sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
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Welcome to National Pie Day!
National Pie Day is a "day to maintain America's pie heritage, pass on the tradition of pie making and promote America's love affair with pie." It is a day to bake and eat pies, try new recipes, and give pies to others. Charlie Papazian, who later went on to found the Great American Beer Festival, started the day in 1975 in his classroom, while teaching in Boulder, Colorado. He chose his birthday, January 23, as the day of celebration. In 1986, the American Pie Council began sponsoring the day, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Crisco. National Pie Day is also celebrated on December 1, but it is unknown why this date was also chosen or who chose it.
Pies are made up of pastry crusts filled with sweet or savory ingredients like fruits, custards, vegetables, meats and fish. The most common fruit pies in America are apple, blueberry, cherry, and peach, while banana cream is a favorite custard pie. Pumpkin pie is popular during autumn and winter, Key lime pie is a specialty of Florida, and Mississippi mud pie is beloved in the South. Pot pies often consist of chicken or beef with vegetables.
SU News
Opponent Preview: Everything to know about FSU (DO; Schiff)
A Quadir Copeland buzzer-beating 3 sent the JMA Wireless Dome into a frenzy Saturday as Syracuse recorded a 72-69 victory over Miami. Toeing the left wing arc off of a pass from Judah Mintz, Copeland’s make gave SU two consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference wins for the first time this season.
Offensively, the Orange notched 12 3’s and a 39.7% mark from the field. They totaled five double-digit scorers, led by J.J. Starling’s 22 points, and forced Miami into 12 turnovers. Mintz registered a career-high 13 assists and Maliq Brown tallied a double-double.
Syracuse remains home on Tuesday to take on Florida State. The Seminoles are coming off of a 78-67 loss to Clemson but have exceeded expectations this year with notable wins over Wake Forest, Miami and then-No. 18 Colorado.
Despite losing star players Matthew Cleveland (Miami) and Caleb Mills (Memphis) in the offseason, FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton has assembled a revamped squad headlined by transfers Jamir Watkins (VCU) and Primo Spears (Georgetown).
Here’s everything to know about the Seminoles (11-7, 5-2 ACC) before tip-off versus Syracuse (13-5, 4-3 ACC):
All-time series
Syracuse leads 10-6.Last time they played
Syracuse beat Florida State 76-67 at the Donald L. Tucker Center last season. Despite trailing at the break, the Orange outscored FSU 47-32 in the second half to win.Now-Clemson guard Joseph Girard III finished with a game-high 26 points while Mintz and Chris Bell added 16 and 10, respectively. Current West Virginia center Jesse Edwards had 18 points and 12 rebounds — one of 14 double-doubles he totaled in 2022-23.
For the Seminoles, now-Syracuse center Naheem McLeod notched a career-best 16 points but couldn’t help fend off a 16-2 Orange scoring run down the stretch which cemented SU’s away victory.
KenPom odds
Syracuse has a 65% chance of winning, with a projected score of 76-72.The Seminoles report
A tenacious, high-octane team on both ends of the floor, Florida State is a well-balanced side. Though the Seminoles are susceptible to playing somewhat out of control offensively, they hold enough talent to execute isolation action. Defensively, FSU switches on ball screens and preaches strong passing lane denials.Equipped with tremendous length, 6-foot-5 Darin Green Jr. is the shortest in Florida State’s starting five. Sophomore forwards Baba Miller and Cam Corhen are all-around, hard-nosed players and junior point guard Jalen Warley serves as a reliable floor general.
FSU’s sixth man — and someone who should give Syracuse’s back court considerable trouble — is junior guard Spears. Now a part of his third program in as many years, Spears ranks third in average team scoring with 11.4 points per game. Despite shooting just 33.9% from the field, he was pivotal in the Seminoles’ 84-75 victory over Miami on Jan. 17.
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Syracuse basketball vs. Florida State: 5 Key Things to Know (PS; $; Waters)
The Syracuse Orange will put its perfect home record on the line Tuesday night as the Florida State Seminoles visit the JMA Wireless Dome.
