Can Syracuse become a blueblood over the next decade?

[Oakland]

Top 5 recruits? Apparently you don't understand that we run our program looking for best fits rather than "top 5" kids. And quite obviously it's worked out pretty damn well the last few years.

We do recruit top 5 kids, A Davis, Noel, Wiggins, etc., we just don't often land them. Kentucky landing Davis and winning the NC instead of Syracuse is indicative of them being a blue blood and us not being a blue blood. Which leads us back to the OP. We need more FFs and NCs over a long period of time to be considered a blue blood. To do that we need to recruit even better than we are now.

 

[NineOneSeven]

The KU free throws is ridiculous. They scored more points off offensive boards on those misses than they would have if they had just made the free throws. That is a fact.

How about- if Kansas had one of their top players in Wayne Simien?

 

[HarrisonJBounel]

Cuse is a blueblood. Are they top 3? No. but they are clearly among the elite programs in the country. Except for a gap in the early nineties, Cuse has a track record over JB's tenure that is surpassed by 1 maybe 2 programs. Don't have the NC's to prove it (though they are a whisker away from 4- thanks to a last second shot, an injury and a player who decided to skip class). They've appeared in final fours in the last 4 decades. They've probably more wins than all but a handful of schools. Not sure what more can be expected to be in the "blueblood" class.

Make it 5. IMO, I remember the UK final, where SU was coming back, got to within one late, was called for a foul. UK missed the FT, and Walter McCarty climbed all over JB Reafsnyder to get the rebound. If the ref makes the proper call there, it would have been a completely different finish.

 

[newmexicuse]

You can't be a blue blood with only one title and only one FF per decade.. I would say another title and one or two additional FF appearances in the next five years gets us there.

 

[HOFCeluck]

Make it 5. IMO, I remember the UK final, where SU was coming back, got to within one late, was called for a foul. UK missed the FT, and Walter McCarty climbed all over JB Reafsnyder to get the rebound. If the ref makes the proper call there, it would have been a completely different finish.

Do we hang banners for all these almost-titles?

 

[Alsacs]

I think a legit argument exists for putting Lville in that top tier...NCs in 80, 86, and 2013.

Yeah I agree they are real close. I can see them in that top tier, but they slipped in the Denny Crum last seasons. I wouldn't have a problem with them in those top 6. We need more rings and we can get into that club because we have the history, Dome, etc.

 

[RF2044]

How about- if Kansas had one of their top players in Wayne Simien?

Then the player who substituted for him that game wouldn't have exploded for something like 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Sorry--that transitive property blows up that weak argument.

 

[RF2044]

I've got your blueblood right here.

 

[anomander]

I don't know if we can consider ourselves a true blue blood program, but I can say that we are probably the hottest program right now. I am talking about current run of success, buzz, fan support, talent. The only thing holding us back is that elusive 2nd National Championship. If we can get 1 in the next 2 years to go along with an elite 8 and Final 4 then we will be in the discussion. So as of right now...

Current top programs

1. Kentucky
2. Duke
3. Syracuse
4. Kansas
5. Louisville

 

[Knicks411]

I don't know if we can consider ourselves a true blue blood program, but I can say that we are probably the hottest program right now. I am talking about current run of success, buzz, fan support, talent. The only thing holding us back is that elusive 2nd National Championship. If we can get 1 in the next 2 years to go along with an elite 8 and Final 4 then we will be in the discussion. So as of right now...

Current top programs

1. Kentucky
2. Duke
3. Syracuse
4. Kansas
5. Louisville

I don't know about that, Louisville won the whole thing last year and made the final four the year before that.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I'm confused. Why do we need more top 5 recruits, exactly? Seems like we keep winning 25-30 games every year without them, just went to a Final Four, have had a couple 1-seeds, a couple #1 rankings, probably would have at least one more Final Four appearance and maybe a title were it not for an injury and an idiot at center, and are currently ranked #2 in the country.

