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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 152250, member: 40"] Before the season started, I made a comparison / prediction between this year's squad and the 1999-2000 team, in that we were returning a bunch of talent from a team that seemed to underachieve, but could really be formidable if a couple of things fell into place and the returning players took their games up a notch. The 1999-2000 team entered that year coming off of a disappointing season where we were literally the first team eliminated from the NCAA tournament, but were returning a bunch of starters who were perceived as not quite being good enough for the team to be elite. There was actually quite a division on the boards about that group of players--and whether or not it was a "good" thing that the nucleus of that team was returning, given the subpar results of the previous year. I'm not suggesting that the personnel perfectly match up between the two years [for example, one major difference is that the 1999-2000 had a pretty good inside player in Etan Thomas who was a more consistent low post threat than Fab]. But there are a lot of similarities between this year's squad and the 1999-2000 team. Both were quarterback by a much maligned PG who was perceived by some as being a liability. Both teams featured rotations that were well outside the Boeheim standard 7.5 [the 1999-2000 team played 9 guys for most of the year, with Shumpert, Deshaun, Griffin, and Celuck on the bench]. Both teams featured pretty good outside shooting. Both teams had the benefit of a lot of scoring pop off of the bench. And both teams started out 19-0. The 1999-2000 team's core nucleus came back, and the seniors who hadn't gotten the job done the previous year made incremental improvements in their game that made both them and the team much more effective. This year's team returned four starters, and all have elevated their level of play--including the two seniors. The key difference in my mind is that the 1999-2000 team lacked a transcendent talent. We had some very good players--including two NBA journeymen types in Hart / Thomas, but no true superstar. Before this season started, I would have completely agreed that this condition would be applicable to this year's team, as well, but I think Dion Waters is beginning to demonstrate that he might be the superstar / transcendent talent that could put the team over the top. 19-0 is an incredible place to be. I remember how much fun the 1999-2000 season was [including how disappointing it was to lose to Seton Hall, ending that winning streak]. That team finished well in the regular season and ended up having a nice run in the NCAA tournament--running into a buzzsaw having to play eventual NCAA champion MSU in Detroit [a game I attended with my dad]. But despite that disappointing ending, it was a helluva season--a very special year to root for the Orangemen. But that team couldn't finish the job after the great start, and take the season to the next level. Obviously, this team's story is still being written. But when I look at how the season has gone so far, and what this team is poised to accomplish, I'm reminded that dream seasons like this [and 1999-2000] don't come along very often. I've thoroughly enjoyed the ride so far--and the rise to #1--and I can't wait to see what heights this team is capable of achieving the rest of the way. Looking forward to seeing us dismantle Pitt tonight, which would accomplish both getting that monkey off of our back and setting a new "record" for the team starting 20-0. What a ride it has been so far! [SIZE=5][COLOR=#ff6600][B]Let's Go Orange!!![/B][/COLOR][/SIZE] [/QUOTE]

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