Syracuse (13-5, 4-3 ACC) ran its home record to 9-0 on the season with its thrilling 72-69 win over Miami on Saturday. The Orange won that game on Quadir Copeland’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Florida State (11-7, 5-2) is coming off a 78-67 loss to Clemson on Saturday. That game snapped the Seminoles’ five-game win streak, which included an 84-75 win at Miami.
Florida State got off to a rough start to the season, dropping four of its first eight games, but the Seminoles look to be healthy and playing the full-court style that long-time coach Leonard Hamilton prefers. Hamilton’s uptempo offense and pressure defense requires depth. He used 12 players in the loss to Clemson as 10 players logged at least 10 minutes.
Florida State’s roster includes just three players who have played Syracuse at the JMA Dome, and only one has done so in a Florida State uniform. Jalen Warley, a junior, saw just a few minutes in a game as a freshman. Primo Spears, a transfer, played at the dome for Georgetown two years ago. Jaylan Gainey, a transfer from Brown, also played at the dome in the 2021-22 season.
The Syracuse-Florida State game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
Here are 5 Key Things to Know about the matchup:
Starling takes flight
Syracuse guard JJ Starling made six 3-pointers in the Orange's win over Miami on Saturday. (Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)dnett@syracuse.comThrough the first 16 games of the season, Syracuse guard JJ Starling had struggled to find consistency on offense. He was averaging 10.8 points, but he was making just 42% of his field-goal attempts. His 3-point shooting was down at 24.4%.
Prior to SU’s game at Pitt last Tuesday, Starling had been held to single-digits in five-straight games.
But Starling has found his game and played a significant role in the Orange’s recent wins over Pittsburgh and Miami.
Starling snapped out of his shooting slump with a 17-point performance in the 69-58 win at Pitt. He went 7-for-11 from the field and connected on two of his five 3-point attempts. Then on Saturday, Starling scored a season-high 22 points in the Orange’s win over Miami. He made eight of his 13 field-goal attempts, including a 6-for-10 day from the 3-point arc.
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Beat writers predict Syracuse will narrowly defeat Florida State (DO; Staff)
Syracuse defeated Miami 72-69 in buzzer-beating fashion at the JMA Wireless Dome Saturday. Quadir Copeland sunk a left-wing 3 with time expiring to cement a second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference win for the Orange.
Led by J.J. Starling’s game-high 22 points and six 3-point makes, SU totaled five double-digit scorers. Judah Mintz tallied a career-high 13 assists while Maliq Brown recorded his second double-double of the season. Chris Bell added 12 points and Copeland finished with 11.
Tuesday, the Orange host Florida State in the middle of a three-game home stand. The Seminoles picked up an 84-75 home win over Miami on Jan. 17 but have since lost to Clemson 78-67. Led by VCU transfer Jamie Watkins, FSU has three double-digit scorers.
Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (13-5, 4-3 ACC) will fare when it hosts Florida State (11-7, 5-2 ACC):
Cole Bambini (16-2)
Besting the Seminoles
Syracuse 72, Florida State 70
This is the type of game SU has to win if the NCAA Tournament in its future. Florida State sits in the top five of the ACC and brings a middle-of-the-pack scoring offense. The Orange have strung off a couple of wins over Pittsburgh and Miami behind strong 3-point shooting, which’ll need to continue Tuesday.
The Seminoles allow opponents to shoot 33.8% from beyond the arc. The mid-range jumper and 3-point shot will have to be falling for Syracuse as Florida State has forwards Baba Miller, Cam Corhen and De’Ante Green down low. Against BC’s Quinten Post, Brown proved that he can handle the front court defensively and, collectively, the Orange need to limit inside scoring.
Syracuse can win this game, and it might be another down-to-the-wire finish. It’ll need Bell and Starling, who combined for 10 3s versus Miami, to continue strong shooting performances in a venue where SU boasts a perfect 9-0 record.
Henry O’Brien (16-2)
Too cold for FSU
Syracuse 75, Florida State 68
It’s a typical January in Syracuse: cold and miserable. While the weather makes little difference for an indoor arena like the JMA Wireless Dome, the building has still yet to see a loss from either the men’s or women’s team this basketball season, highlighted by Copeland’s buzzer beater.
