sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Fruitcake Day!
Fruitcakes have long been tied to the holiday season, whether as a treat, or as target of jokes and ridicule. The earliest recipes for them date to Roman times, where pomegranates, pine nuts, and raisins mixed with barley hash were used. Fruitcakes became popular in Europe, where the fruits and nuts used in them were a delicacy. Thus, they came to be served primarily on special occasions such as weddings and during Christmas. Honey and spices were also common ingredients in fruitcakes in Europe in the Middle Ages. Their popularity in Europe rose with the importation of cheap sugar from the colonies in the sixteenth century, which allowed fruit to be better preserved. Native fruits such as plums and cherries were better preserved, but this allowed more fruits to be imported from around the world as well. Recipes proliferated all over Europe; recipes varied by country and changed over time. By the early nineteenth century, a typical recipe would be made up of citrus peel, pineapple, dates, pears, and cherries.
SU News
Syracuse basketball coach Adrian Autry on Orange’s productive bench: ‘That’s what makes this team’ (PS; Waters)
Adrian Autry approached his first year as Syracuse’s head basketball coach intending to play more man-to-man defense. He also wanted the Orange to play at a faster pace than it had in recent years.
In order to accomplish both of those goals, Autry knew he needed to get consistent play from his bench.
Through the first 12 games of the season, Syracuse’s reserve unit has proved up to the challenge.
Syracuse (9-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) has gotten contributions from its bench at levels rarely seen by Orange fans in the last 10 years.
The Orange’s backups have combined to score 26 or more points in six of Syracuse’s first 12 games. The reserves have scored 40 or more three times, including SU’s most recent win over Niagara last Thursday.
In the previous six seasons, Syracuse had 26 or more points from its bench just seven times, and never more than twice in the same season.
“That’s what makes this team,’’ Autry said of SU’s depth following the 83-71 win over Niagara. “If it’s going to be really, really (good), it’s going to be because we play nine or 10 guys.’’
Syracuse’s bench consists of a core four of Maliq Brown, Quadir Copeland, Kyle Cuffe Jr. and Benny Williams. Brown, Copeland and Cuffe have appeared in every game this season. Williams missed a few games early in the season due to suspension, but the 6-9 forward has averaged 13.2 minutes in his eight appearances and seems to be adapting to his reserve role.
Against Niagara, Brown notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Copeland scored 12 points to go with eight assists. Cuffe added seven points and three assists, and Williams contributed six points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
“Our bench was great again today,’’ Autry said. “Kyle, Benny, Quadir, Maliq. Those guys came in and gave us great energy again. That’s two or three games in a row.’’
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ACC Power Rankings: Where does Syracuse men’s basketball belong after 4 straight wins? (PS; $; Carlson)
With teams finishing finals and ready for their holiday break, there were very few ACC teams that opted for challenging opponents last week. That means there were few opportunities for the rankings to shift dramatically.
The Orange is lumped in with a number of unproven teams in the conference, all of which feasted on holiday cupcakes last week.
Syracuse had the most trouble of the bunch, struggling to put away Niagara and generating frustration from head coach Adrian Autry.
1. Clemson
Record: 10-1 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s result: Win 109-79 vs. Queens College
This week’s schedule: Friday vs. Radford
Why No. 1? What has gotten into Clemson and head coach Brad Brownell, Clemson’s defense-first head coach? The Tigers blitzed Queens College for 109 points, the most the team has scored in regulation since 1993.
PJ Hall scored 27, while old friend Joe Girard III added 19.
Clemson’s adjusted offensive efficiency ranks No. 23 in the country, its highest rank according to Ken Pomeroy since 2009.
2. North Carolina
Record: 8-3 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week’s result: Win 81-69 vs. Oklahoma in Charlotte
This week’s schedule: Friday vs. Charleston Southern
Why No. 2? A double-digit win over a competitive Oklahoma team is a nice result for the Tar Heels, who continue to get elite scoring from shooting guard R.J. Davis. He scored 23 points, his seventh straight game with 20-plus. He has averaged 26.1 points per game over that stretch.
3. Duke
Record: 8-3 (0-1)Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s result: Win 78-70 vs. Baylor in New York City
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Queens
Why No. 3? The win over Baylor allows me to boost the Blue Devils. Despite playing the past three games without its starting point guard, the Blue Devils are fourth in the country in turnover percentage.
Tyrese Proctor will eventually return and the Blue Devils will benefit from the time they’ve given freshman shooting guard Jared McCain (the No. 14 recruit in the country last year), who has averaged 18.3 points in his absence.
Proctor’s absence also helps explain away Duke’s most puzzling result. He played just one minute in its loss to Georgia Tech.
4. Miami
Record: 9-2 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s result: Win 97-59 vs. Stonehill
This week’s schedule: Friday vs. North Florida
Why No. 4? Nijel Pack missed the win over Stonehill with a lower-body injury but there are no reports that it’s anything too serious. It just gave the Hurricanes a chance to build up some depth, something the Hurricanes need badly.
Kyshawn George, a freshman stretch forward from Switzerland, played a season-high 27 minutes and knocked down four 3-pointers.
5. Virginia
Record: 9-2 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s result: Loss 77-54 at Memphis
This week’s schedule: Wednesday vs. Morgan State; Saturday at Notre Dame
Why No. 5? The ceiling for Virginia feels really low given the lack of offensive talent but the Cavaliers are still able to rely on a defense that ranks No. 3 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.
When teams can solve UVA’s defense, though, things have gotten ugly. Virginia’s two losses have come by more than 20 points. That’s a tough way to win on a nightly basis.
