This season feels a lot like 1996-97

[Eric15]

Similarities:
-That team finished 19-13 (9-9), we are currently 19-12 (9-9)
-Lost some early non-conference games
-Started the conference season 0-4
-Got things back together in Jan/Feb and the season looked on the up-and-up
-Lost a devastating regular season finale that they had to have (Pitt in 1997, FSU in 2016)
-Dealt with a suspension that really affected our record (Todd Burgan suspended 7 games in 1997, Boeheim this year)
-Had some good individual players, but just no semblance of a cohesive unit, and no bench.

 

[orangenirvana]

-Had two solid seniors who started many games for SU (Otis Hill and Jason Cipolla).

 

[kirbivore]

Similarities:
-That team finished 19-13 (9-9), we are currently 19-12 (9-9)
-Lost some early non-conference games
-Started the conference season 0-4
-Got things back together in Jan/Feb and the season looked on the up-and-up
-Lost a devastating regular season finale that they had to have (Pitt in 1997, FSU in 2016)
-Dealt with a suspension that really affected our record (Todd Burgan suspended 7 games in 1997, Boeheim this year)
-Had some good individual players, but just no semblance of a cohesive unit, and no bench.

Also ended up in the 8/9 game of the conference tourney. One slight difference is with the extra four bids I don't feel SU has to win 2 in the ACCT to get in to the NCAA's. That 1997 had to beat #1 Nova in the BET to secure a bid.

 

[Briancuse]

I don't remember, did we have some quality wins that year?

 

[kirbivore]

I don't remember, did we have some quality wins that year?

http://www.collegerpi.com/subs/97/T045.shtml

Got blown out by Kentucky in Great Alaska Shootout, which put SU in the consolation bracket to play Maine and UNC Greensboro, both sub 200 squads. Lost to Eastern Michigan (74) in Carrier Classic. Best OOC win was UNLV (58). Only 3 top 50 wins, all in conference. IIRC the Big East was in a down cycle in 1997.