My Take

[sutomcat]

Not much time, will not go into individual player comments. But this is what I have for now...

I think London Perrantes should spend more time thinking about basketball than preening routines after he scores a basket. Karma can sometimes be a bxxxx.

I think maybe, just maybe, UVA lost because God does not want a hair style like Anthony Gill's in the Final Four.

Watching the post game UVa presser, I was impressed by the class Tony Bennett showed after suffering what must have been a devastating loss. Gill and Brogdon were also remarkably composed and showed great maturity in a difficult situation. They represent the university they are associated with well. I am glad Syracuse plays in the same conference with the Cavaliers, even if they have beaten us more times that I would care to remember.

This will be the sixth Final Four appearance for Syracuse. That ties them with Arkansas, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State for the 10th most appearances in the Final Four. Syracuse has passed Georgetown and UConn for the most Final Four appearances ever from a team from the Northeast.

Total Final Four appearances
App. School
19 North Carolina
17 Kentucky, UCLA*
16 Duke
14 Kansas
10 Louisville, Ohio State*
9 Michigan State
8 Indiana
6 Arkansas, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Syracuse
5 Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Michigan**, Oklahoma

If Syracuse had lost in say, the first round of the tournament, I don't think they would be ranked in the preseason top 25 and I don't think any player on the team would have made the preseason All ACC teams.

With this run, I think it is a given we will be ranked in the preseason top 20, maybe higher, and I think MR and TL will both be 1st or 2nd team All ACC. TR might make 2nd team as well.

With the possible exception of Z Sims, I can't remember such a violent change in the lasting impression of senior player(s) based on their past few games in their SU career. Silent G and TC are going to go down as two heroic figures that played key roles in keeping Syracuse at the top of the college basketball world after the farcical NCAA investigation/self imposed probation.

TC will become the first SU player to play in two Final Fours. Let's hope he has a better experience with his second appearance.

From day one, this team has had one defining quality: they never give up. They have made remarkable comebacks in many games. Sometimes they were able to pull a victory out in games that seemed like sure losses, sometimes not, but they have always played hard and tough to the end of the game. They have a lot of character. I think a lot of that comes from the senior leaders. Props to them.

UNC beat us in the first game by pounding the ball inside repeatedly.

UNC beat us in the second game largely by beating us in transition for easy baskets in the second half.

I think the interior defense is vastly improved over where it was early in the season. I am more worried about UNC wearing us down and getting some easy baskets in the second half beating us down the court. Even Virginia had some success at that last night. The good news is that JB is using the bench more now than he was. Hope we are able to get everyone some rest during the game on Saturday. I think that will be one of the keys to victory for the Orangemen.

Reliant Stadium is a great venue. Was there when Syracuse played Minnesota in the Texas Bowl. I would guess Oklahoma will have by far the most fans there, followed by UNC. I think we will bring the 3rd most fans and Nova the least. They don't seem to have much of a fan base. Their tiny enrollment doesn't help matters.

 

[RF2044]

You're right--this team never quits, they never give up. And I'm not just saying that because of yesterday's memorable, improbable comeback. It's been a trait that they've demonstrated all year long.

Hats off to our kids. Fighters, with tons of heart. Lots of teams would have folded like pup tents down 14 or 16 to a great team like UVa.

 

[Dave85]

Not much time, will not go into individual player comments. But this is what I have for now...

I think London Perrantes should spend more time thinking about basketball than preening routines after he scores a basket. Karma can sometimes be a bxxxx.

I think maybe, just maybe, UVA lost because God does not want a hair style like Anthony Gill's in the Final Four.

Watching the post game UVa presser, I was impressed by the class Tony Bennett showed after suffering what must have been a devastating loss. Gill and Brogdon were also remarkably composed and showed great maturity in a difficult situation. They represent the university they are associated with well. I am glad Syracuse plays in the same conference with the Cavaliers, even if they have beaten us more times that I would care to remember.

This will be the sixth Final Four appearance for Syracuse. That ties them with Arkansas, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State for the 10th most appearances in the Final Four. Syracuse has passed Georgetown and UConn for the most Final Four appearances ever from a team from the Northeast.

Total Final Four appearances
App. School
19 North Carolina
17 Kentucky, UCLA*
16 Duke
14 Kansas
10 Louisville, Ohio State*
9 Michigan State
8 Indiana
6 Arkansas, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Syracuse
5 Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Michigan**, Oklahoma

If Syracuse had lost in say, the first round of the tournament, I don't think they would be ranked in the preseason top 25 and I don't think any player on the team would have made the preseason All ACC teams.
With this run, I think it is a given we will be ranked in the preseason top 20, maybe higher, and I think MR and TL will both be 1st or 2nd team All ACC. TR might make 2nd team as well.