I think the Orange will maintain the home win streak with a victory over Florida State, which has one more ranked win than Syracuse. Even without Naheem McLeod, Brown and Copeland will be dominant down low to keep SU in the game against FSU’s Miller.
Shooting wise, Syracuse will keep up its improved performance from the field that it displayed in the win versus Miami last week. Starling will put together another adequate showing against a team that doesn’t defend well against 3-pointers.
Tyler Schiff (16-2)
The streak continues
Syracuse 70, Florida State 67
Prior to its defeat to Clemson, Florida State had accumulated a five-game ACC winning streak. But it also picked up impressive nonconference victories over Georgia, Florida and then-No. 18 ranked Colorado earlier this season, which means the Seminoles shouldn’t be underestimated.
SU’s biggest matchup problem lies in the front court. Now in its fifth game without 7-foot-4 center McLeod, Brown could have trouble opposite FSU’s trio of forwards: Miller, Corhen and Green.
Yet given Syracuse’s recent success and its home court advantage, I say SU squeaks by against an equally in-form Florida State team. Starling and Bell have developed reliable consistency in their jumpers and Mintz has shown increasing signs of becoming a traditional floor general. I think Syracuse’s multi-faceted offensive factors will be too much for Florida State to handle.
Data Dive: SU’s statistical inconsistencies leading into final half of the season (DO; Bambini)
After Quadir Copeland sank a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Miami 72-69, Syracuse (13-5, 4-3 ACC) picked up its fourth conference win of the season and currently sits in sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The win secured the Orange’s second-straight victory following the season sweep over Pittsburgh.
Through 18 games, the Orange have had some big wins over Oregon, Miami and LSU. They excel on their home floor, boasting a perfect 9-0 record in the Dome, but they’ve had disappointing outings at North Carolina, Duke and Virginia, all of which were 20-point plus defeats.
Aside from a game against Boston College on Jan. 30, three of Syracuse’s next four opponents sit in the top five in the conference. As the Orange approach the back half of conference play, here are the numbers that have defined Syracuse’s season:
Crashing the boards
Head coach Adrian Autry has constantly emphasized the importance of winning the rebounding battle. Syracuse has a rebounding margin of -1.8, ranking second-worst in the conference ahead of Virginia.With former starting center Naheem McLeod out for the season, the Orange have turned to Maliq Brown as the go-to option on the boards. Brown leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game.
In defeats, the Orange have lost the rebounding margin by 12.6 boards per game, including a 53-30 margin versus North Carolina in Syracuse’s worst ACC defeat ever. SU also was outrebounded by 20 against Gonzaga. Versus the Tar Heels, Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram both corralled double-digit boards, including seven of 19 offensive rebounds.
“That’s what they do,” Autry said of Bacot and Ingram. “We just didn’t do a good job of keeping bodies on them. We just didn’t do a good job at all, defensively.”
The Orange sit ninth in the conference with 10.1 offensive rebounds per game, but they have an offensive rebounding rate of 26.7% which ranks in the bottom third of D-I basketball, per KenPom. Syracuse opponents’ offensive rebounds account for 32.1% of their total rebounds, which is 282nd nationally, per KenPom.
Cindy Zhang | Digital Design Director
Ball hawks
On the defensive end, Syracuse is one of the best at forcing loose balls and blocking shots in the conference. Judah Mintz and Brown are tied for second in the ACC with 39 steals, helping the Orange lead the conference in steals per game (9.17).Versus Boston College on Jan. 10, Syracuse recorded a season-high 17 takeaways, the most since the team notched 18 in a double-overtime victory over Indiana in 2021. In six games that Syracuse has notched double-digit steals, the Orange have won five of them. In victories, SU averages 9.76 steals per game, but drops to 7.6 in defeats.
“I thought we had probably one of our better defensive games that we had in conference play this year,” Autry said postgame after BC.
Per KenPom, Syracuse opponents turn the ball over on 20.6% of possessions, a mark where Syracuse is 38th best in the nation.
The Orange are also one of the strongest blocking teams in the ACC, averaging 4.8 blocks per game, which is second-best in the ACC. Syracuse notched a season-high nine rejections in a win over Cornell in December.
