Is it Crucial we make it to the Final Four and Win it this year?

[BRNCUSEFRVCUSE]

Because with all this talk about Dion most likely bolting to the NBA, and i agree, and with the Possibility of Fab leaving for the NBA (which i dont see that happening) and then Losing Scoop and Kris

That would leave us next year with a projected lineup of: C-Coleman,-Christmas,-C.J, G-Brandon, G-MCW

with Cooney, Southerland, Kieta, and Grant off the bench, I would be concerned bout the depth would be able to go deep into that bench and i would be concerned with the front court of Coleman and Christmas, with only Kieta to back up off the bench

 

[ORANGEsPHK]

I think its important for us to get to, at least, the FF this year but not for the reasons you stated exactly. SU has a reputation of fizzling out of the NCAAT and we have a great team this year to make it far. I think we do need to capitalize on this opportunity and I think we will, the team seems ready, Coaches are ready ... and so am I!

 

[HoustonCuse]

I think a Final Four is pretty crucial this year. 2010 blew up on us when AO went down. Making this year our best shot since probably 1989 or 1990. We absolutely have to capitalize. All the pieces are there. East Region #1 seed is ours lose, we have a 5th year Sr and a Jr starting backcourt, we have the best defense in the country. The best guard in America coming off our bench and we are in one of our last years with a HOF coach. It is as good as it will ever look right now. We must strike.

 

[SouthCampusHero]

Yep. Gotta get to the Final Four at least. At the end of the day (season), I will personally be disappointed with anything less than a NC or a close loss to UK in the NC game. Sure, there are some other great teams but we are right there with them. I dont think I will watch the Sweet 16 game this year...it scares me...it does every year.

 

[HoustonCuse]

If we lose in the Sweet 16 this year it will be an utter catastrophe. Problem is, history tells us it will take a minor miracle to get past that game.

 

[rstone7727]

Sit back and enjoy the ride. What's that saying? "It's not the destination but the journey"... Something like that.. We'll be good for at least two more years but probably not as good as we are this year. Guards like Dion only come around every 8-10 years or so.

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” (who said it? no fair using Google). ​

 

[CorduroyG]

I think its important for us to get to, at least, the FF this year but not for the reasons you stated exactly. SU has a reputation of fizzling out of the NCAAT and we have a great team this year to make it far. I think we do need to capitalize on this opportunity and I think we will, the team seems ready, Coaches are ready ... and so am I!

Bingo. Its not about next year. We're long overdue for a deep tourny run regardless of what kinda team we got next year. We've had great recruiting classes the last 5 years or so. This will be the 4th straight year getting a top 3 seed in the tourny, and most likely 2 of the last 3 years getting a 1 seed. We need to get to a final four. If you read other teams message boards or comments from fans after espn articles you'll see countless people saying "yea syracuse is good but theyll fizzle out in the tournament like always." We have that reputation, and its time to get rid of it.

 

[LennX6]

Bingo. Its not about next year. We're long overdue for a deep tourny run regardless of what kinda team we got next year. We've had great recruiting classes the last 5 years or so. This will be the 4th straight year getting a top 3 seed in the tourny, and most likely 2 of the last 3 years getting a 1 seed. We need to get to a final four. If you read other teams message boards or comments from fans after espn articles you'll see countless people saying "yea syracuse is good but theyll fizzle out in the tournament like always." We have that reputation, and its time to get rid of it.

We are due . Its been 9 yrs. It was 12 yrs from 75-87, 9 yrs from 87-96 and 7 years from 96-03.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

If we don't get past the s16 this year..this tourney stigma will never leave jb. It's becoming what we are known for.

 

[cuseattle]

Bingo. Its not about next year. We're long overdue for a deep tourny run regardless of what kinda team we got next year. We've had great recruiting classes the last 5 years or so. This will be the 4th straight year getting a top 3 seed in the tourny, and most likely 2 of the last 3 years getting a 1 seed. We need to get to a final four. If you read other teams message boards or comments from fans after espn articles you'll see countless people saying "yea syracuse is good but theyll fizzle out in the tournament like always." We have that reputation, and its time to get rid of it.

Agreed. A final four this year would change that perception a whole bunch, and a Championship would halt it once and for all. JB's legacy would be the only coach ever with a ff team in four straight decades.

 

[DoctorBombay]

In a word...YES.

 

[SWC75]

Not crucial but highly desireable. Our NCAA record since the national title year is pretty disappointing. All it takes is one good run to make people forget about that.

A team of Keita, Christmas and Coleman as the bigs, Fair, Southerland and Grant as the small forwards and Triche, MCW and Cooney in the backcourt would be a good team. It would obviously be better with Melo. I don't anticipate Waiters being on next year's team. He is clearly "blowing up" and that means he's going up.

 

[Shermthegeneral]

I would like to get to the elite 8 this year. Nothing is crucial in my opinion. Lets face it, what makes the tourney so special makes it hard to win it. I think this team is very good but there have been many teams in the history of college basketball who were better and didn't win the tourney. I don't know if its me or what but I don't look at this team like I did the UNLV team that had 4 #1 draft picks and a #2 from that team with Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, George Ackles, and Elmore Spencer. By the way, check out this picture of the 1990-91 All-American Team... That was a killer class!

 

[triplethrea]

If you think the lack of respect is bad now, it will pretty much never go away if we choke this year. But if we win the NC? All is forgiven. 2 championships in 9 years is what we will be known for.

If we ever want to be in the same conversation as Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, or even Michigan State we have to win it this year. We managed the get the eyes of the country on us, we have to take advantage. The greatest perform best when all the attention is on them, and that is what makes them legendary. If we pull off this kind of start, #1 ranking through most of the season, and then close the damn deal in the tournament, there will be NOTHING anybody can possibly say except "respect". Or worst case they'll resort to "insults" like "yeah, 'cuse is the best in college, but 2-3 zone never works in NBA". I rather have that than the choker label.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I dont think you could ever look at a season where Syracuse gets to the final four as anything but a resounding success. I mean the entire tournament is such a crap shoot given the single elimination element that just getting to the final four is HUGE. Of course winning it all is better but are there people who seriously would look at a loss in the semis as a lost season?

 

[obliterata]

At the start of every year I'm just hoping we get past the Sweet Sixteen, Boeheim's teams have only done it 4 times in 35 years. With a 20-0 start to the season I'll admit I really hope Final Four at the very least.