chances are I will answer it. As always, thank you for the support on my page! Make sure to send me some feedback on how you liked the blog.
Go Cuse!
-@Syracuse.Hoops