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ACC basketball power rankings: How high does SU climb after 2-0 week? (PS; Waters)
Three ACC teams enjoyed 2-0 records this past week.
Of course one was North Carolina, which now leads the conference by two games. The other two were Syracuse and Virginia; two teams that bounced back from big losses the previous Saturday.
After losing to North Carolina 103-67 on Jan. 13, Syracuse went on the road to beat Pittsburgh and then stunned Miami with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer on Saturday.
Virginia absorbed a 66-47 loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 13, but the Cavaliers notched a pair of wins over Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech this past week.
Every other team in the ACC lost at least once last week. Even Duke lost at home (gasp).
All the turmoil is making it more and more difficult to gauge where certain teams should be in the ACC Power Rankings.
1. North Carolina
Record: 15-3 (7-0)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s results: Win 86-70 vs. Louisville; Win 76-66 at Boston College
This week’s schedule: Monday vs. Wake Forest; Saturday at Florida State
Why No. 1? The Tar Heels are two games clear of N.C. State, Florida State and Wake Forest; all of whom are 5-2 in the league standings. North Carolina continues to play excellent defense. The Tar Heels have won their last eight games by double-digits.
2. Duke
Record: 13-4 (4-2)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week’s results: Loss 80-76 to Pittsburgh
This week’s schedule: Tuesday at Louisville; Saturday vs. Clemson
Why No. 2? The Blue Devils lost their only game this week and even though it was at home to struggling Pittsburgh, the teams right behind Duke didn’t do enough this past week to move ahead of the Blue Devils. There is some concern with injuries to Jeremy Roach and Mark Mitchell.
3. Wake Forest
Record: 13-5 (5-2)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s results: Loss 83-76 at N.C. State; Win 90-65 at Louisville
This week’s schedule: Monday at North Carolina
Why No. 3? Wake Forest split a pair of games last week. It’s hard to punish a team for a road loss. The Demon Deacons will have a huge opportunity to tighten the conference race and move up in next week’s Power Rankings with their Monday trip to Chapel Hill.
4. Clemson
Record: 13-5 (3-4)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s results: Loss 93-90 2OT vs. Georgia Tech; Win 78-67 at Florida State
This week’s schedule: Saturday at Duke
Why No. 4? When you figure out Clemson, just let us know. The Tigers lose at home to Georgia Tech, but win on the road at red-hot Florida State. Clemson gets a week off before traveling to Duke to face the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
5. Syracuse
Record: 13-5 (4-3)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s results: Win 69-58 at Pittsburgh; Win 72-69 vs. Miami
This week’s schedule: Tuesday vs. Florida State; Saturday vs. N.C. State
Why No. 5? Syracuse’s 2-0 week lifts the Orange up three spots. Why did SU settle here? Well, Miami was No. 5 last week and went 0-2 this past week. Also, N.C. State and Virginia Tech both went 1-1. So fifth seemed to make sense.
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Judah Mintz, Syracuse on the rise with Florida State up next (cbssports.com; FLM)
Coming off one of its most exciting victories in recent memory, Syracuse hopes to ride the momentum into Tuesday's home date with Florida State.
The Orange (13-5, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) nipped Miami 72-69 over the weekend as Quadir Copeland drained a 3-pointer as time expired. The win was the eighth in the last 10 games for Syracuse.
In opening their three-game homestand, the Orange received 22 points from JJ Starling and 10 points, 13 assists and eight boards from Judah Mintz.
"Judah, again, just impacted the game," coach Adrian Autry said. "He just controlled the game. He made the right plays. He got our shooters shots."
The biggest one, of course, was Copeland's dagger as the buzzer sounded. It remains to be seen if the Orange can carry that excitement over into their matchup with the Seminoles (11-7, 5-2), who had a five-game winning streak snapped their last time out.
Florida State fell at home to Clemson 78-67 on Saturday as the Seminoles shot just 40.7 percent from the field and 4 of 18 from 3-point range. Florida State also got outrebounded 39-22 and finished with just three offensive rebounds.
"When you go from being the hunter to the hunted, that's a big change. It's not easy to win five in a row in the ACC. People respect that," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. "That's part of what separates good from great."