6. Virginia Tech
Record: 9-3 (1-0)Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s result: Win 77-55 vs. American
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Wake Forest
Why No. 6? I had concerns that the Hokies wouldn’t have any inside scoring to balance out their gifted guards but Lynn Kidd has provided a solid answer, showing great growth in his third year with the Hokies.
The 6-foot-10 center scored 31 points and 9 rebounds against American this week, missing just one of his 15 shots. The only player in the country with a better true shooting percentage than Kidd is Kentucky’s sharpshooting Reed Sheppard, the son of former star, Jeff Sheppard.
7. Syracuse
Record: 9-3 (0-1)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week’s result: Win 83-71 vs. Niagara
This week’s schedule: Saturday vs. Pittsburgh
Why No. 7? Adrian Autry wasn’t thrilled with how his team finished against Niagara. That gets the Orange a one-spot drop in a crowded middle class.
Syracuse’s only win over a Top-100 team so far has come against an Oregon team that was riddled with injuries.
The main reason Syracuse is ahead of Wake Forest is that the Orange beat LSU, while the Demon Deacons lost. The Orange also has a road win and has played a slightly tougher schedule.
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Maliq Brown is Ready to Take the Leap (orangefizz.net; Frank)
Over the past handful of games (five, to be exact), Maliq Brown has taken a step forward as a player. He has played at least 24 minutes in each of those games, all off the bench, and averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in them. Those are not out-of-this-world numbers, but they are a step up from his season averages of 7.9 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds a night in 22.1 minutes. But, specifically against Oregon and Niagara, Brown has shown that as a sophomore, he is ready to evolve and take a step forward with his game in a number of key areas.
He has always been terrific about playing his role, that is why Jim Boeheim said before last season that out of the six freshmen he recruited in the 2022 class, that Brown was the most ready to play out of them all. He played in 29 games a season ago and started seven of them, averaging 5.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game on a team that had a lot of offense but not a lot of defense. This season, he has not started any of the Orange’s first 12 games, but he’s 5th on the team in minutes per game and has taken a step forward in a number of key areas.
“He’s one of the most efficient players I’ve ever played with for sure,” Justin Taylor said postgame after SU’s 83-71 win over Niagara via syracuse.com. “He’s really smart. He doesn’t take any really unnecessary shots. It’s all smart, around the rim. He’s really good at reading what the defense gives him.”
Brown’s free throw percentage is up nearly 30%, he’s averaging about 0.5 more offensive rebounds, shooting over 75% from the floor after he shot just under 70% last year, averaging 2.2 steals a game as a forward/big, and has started to move his range back to the three-point line. He’s only taken a couple of threes, but the one against Niagara was an indicator of what could be on the horizon.
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MBB: AP Poll 2023 Dec 25 (RX; HM)
MBB: AP Poll 2023 Dec 25
The lastest AP poll dropped on Christmas Day...
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Other
Steve Samuels, the chef behind KrunchBird inside Chadwick's Sports Bar & Grill. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)
After a year of popular spicy chicken at an Eastwood sports bar, this chef is moving on (PS; Miller)
The chef who’s been cooking spicy fried chicken sandwiches and other creative comfort food inside an Eastwood sports bar for the past year will fry his last birds on Saturday as he prepares to move on.
Steve Samuels opened KrunchBird in the kitchen of Chadwick’s Sports Bar & Grill last November. After a busy year serving hot chicken, dressed-up burgers, oversized hand-breaded tenders, poutine and wings is moving on. Saturday will be his last night cooking inside Chadwick’s.
“Our time at Chadwick’s Bar has been transformational in so many ways. So much positive juju,” Samuels said.
Chadwick’s has proven to be a launching pad for successful food purveyors. Samuels took over after SuSu Kitchen, a wildly popular husband-and-wife team serving Chinese food from the galley-style kitchen, closed. They got so busy once word got out about their food, they were able to retire early and move South. Samuels was met with the same enthusiastic audience.
Samuels is moving to “be a part of a new venture locally.” He declined to disclose where he’ll cook from next. “I just don’t want to name the location until the ink’s dry,” he said today. “It’s going to be fabulous.”
This is one of many new ventures for Samuels. He spent 35 years in some of the area’s top kitchens including Scotch & Sirloin, Pascale’s and Lemon Grass. He later helped create Original Grain in downtown Syracuse and XO Taco.
Chadwick’s has a tenant in waiting. The Kitchen opens Tuesday, according to the Chadwick’s Facebook page.
“I understand the The Kitchen is superb, and in the ensuing weeks, I know I’ll be there,” Samuels said.
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Manlius rejects Taco Bell Cantina, but it wasn’t because beer was on the fast-food menu (PS; Doran)
A proposed Taco Bell Cantina in the village of Manlius is off the table because it came with a drive-thru window.
The Manlius Village Board voted 2 to 2 on a zone change that was needed for the proposal to move forward. The fifth board member who could have broken the tie was absent. That means the zone change was rejected, village officials said.
Hospitality Restaurant Group had needed a zone change that would allow the drive-thru with a special permit, which the developer said was a key component of the proposal.
Hank Chapman, one of the trustees who voted against the zone change, said the village has no stand-alone buildings in C1, which is a zone that allows establishments to apply for drive-thrus. The existing Burger King is grandfathered in.
“Changing that would be making an exception to past practice for this application and I’m not willing to do that,’' he told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.
HRG had wanted to convert the Manlius village fire station on Stickley Drive into a Taco Bell Cantina, which would have served beer, frozen alcoholic drinks and featured entertainment. The fire station has been closed since 2017, when a new, more modern station was constructed.
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