sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to Pi Day!
Pi Day celebrates the pi symbol (π) and its importance to mathematics. The symbol is a Greek letter, and it is used in mathematics to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The first digits of this ratio are 3.14159, and the number continues infinitely without pattern. It has been calculated to over one trillion digits after the decimal point. Most calculations only need the first few digits. Even the spherical volume of the whole universe can be calculated by using just 39 digits after the decimal point. The symbol "π" was first used in 1706 by William Jones. It gained in popularity after being used by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737. The first large and official celebration of the day took place at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988. It was organized by Larry Shaw, a physicist at the Exploratorium. At the inaugural event, people marched around a circular space and ate fruit pies. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting Pi Day.
SU News
Syracuse basketball center Paschal Chukwu offers different challenge to Arizona State (PS; Ditota)
Paschal Chukwu finished second in the ACC in blocked shots. The 7-foot-2 Syracuse basketball junior erased 2.7 scoring opportunities per game this season. Only Louisville's Anas Mahmoud made more of an impression in that category.
Chukwu is now here in Dayton anchoring an Orange 2-3 zone that once again has captivated questioners unaccustomed to Syracuse's signature defense. In Arizona State, a team of penetrating guards and 3-point shooting threats, Chukwu looms as an important piece of Syracuse's strategy to move on to Detroit and TCU.
Against teams that regularly see Syracuse and have steadfastly scouted the Orange, Chukwu was a big problem to solve.
"I would like to believe that I had a great impact in there because most teams, the zone offense is to get the ball in the middle," Chukwu said. "When you get the ball in the middle, having somebody with length to bother the shot, to make them pass it out and think about it. Whatever time they take to think about it I think that's a good thing.
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Remember the Curtain of Distraction? Check out Arizona State's gift to basketball (PS; Burrows)
The Arizona State Sun Devils will be without arguably one of their most powerful weapons on Wednesday when they take on Syracuse in a First Four matchup.
And we aren't talking about a player or coach.
We're talking about a curtain.
Once called 'college hoops' funniest weapon,' the Curtain of Distraction is no joke.
Well, technically, it's one big joke. But it's nothing to laugh at when it's actually affecting your ability to shoot free throws in a significant way.
If you're unfamiliar with Arizona State's gift to college basketball, the concept is simple.
When an opposing player steps to the free throw line, the Arizona State student section opens a set of curtains to reveal something that is going to shock and maybe scare you.
What's behind the Curtain ranges from guys dressed up as aliens, clowns, or two mascots fencing to a shirtless Michael Phelps or Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley dressed up as Santa Claus.
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The Syracuse Orange have become college basketball's biggest troll (thecomeback.com; Keeley)
“I can’t believe Syracuse got in over Oklahoma State.”
“Jim Boeheim is dirty and probably still cheating.”
“The only reason Syracuse got in is that their name sells tickets.”
“I can’t believe Syracuse got in over Notre Dame.”
“The Orange play a weak non-conference schedule and never leave New York.”
Syracuse could go 0-27 and make the tournament somehow. What a clown show.
— Joe Dolan (@FG_Dolan) March 11, 2018
“Syracuse only got in because the tournament is rigged against mid-majors.”
“I can’t believe Syracuse got in over Middle Tennessee State.”
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Syracuse Basketball’s March, thankfully, is chock full of madness (itlh.com; Adler)
Fasten your seatbelts, ‘Cuse Nation, as the SU hoops outfit is taking off for the First Four and a juicy match-up with Arizona State.
The Orange basketball squad’s bubble didn’t burst, so bust out your dancing shoes, ladies and gentlemen.
While I’m undeniably proud of what Syracuse has accomplished to date in 2017-18, the ride isn’t yet over. SU represented the last at-large outfit to get invited to the field of 68, and our beloved boys are once again in the NCAA Tournament after missing the cut a season ago.
I absolutely love, love, love the enthusiasm displayed by our crew after discovering that it made the Big Dance. These guys, extremely young and lacking any depth whatsoever, fought hard during the present term, and the reward of reaching March Madness is super sweet.
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https://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/preview-arizona-state-vs-syracuse-031318 (foxsports.com)
To hear the NCAA Tournament selection committee tell it, Arizona State and Syracuse made the 68-team field before the calendar turned.
The fact that they will meet in a Midwest Regional play-in game in Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday indicates how much slippage occurred in conference play.
Arizona State (20-11) beat tournament No. 1 seeds Xavier and Kansas in November and December and rose to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 as the last undefeated team in Division I before scuffling in the Pac-12. The Sun Devils had an 8-10 conference record and lost to Colorado in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament.
Syracuse’s non-conference resume, while not as impressive at the top, included victories over NCAA Tournament teams Iona, Texas Southern and Buffalo and losses to Kansas and St. Bonaventure.
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Which ACC Offense is the best against man-to-man defense? The answer may surprise you - ACCSports.com (accsports.com; Geisinger)
According to KenPom, six of the top-30 offenses in the nation are denizens of the ACC. Three of those teams are also amongst the NCAA Tournament’s top eight seeds: Virginia, Duke and North Carolina.
The ACC landed nine teams in the 2018 NCAA Tournament — tying its previous record from only one year ago. Before the Big Dance gets started, though, let’s evaluate each NCAA Tournament team from the ACC in terms of how it functioned in the half-court against man-to-man defenses.
Team Points per possession FG% eFG% TO%
Virginia Tech 0.97 46.3 FG% 53.7 eFG% 15.5%
Duke 0.96 47 FG% 53.2 eFG% 14.4%
NC State 0.95 46.4 FG% 52.2 eFG% 14.2%
UVA 0.95 44.5 FG% 51.0 eFG% 12.5%
UNC 0.95 45.3 FG% 51.6 eFG% 13.8%
Miami 0.93 45.2 FG% 51.7 eFG% 14.0%
FSU 0.92 45.4 FG% 51.7 eFG% 16.2%
Clemson 0.91 43.0 FG% 50.0 FG% 16.5%
Syracuse 0.86 40.8 FG% 46.2 eFG% 16.0%
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- However, it’s interesting to note that the ACC’s top man-to-man offense didn’t make the field of 68 for the NCAA Tournament. That’s right, Notre Dame scored 0.973 points per possession in the half-court this season, per Synergy — good for No. 1 in the ACC, and No. 27 in Division I. Considering this team’s injury issues, this is insanely impressive
- Syracuse, which was the last team to get a bid for this season’s tournament, actually finished 13th in the ACC in points per possession against man-to-man defenses; only Pitt (0.83) and Georgia Tech (0.80) ranked lower. According to KenPom, the Orange have the least efficient offense of any at-large team in this year’s field — No. 129.
ACC Panic Room: How many make it to Sweet 16? :: WRALSportsFan.com (wralsports.com; Brownlow and Ovies)
Lauren Brownlow and Joe Ovies preview the NCAA Tournament and guess how many teams will make it past the opening weekend.
Other
St. Patrick's Day, Bill Engvall: 12 things to do in CNY this weekend (PS; Pucci)
After the coldest Syracuse St. Patrick's Day Parade in history last year, Central New York appears ready to thaw out for a weekend of parades and fun.
Central New Yorkers won't have to go to Broadway to see Kinky Boots, winner of six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical and another for its score by Cyndi Lauper.
The show will be in town for a three-night stay at the Oncenter Crouse-Hinds Theater.
Where: Oncenter Crouse-Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse.
When: Tuesday, March 13, Wednesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 15. All shows at 7:30 p.m.
How much: Tickets start at $35.
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