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Newhouse after Noon 1-22-24 (ESPN; radio; Newhouse after Noon)
Jacob Charnow & Shane Holcombe begin the show discussing how Syracuse men's basketball can keep up its winning streak against FSU and NC State and highlighting the red-hot Syracuse women's basketball team. Then, Josh Crawford & Griffin Della Penna give some predictions on how Syracuse men's basketball will finish the regular season, plus they share some postgame sound from the locker room.
Keeping Up With The 315 1-22-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Brian begins the show with his thoughts on that epic finish to the Syracuse men's basketball win on Saturday and why it reminded him of the good 'ole days of SU hoops a little bit. Then, he chats NETs, Quads, ACC perception and other nonsense with two callers before digging into the Orange's NET ranking some more.
Jack Williams "The 315" 1-22-24 (ESPN; radio; The 315)
Jack Williams of the Tallahassee Democrat joins to preview the Syracuse/Florida State game tomorrow night.
(youtube; podcast; BasketballHeadszz)
S6 Ep 275 Gene Waldron Ling Island City HS Legend/ Syracuse University Great
Syracuse Basketball: Amid stretch ACC run, Orange is seeing it all come together (itlh; Adler)
It remains to be seen whether Syracuse basketball is going to hear its name called on Selection Sunday in March following a two-year absence from the NCAA Tournament.
And I will readily acknowledge that, at least for the time being, the Orange is not a top-25 team. In fact, when the ‘Cuse has faced top-flight competition on the road or at neutral sites, the Orange has gotten soundly defeated.
But to me anyway, I feel like Syracuse basketball is turning a corner and playing some solid ball these days. Yes, two Saturdays ago, at then-No. 7 North Carolina, the ‘Cuse suffered its largest-ever defeat since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference from the Big East Conference back in the 2013-14 campaign.
For some context, though, the Tar Heels are playing as well as any team nationwide of late. UNC is the favorite to win the ACC regular-season crown and potentially secure a No. 1 seed in this spring’s Big Dance.
What’s more, North Carolina has never lost to Syracuse basketball in Chapel Hill, N.C., and the Tar Heels historically are a bad match-up for the Orange, given UNC’s prowess on the glass.
Yet Syracuse basketball, since that awful setback, has looked pretty darn good.
Since the debacle at North Carolina, the ‘Cuse has played some of its best basketball of the 2023-24 season. The Orange went to long-time rival Pittsburgh, and, suiting up in a hostile environment, Syracuse basketball notched a key road win over the Panthers by double-digits, a result that could amount to a quadrant-one triumph for the ‘Cuse depending on where Pitt’s NCAA NET ranking ends up.
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Starling leads Syracuse against Florida State after 22-point game (usatoday.com; AP)
Florida State Seminoles (11-7, 5-2 ACC) at Syracuse Orange (13-5, 4-3 ACC)
Syracuse, New York; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST
FANDUEL LINE: Orange -3; over/under is 150
BOTTOM LINE: Syracuse hosts the Florida State Seminoles after JJ Starling scored 22 points in Syracuse's 72-69 victory over the Miami Hurricanes.
The Orange have gone 9-0 in home games. Syracuse has a 1-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Seminoles are 5-2 against conference opponents. Florida State has a 4-4 record in games decided by 10 points or more.
Syracuse scores 75.7 points per game, 2.2 more points than the 73.5 Florida State gives up. Florida State averages 76.6 points per game, 4.9 more than the 71.7 Syracuse gives up.
The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.
TOP PERFORMERS: Chris Bell is shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc with 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Orange, while averaging 11.1 points. Judah Mintz is averaging 17.4 points, 4.8 assists and 2.4 steals over the last 10 games for Syracuse.
Darin Green Jr. averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Seminoles, scoring 12.3 points while shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc. Jamir Watkins is shooting 39.4% and averaging 12.8 points over the last 10 games for Florida State.
LAST 10 GAMES: Orange: 8-2, averaging 75.1 points, 36.3 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 9.5 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.0 points per game.
