Syracuse Basketball: CBS Snubs SU in Top 100 List

By David Stone | Oct 13, 2015

The Syracuse basketball season might be several weeks away still, but that’s not stopping publications from making predictions and analysis. One such example of this was created by CBS, who released their annual list of the top 100 college basketball players in the country on Monday. Out of the top 100 players, Syracuse had no one on the list.

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I’m going to get it off my chest now and say that this is incredibly inaccurate. Not only is Syracuse returning two fifth year seniors, but both of them were quite good last year, and that was with Rak eating up many of the possessions inside. Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney both deserved to make the list this year. Heck, you could make a case for Roberson as well. All he really needs to add is a consistent jumper and he can be All-ACC.

Regardless of what I think, CBS just doesn’t believe in Syracuse basketball apparently. What I find highly amusing though, are some of the people picked on the list instead of Gbinije or Cooney.

You don’t have to look far to find a good exmaple. Vince Edwards at #100 averaged 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and shot 32% from 3-pointers last season. Gbinije averaged 12.7 points, 5 rebounds, and shot 39% from three. Yet somehow Vince Edwards is on the list but Gbinije isn’t? Gbinije also averaged 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals. Vince averaged considerably less in both.

Ok, so maybe they just go by seniority or leadership? Think again. Edwards is a sophomore and the third or fourth option on his team. Gbinije is a senior who, along with Cooney, are the team leaders and go-to players. I’m having a hard time justifying the CBS logic on this one, but let’s keep going.

Two picks later at #98 is Tyler Dorsey. CBS Sports is quoted as saying “He had a huge summer with the Greek national team, making the U19 All-Tournament team. He’ll help Dylan Ennis to replace the departed Joseph Young.”

And? Gbinije helped lead the Nigerian team to the Olympics, while playing a crucial role on the team and looking like one of the most athletic players in the tournament. Sorry, not buying the “international experience” logic here. Oh, did I mention Dorsey hasn’t even played a game of college basketball yet? But apparently he’s good enough to make the list with no actual experience while guys like Cooney and Gbinije with proven track records get snubbed. Kudos, great research there CBS.

Mar 7, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Trevor Cooney (10) dribbles as North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Ralston Turner (22) defends during the second half at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack won 71-57. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Looking further down the list, there are a number of names that make no sense on it. Rasheed Sulaimon, the burned out burn-out from Duke who transferred to Maryland because he’s a team cancer. Winston Shepard, who actually regressed from his sophomore to junior year at San Diego State. Tim Quarterman from LSU who padded his stats playing in an incredibly weak SEC conference last year.

But wait, there’s more! Alex Poythress of Kentucky, who averaged a whopping 5.5 points per game including a remarkable 0% from 3-point range before being lost for the year with an ACL tear. Trevon Bluiett from Xavier, who is behind Gbinije and Cooney in every meaningful statistical category. Luke Kennard and Derrick Thornton of Duke, neither of whom has ever touched the court in college basketball and are apparently rated on nothing more than potential (what is this, the NBA draft?).

If I’m being completely honest, this list is a joke. Of the top 100, 18 of them were freshman. Admittedly, there will be some good freshman in for sure, but on a list of top college basketball players, why are freshman even being considered? That’s like making a list of top NBA players and including the incoming rookies because they are assumed to be good. How often has that backfired in the NBA? Do the names Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi, Greg Oden, and Darko Milicic ring any bells?

Gbinije and Cooney should have made the list. Although Cooney is more on the borderline, leaving Mike off is just a complete misfire. He is one of, if not the most versatile guard(s) in college basketball. He can play the point, he can play the shooting guard, and he can play small forward. Heck, if needed, he could probably play the four with his athleticism.

He’s an outstanding 3 point shooter, has a lightning quick first step, is an adept passer, gets to the rim with ease, and is one of the best rebounding guards in the nation.

He also just came off a summer where he looked oustanding playing for team Nigeria in AfroBasket 2015. He helped lead them to the championship, scoring eight points a game in a crucial “sixth man” role. He also played some of the best defense I’ve seen in a long time. He will be playing in the Olympics in 2016. How many other players on this list can tout that?

In the end, it’s only one list and no one should really take it too seriously. In fact, I see it as just another piece of motivation for the Syracuse basketball team. Everyone has already discounted this squad. I can’t wait to see them come out with a gigantic chip on their shoulder and go to work. I think this team will surprise a lot of people, and by the end of the year people will be laughing at the exclusion of Gbinije, Cooney, and who knows who else from this list.

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