@Syracuse.Hoops Q&A Session 4
@Syracuse.Hoops Blog
Thank you for reading our blog! The Q&A has been a huge success and our recruiting blog really worked out two weeks ago, so we plan on doing a series of those throughout the summer and offseason to go in-depth on certain recruits that could wind up at ‘Cuse. We loved the questions sent in for this session. Follow us on Instagram @Syracuse.Hoops. We would LOVE your feedback so comment on this blog or DM us! Enjoy the blog and go Cuse!
Q&A- Session 4
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Q1: Is Eric Ayala back in the conversation to reclassify and what recruits are still on SU’s radar?
-via @aidan.owens
A: Eric Ayala has been a fascinating case- going back-and-forth between which class he will be apart of. Ayala could very well reclassify back to the 2017 Class, but one thing needs to happen first. Geno Thorpe doesn’t go to Syracuse and decides to go to his hometown school of Pittsburgh. Thorpe going to Syracuse would provide the team with 4 guards, and I don’t think Ayala would like to be a 4th or 5th option. He has repeatedly said he wants to come into the right program and step in and play big time minutes. Right now, I feel that Thorpe goes to Syracuse, and here’s why. Last year, South Florida, where Thorpe attended school, won a total of 7 games, while going 7-23 and winning only 1 game between Dec 23 and Mar 9. Pittsburgh is his hometown, but Thorpe possesses the skills to play in the NBA. He led the Bulls last year in scoring and assists. Pittsburgh this year is projected to finish towards the cellar of the ACC. I don’t think anybody, especially Thorpe, would consider playing on two “bad” teams when you could go somewhere with a HOF coach and improve your skills while still winning. Thorpe could step into the program and lead this very young and inexperienced SU team. The Orange only have 4 returning players who played a minute on the court last season in Orange… and 1 of them was lost after 7 games due to an eye injury. The only recruit SU is actively going after for 2017 is Thorpe- Syracuse never went after Tremont Waters and lost out on Jordan Tucker and Sid Wilson. But all in all, I doubt Ayala commits to ‘Cuse for the 2017-18 season just because of the lack of playing time they could offer with the potential commitment of Geno Thorpe. The Syracuse roster is pretty much set for the upcoming season.
Q2: Who do you think will be the MVP of the team next season?
-via @1kljg
A: Well, there are only 4 returners to this SU team, so it has to be one of them. Tyus Battle is the obvious answer. In the games he played at 100% last year Tyus was unstoppable and showed the talent that brought him to Central New York. Had he been healthy all throughout the season and not having been sick or had a nagging leg injury, he would’ve averaged more and the team would’ve done better. Battle will be the #1 scoring option for the team in 2017-18 as long as he stays on the court. But, a few dark horses that could come in and play to a high level are Frank Howard, Matt Moyer, Oshae Brissett, and Marek Dolezaj. Howard will have to control what happens on the court and if he plays well this year the team could follow in the same direction. The season depends on Howard’s play a lot. And with the other 3 players in Moyer, Brissett, and Dolezaj, they are all vying for a starting forward spot. All can play the 3 or the 4 (and Marek was recruited by some to play the 2). It’s unknown who will start, but I’d say Moyer will because of how he’s been on campus for another year. Whoever starts will have the majority of the minutes and will therefore have a chance to score and provide the team with ways to win a game. Taurean Thompson, on the other hand, will start at the 4 or 5, depending on if Jim Boeheim feels that Paschal Chukwu is ready to start. Thompson could very well be a dark horse for MVP, but in crucial situations the ball will be in Battle’s hands. Thompson will be a much better all-around player next season though.
Q3: Could Syracuse make the tournament next year?
-via @aidan.owens
A: I think it’s plausible. A few things have to happen first. One, Syracuse has to win on the road, especially after they only won 2 games on the road last year. If the Orange can rack up some key road wins the possibility of the tournament looks all the more likely. Secondly, the question is whether or not Syracuse will get enough ACC wins. The magic number for Syracuse to essentially clinch a berth is 11 games. That would be an 11-7 record. That should be good for a top 6 or 7 seed in the ACC Tournament. 10 wins could also do the job, but wouldn’t “clinch” a berth. And third, is can SU win the games they are supposed to win and get a few good non-conference wins. Last year, SU should’ve beat UConn, and Georgetown, and St. John’s, and Boston College. Count those up and Syracuse 4 more wins (and 4 less losses) and most likely makes the tournament. That was a huge difference. The 17-18 Orange can’t fall back on what the 16-17 Orange did- and that’s lose ballgames that you should’ve won. But, I’d say there’s a really good chance to make the tournament, and if Syracuse doesn’t, 2018-19 looks like an even better chance with potentially a lot of players returning with the team being so young.
