sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Bird Day!
National Bird Day was created by Born Free USA (which was the Animal Protection Institute until 2007) and The Avian Welfare Coalition, to reduce the suffering of wild and captive birds. The day is meant to raise awareness of the destructive bird trade and cruel breeding mills, and to work for the improvement of conditions for birds already in captivity.
Millions of birds are captured in the wild each year, or are produced in captivity by breeders, who along with pet stores, sell them for profit. Many birds die in captivity before even being sold. Exotic birds have inherent behavioral and physical needs, which are often not met. They are still wild animals even though they are often treated as if they are not, and the confinement of birds to cages can lead to self-destructive behaviors. Buyers must not buy on impulse, and must be ready to keep a purchased bird for a lifetime. If buyers are not prepared to properly care for birds, birds may end up ignored in their cages, or left back into the wild to fend for themselves. They also may end up in overwhelmed bird sanctuaries.
SU News
SU has 4 players with Maryland/Virginia ties. How will going home affect them in UVa matchup? (PS; $; Ditota)
Justin Taylor grew up seven miles from the University of Virginia’s basketball facility. It takes 20 minutes from his house to get there.
Last summer, when Taylor wasn’t scrimmaging at the Blue Ridge School with Maliq Brown, he was playing pickup basketball with UVa players Kihei Clark, Reece Beekman, Armaan Franklin and Chris Coleman.
When Taylor was choosing which college to attend, he picked Syracuse from a list that included hometown Virginia.
On Saturday, Taylor and three other Syracuse players who reside in Maryland or Virginia will have a homecoming of sorts. The Orange faces the University of Virginia in Charlottesville at 5 p.m.
Aside from Taylor, Brown grew up in Culpeper, Virginia and played at Blue Ridge School, a boarding school about 30 minutes north of Charlottesville.
Benny Williams is from Bowie, Maryland. He played at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland, then transferred to IMG Academy in Florida his senior year.
Judah Mintz is from Fort Washington, Maryland. He played high school basketball at Gonzaga High School in Maryland before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.
So how will those players react to returning home?
“Honestly, just treat it like another game,” Taylor said. “Obviously there’s going to be a lot of family, a lot of friends there, but that’s exciting going back to my hometown. At the end of the day, you gotta just treat it like any other game.”
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A look at the NCAA’s quadrant system ahead of Syracuse’s key stretch of games (PS; $; Waters)
Syracuse is not in the NCAA tournament conversation yet, but the Orange’s upcoming slate of games did spark one question about the NCAA relative to its use of the Quadrant system.
I get into that plus a whole lot more in this week’s Mailbox, including how transfers have impacted so many teams in the ACC, the Syracuse player with the most points in an NBA game and whether the NCAA’s vacated wins get turned into losses.
As always, if you have any college basketball-related questions, please email to mwaters@syracuse.com.
Q: With important January games upcoming, could you clarify the NCAA’s Quadrant guidelines? For example, if Syracuse were to win at Virginia on Saturday, I assume it would be a Quad 1 win. But if Virginia happens to plummet as season goes on, does it still count as a Quad 1 win?
Bill .
Mike: If you want to know why Syracuse isn’t in the conversation for an NCAA tournament bid despite having a 10-5 record, including a 3-1 mark in the ACC, all you have to do is look at the NET rankings and SU’s record in the NCAA’s four quadrant system.
Syracuse is currently at No. 143 in the NET, which is a tool that the NCAA Selection Committee uses as part of its selection and seeding process. One use for the NET is assigning teams to the four quadrants.
Whether a team goes into a certain quad is dependent on whether the game was played at home, away or on a neutral court.
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Updated ACC basketball stats: Mintz, league leader in steals, meets a veteran ball handler (PS; $)
Freshman Judah Mintz is one of the ACC’s top young point guards.
He’ll get a worthy test Saturday at Virginia going up against veteran point Kihei Clark, who has been making big plays for the Cavaliers since 2018-19, when he helped them win the NCAA title as a freshman.
Mintz leads the conference in steals. Clark leads the league in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Scroll through the charts below to see where Syracuse players rank in the ACC in several statistical categories.
Updated stats are through Jan. 3
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Realistic Expectations for the Final Record – Orange Fizz – Daily Syracuse Recruiting News & Team Coverage (orangefizz.net; Griffin)
Tut tut tut. After a mediocre (at best) performance at the KFC Yum! Center last night, Syracuse is 10-5 and 3-1 in conference play. Sure, the record is solid and the Orange have won seven of their last eight, but the eye test says the most about this team’s merit, or lack thereof.
The forwards don’t rebound. There isn’t a set rotation. Opposing teams fire at will from beyond the arc. We could go on and on listing problems with this team. Nonetheless, there are 16 games until the regular season finish line, let’s take a look at what the final record might look like.
