SDSU -->Should<-- Win This Game, But...

[Mr Aztec]

I’ve read so much and much is contradictory but maybe you can confirm something- the Aztecs are a good rebounding team but not so proficient at offensive rebounds. That’s been a killer for the Orange all year. If the Aztecs don’t play volleyball at the offensive end the Orange’s chances seem much better.

That would be a fair analysis. I think that is where Arop's playing time will make a difference. He is pretty good on the offensive boards and will make a huge difference if he gets some minutes.

 

[pearl31]

I’ve read so much and much is contradictory but maybe you can confirm something- the Aztecs are a good rebounding team but not so proficient at offensive rebounds. That’s been a killer for the Orange all year. If the Aztecs don’t play volleyball at the offensive end the Orange’s chances seem much better.

THEY DONT NEED TO OFFENSE REBOUND THEY MAKE ALL THERE SHOTS

 

[SteveAztec]

I have read so much already on this game.

This game is going to be real tight (IMO). I don't think either team is so much better than the other that it will be a blowout.

I haven't seen Syracuse play one minute this year. I have seen all the Aztec games. All my comments next could mean nothing...But they could mean something. That is why the game is played. Here is what makes the Aztecs good this season...

-The Aztecs can shoot hell out of the 3. (Will we be hot or cold?) T Gomez is a great 3 point shooter...Jordon Shackle is great 3 point shooter...Matt Mitchell is a very good 3 point shooter...Adam Seiko is a very good 3 point shooter.

-The Aztecs crash the boards very well for a smaller team. We aren't tiny, but we aren't huge.

-I get tired of hearing announcers say how great our Defense is. Why? They base it on points teams give up. Stats mean nothing. But I will say this...The Aztecs pressure is very good. Will it work against Syracuse? None of us know.

-Speaking of pressure, the Aztecs play 10 deep. And I mean a solid 10 deep. Will they ALL be on? Probably not. Teams never have 10 guys on. But I do know this, all 10 will bust their ass on D while they are in.

-We shoot the 3 well and we shoot the free throws very well. Shackle is about 91%...Gomez is 90% for his career. Mitchell has missed a few this year and at about 80%, but as a senior he has shot free throws much better in his career than 80%.

-Do the Aztecs play a weak schedule? I don't think so...But one thing I do know is that the NCAA Tournament is all about who is hot at the time. The Aztecs have won 14 in row.

-We aren't great, but we are very good.

-I saw some scoffing that we lost to Utah State twice. The Aggies are very tough and especially in their place at altitude. The MWC is like no other. There is a reason that very few P5 teams will play AT Utah State, BYU, etc.

This is going to be a very interesting game. Good luck all. Of course I hope the Aztecs win this game, but either way this is going to be a gem to watch.

 

[CousCuse]

I have read so much already on this game.

This game is going to be real tight (IMO). I don't think either team is so much better than the other that it will be a blowout.

I haven't seen Syracuse play one minute this year. I have seen all the Aztec games. All my comments next could mean nothing...But they could mean something. That is why the game is played. Here is what makes the Aztecs good this season...

-The Aztecs can shoot hell out of the 3. (Will we be hot or cold?) T Gomez is a great 3 point shooter...Jordon Shackle is great 3 point shooter...Matt Mitchell is a very good 3 point shooter...Adam Seiko is a very good 3 point shooter.

-The Aztecs crash the boards very well for a smaller team. We aren't tiny, but we aren't huge.

-I get tired of hearing announcers say how great our Defense is. Why? They base it on points teams give up. Stats mean nothing. But I will say this...The Aztecs pressure is very good. Will it work against Syracuse? None of us know.

-Speaking of pressure, the Aztecs play 10 deep. And I mean a solid 10 deep. Will they ALL be on? Probably not. Teams never have 10 guys on. But I do know this, all 10 will bust their ass on D while they are in.

-We shoot the 3 well and we shoot the free throws very well. Shackle is about 91%...Gomez is 90% for his career. Mitchell has missed a few this year and at about 80%, but as a senior he has shot free throws much better in his career than 80%.

-Do the Aztecs play a weak schedule? I don't think so...But one thing I do know is that the NCAA Tournament is all about who is hot at the time. The Aztecs have won 14 in row.

-We aren't great, but we are very good.

-I saw some scoffing that we lost to Utah State twice. The Aggies are very tough and especially in their place at altitude. The MWC is like no other. There is a reason that very few P5 teams will play AT Utah State, BYU, etc.