Over the past 5 years, how many teams have fit "blue blood" better than us? Maybe 2 or 3?

Honestly, we need a couple more titles and throw in another Final Four, like the man said. There's just not enough hardware in our trophy case to be a true blue blood. We have a lot of history, but we need a couple more trophies.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Not negative, just a realist. They're easily inside the top 10 in the last 35-40 years, and I have no complaints about that. I just can't buy saying SU is top 2-3 in that span. My disagreement with your post was in saying that SU was in the top 2-3 programs, but now you've walked that back a bit (nothing wrong with that). Like you said I guess it's a case of how you define blue blood. I don't buy the idea that SU just missed winning 4 titles though. Almost doesn't count for much if anything. A Duke, UNC, Kansas or Kentucky fan might be able to argue that they just missed winning 10 more titles by that logic.

Yep. Butler is "almost" a back-to-back national champ. Almost.

 

[Francis03]

Gotta win one championship before we can win two.

One thing that needs to happen for Cuse to move into the blueblood category is for JB to get more top 5 recruits. We are going thru our best recruiting age in recent memory but we are still not getting those elite NBA out of HS prospects. Since Melo we haven't had one. UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc. get those guys every other year. It's great that we are consistently a top 10 team now. But to get over the hump in March/April it would help to have a Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins to compliment our 4 year program players.

A lot of those players are just too expensive to get.

 

[Orange2389]

The term blue bloods has to do more with the history of the program than current run of success IMO.

Blue Bloods
UNC
Duke
Kentucky
Indiana
UCLA
Kansas

Elite
Syracuse
Michigan State
Louisville
Ohio State



Syracuse needs more titles and final fours. Period. We have the history, but lacking those titles.

 

[Trueblue25]

Blue bloods? 'em

Orange bloods are taking over. Population: 1. Go Cuse.

 

[ImperialOrange]

A lot of those players are just too expensive to get.

My sentiment as soon as a read that post as well. Perhaps being a Blue Blood means having boosters that are willing to drop large amounts of cash to land players? Perhaps it also means to consistently be willing to laugh at the idea of student athletes being students. Looking at Alsacs' skull and bones list as pretty accurate, you can find one of or both of those as well documented issues. It's the crib notes UConn used to win their titles as well as UNLV and some others over the years. Only difference is they couldn't sustain it because the NCAA will eventually punish the non "blue blood" teams.

 

[itsbotime]

Lots of posters here hitting the nail on the head. Syracuse is a very good basketball program. Top 10 in my book. However, to me a "Blue Blood" has to have multiple NC's and multiple FF's in a given period. Cuse has the potential to be a blue blood, but they aren't there yet.

My list of Blue Bloods at the moment:

Kentucky
UNC
Kansas
Duke
UCLA
Indiana is tricky...they certainly used to be a blue blood but they have lost a step. However, hard to discount 5 national titles.

To me, there is a difference between an elite program and a blue blood. Syracuse, Michigan State, etc. are elite, but not true blue bloods at the moment. Cuse has the best potential out of any school to join the club, though...just need to finish strong.

 

[itsbotime]

I don't know if we can consider ourselves a true blue blood program, but I can say that we are probably the hottest program right now. I am talking about current run of success, buzz, fan support, talent. The only thing holding us back is that elusive 2nd National Championship. If we can get 1 in the next 2 years to go along with an elite 8 and Final 4 then we will be in the discussion. So as of right now...

Current top programs

1. Kentucky
2. Duke
3. Syracuse
4. Kansas
5. Louisville

That list is pretty ridiculous considering Louisville has 3 national titles, including the most recent one.

 

[We Are Syracuse]

I hate being that guy, but Syracuse doesn't belong in the same category as Ku Kentucky or UNC.

More final fours, more titles, better recruiting, and a period of excellence that spans multiple head coaches.