JANUARY
The first opponent in January was (or at least should have been) a cupcake in Louisville. Yay for a good start? Well, welcome to the gauntlet Jim Boeheim. The Orange visit 11th-ranked Virginia this coming Saturday. Oh boy. Then SU returns home for a clash with Virginia Tech and a rematch with a Notre Dame squad that just lost to Boston College. Then it’s ACC-leading Miami followed by Georgia Tech on the road, before reigning national runner-up North Carolina visits the Dome. Finally, Syracuse visits Virginia Tech and hosts Virginia, which means four of the next eight matchups are against the schools from the Old Dominion.The Orange are not beating the Cavaliers, Tar Heels, or Hurricanes. That’s four losses right there. It’s realistic to expect a split with the Hokies. The Yellow Jackets are terrible, that should be a W. Finally, if SU can’t beat the Fighting Irish at home after beating them in South Bend, what are we doing. So by this, Syracuse should enter February 13-10 and 6-6 in ACC play.
FEBRUARY/MARCH
The good news is that February is nowhere near as tough. SU starts by visiting Boston College and Florida State, neither of which are any good. Then it’s back to the Dome for an NC State team currently on the bubble, and then Jon Scheyer-led Duke. After the Blue Devils come to town, the Orange visit a good Clemson team and have a rematch with Pittsburgh. Syracuse’s final two games of the regular season are at home. A second clash with Georgia Tech then Wake Forest in the finale (also G-Mac and Hakim Warrick’s jersey retirement ceremony)....
Keeping Up With The 315 1-4-23 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian Higgins is in The 315 to share an update on Damar Hamlin. Also on the show, he recaps SU-Louisville and breaks down the betting weekend for The Man Who Sort Of Knows and Mario Sacco.
On The Block On Demand 1-4-23 (ESPN; radio; Axe)
Brent Axe starts the show explaining how Syracuse gained nothing by beating Louisville. Then, he has a message for fans who are relentlessly negative towards Joe Girard.
Podcast: With Syracuse offensive lineman J'Onre Reed - The Juice Online (the juice; podcast; Cheng)
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Afterward, editor in chief Brad Bierman calls in to chat about SU’s narrow 70-69 win over Louisville on Tuesday. Brad gives a lot of credit to Joe Girard, who scored a game-high 28 points and has been on a tear since his brief three-game slump in December.
Fixing Syracuse’s hole at the three (waer.org; Mallea)
Syracuse basketball is a storied program with storied players to go along with its legacy. Guys like Elijah Hughes, Wesley Johnson, and Carmelo Anthony have manned the small forward position for SU, electrifying crowds and leading SU to wins all while preparing to play at the next level. However, the three spot has been lacking in production this season. Chris Bell, Justin Taylor, and even Quadir Copeland have all seen time at the position with varying degrees of success.
“The biggest disappointment is we block a shot, we make ‘em miss, and then the forward’s standing there and we don’t get the rebound, we’re not getting those loose balls,” head coach Jim Boeheim said, “You know we’re just not playing at the level we have to play at… What I’m worried about is we just aren’t that positioned for getting loose balls or rebounds. Somebody’s got to get the ball.”
Boeheim hasn’t been able to get consistent production from anyone at small forward, which has led to inconsistent lineups, as host of the Locked on Syracuse podcast Matt Bonaparte explains.
“You’d think they’ve got it all figured out. Rotations, who’s playing what, but no, we’re still sitting here looking at this like ‘well Chris will start, and then once he screws up I’ll take him out’. This won’t work. That’s what I’ll tell you all season. They have to figure it out at some point.”
One potential solution could be sticking with Chris Bell and letting the freshman work through any natural growing pains. But Bonaparte says Bell “doesn’t fit the mold of what Syracuse needs him to be” and doesn’t have a ton of faith in that option. To be fair to Bell though, the mold is ever-evolving along with the game itself. And the 'Cuse has made some changes to adapt to the faster, more shooter-dominant product we see today, but it’s possible it hasn't leaned far enough in that direction.
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Mistakes Remain, But Effort Improves in Louisville Men's Basketball's Loss to Syracuse - Sports Illustrated Louisville Cardinals News, Analysis and More (SI; McGavic)
For the Louisville men's basketball program, their first game of 2023 ended like so many other games in the previous calendar year did: a loss.
Facing Syracuse on Tuesday night, the Cardinals lets victory slip from their grasp, as the Orange were able to escape from the KFC Yum! Center on top and deliver a heartbreaking 70-69 loss to their hosts.
As we approach the midway point of the 2022-23 season, finding themselves on the wrong end of the win/loss column has been far from unfamiliar for Louisville. 15 games into a 31-game regular season, the Cardinals have won just twice, with many of their losses coming in decisive blowout fashion.
That being said, their loss to Syracuse didn't follow the same familiar script that we have seen all season long. Typically, Louisville has displayed a very clear lack of energy and effort, which has been a detriment on both ends of the floor. The offense usually features a fair amount of players just standing around, whereas the rotations and closeouts on defense are almost non-existent at times.
