MCW Dazzles, But Christmas Will Have a More Immediate Impact
D.A. | Apr 01, 2011 | Comments 6
As the wounds from the Marquette loss finally start to heal, this week has helped Orange fans start to turn the page. With all but one key contributor returning, the optimism is warranted. But this week the excitement is starting to build around the crop of freshman that will be joining them.
With two key members of SU’s 2011 recruiting class on display in the McDonald’s All American Game last night, SU fans got their first glimpse of the future. Big man Rakeem Christmas and 6’5” point guard Michael Carter-Williams both played for the East.
The duo didn’t exactly set the world on fire, scoring just two points each, but it would be unwise to put too much stock in an All-Star game. Both did show that they have the length and athleticism to compete at a high level.
Carter-Williams stole the headlines this week with his lightning-quick 26.2 second dash in the skills competition championship, which beat his closest competitor by nearly six seconds. However it may be Christmas who is given a chance to make more of an immediate impact.
MCW is a supreme talent, and he’s built up quite a buzz in the CNY area recently. But, Jim Boeheim doesn’t care about any of that. Carter-Williams will be entering an already crowded SU backcourt with Brandon Triche, Dion Waiters, and Scoop Jardine (he’s not going anywhere folks, get used to it). For a freshman to come in and earn a starting role within that group is an awful lot to ask.
Christmas, though, will have a chance to emerge from a group of bigs that will have plenty in quantity, but not much quality. Christmas will battle Fab Melo, Baye Moussa Keita, and DaShonte Riley for playing time down low. Has anyone been overly impressed with any of those three in the Syracuse careers so far?
The only key element that the Orange lose from this year’s roster is Rick Jackson, a 6’9” post player from Philadelphia. Enter Christmas, – a 6’9” post player from Philadelphia. If the Orange is going to take the next step, it has to replace Jackson’s inside presence and production.
Fab has a long way to go after his disappointing freshman campaign, and Keita and Riley will be both be coming off of injury. That leaves the door wide open for Christmas to make an instant impact. A description of the ideal post player to fit in with next season’s Orange would probably read something like Christmas’ ESPN recruiting profile:
“The future Orangemen defensively controls the paint area with a hostile disposition and seems to take personal offense when an opponent scores from in close. He is a relentless rebounder with a good understanding and superb timing when tracking offensive rebound opportunities. He is a good runner and jumper that puts pressure on his opponent to run the floor each possession”
Sign me up for THAT in the middle of the zone.
A lot is left to unfold between now and the start of next season, but it’s possible Christmas emerges with an improved Fab as the 1-2 low post punch on what is shaping up to be the deepest team in the Big East.
The buzz continues to build around MCW, and rightfully so given the talent he’s shown, but don’t be surprised if it’s Christmas who brings Orange fans more early gifts.
Posted: Steve Neikam
I think Fab’s development offensively might be key to how much Christmas plays. If Fab is not able to contribute much on the offensive end, Syracuse will probably have to go smaller at the forwards (Joseph and Fair) to compensate.
Last week you made comment about the big three of Syracuse and the 15 fouls that they had to give at the center position. The last time I remember that strategy being used was against Syracuse by Georgetown in the last game played at Manley. I’m sure that everyone remembers that we lost that game by 2 points beacuse Rosevelt Bowie couldn’t hit his free throws towards the end of the game becaise of the beating he took all game long.
With the talent that Syracuse will put on the floor next year, this is what I expect to see happen. I believe that Baye Moussa Keita and Rakeem Christmas will share time at the power forward position. Fab Melo and Dashonte Riley will share time at center. I can see Brandon Triche and Scoope Jardine both starting at guard with Michael Carter Williams and Deion Waiters coming off of the bench at the same time replacing the starters. Trevor Cooney wii red shirt and play the following year. I see Chris Joesph, C.J.Fair and James Southerland sharing time at the small forward position.
I know that the above prediction is bold. Could anyone have ever thought the day would come when we saw Coach Boeheim play 11 different players a game.
Sorry to all those Mookie Jones lovers, but I don’t see him around next winter.
Syracuse will do fine, the team will be loaded. I see another 25 plus win season in 2011.
Let’s go ORANGE.
I’m sorry to have left these questions from my earlier post.
With all of the talent that Syracuse will have on the team next year,what’s going to happen with all of the walk on players? Will they still be a part of the team or not?
Is there any way that you guys can set something up so that we can EDIT our post before submitting?
Thanks again.
I highly doubt Cooney would red shirt. His 3pt shooting and will to take it to the hole is way to valuable to pass up!
After watching Christmas in the McDonald’s All-Star Game, I would almost disagree with his EPSN recruiting profile. What I saw was a center who consistently positioned himself out of effective rebouding position AND failed to box/block out. Ferocious rebounder? Mmmm, not in this game he wasn’t. Then again, maybe this can all be chalked up to “it’s only an All-Star Game”. I certainly hope so.
Looking at him and watching him play gives one a sense that this kid is definitely a superb athelete. Maybe with some (or inspite of) big man coaching from 5’9 Bernie Fine, he’ll blossom into the monster he’s already touted to be by the media and perhaps overzealous fans.
But seriously speaking of coaches, does anyone else think we need to add #44 DC to the Assistant Coach staff??? I mean, a big man who played the position (and quite well, I might add) teaching our big men how to play the big man position. Isn’t that just absurd? I must be smokin’ crack, right? Haha!
Don’t worry – it’s just wishful thinking on my part….