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Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Syracuse men’s basketball: Quadir Copeland joins list of Dome buzzer-beaters (TNIAAM; Wall)
Syracuse Orange fans have seen their share of thrilling finishes in the Carrier/JMA Wireless Dome. On Saturday, Quadir Copeland added his name to the list with his game-winning three to push the Orange over the Miami Hurricanes.
User Murchada suggested we put together a list of buzzer-beaters and as we say around here, “You’ve got to give the people what they want.”
You can’t talk buzzer beater shots without talking about Pearl Washington against Boston College in 1984. (My first Syracuse basketball memory was watching this game)
Pearl Washington's Half-Court Buzzer-Beater (1984) | Great Moments in Syracuse University Sports
Pearl Washington became a bona fide SU basketball legend during the Orange's matchup against Boston College. The game was tied at 73-73, BC had just missed a...
youtu.be
Terrence Roberts vs Rutgers (2006)
I couldn’t find the video for this but I was actually at the game. Syracuse held a “Dress like Boeheim” contest. Gerry McNamara got hurt and in overtime trailing by a point, the ball went to Roberts at the top of the key and he did not hesitate. His three gave the Orange the win and well, it wasn’t the most exciting game-winner of that season.
Michael Gbinije vs Virginia Tech (2015)
I’m using a bit of editorial discretion here. While technically not a buzzer-beater, if you make a shot and the clock reads “0.X” it’s beating the buzzer.
John Gillon vs Duke (2017)
A shot that defines this “rivalry” for a generation of Orange fans. The Dome on a Saturday night was the perfect backdrop for this one.
John Gillon Buzzer-Beater | Syracuse vs. Duke
John Gillon's 3-point buzzer-beater to give Syracuse a 78-75 win over No. 10 Duke at the Carrier Dome.
youtu.be
Twitter (X)
Syracuse Basketball: Per On3, ‘Cuse among leaders for 4-star PG, top-100 Nigel James (itlh; Adler)
Four-star junior point guard Nigel James, a fast-rising prospect and priority recruit for Syracuse basketball in the 2025 class, could make his college decision known in the coming months, he said in a recent interview.
The 6-foot James, a top-100 overall player in his cycle, received a scholarship offer from the Orange in late August of last year, around the time that he competed in the team’s annual Elite Camp.
The following month, in mid-September of 2023, James went on an official visit to the ‘Cuse. There was talk of him and his high school teammate, 2025 four-star shooting guard Kiyan Anthony, making a trip to Central New York to take in the Orange’s home game against Miami this past Saturday afternoon.
However, as I first reported a few days ago, a scheduling conflict prevented James and Anthony from being in attendance for the Syracuse basketball Atlantic Coast Conference encounter versus the Hurricanes.
I’ve been told that James and Anthony, backcourt colleagues at the Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, N.Y., are hoping to check out another Orange game in the future.
Syracuse basketball is recruiting 2025 four-star point guard Nigel James hard.
Last December and earlier in January, the ‘Cuse coaching staff was in attendance for Long Island Lutheran affairs at two showcase events, first the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and then more recently, at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.
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Syracuse’s Most Likely Path to March Madness (orangefizz.net; Aitken)
Syracuse basketball is taking care of business so far. The Orange have won every game they should have, but haven’t picked up a marquee win yet. As a result, SU isn’t even on the bubble yet. But let’s get ahead of ourselves and map out the team’s most likely path to March Madness anyways.
First, let’s get on the same page. The easiest path that Syracuse can emulate is Pittsburgh’s last year. The Panthers went 21-10, won one ACC Tournament game, and were named an 11 seed as one of the last four teams into the NCAA Tournament. With a similar conference landscape this season, this is pretty much the worst SU can do and still expect a March Madness bit, so let’s explore that route.
Win Four of the Next Five Games
Over the next two and a half weeks, Syracuse plays:
vs. Florida State
vs. NC State
at Boston College
at Wake Forest
vs. Louisville
In all honesty, SU should win all five of these games, but winning seven in a row in the ACC is an unfair expectation. Still, the standard should be at least four wins. The most likely loss is Wake Forest, although NC State is also a relatively tough game.