Q4: If Syracuse gets Geno Thorpe will Howard Washington be redshirted? Also, what are some potential lineups for SU if Battle were to get into foul trouble early? Would they go 3 SF’s or maybe both Frank Howard and Thorpe/Washington?
-via @derekwatson30
A: Geno Thorpe’s presence in a SU jersey could increase the chances that Howard Washington gets redshirted. But, if the coaching staff were to redshirt Washington, the team would only have a total of 3 scholarship guards (and possibly 4 if you consider Marek). When Washington first announced his commitment to the Orange, a lot of scouts and experts forecasted that Washington would be a safe 4-year stay. Maybe the Orange staff could give him a year to prepare himself for the future. However, if Frank Howard or Thorpe were to get injured then Washington would immediately be pushed into a reserve role, thus eliminating the chance at a redshirt and would cost him some games towards the beginning of the season. Now onto the second part of this question. Battle didn’t seem to get into too much foul trouble last year, but if it were to occur (and I think it will on a few occasions), then I’d expect Boeheim to go with Marek Dolezaj at the 2 and then have the last 3 spots going to some combo of Moyer/Brissett/Thompson/Chuwku/Sidibe with Frank Howard manning the 1. It depends on how Boeheim wants to deploy the forwards and centers. But, if Thorpe decides to wear Orange he plays the 2 while Howard plays the 1. Simple. But, it would get more complicated without the addition of the grad transfer. Howard Washington would probably play the 2 if Boeheim decides against using Dolezaj at the 2, and then go from there. But seeing a 6’9’’ player play the 2 would be very intriguing. We’ll just have to wait-and-see what Boeheim decides to roll out. Throughout the preseason games, I’d expect him to test out what lineups work and what ones don’t work. Looking at the overall roster, this has been the most excited I have ever been going into a SU basketball season- the amount of versatility and the youth being reasons why- since prior to the 2015-16 season that included a run deep in the tournament, a Final Four berth, and few dances along the way.
Q5: What type of role will Marek have on the team? What will his position be in the rotation?
-via @bryce__kelly
A: Marek committing to Syracuse came as a shocker at the time. Dolezaj still had 4 official visit trips that he could’ve used, but instead felt like Syracuse was calling his name. First news of Syracuse going after Marek came out in February by Mike McAllister. His recruitment though has been under-the-radar and very quiet. Dolezaj first said he wanted to play college ball shortly before Syracuse showed interest. But Marek is highly underrated, just like every Syracuse recruit for 2017. He’s a 6’9’’ combo forward that was recruited mainly to play the 3 or 4, but some schools even showed interest for him playing the 2. For Dolezaj he’ll have to improve his outside shooting, especially from three-point range, where he shot less than 30%. But, shortly after Marek committed to Syracuse, 247Sports included him in the top 247 recruits nationally, coming in at 67th overall. In doing so, Syracuse’s 2017 recruiting class was boosted up to 16th overall by 247Sports. They listed him as a forward and that’s in all likelihood what he’ll play for Syracuse. He can be used at small forward or power forward and would play the wings of the bottom line of zone. But, one of Syracuse’s other recruits is Oshae Brissett, who is also a combo forward and was ranked 49th overall by 247Sports. Brissett does seem to have the upper hand in playing in front of Marek, already having moved into campus and working out with the coaches. Plus, you have Matt Moyer playing in his first athletic season after redshirting and in all likelihood he’ll start at one of the forward spots. But, Marek should see a lot of playing time next year, especially with the youth and if an injury were to occur. If he steps on campus and seems to be unstoppable against opponents then he’ll play more and more. My guess is that he’ll be one of the first players to come off the bench, whether is be for Paschal Chukwu or someone else. Taking out Chukwu would move Taurean Thompson to the 5, and then you put Moyer/Brissett/Dolezaj at whichever forward spot. I’d expect about 7-10 ppg while averaging close to 3-5 rpg. It all depends on who steps up among the freshmen (and redshirt freshman).
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That wraps it up for our fourth Q&A. Thank you for sending us questions! Comment or DM us on feedback of this Q&A and suggestions of what you would like us to do with the blog. We always love interacting with you all!
Go Cuse!