With the possible exception of Z Sims, I can't remember such a violent change in the lasting impression of senior player(s) based on their past few games in their SU career. Silent G and TC are going to go down as two heroic figures that played key roles in keeping Syracuse at the top of the college basketball world after the farcical NCAA investigation/self imposed probation.

TC will become the first SU player to play in two Final Fours. Let's hope he has a better experience with his second appearance.

From day one, this team has had one defining quality: they never give up. They have made remarkable comebacks in many games. Sometimes they were able to pull a victory out in games that seemed like sure losses, sometimes not, but they have always played hard and tough to the end of the game. They have a lot of character. I think a lot of that comes from the senior leaders. Props to them.

UNC beat us in the first game by pounding the ball inside repeatedly.

UNC beat us in the second game largely by beating us in transition for easy baskets in the second half.

I think the interior defense is vastly improved over where it was early in the season. I am more worried about UNC wearing us down and getting some easy baskets in the second half beating us down the court. Even Virginia had some success at that last night. The good news is that JB is using the bench more now than he was. Hope we are able to get everyone some rest during the game on Saturday. I think that will be one of the keys to victory for the Orangemen.

Reliant Stadium is a great venue. Was there when Syracuse played Minnesota in the Texas Bowl. I would guess Oklahoma will have by far the most fans there, followed by UNC. I think we will bring the 3rd most fans and Nova the least. They don't seem to have much of a fan base. Their tiny enrollment doesn't help matters.

Great post! I think there will be couple of differences in this third game. Malachi is playing with a new found confidence. G is playing for a first round draft pick. And the bigger the game the bigger Roberson plays.

Roberson is a strange bird. It just seems his legs have more spring in them when the game is bigger. Normally he seems really laid back to me. But for whatever reason if it's a BIG game the kid turns on beast mode. He's like an X-Man or something. My vote would be Roberson as the x-factor followed by Malachi's new level of confidence.

 

[cuse522]

They represent the university they are associated with well. I am glad Syracuse plays in the same conference with the Cavaliers, even if they have beaten us more times that I would care to remember.

It's also good to know that no matter how many times they beat us in the regular season or the ACC Tourney, we'll always have this now. "Yeah, hey, sure, you guys take the three regular season wins, we'll take the Final Four trip."

If Syracuse had lost in say, the first round of the tournament, I don't think they would be ranked in the preseason top 25 and I don't think any player on the team would have made the preseason All ACC teams.
With this run, I think it is a given we will be ranked in the preseason top 20, maybe higher, and I think MR and TL will both be 1st or 2nd team All ACC. TR might make 2nd team as well.

Maybe I'm being a homer, but I wouldn't be surprised to be in the preseason top five now, and I'd be surprised to be outside the top 10.

From day one, this team has had one defining quality: they never give up. They have made remarkable comebacks in many games. Sometimes they were able to pull a victory out in games that seemed like sure losses, sometimes not, but they have always played hard and tough to the end of the game. They have a lot of character. I think a lot of that comes from the senior leaders. Props to them.

It's hard to remember a team, any sport, pro or college, that I've been more proud to root for than this one. Win or lose, they do not quit.

Reliant Stadium is a great venue. Was there when Syracuse played Minnesota in the Texas Bowl. I would guess Oklahoma will have by far the most fans there, followed by UNC. I think we will bring the 3rd most fans and Nova the least. They don't seem to have much of a fan base. Their tiny enrollment doesn't help matters.

That's one of the reasons I'll be rooting for Nova in the early game. Mainly, I think they're the least likely team to be able to blow us out, and if we hang around, we've seen what this 'Cuse team can do with its heart. Nova's got a pretty big casual fan base, but not the kind of fan base that's going to travel. Lots of Philly sports fans will make a night out of going to the bar and rooting for them, just like they would if Temple or St. Joe's made it, but they won't drop a couple thousand on a trip to Houston. You've pretty much gotta be an alum or a lifelong die hard to do that, and Philly isn't a college sports town, especially the way the Big 5 is there - lots of casual fans root for all of them, but don't live and die with any of them.

 

[sabach]

Second time we will he playing a final four in a stadium we played a bowl game in.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Wow, Arkansas and Ok St???

 

[alphaorange]

Great post! I think there will be couple of differences in this third game. Malachi is playing with a new found confidence. G is playing for a first round draft pick. And the bigger the game the bigger Roberson plays.

Roberson is a strange bird. It just seems his legs have more spring in them when the game is bigger. Normally he seems really laid back to me. But for whatever reason if it's a BIG game the kid turns on beast mode. He's like an X-Man or something. My vote would be Roberson as the x-factor followed by Malachi's new level of confidence.