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Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images
Syracuse men’s basketball: the best-case backcourt has arrived (TNIAAM; Ostrowski)
Syracuse Orange men’s basketball is rolling right into the heart of ACC play, largely thanks to the 1-2 punch of Judah Mintz and J.J. Starling in the backcourt. Both sophomores are playing more complete games overall while SU is in the middle of a crucial stretch of the season.
Let’s start with Mintz, who recently has been showing the kind of skills that should be helping his NBA Draft stock get back to where it was at the beginning of the season. We know that the heart of his offensive game is driving and forcing the opponents to initiate contact.
Judah’s success at both drawing fouls and making shots at the line (79.3% this season) is a huge reason why he’s scoring nearly 18 points per game, easily the team best. But what may be going unnoticed is his improvements in other aspects of the game.
Mintz doesn’t always have luck getting free throw chances, and it used to be the case that he’d try too hard playing iso ball, turning into hero ball and going cold from forced mid range shots. But since turning the page to conference play, the former 4-star recruit is turning to his teammates to help with scoring.
#3 had a career-high 13 assists in Saturday’s victory over Miami, also adding eight rebounds to the mix. This is immediately following a five-assist, nine-rebound performance at Pitt. Instead, the main shooter in both Orange wins was J.J. Starling.
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Blizzard Forecasted to Hit the JMA Wireless Dome on Jan. 27 (syr.edu; Staff)
Brace yourself, “The Blizzard” is coming this Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. as the student section fills the JMA Wireless Dome dressed in white as the Orange men’s basketball team takes on N.C. State.
This special effort from Otto’s Army, Syracuse University’s student section, is a partnership with the Forever Orange Student Alumni Council (FOSAC) to highlight the importance of giving back.
Gregory Slodysko ’24, president of Otto’s Army, emphasizes what the organization means to the University’s student-athletes.
“If you’ve ever seen some of the post-game interviews for football or basketball, often either our coaches or the opposing team’s coaches mention how much Otto’s Army affects each and every game. […] No team wants to play ’Cuse at home, and a large part of that belief is thanks to Otto’s Army.”
On Saturday, students will be wearing Blizzard T-shirts with QR codes on the back that lead to a link to make a gift that will go directly to Otto’s Army.
“All money raised will go directly to Otto’s Army so we can continue to improve the student section for years to come. For this reason, giving back is important because it allows Otto’s Army to remain one of the best college student sections in the nation,” Gregory says. “In the past, we have used the money raised to help fund our bus trips so that we can turn critical away games into home games and support our Orange on the road. Giving back for the Blizzard game this year will continue to help us grow and improve the gameday experience for all Syracuse students.”
For the Class of 2024, the gifts are especially meaningful. A gift of at least $24 in honor of their class year means the student will receive special cords at Commencement to show that they gave back.
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FSU basketball travels to Syracuse for their next matchup (chopchat; Maines)
This is possibly the worst researched preview in the history of the Internet. Congrats Cole.
Falling to Clemson and losing a five-game winning streak presents new challenges for this iteration of FSU basketball.
Largely limited by the Tigers' change of defensive scheme, the Seminoles look to get back to winning ways when they travel to New York for tomorrow's match-up with the Syracuse Orange.
The Orange are currently on a two-game winning streak in the series and have won the last three of four against Florida State. They have also defended their home court well against the Seminoles as FSU has only won two games in the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse enters the game sitting sixth in the ACC and is one game behind the Seminoles. Led by starting guard, Judah Mintz (3) with nearly 18, the Orange have three players averaging double-digit points per game.
As a team, the Orange totals 75.7 points in each contest and allows 71.7 on average. They also shoot 44% from the field, 33.2% from three-point, and 73.8% from free-throw. They are fresh off an emotional win over Miami that came down to a buzzer-beating three, making it two wins in a row for Syracuse and three wins in the last five games.
The Seminoles hover around similar numbers in comparison, averaging 76.6 points per game and allowing 73.5. On a per-game basis, FSU shoots 43.9% from the field, 32.6% from behind the three-point arc, and 69.2% on free throws.
ESPN favors Syracuse with a 66.6 percent chance to win. The game will likely come down to if FSU can create easy baskets against the Syracuse frequently used zone defense. How easily each offense can get established in the paint will be pivotal as both teams bring a lot of height and length to the contest.