This is going to be a very interesting game. Good luck all. Of course I hope the Aztecs win this game, but either way this is going to be a gem to watch.

I thought the MWC played all their games in the Vegas bubble this year?

 

[Ceerqqq]

I have read so much already on this game.

This game is going to be real tight (IMO). I don't think either team is so much better than the other that it will be a blowout.

I haven't seen Syracuse play one minute this year. I have seen all the Aztec games. All my comments next could mean nothing...But they could mean something. That is why the game is played. Here is what makes the Aztecs good this season...

-The Aztecs can shoot hell out of the 3. (Will we be hot or cold?) T Gomez is a great 3 point shooter...Jordon Shackle is great 3 point shooter...Matt Mitchell is a very good 3 point shooter...Adam Seiko is a very good 3 point shooter.

-The Aztecs crash the boards very well for a smaller team. We aren't tiny, but we aren't huge.

-I get tired of hearing announcers say how great our Defense is. Why? They base it on points teams give up. Stats mean nothing. But I will say this...The Aztecs pressure is very good. Will it work against Syracuse? None of us know.

-Speaking of pressure, the Aztecs play 10 deep. And I mean a solid 10 deep. Will they ALL be on? Probably not. Teams never have 10 guys on. But I do know this, all 10 will bust their ass on D while they are in.

-We shoot the 3 well and we shoot the free throws very well. Shackle is about 91%...Gomez is 90% for his career. Mitchell has missed a few this year and at about 80%, but as a senior he has shot free throws much better in his career than 80%.

-Do the Aztecs play a weak schedule? I don't think so...But one thing I do know is that the NCAA Tournament is all about who is hot at the time. The Aztecs have won 14 in row.

-We aren't great, but we are very good.

-I saw some scoffing that we lost to Utah State twice. The Aggies are very tough and especially in their place at altitude. The MWC is like no other. There is a reason that very few P5 teams will play AT Utah State, BYU, etc.

This is going to be a very interesting game. Good luck all. Of course I hope the Aztecs win this game, but either way this is going to be a gem to watch.

The thing about Jim Boeheim teams is that they always get better throughout the year.

IF not for COVID and the loss of our starting double-double Center in the first game of the year, our regular-season record would've been a hell of a lot more impressive than it was. It takes time to work new player-cogs into Boeheim's concept, so the team's development has been up & down.

In particular, Boeheim's Pressure Zone takes a good number of reps for players to get past thinking about it and just start reacting instinctively. This is why it is often like opening a present at the end of the season when his teams usually have turned their defense into a key weapon at tournament time. Their performances the last few weeks have been a strong indication that they might be "there."

On offense, we have a lot of shooters who like to pass. They've been learning how spread the floor and attack the paint more efficiently, with an eye to kick out to 3pt shooters if the shot's not there. The improvement has been very pleasing to watch.

One major Key for us: if we're rebounding as effectively as our opponents, we usually win. I wish I could project who's gonna win that battle, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

If you guys beat us, I hope you go all the way...

 

[CardiacCuse]

I think of this as a team where our starting center was injured all year... But we have Edwards back now. Playing him instead of Dolezaj at center makes us a much better team. Richmond instead of Girard also makes us a better team.

If we had those two playing their best all year, are we selected as an 11 seed? I think we would have had at least three more wins, as we don't get destroyed in the boards. Yes, I think the upgrade at center when Edwards is playing is that significant.

With the additional (hypothetical) wins, all quad 1, are we a 6 seed instead of an 11? Probably.

SDSU got screwed in their first round matchup based on the team Syracuse is today.

this is the biggest weakness in the seeding process.

who a team is in november/december only rarely is the same as who they are in march.

on one hand i was very surprised that this team seemingly needed to start from scratch after only losing hughes and gaining griffin - seemed they would pick right up where they left off after trouncing unc.

but not having a center was huge. I really am so surprised in JB keeping marek at center bc I thought last year with hughes showed how poorly that works. its just a really really bad idea...I am guessing we seee a lot of him vs sdsu since they are smaller...hopefully he can do something offesnively...it would be huge if he could.

center or no center after the first few games i then thought this team would take all season to hit its top form...and it seems that is coming true...they are at their best right now and that is not reflected in their seed. they can literally beat anyone if they play well...which you cant really say for most double digit seeds.

some teams can indeed hit another gear they havent reached in the regular season in the tourney...hopefully it can happen for this team...bc even though they are now playing their best...I think there is another gear this team can reach.