Not to nit pick, but I doubt Mike's draft status is even on his mind at this time....

 

[Dave85]

Not to nit pick, but I doubt Mike's draft status is even on his mind at this time...

No, good point. But I sure love the way JB has been touting him in all the press conferences. There's no doubt G's heart and mind is in the right place. He's just been a terrific player for the Orange. I really kind of did not like it when someone posted a pic of G in his Duke uniform. I think it was bad taste. I just clicked on "like" because I like the guy in the uniform!

 

[RandygoCuse]

Not much time, will not go into individual player comments. But this is what I have for now...



Total Final Four appearances
App. School
19 North Carolina
17 Kentucky, UCLA*
16 Duke
14 Kansas
10 Louisville, Ohio State*
9 Michigan State
8 Indiana
6 Arkansas, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Syracuse
5 Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Michigan**, Oklahoma
.

Good post, I'm sure I missed it but what are the asterisks for?

 

[sutomcat]

Good post, I'm sure I missed it but what are the asterisks for?

* - Indicates one vacated appearance not included in total.
** - Indicates two vacated appearances not included in total.

Here is the wiki page I copied the info from:

Linkage

 

[Jasonrob44]

It's also good to know that no matter how many times they beat us in the regular season or the ACC Tourney, we'll always have this now. "Yeah, hey, sure, you guys take the three regular season wins, we'll take the Final Four trip."



Maybe I'm being a homer, but I wouldn't be surprised to be in the preseason top five now, and I'd be surprised to be outside the top 10.



It's hard to remember a team, any sport, pro or college, that I've been more proud to root for than this one. Win or lose, they do not quit.



That's one of the reasons I'll be rooting for Nova in the early game. Mainly, I think they're the least likely team to be able to blow us out, and if we hang around, we've seen what this 'Cuse team can do with its heart. Nova's got a pretty big casual fan base, but not the kind of fan base that's going to travel. Lots of Philly sports fans will make a night out of going to the bar and rooting for them, just like they would if Temple or St. Joe's made it, but they won't drop a couple thousand on a trip to Houston. You've pretty much gotta be an alum or a lifelong die hard to do that, and Philly isn't a college sports town, especially the way the Big 5 is there - lots of casual fans root for all of them, but don't live and die with any of them.

I'm probably in the minority here, but aside from last nights amazing finish and the 2013 elite 8 match up with Marquette, I feel that we are better when we go up against a team that hasn't seen our zone before. Jay Wright has seen it time and time again, and most of the 'Nova players have played against it multiple times. Although Buddy Heild has been playing out of his mind, I like our chances better at seeing a team that never sees defensive basketball in their conference, let alone our zone. Obviously this is all moot if we can't beat UNC, which is going to be a tall task, but not impossible.

 

[Dave85]

I'm probably in the minority here, but aside from last nights amazing finish and the 2013 elite 8 match up with Marquette, I feel that we are better when we go up against a team that hasn't seen our zone before. Jay Wright has seen it time and time again, and most of the 'Nova players have played against it multiple times. Although Buddy Heild has been playing out of his mind, I like our chances better at seeing a team that never sees defensive basketball in their conference, let alone our zone. Obviously this is all moot if we can't beat UNC, which is going to be a tall task, but not impossible.

When we played UNC at UNC we played a really good game. I am pretty confident we can give UNC a very good game.

 

[Jasonrob44]

When we played UNC at UNC we played a really good game. I am pretty confident we can give UNC a very good game.

I 100% agree. In fact, we played then tough twice as we had a second half lead back in January. What I am saying is that with their talent defeating them will be a tough task. Especially now that they are shooting the ball well from the perimeter. However, as I stated, it is not an impossible task. It's VERY very difficult to beat the same team three times in a single season.

 

[Dave85]

I 100% agree. In fact, we played then tough twice as we had a second half lead back in January. What I am saying is that with their talent defeating them will be a tough task. Especially now that they are shooting the ball well from the perimeter. However, as I stated, it is not an impossible task. It's VERY very difficult to beat the same team three times in a single season.

Picture this: Villanova - Syracuse for the National Championship! Chills just went down my spine!!!

 

[RandygoCuse]

Picture this: Villanova - Syracuse for the National Championship! Chills just went down my spine!!!

I think it's worth it just because we'll get some quotes fro Ed Pinkney. As I noted in the Big East 30 for 30 thread, he's one cool cat.

 

[SU2NASA]

Picture this: Villanova - Syracuse for the National Championship! Chills just went down my spine!!!

Good God no, I want Nova and their flopping/slap-slap-slap defense to get nuked.

