sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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National Panda Day, also known as Giant Panda Bear Day and Panda Day, celebrates the giant panda. It sometimes is also used to celebrate the red panda, although this is usually not the case, as red pandas already have their own holiday. The number of giant pandas in the wild has slowly been increasing since the 1970s, when there were only about 1000. As of 2020, there were about 1900 giant pandas in the wild, and about 300 in zoos. Still, the giant panda is considered to be vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
Years ago, giant pandas could be found throughout southern and eastern China, Myanmar, and northern Vietnam. Humans are their greatest threat, and the expansion of population and development has led to habitat fragmentation and loss and has limited them to six mountain ranges in the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi. Most live in cool, wet bamboo forests in the Minshan and Qinling mountains, between 5,000 and 10,000 feet above sea level. Establishing new reserves and extending existing ones is essential for preserving and rebuilding the panda population. Close to two-thirds of the world's pandas are now protected in China's reserves.
SU News
http://dailyorange.com/2021/03/data-syracuse-ncaa-tournament/ (DO; Dabbundo)
At multiple points throughout the regular season, Syracuse appeared unlikely to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
But Syracuse finished the regular season with wins against North Carolina and Clemson at home, two tournament teams. Once the Orange throttled NC State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, the selection committee had seen enough to put the Orange in the field of 68 and match them up with San Diego State.
Here are the numbers to know before No. 11 seed Syracuse (16-9, 9-7 ACC) plays No. 6 seed San Diego State (23-4, 14-3 Mountain West) on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
What the last five games told us about Syracuse
Syracuse wouldn’t be in the field without the three consecutive Quadrant-II wins it pulled off against UNC, Clemson and NC State. The Orange weren’t even on the bubble in the BracketMatrix or ESPN’s Joe Lunardi bracketology prior to that run. However, improved performances in their last four games have been significant.The recent improvements for the Orange have not come from defense — Syracuse ranked 92nd in adjusted defensive efficiency in its last five games. Almost all of the improvements have been on offense, where Syracuse is 33.9% from 3 and is the eighth-most efficient offense in the country in that small sample size. For reference, No. 1 Gonzaga’s offense ranked seventh in the same time frame, just 0.2 points per 100 possessions better than the Orange.
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Who Benefits From West Coast Bias? (mwwire.com; McGovern)
Syracuse has by-and-large struggled against Quad 1 opponents all season.
On Friday, March 19th at 9:40 p.m. inside of Hinkie Fieldhouse, No.11 seed Syracuse face off against No. 6 San Diego State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Taking a closer look at the 2020-21 Syracuse Orange, here’s what the Aztecs might expect.
First, addressing the elephant in the room, many were surprised to find Syracuse squarely in the NCAA Tournament as an 11 seed. Even coach Jim Boeheim believed the Orange would have to play into the tourney this year as a First Four team, or possibly not make it at all. Why, exactly?
Syracuse finished 16-9 overall on the season, and is No. 40 in the NET. The glaring holes in its resume are a 1-7 quadrant one record as well as a 2-7 road record. That’s no typo. Syracuse finished 6-1 in their quadrant two and quadrant three games. The Orange registered a stinging quadrant three loss at home against Pittsburgh. Syracuse is 3-0 in quadrant four games.
Syracuse still finished with a Strength of Schedule of 43 and a non-conference SOS of 90. The Orange are 44 in KPI, 42 in SOR, 33 in BPI, 41 in Ken Pom and 34 in Sagarin.
As for Syracuse’s roster, the Orange had an unfortunate break when they lost starting center Bourama Sidibe one game into the season due to injury. Since then, the team has struggled to defend the middle and secure rebounds to finish defensive possessions.
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Riley Mulvey to Iowa, What's Next for Syracuse in 2022? (SI; McAllister)
Syracuse basketball lost a recruit on Monday when 2022 center Riley Mulvey committed to Iowa. The Hawkeyes had been the favorite for quite a while as Iowa's head coach was a friend of the Mulvey family. So where does Syracuse go from here at the center position in the 2022 class? Here are some potential options they could look into, or are already involved with, going forward.
DONOVAN CLINGAN
Clingan is one of the best bigs in the 2022 class. He is elite. He is a difference maker. Syracuse was his first offer and remain involved. However, the general consensus is that Michigan and UConn are in the best position.
MALIQ BROWN
Syracuse recently offered the 6-9, 210-pounder. Brown is likely a power forward at the next level, but does have the skill set to slide into the middle. Syracuse likes him a lot and will be a factor in this recruitment. He also holds offers from Georgetown, Penn State, TCU, VCU, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
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Syracuse Basketball: San Diego State an exceptionally tough match-up (itlh; Adler)
Syracuse basketball players and coaches are just happy to have made the upcoming March Madness after a difficult 2020-21 season amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
But the Orange’s round of 64 opponent, San Diego State, is a really rough initial foe for the ‘Cuse in the Big Dance, according to head coach Jim Boeheim and multiple college basketball analysts.
The No. 11 seed Orange and No. 6 seed Aztecs will go toe to toe in the Midwest Region, with this battle slated for a 9:40 pm tip-off on Friday, March 19, inside Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University.
Boeheim, in a Zoom call with media members on Sunday night after word came across that the ‘Cuse had made the field of 68, said that San Diego State is about as tough of a draw for the Orange as Syracuse basketball could have received.
He noted that the Aztecs are strong, physical and boast size. Boeheim said San Diego State players are athletic and shoot quite well from beyond the arc. He added that the Aztecs defend at a high level and are a good rebounding team.
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Syracuse basketball, in reaching March Madness, persevered admirably (itlh; Adler)
Later this week, Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim will guide the Orange on his 35th trip to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure on the Hill, and the ‘Cuse earning an invite to the 2021 Big Dance is a remarkable achievement, considering the circumstances.
First and foremost, like many other teams around the country, Syracuse basketball had to deal with several pauses amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, multiple games being canceled, and several of its players getting infected with Covid-19.
Additionally, senior Bourama Sidibe, the squad’s starting center, got injured in the season opener, which has hurt the ‘Cuse in the interior, both on offense and defense, throughout this stanza.
A couple of other guys on the Syracuse basketball roster have dealt with injuries of one kind or another of late, although Boeheim said he believes that the roster will be healthy when the No. 11 seed ‘Cuse faces off with No. 6 seed San Diego State this Friday evening in the round of 64.
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2020-21 Bowl + NCAAT Teams (RX; HM)
2020-21 Bowl + NCAAT Teams
How many teams reached the postseason in the two biggest college sports?...
Other
Vote on Tech Garden expansion delayed, again, after heated council dispute (PS; $; Baker)
Councilor Michael Greene again delayed a vote on a lease agreement for the Tech Garden Monday after raising multiple concerns about the future of an event space at the building and the city’s financial relationship with the facility’s operator, CenterState CEO.
It’s the latest in a heated policy and political debate over how the city should shape its relationship with the region’s largest economic development agency.
The Tech Garden is planning a $16 million expansion that would include more space for start-up businesses and a rooftop patio. The city owns the building where the Tech Garden is located and leases it to CenterState for $1 a year. CenterState is looking for an extension on the lease in order to complete the expansion.
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