 

[mark79]

To save everyone some time, I copied this from our board and you can feel free to use it as a template to build your own post.

After checking through the other threads, I am really concerned that (team we are facing) presents some unique issues. I am specifically concerned that we do not match up well with (other team’s player). I feel that we (will/will not) have an answer. We always have problems with (big/quick/athletic/long) (guards/forwards,/slashers/three point machines). I hope that we respond like we did against (team we did well against), but I am afraid we will play like we did against (team that beat us). I think if they look at our tape, particularly (some team that beat us badly), they will have the gameplan to make us struggle. They have the type of (offensive/defensive) scheme that gives us fits time and time again. Too bad that (recruit who went elsewhere) did not sign with us. We could really use him for this game. I read (famous SyracuseFan poster’s) posts and I think that really summed it up well. If you look at those analytics, we will (crush/be crushed/grind it out and pull away). Of course if (any of a number of refs) is there, we know that (Q/Buddy/other key player) will start the game with 2 fouls and pick up two more before the first time out. It’s like playing 5 on 8. But all things considered, if we score more points then they do, we should come out on top.

Win or lose, I (will/will not) be surprised, because I think the we are (under achieving/over achieving/on par) with my expectations for the year.

Funny post! Living in Charlottesville (actually Spring Creek up the road) and retired (but working part time for UVA), I am also routing for the Hoos to do well. Unless we play them of course! I have been to a number of UVA games and was at the celebration in 2019 at JPJ. Hope it goes well for both of my teams this weekend!!

 

[two3zone]

I have read so much already on this game.

This game is going to be real tight (IMO). I don't think either team is so much better than the other that it will be a blowout.

I haven't seen Syracuse play one minute this year. I have seen all the Aztec games. All my comments next could mean nothing...But they could mean something. That is why the game is played. Here is what makes the Aztecs good this season...

-The Aztecs can shoot hell out of the 3. (Will we be hot or cold?) T Gomez is a great 3 point shooter...Jordon Shackle is great 3 point shooter...Matt Mitchell is a very good 3 point shooter...Adam Seiko is a very good 3 point shooter.

-The Aztecs crash the boards very well for a smaller team. We aren't tiny, but we aren't huge.

-I get tired of hearing announcers say how great our Defense is. Why? They base it on points teams give up. Stats mean nothing. But I will say this...The Aztecs pressure is very good. Will it work against Syracuse? None of us know.

-Speaking of pressure, the Aztecs play 10 deep. And I mean a solid 10 deep. Will they ALL be on? Probably not. Teams never have 10 guys on. But I do know this, all 10 will bust their ass on D while they are in.

-We shoot the 3 well and we shoot the free throws very well. Shackle is about 91%...Gomez is 90% for his career. Mitchell has missed a few this year and at about 80%, but as a senior he has shot free throws much better in his career than 80%.

-Do the Aztecs play a weak schedule? I don't think so...But one thing I do know is that the NCAA Tournament is all about who is hot at the time. The Aztecs have won 14 in row.

-We aren't great, but we are very good.

-I saw some scoffing that we lost to Utah State twice. The Aggies are very tough and especially in their place at altitude. The MWC is like no other. There is a reason that very few P5 teams will play AT Utah State, BYU, etc.

This is going to be a very interesting game. Good luck all. Of course I hope the Aztecs win this game, but either way this is going to be a gem to watch.

Your pressure will work if Joe is running the point, if Kadary is playing your pressure will be a hindrance for you.

 

[SteveAztec]

I thought the MWC played all their games in the Vegas bubble this year?

The MWC Tournament was played in the Vegas Bubble. The regular season was played in MWC cities.

 

[CorduroyG]

should they?

mwc vs acc

goodnite

 

[SU2NASA]

This game is going to be real tight (IMO). I don't think either team is so much better than the other that it will be a blowout.

Incorrect.

 

[SteveAztec]

Incorrect.

Yes, this final surprised me.

 

[CousCuse]

Yes, this final surprised me.

The SU season early on was heavily impacted with CP stoppages and losing players. They also lost the starting center, Sidibe, in the first game. The season didn't really get on track until February and that is about the time the soph center Edwards got enough PT to start getting into the lineup and really filling the role of the injured Sidibe. If there was no covid problems and Sidibe didn't get injured, I believe this team would have been a top 4 seed, and that is about the level they're playing at now , a 2 or 3 seed. Hope everything works out with Dutcher and if he leaves I'm sure a great coach wouldn't mind moving to SD to coach college ball.