FWIW

He always seemed to have this look on his face like he was a GQ model going up against two burn victims in a reality TV dating show… the “don’t worry, I can win this in my sleep” look we’ll call it.

I know everyone loves Wes Johnson – I do too, BUT: Carmelo was the type of player who comes around every now and then who has enough talent to carry an NBA team on his back into the postseason after years of almost non-existence in the pro market. Other recent examples: Lebron, CP3, Derrick Rose (maybe?).

Anyway my point is this: we have a very very good team this year. But I think if Carmelo was a freshman on another team and playing against our current squad we would all take one look at his face and say “oh shit, he can win this in his sleep”.

And I agree about the BET. I don’t think we’ll be dissappointed.

Devo for McNamara and your comparison would be better.

BTW, Devo is a horrible substitute for McNamara.

A couple things though – I liken Gerry to Triche as they started at PG as freshmen, even though Triche isn’t our shooter like Gerry was. Then compare Rautins to Duany as the senior leaders and all around contributors who could do a bit of everything. I also think Warrick compares much more to KJo than Jackson, even though Warrick started every game (KJo probably logs about as many MPG off the bench as most starters in the league anyways). Like KJo this year, Hak was a sophomore in ‘03. Both are great at getting to the hoop. Both improved dramatically from frosh to soph. year. The big men on the ’10 team also crush Forth/McNiel. I don’t think we give AO and Rick near enough credit for what they bring to the table every night. Just look what happened @ G’town when they both were in foul trouble – ’nuff said. That being said, this is how I see it shake out:

Gerry > Triche
Kueth < Andy
Carmelo >> Wes
Forth/McNiel << AO/Rick
Hak = KJo
Billy < Scoop
Pace – no one left on ’10 team to really compare, so ’03 gets an extra point for depth
’03 Defense < ’10 Defense

The X-factor for the ‘03 team was just how dominant Carmelo was and for ’10 team it comes down to team chemistry and balance. Since its pretty tough to quantify, I think its just a matter of preference at whether you’d rather have star power or great balance/chemistry on your side. I’m not trying to minimize Carmelo in any way, but year in year out I prefer to watch basketball that is more about the team an less about star power.

It is very close, but when you look at what each team did during the regular season, I think you have to go with the ‘10 team. The only thing that will change my mind is if they go into the BET/NCAAs and lay a big fat egg, but I don’t think that’ll happen.

I just don’t see Devendorf as a better guy than Rautins. I like Devendorf, but he hurt SU as many times as he helped them. He can shoot well, but he wanted so much to be that guy who could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, and well, he just wasn’t that guy. Rautins plays more in control and takes better shots without forcing them. I definitely don’t think Devendorf was a better shooter either. Id take Andy over Eric any day.

I think its also hard to compare Duany and Triche as they played very different positions. Triche is better compared with Gerry Mac, but I’d give Mac the edge as a better shooter/scorer. Triche doesn’t seem to look for his own shot much, but he doesn’t have to.
Onuaku and Jackson bring much more to the table than Pace/Forth too.
Of course Carmelo is a better scoring option than Wes, but I gotta give Wes a defensive edge. He is as long and lanky as Warrick, but better all-around IMO.
Edelin and Jardine is nearly a wash, though I feel more comfortable with Jardine handling the rock as Edelin was pretty streaky.

i think the bottom line is 2003 SU knew they had Carmelo to hold them up. 2010 SU has Wes and Co. to do that. And if one of them is off one night, they still have 4 other guys who can pick up the slack. 2003 SU had really just Melo or Mac that could be counted on night in/night out. 2010 is just a deeper, better balanced team.