MBB: ACCBasketballRx 2024 Jan 22 (RX; HM)
MBB: ACCBasketballRx 2024 Jan 22
There was one ACC Men's Basketball game Monday night:
Wake Forest 64
N. Carolina 85
The Heels shot better from two, better from three, had more rebounds and more blocks.__________
In the latest AP Men's Basketball Top 25, there are only two ACC teams ranked:
#3 North Carolina
#12 Duke
Those two will meet on Friday, February 3rd at 6:30 PM ET on ESPN.Meanwhile, there are seven Big XII teams in the Top 25.
__________
Friday’s SIQ: Which team snapped the UCLA men’s basketball team’s record 88-game winning streak on Jan. 19, 1974?
Answer: Notre Dame, the same team that had handed the Bruins its most recent loss almost exactly three years earlier.
The game was a dramatic one, with Notre Dame surging back from an 11-point deficit in the final 3:32 to win 71–70 in South Bend. Bill Walton, returning to the court after missing the previous three games with a back injury, was nearly unstoppable. He played all 40 minutes and was 12-for-14 from the floor. But one of those misses came on a 12-footer in the final seconds.
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Other
New York State Fair reveals first concert of 2024 lineup (PS; Herbert)
The first concert of the New York State Fair’s 2024 lineup has been revealed.
Kidz Bop announced its 2024 tour dates Friday, including a Saturday, Aug. 24, performance at the New York State Fair’s Chevy Court stage. The concert, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be free with admission to the NYS Fair.
According to a press release, the Kidz Bop Live 2024 Tour will feature Aleah, JJ, Shila and Tyler performing covers of popular songs on stage, including “Dance the Night” (Dua Lipa), “Greedy” (Tate McRae) and “Vampre” (Olivia Rodrigo). The global brand, known for covers of pop hits “sung by kids for kids” with family-friendly lyrics, released a new album, “Kidz Bop 2024,” on Friday.
The tour is sponsored by the new Netflix animated series, “Unicorn Academy,” which will show content on screens before each concert and offer co-branded photo opps and activations on site.
Other upcoming Kidz Bop performances in Upstate New York include stops on July 7 at Darien Lake Amphitheater, July 14 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, and July 26 at the Broadview Stage at SPAC in Saratoga Springs; tickets for each show will go on sale Friday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m. through Live Nation.
The NYS Fair concert is the only show on Kidz Bop’s tour that is free (with admission to the Fair). No concert tickets are required.
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Actor Chevy Chase films scenes for new Christmas movie in Central NY (photos) (PS; Herbert)
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” star Chevy Chase arrived in Central New York over the weekend to film scenes for a new holiday film.
Chase was on set Sunday at the Fort Schuyler Club in Utica for his role in the upcoming movie, “The Christmas Letter.” Producers shared photos of the actor appearing in a scene with his daughter, Caley Chase, opposite Angus Benfield.
According to WKTV, Caley is playing the maître d’ of a restaurant and Chevy’s character, wearing a bow tie and glasses, is the general manager. Caley, 39, has more than a dozen acting credits, including 2016′s “Christmas in Vermont,” also with her dad.
Benfield is starring in the film as an “everyday man who gets a Christmas letter every year from his (wealthier) friend” and decides to take his family on “wild, crazy adventures” for a whole year in an attempt to top his friend’s Christmas letter, according to director Tori Hunter.
The project will be a reunion for Chevy Chase with “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” cast members Randy Quaid and Brian Doyle-Murray, according to Benfield and Hunter. In the 1989 comedy classic, Doyle-Murray played the boss of Chase’s Clark Griswold, kidnapped by Cousin Eddie (Quaid) after Clark complains about his Christmas bonus.
Angus Benfield, who is producing and starring in “The Christmas Letter,” said last week he was excited to have “Chevy and Randy reunited again on screen” with “a little bit of an homage to ‘Christmas Vacation.’” The 1989 film, written by John Hughes, is a holiday classic about a married father whose plans for a big family celebration turn into disaster with memorable scenes involving Christmas lights, sledding and a squirrel.
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