sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26,549
- Like
- 115,579
Welcome to National Cocoa Day!
National Cocoa Day celebrates hot cocoa. The day fittingly takes place in December, as the drink is often associated with cold weather. Although the names "hot chocolate" and "hot cocoa" are often used interchangeably, there technically is a difference between the two. This difference is not legal, however, and the two are often mislabeled at stores, most often with hot cocoa being labeled as hot chocolate. The difference lies in that hot chocolate contains cocoa butter, and hot cocoa does not. Hot cocoa uses cocoa powder that is made by removing cocoa butter from ground cocoa beans. Hot chocolate is made from bar chocolate, which has cocoa powder, sugar, and cocoa butter in it. These differences give both their distinct flavor and texture. Hot cocoa is thinner and more chocolatey, but is less rich. The richness in hot chocolate comes from the higher fat content, which comes from the cocoa butter.
SU News
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim on Chukwu, Sidibe: 'Our centers have to play' (PS; Carlson)
Three times this season, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has replaced starting center Paschal Chukwu within three minutes of the opening tip. On two occasions, he's pulled both true centers within the opening six minutes.
He has, to this point in the year, not been thrilled with the production from the center position and his top options, Chukwu and Bourama Sidibe.
But Boeheim is also not eager to embrace the solution that has worked most frequently this season, saying after SU's 72-71 win over Georgetown that it won't work against many of SU's toughest competitors.
Syracuse has performed its best this season when Marek Dolezaj has played center. But Boeheim doesn't believe that's how Syracuse will be at its best - at least not all the time - moving forward.
...
Good luck trying to beat Syracuse in the Carrier Dome this year (twooeggz.com)
In each of their current seasons, both the Syracuse basketball and football teams have failed to lose a game inside their home at the Carrier Dome.
For those who have never been able to experience it in person, watching a Syracuse basketball game or an Orange football game inside the Carrier Dome is just something that cannot be explained. Especially when it comes to basketball.
How many schools around the country can expect to have at least a few home matchups each season with more than 30,000 people sitting in the stands? Oh that’s right, only Syracuse.For the Orange football team, playing inside the Carrier Dome proved to be a vital advantage to their unexpected success this year. Thanks to the loud Syracuse fans packed inside the dome, the Orange were able to get big wins over Florida State and NC State this season.
For the first time since 2001, the Syracuse football team didn’t suffer a single loss on their home field this year.
Much like their classmates on the gridiron, the Orange basketball team has been taking advantage of their games inside the Carrier dome this season as well.In six matchups on their home court this season, the Syracuse basketball program has come out with a win in each of them. Don’t even think for a second that playing inside the Carrier Dome last Saturday wasn’t a factor in the Orange getting a thrilling victory over Georgetown.
...
ACC Roundup - Closer Than Expected Games And Key Injuries )dukebasketballreport.com; King)
We like doing ACC Roundup but there are days when it’s just not justified and on those days we take a break.
But today there’s stuff to talk about.
As we’ve discussed lately, exam breaks usually see teams schedule lame-o competition with the goal of avoiding an upset.
Both BC and especially Louisville pushed their luck this time.
Boston College did beat Columbia but it was a close game. As we’ve seen several times lately, the Ivy League is vastly more competitive than it used to be. Penn has beaten Miami and Villanova, Yale also beat Miami and gave Duke a credible game and Cornell made Syracuse earn that win.
So BC did take them seriously but it was still close and Columbia played without its best player, who is out with a knee injury.
But Ky Bowman is a pain in the neck and Columbia couldn’t control him. He had seven points in the last 2 1⁄2 minutes to help BC get the win. He ended up shooting 8-12 for 24 points and had 10 rebounds and five assists.
Nik Popovic, who could the the ACC’s most improved player, shot 7-10 from the floor and 8-10 from the line for 22 points. He also had 14 rebounds. That’s a hell of a game.
...
Former 5-Star Guard Quade Green to Transfer from Kentucky Basketball (BR; Wells)
Sophomore guard Quade Green, who has appeared in 43 games at the University of Kentucky over the past two seasons, will be transferring from the school.
Per Eric Lindsey of UKAthletics.com, Green announced his decision to leave the Wildcats on Wednesday:
"I have loved my time at Kentucky and love Coach Cal and the staff. This was a difficult decision and one I didn't take lightly. However, after talking with my family and the coaching staff, I just felt like it was best that I explore other opportunities for my athletic and academic future. I have enjoyed my time at Kentucky and I'll never forget the Big Blue Nation for its love and its support."
...
Film analysis: How does UNC match up with Gonzaga? (greensboro.com; Wilkerson-New)
After a quiet week in the college basketball world, the Smith Center will play host to one of the best matchups of the young season at No. 4 Gonzaga visits No. 12 North Carolina on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (9-1) made a splash in Maui when they put Duke on its heels for 30 minutes before hanging on for a two-point victory thanks to a neutron-bomb offense that ranks first nationally in efficiency that has more than made up for a pedestrian defense. When last we saw the Tar Heels (7-2), they topped UNC Wilmington in a game that followed the all-to-familiar script this season: an uninspired defensive performance in the first half before pulling things together and playing with the effort and focus demanded by Roy Williams for the final 20 minutes.