 

[OttoMets]

Good point about Gbinije and Cooney's legacy, Tom; I was thinking about this last night. They're now going to be remembered as John Wallace types, bridging the gap between some crappy seasons and future success with an improbable run. Awesome.

 

[Dave85]

Good God no, I want Nova and their flopping/slap-slap-slap defense to get nuked.

I don't want to face Buddy Hields. He got game!

 

[SU2NASA]

I don't want to face Buddy Hields. He got game!

Key on him like we did Potts. And after 2003, I'll take a Big 12 team that hasn't seen the zone.

 

[cuse522]

I'm probably in the minority here, but aside from last nights amazing finish and the 2013 elite 8 match up with Marquette, I feel that we are better when we go up against a team that hasn't seen our zone before. Jay Wright has seen it time and time again, and most of the 'Nova players have played against it multiple times. Although Buddy Heild has been playing out of his mind, I like our chances better at seeing a team that never sees defensive basketball in their conference, let alone our zone. Obviously this is all moot if we can't beat UNC, which is going to be a tall task, but not impossible.

No, I think you're in the majority, I agree we're better against teams that don't see our zone. Buddy just scares me, and I think the Villanova matchup would be lower scoring and thus likely to be close late either way. Like you said, UNC first. Beat them and we can play the Golden State Warriors on Monday night, for all I care.

 

[NYCSUGrad]

I'm probably in the minority here, but aside from last nights amazing finish and the 2013 elite 8 match up with Marquette, I feel that we are better when we go up against a team that hasn't seen our zone before. Jay Wright has seen it time and time again, and most of the 'Nova players have played against it multiple times. Although Buddy Heild has been playing out of his mind, I like our chances better at seeing a team that never sees defensive basketball in their conference, let alone our zone. Obviously this is all moot if we can't beat UNC, which is going to be a tall task, but not impossible.

Jay Wright is very knowledgeable about the zone, true, but we've been in the ACC three seasons now, or is it four? I think we have played one game against Nova since then, but the players by and large are not experts about it. Also I'm not sure Wright is accustomed to the press that Boeheim employed so successfully against Va. He will see it on the tape, to be sure, but won't have any more advantage than any other coach in figuring out how to deal with it IMO. So if they are the weaker of the potential opponents, and considering the other match up would be Oklahoma with Heild, I'll take Nova.

 

[HoustonCuse]

Picture this: Villanova - Syracuse for the National Championship! Chills just went down my spine!!!

Nova is far superior to Oklahoma in the Kenpom and they know the zone. No thanks. Boeheim can keep Buddy to 20 points and that would be enough to make the game a coin flip.

 

[HtownOrange]

Aside from the logic already presented for wanting OU instead of Nova, I must add that in my case, my so-in-law is an OU fan, lives in Norman, OK, and I really want him to understand that Syracuse is HIS TEAM, not OU. OU can be #2, but he married my daughter and with that comes rules and family obligations. I need the Orange to pull a couple favors here and beat UNC and then take down OU.

To his credit, he likes Syracuse lacrosse (he was never a lacrosse fan before) and watches the games when he can. There is hope for the kid.

 

[Jasonrob44]

Jay Wright is very knowledgeable about the zone, true, but we've been in the ACC three seasons now, or is it four? I think we have played one game against Nova since then, but the players by and large are not experts about it. Also I'm not sure Wright is accustomed to the press that Boeheim employed so successfully against Va. He will see it on the tape, to be sure, but won't have any more advantage than any other coach in figuring out how to deal with it IMO. So if they are the weaker of the potential opponents, and considering the other match up would be Oklahoma with Heild, I'll take Nova.

I know that we played them last season and lost at their place after having a double digit lead early in the year. Not positive without taking the time to look, but I believe that we even played them at home the season before. Regardless, those players have seen our zone and Jay Wright is very familiar with it. Couple that that the fact that they might be arguably the second hottest team in the tournament right now...no thank you. i'll take my chances with a team that has never seen this zone before. Again, this is all moot if we can't pull off another huge upset on Saturday night.

Edit: We played Nova in 2013-1014 also and beat them. So they've seen quite a bit of this zone.

 

[Ghost]

Total Final Four appearances
App. School
19 North Carolina
17 Kentucky, UCLA*
16 Duke
14 Kansas
10 Louisville, Ohio State*
9 Michigan State
8 Indiana
6 Arkansas, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State, Syracuse
5 Connecticut, Florida, Georgetown, Houston, Illinois, Michigan**, Oklahoma

Huh, I've lived in Syracuse for all of 6.5 years out of my life, and been here for 3 of the FF appearances. Way to go me! I'm leaving again next month. Uh-oh!!!