And they are behind those three. Those three and duke are the top 4. Then give me UL and then cuse

 

[ssbriefcase]

There's no way a blue blood school would give out rings for making the sweet 16. That boots iu from the list.

 

[NKR1978]

Syracuse needs atleast 2 more championships to become a blue blood. Uconn has 3 championships, but they aren't a blue blood because they doesn't have any history prior to Calhoun. Syracuse has more history, but doesn't have the championships. Syracuse wins more championships it goes from a top 10 program all-time to top 5 all-time. We need the rings 2 more rings we are the Skull and Bones. Right now we are just members at the country club.

Blue bloods Skull and Bones- UCLA, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Indiana

Members of the country club-Arizona, UNLV, Michigan State, Florida, UConn, Louisville, Syracuse. I am probably missing 1 or 2 teams as well.

Louisville is 1 more NC away from blue blood status. UConn/UNLV are probably maxed out because of their conference affliation and I don't see UConn over coming its history problem unless stay up for another 10 years.

Louisville has moved into the top neighborhood. They have as many titles as Kansas and 10 Final Four appearances. Personally I think they've surpassed indiana.

Also don't agree with UNLV. They had a nice run but haven't been relevant in 20+ years.

Right now we are a top 10 program and seem to be one of the hottest and most hyped programs in the country. I'll take where we are now and where I think we're going over the pointless and meaningless label of being a "Blue Blood." But we really need a championship to put a cap on this amazing run.

 

[SWC75]

We have to do this:

 

[Marsh01]

We have won the 5th most games in college basketball history. We have a hall of fame coach. We play in arguably the most recognized arena in the country.

We are a blue blood program.

 

[omniorange]

The ultimate measurement for college basketball is how well have you performed in the NCAA tourney (although I don't believe that should be the 'only' measurement, it is the most important). This, to me, is measured by number of championships, number of Final Fours, and number of Elite 8s. The below lists are all the programs that I believe are considered "ahead" of Syracuse, in no particular order. I eliminated any FFs or E8s prior to 1951 since only 8 teams played between 1939-1950. I also eliminated any E8s listed in 1952-1953, when only 16 teams were invited.

UCLA, NCs - 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995
UCLA, FFs - 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008
UCLA, E8s - 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009

UNC, NCs - 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009
UNC, FFs - 1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009
UNC, E8s - 1957, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

UK, NCs - 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012
UK, FFs - 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975, 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012
UK, E8s - 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012

Duke, NCs - 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010
Duke, FFs - 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010
Duke, E8s - 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2013

KU, NCs - 1952, 1988, 2008
KU, FFs - 1952, 1953, 1957, 1971, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2012
KU, E8s - 1957, 1960, 1966, 1971, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

IU, NCs - 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987
IU, FFs - 1953, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1987, 1992, 2002
IU, E8s - 1973, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1992, 1993, 2002

UL, NCs - 1980, 1986, 2013
UL, FFs - 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2012, 2013
UL, E8s - 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013

UConn, NCs - 1999, 2004, 2011
UConn, FFs - 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011
UConn, E8s - 1964, 1990, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011

SU, NCs - 2003
SU, FFs - 1975, 1987, 1996, 2003, 2013
SU, E8s - 1957, 1966, 1975, 1987, 1989, 1996, 2003, 2012, 2013

To me, 'blue blood' is a special term that means you were there almost from the beginning and dominated a decade or two.

I see Louisville, UConn, and us as the new kids on the block. Sure we might be able to mentioned in the same breath as being an elite program with the others, but even if we do, we will be considered "nouveau riche". While an Indiana might never make another Final Four and only get to an occasional Elite 8 once a decade. They will be a fallen 'blue blood', no longer perhaps considered an elite program, but a 'blue blood' just the same.

Anyway, that is how I see it.

In any case, until we have at least 1 more NC and two more FFs in addition to that, we won't even get to "elite program" status with the same standing as Louisville.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[HOFCeluck]

Uconn sucks.