For Tyus Battle, NBA Draft combine likely dictates first-round potential

With the NBA Draft combine coming up, quite a few eyes will be on the Syracuse Orange’s Tyus Battle. While he’s not in the lottery conversation, he’s in a larger group of players that could realistically get picked in the latter half of the first round. But Battle likely wants a guarantee (which he could secure this week) before signing with an agent and foregoing the rest of his eligibility.

Earlier today, Bobby talked about how Tyus will be tested at the combine. And ESPN also took a look at Battle’s stock and how it could rise as a result of the combine. They see his potential, like many do. He’s just going to have to stand out in Chicago (and then maybe individual workouts afterward).

More of your Syracuse-related links below:

NBA draft combine: Who can help or hurt their stock the most? (ESPN)

Teams want to see Battle in a different role outside of Syracuse, where he was a ball-dominant shot-creator who posted a true shooting percentage of 52.9 largely because of late-clock, contested jumpers. Can Battle have an impact playing off the ball? Does he have any untapped playmaking potential, or is his wild style of play simply who he is?

ACC’s Best Quarterback Matchups of 2018 (Athlon)

7. Ryan Finley (NC State) vs. Eric Dungey (Syracuse) — Oct. 27 (Syracuse, N.Y.): Dungey has proven to be a perfect fit for Dino Babers’ system and he’s piled up the stats as a result and turned into one of the ACC’s underrated stars. While he’s helped re-write the school record book, getting the Orange to a bowl game is priority No. 1 in 2018 and beating teams like the Wolfpack will go a long way towards that goal.

Virginia, Syracuse Receive 2018 NCAA Rowing Bids (ACC)

Syracuse, which received an at-large bid, is making its third straight appearance in the NCAA Championship and fourth overall. The Orange, coached by Justin Moore, finished 13th the past two years and place 12th in 2002 as a member of the Big East Conference. In all, ACC teams have claimed 10 individual championship events, the most recent a 2015 national title by Virginia’s First Varsity Four.

An oral history of the N.C. State defensive line that just went 4-for-4 in the NFL draft (The Athletic)

You could really see in that Syracuse game what we had was not cutting it. We needed to recruit body types and big-boned guys who had toughness and played hard because we probably weren’t gonna be able to get these ready-made guys, where all you have to do is teach ’em technique. I remember earlier that spring Hux (Dave Huxtable) saying, “We’ve gotta be more physical at the point of attack.

Ranking the Toughest Games on Notre Dame Football’s Schedule (Athlon)

10. Nov. 17 vs. Syracuse (in Bronx, N.Y.): Syracuse also returns an effective quarterback in Eric Dungey and a defense that couldn’t stop the run last fall. The fact that this game is at Yankee Stadium and not in South Bend makes it slightly trickier than the Vanderbilt contest.

Kahlil Whitney’s Game Is Heating Up, And So Is His Recruitment (FloHoops)

Paul Pierce Explains Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony’s Honey Nut Cheerios Story (Bleacher Report)

Doug Marrone One on One: Final Draft Analysis (Jaguars)

University of Louisville: Damage caused by Rick Pitino ‘catastrophic’ (USA Today)