sutomcat
No recent Cali or Iggy awards; Mr Irrelevant
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2011
- Messages
- 26,491
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Have already criticized SU over the awful decision to start the game at 6 PM. Will add that this also caused major problems for everyone assigned to work the game, as they had to be at the Dome at 4 PM and the lots they park in were still full from employees and students still at work/in class. What is done is done; I just hope at this point that they never, ever make such a thoughtless decision like this again.
The crowd was the worst I have seen for a Big East game in years. Maybe 15K actually showed. The locals didn't come out but the student section was especially empty...I don't think the lower level was even half full. I would hammer them big time but it is my understanding this is mid term week and I will give them a pass if the reason they were not at the Dome was because they were studying. I grundingly concede this is a legitimate excuse.
Empower Credit Union gave out a little orange rag to wave. Didn't work, didn't see anyone do this. Good idea I guess.
The NA was sung by an SU employee. She knew all the words and finished the song. I give her full credit for these accomplishments.
Looks like we are going to have minor losses to our 40+ cheerleader squad, also minor losses to the dance team.
JS and BT got big ovations from the crowd when they were introduced and given framed uniforms. The senior manager who often fires up the team just before the game inside the circle got a big hand too. I liked his most excellent bow tie.
On to the game...
DePaul has 2 pretty solid players and a bunch of fringe D1 guys. Not a talented team. They opened in man to man (surprise. surprise), and it was effective for much of the first half, as Syracuse looked lethargic, and reluctant to take many shots.
JB substituted pretty freely most of the 1st half, taking out CJ early. JS got the start for his last game in the Dome but JG got some playing time in the 1st half, mostly because of some suspect defense by JS. Didn't do much with them.
TC got some extended minutes, had a nice steal but continues to struggle to hit the rim from the 3 point circle.
And even DC2 got some run out there. Not as much as I was hoping for. Didn't do much with the PT, didn't have any major gaffes but at this point. it appears he is going to have to do soemthing quite remarkable to get quality minutes. Or SU is going to need to get into major foul trouble. For the record, he looks thinner than I have seen him since early 10th grade.
BT again looked completely uncomfortable shooting from the outside. but he played a solid game otherwise, got into the paint for baskets, drawn fouls and good assists. Good comeback game for him.
MCW was restrained, didn't shoot much, but finished pretty well when he did. Both BT and MCW appear to have regained their shooting touch on FTs, which is nice to see. MCW had a good floor game too, took care of the basketball well after the awful first possession.
JS had an interesting night, some problems on defense early, missed a lot of shots but was really aggressive. drew some fouls, and rebounded well. In one possession, I believe he took and missed 4 shots in a row, got the rebound for all of them and finally made a shot on the last one. Good to see him play with a strong sense of urgency.
RC continued to fade in and out for most of the game, but he had more blocks and presence inside than I have seen in a while. Also had a couple nice baskets. Still struggling to finish dunks. At this point, I think it is a mental thing.
BMK played as he always does. Hustled his butt off, struggled to rebound, struggles to make any impact when the team is on offense. He did get a couple baskets in near garbage time. He does a great job with what he has to work with.
That leaves CJ. who had 11 quiet points in the 1st half. Didn't rebound the ball great but he finishes plays better than anyone on the team and often carries the team in the half court offense.
DePaul tried the zone in the 2nd half. It was not effective. For the first time in a while, SU came out from halftime and played well, opened the lead up to double figures and after that. they seemed to coast to the end as the game degraded into a blur of ugly fouls on both sides of the floor. It seemed like the 2nd half was never going to end.
Happy with the win. Wish the subs got more playing time but that is not the JB way. While RC was not at the top of his game, I saw some signs he might be getting back to a higher level of play. I hope so; we really need more production from the center position the rest of the season.
On to Georgetown, who after the loss to Nova will surely be ready to play us on their Senior Day. Should be another classic game. Can't wait to see it.
The crowd was the worst I have seen for a Big East game in years. Maybe 15K actually showed. The locals didn't come out but the student section was especially empty...I don't think the lower level was even half full. I would hammer them big time but it is my understanding this is mid term week and I will give them a pass if the reason they were not at the Dome was because they were studying. I grundingly concede this is a legitimate excuse.
Empower Credit Union gave out a little orange rag to wave. Didn't work, didn't see anyone do this. Good idea I guess.
The NA was sung by an SU employee. She knew all the words and finished the song. I give her full credit for these accomplishments.
Looks like we are going to have minor losses to our 40+ cheerleader squad, also minor losses to the dance team.
JS and BT got big ovations from the crowd when they were introduced and given framed uniforms. The senior manager who often fires up the team just before the game inside the circle got a big hand too. I liked his most excellent bow tie.
On to the game...
DePaul has 2 pretty solid players and a bunch of fringe D1 guys. Not a talented team. They opened in man to man (surprise. surprise), and it was effective for much of the first half, as Syracuse looked lethargic, and reluctant to take many shots.
JB substituted pretty freely most of the 1st half, taking out CJ early. JS got the start for his last game in the Dome but JG got some playing time in the 1st half, mostly because of some suspect defense by JS. Didn't do much with them.
TC got some extended minutes, had a nice steal but continues to struggle to hit the rim from the 3 point circle.
And even DC2 got some run out there. Not as much as I was hoping for. Didn't do much with the PT, didn't have any major gaffes but at this point. it appears he is going to have to do soemthing quite remarkable to get quality minutes. Or SU is going to need to get into major foul trouble. For the record, he looks thinner than I have seen him since early 10th grade.
BT again looked completely uncomfortable shooting from the outside. but he played a solid game otherwise, got into the paint for baskets, drawn fouls and good assists. Good comeback game for him.
MCW was restrained, didn't shoot much, but finished pretty well when he did. Both BT and MCW appear to have regained their shooting touch on FTs, which is nice to see. MCW had a good floor game too, took care of the basketball well after the awful first possession.
JS had an interesting night, some problems on defense early, missed a lot of shots but was really aggressive. drew some fouls, and rebounded well. In one possession, I believe he took and missed 4 shots in a row, got the rebound for all of them and finally made a shot on the last one. Good to see him play with a strong sense of urgency.
RC continued to fade in and out for most of the game, but he had more blocks and presence inside than I have seen in a while. Also had a couple nice baskets. Still struggling to finish dunks. At this point, I think it is a mental thing.
BMK played as he always does. Hustled his butt off, struggled to rebound, struggles to make any impact when the team is on offense. He did get a couple baskets in near garbage time. He does a great job with what he has to work with.
That leaves CJ. who had 11 quiet points in the 1st half. Didn't rebound the ball great but he finishes plays better than anyone on the team and often carries the team in the half court offense.
DePaul tried the zone in the 2nd half. It was not effective. For the first time in a while, SU came out from halftime and played well, opened the lead up to double figures and after that. they seemed to coast to the end as the game degraded into a blur of ugly fouls on both sides of the floor. It seemed like the 2nd half was never going to end.
Happy with the win. Wish the subs got more playing time but that is not the JB way. While RC was not at the top of his game, I saw some signs he might be getting back to a higher level of play. I hope so; we really need more production from the center position the rest of the season.
On to Georgetown, who after the loss to Nova will surely be ready to play us on their Senior Day. Should be another classic game. Can't wait to see it.