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Locked On Syracuse - Daily Podcast On Syracuse Orange Football & Basketball: Syracuse Basketball Pulls Off A Houdini Escape To Beat Louisville on Apple Podcasts (applelcom; podcast; Locked on Syracuse)
Owen Valentine breaks down Syracuse Basketball's narrow victory against a bad Louisville squad. There is a lot to talk about in terms of changed outlooks on this team, who the key to success is and the position group that still has so many questions. Plus, hear from your Twitter replies following the game. It's a Locked On Syracuse Wednesday.
Syracuse is Giving Fans Less and Less Reason to Believe – Orange Fizz – Daily Syracuse Recruiting News & Team Coverage (orangefizz.net; Frank)
Syracuse has won two games in a row. Whoop-dee-do! After wins over Boston College and Louisville, likely the two worst teams in the ACC, SU is showing that it can barely beat the bad teams, which is not a sustainable way of winning. Good teams blow out bad teams. Syracuse does not do that. This team is not good, and there does not seem to be any hope it can finish in the top half of the ACC.
Looking at the current standings, the Orange are 3-1 and in solo fourth place ahead of teams like number 16 Duke, number 11 Virginia, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina. But look at the wins. A gift at Notre Dame where the Fighting Irish missed every shot in the second half, and then BC and Louisville, two of the worst teams in the league.
Now, Syracuse’s schedule gets really tough, and there does not seem to be much hope that the Orange can beat a good team after barely taking down 2-13 Louisville by one point. January is a gauntlet, with two games against UVA and VT, a road game at league-leader and 12th-ranked Miami, and hosting UNC. Woof.
Last night’s box score tells the story of the season for Syracuse, and why its inconsistencies from night to night will doom it moving forward. Joe Girard III had 28 points on 18 shots and shot 11 free throws. It’s likely that’s the most efficient game he’ll play all season, and he shot under 40% from the field.
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Syracuse Basketball: UVA Preview and Predictions! (youtube; podcast; Cuse Militia)
Syracuse Basketball: UVA Preview and Predictions!
Photo contributed by Paul Harris.
Paul Harris, international basketball star via Niagara Falls, Syracuse, settles into coaching job in Hartford (WIVB; Bronstein)
As Paul Harris has matured through his basketball adventures around the world, so have his court fashions. The headbands, hair braids and high tops of his youth have been replaced by turtlenecks, sport coats, wingtips and tightly cropped waves.
A high-flying phenom from Niagara Falls and prized recruit for Syracuse University, after playing 12 professional seasons in the NBA developmental league and overseas, Harris has transitioned to the next phase of his basketball career with the vibrancy he brought to filling the lane on a fast break.
“I’m really enjoying it,” said Harris, in his second month as an assistant coach for University of Hartford. “I don’t consider this work. Being around the guys, it keeps me young. And being around the game I love, it’s a blessing to have this opportunity.”
Harris brings a world of experience to the sidelines. He played in Turkey, France and the Phillippines, where was starred for a championship team in the world’s second-oldest league.
“I always thought about how I could be an assistant coach, because how they relate more to the players,” said Harris, recalling his connection with former Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins, now the head coach at Washington. “I’m giving the guys my real life experience. I didn’t read it in a book. I actually went through it. And especially in this era now, with a lot of young guys, you have to have done something for them to respect you.”
A schoolboy star who was breaking backboards by the time he reached middle school, Harris led Niagara Falls High School to a New York State Federation championship in 2005 and was a Jordan Brand Classic all-star in a prep year before arriving at Syracuse as a blue-chip prospect.
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Other
Lotte Biologics has purchased Bristol Myers Squibb's pharmaceutical plant in East Syracuse. (Lotte Biologics)
Lotte completes purchase of Bristol Myers Squibb’s pharmaceutical plant in East Syracuse (PS; $; Moriarty)
South Korean conglomerate Lotte has completed its $160 million purchase of Bristol Myers Squibb’s pharmaceutical plant in East Syracuse.
As part of the transaction, the newly formed Lotte Biologics has offered all employees at the site employment within its business, Bristol said in a statement announcing completion of the transaction. Bristol employed more than 450 people at the site.
Lotte acquired the Thompson Road site’s operations and assets, which includes the property, plant and equipment. As part of the deal, Lotte will manufacture pharmaceutical products for Bristol at the facility.
The deal was announced in May.
Lotte said nearly all of the Bristol employees in East Syracuse have accepted positions with Lotte, including key personnel with more than 15 years of experience in biopharmaceutical development, approval and commercial production.
The South Korean company plans to transform the facility into a contract manufacturing site, making pharmaceuticals for multiple customers in addition to Bristol.
Lotte is South Korea’s fifth-largest company, with operations in over 30 countries. It holds leading positions in most of its markets, which include everything from food and beverages to retail, chemicals and hotels.
Its acquisition of Bristol’s plant in East Syracuse is the company’s first move into biologics, the making of pharmaceutical drugs from living organisms. One of its competitors, Samsung, has been in the biologics business since 2011.
Lotte Biologics CEO Richard Lee said in September the company will invest more than $70 million into the East Syracuse plant and hire 50 to 70 new workers over the next two years to make it capable of manufacturing drugs for multiple customers.