This matchup is a treat for fans, matching two of the best offensive minds in the game, but given Carolina’s defensive struggles at times this season, Gonzaga’s offense could provide a unique challenge, given just how precisely the Zags attack. Here’s what to watch for:
1. Bigs in peril
Gonzaga can easily take a rim protector out of the game thanks to stable of big men capable of stepping away from the basket. The Bulldogs went to work on Duke’s Marques Bolden early, with his defensive assignment knocking down two straight 3-pointers to open the game.
...
Despite bumps in the road, Pitt basketball headed in right direction (cariachill.com; Whaley)
Pitt’s basketball season is only ten games old. But despite some early ups and downs, it’s pretty clear that the program is headed in the right direction.
Now, what I think is unknown is just how far the program can go. I’m not yet convinced they’ll contend for national championships or even ACC championships just yet. However, I think we can safely say the program is improving and that’s really the only barometer for this season, folks.
If you think about it, that might be kind of a hollow endorsement. The Panthers were a dismal 8-24 last season under Kevin Stallings’ leadership and had one of the worst seasons around these parts we’ve ever seen. Safe to say, anything would be better than that. And, for the record, I’m fully convinced Stallings himself would have had a better year this season if given the chance.
But I’m also convinced that this year’s team is not only better but that the program is in better shape. Capel, like Stallings, is guiding a team that is virtually brand new from the previous season. But unlike Stallings, he’s had far less trouble doing it.
In the non-conference season, Stallings’ team last year was unimpressive, to say the least. They lost an opener to Navy before dropping a home game to Montana. After a win against UC Santa Barbara, they were routed by 31 to Penn State, before losing other contests to Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
...
Final Analysis: Boston College Men’s Basketball vs. Columbia (bcinterruption.com; O'Neil)
Final Score: Boston College 82, Columbia 73
Boston College played a good offensive game tonight and was able to escape a pesky Columbia team that took a lead in the second half. A balanced scoring attack, led by Wynston Tabbs, Ky Bowman, and Nik Popovic, made up for the Eagles’ awful pick-and-roll defense that gave up more than a few lay-ups on slips to the rim. Freshmen Jairus Hamilton and Chris Herren also gave good minutes in a game where Jordan Chatman was sidelined with an injury.
Going forward, the Eagles need to defend better, particularly the backside help against the pick and roll. Nik Popovic did a great job hedging and pressuring the ball handlers, but there was no backside help against Columbia’s bigs, which allowed them to get easy layups on the slip. Sometimes, however, BC gave too much help, which led to easy three point opportunities for Columbia and the three ball is always the great equalizer in college basketball.
One obvious takeaway from this game is that Jim Christian has an extremely deep roster. In ACC play, he will depend on leadership from guys like Jordan Chatman, Steffon Mitchell, Nik Popovic, and Ky Bowman, but young guys like Herren, Tabbs, and Hamilton will all be capable defensively, handling the ball, and hitting timely shots. As Christian continues to recruit ACC caliber players, he will have more options to play around with on his bench and be able to go small, go big, and anywhere in between.
...
Worldwide ACC (DBR; Jacobs)
North Carolina is an increasingly cosmopolitan state. Well, at least compared to most Southern states. And maybe in a few metropolitan areas rather than throughout the state.
The Triangle region is unquestionably regarded as an area where a wide mix of folks live and work, and would presumably play basketball too. And not just Yankees. Yet, of 15 ACC schools, the sole members lacking a player from beyond U.S. boundaries this season are North Carolina and NC State, from the Triangle’s Chapel Hill and Raleigh, respectively.
Otherwise, only Louisville among ACC members has a single foreign import – Akoy Agau, a 6-8 grad student who played previously at SMU.
Pittsburgh, building to escape the conference basement, and Virginia, continuing to cement its spot at the top, each boast five players from other countries. That leads the ACC, highlighting a little-noted trend: a surge of immigrants flooding the ACC.
No one has seen fit to complain about it, either.
...
Uber releases top 10 drop-off spots in Syracuse (cnycentral.com)
Ride-sharing taxi service,Uber, has released the most popular drop-off destinations in the Syracuse area since January 1, 2018.
Four of Syracuse University's dorms made the list, but the most popular spot? Destiny USA.
Here is the full list:
- Destiny USA
- Flint Hall
- Brewster Hall
- Lawrinson Hall
- Clinton Street Pub
- Sadler Hall
- Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub
- Carrier Dome
- Walmart Supercenter
- Dinosaur BBQ
We asked New Yorkers (and one Australian) to pronounce tricky town names in North Carolina while in Brooklyn for the ACC Basketball tournament at Barclays Center.
Other
New Year's Eve: Where to ring in 2019 in Syracuse (PS; Weaver)
It's never too early to start thinking about 2019 -- and where to be to ring in the new year.
In the Syracuse area this year, the parties offer a host of options: A pirate-themed costume party, a 12-course chef's table, a masquerade ball.
And the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, once again, is celebrating the new year at noon on Dec. 31 -- a daytime party for kids and adults.
Here's a look at some of the parties in the area:
Barnes Hiscock Mansion
930 James St., Syracuse
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$75
The celebration includes an open bar, dancing and DJ, hor d'oeuvres. The party is pirate-themed; costumes are suggested. The evening will also include a silent auction.
The Chef & The Cook
7 Syracuse St., Syracuse
$75 per person for 5:30 p.m. dinner. Includes eight courses.
$200 per person for 7:30 p.m. dinner. Includes 12 courses, cocktail greet, cheese display, raw bar, dessert stations and champagne toast at night.
...
