Syracuse is vulnerable because

[orangenauburn]

they struggled against a 10 seed, a 9 seed, a 6 seed a 4 seed and a 3 seed :bang:

 

[Col. Bleep]

It's a tough bracket.
There's not a team we can't beat if we play well.

People are talking about Vandy & K-State.
But the toughest matchup for us may be Wisconsin.
I didn't want to see them.
They take their time...they bang and they have a point guard who almost never turns it over.

 

[zhanjuzi]

I would agree with Vitale that we haven't been the same since Fab returned. With Scoop playing horrendous these last three games it doesn't look very promising. Now with my expectations set fairly low it won't be such a shock when we are bounced (probably similar to the loss to Cincy .. fall too far behind early and just can't quite make it up at the end).

 

[orangenauburn]

my point is they mention us as vulnerable -- what about kentucky who struggled against NON TOURNEY teams?

 

[Orangezoo]

wisconny might not have a high to rate but taylor forces a lot of shots and leaves their transition d with its pants down quite often. their spacing and ball movement concerns me as well as their ability to attack the boards

 

[Maxsumm]

They are vulnerable, because the team's shooting has severly regressed, our seniors have been MIA and SU has been underwhelming in the tournament over the last five years.

Why do our teams peak in January?

I'll be rooting for them of course but realitically won't be surprised if we lose in the round of 32 or sweet 16..

 

[Wimpy Wagon]

We need to play defense early in the first half. We started too late pressing and fouling against Cincinatti yet we came back from 17 points down and one turnover in the last minute could have won us the game. Get our bench in the game and rotate the players. I can't believe they have the depth we do.

 

[pfister1]

We need to play defense early in the first half. We started too late pressing and fouling against Cincinatti yet we came back from 17 points down and one turnover in the last minute could have won us the game. Get our bench in the game and rotate the players. I can't believe they have the depth we do.

It a battle to see who can score the most points, not who has the deeper bench.

 

[Melancer46]

I would agree with Vitale that we haven't been the same since Fab returned. With Scoop playing horrendous these last three games it doesn't look very promising. Now with my expectations set fairly low it won't be such a shock when we are bounced (probably similar to the loss to Cincy .. fall too far behind early and just can't quite make it up at the end).

I'd say we haven't been the same since Fab got suspended in the first place. We're vulnerable to literally every team in the tournament if we play the way we have the past 10-15 games. If we take the Cinci game as a wake up call and get back into a groove like we were Pre-Suspension, we should be in the Final Four with really no troubles.

 

[omniorange]

I'd say we haven't been the same since Fab got suspended in the first place. We're vulnerable to literally every team in the tournament if we play the way we have the past 10-15 games. If we take the Cinci game as a wake up call and get back into a groove like we were Pre-Suspension, we should be in the Final Four with really no troubles.

While I like the sentiment, I think people need to realize that the average RPI of the teams we played prior to Fab's suspension was 138, and since his return, the average RPI has been 50.

The better the team, the more likely we won't be able to dictate offense the way we were earlier against lesser teams.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[RF2044]

I would agree with Vitale that we haven't been the same since Fab returned. With Scoop playing horrendous these last three games it doesn't look very promising. Now with my expectations set fairly low it won't be such a shock when we are bounced (probably similar to the loss to Cincy .. fall too far behind early and just can't quite make it up at the end).

Don't worry, zhanjuzi--we'll rise to the occasion!

 

[Melancer46]

While I like the sentiment, I think people need to realize that the average RPI of the teams we played prior to Fab's suspension was 138, and since his return, the average RPI has been 50.

The better the team, the more likely we won't be able to dictate offense the way we were earlier against lesser teams.

Cheers,
Neil

Point well taken, but I'm more referring to the way Dion Waiters and Southerland went from taking what came to them Pre-Suspension to Waiters turning into a jumpshooter and Southerland completely forgetting what the term "pass" means. And the fact that we stopped using Rak and MCW whatsoever. We need Waiters and Southerland to play smarter, and we need Scoop, KJO, Triche, Fair, and Fab to continue doing what they've been doing the majority of the year. Otherwise I really think we'll be in trouble soon.

 

[HtownOrange]

The Cincy loss is on everyone's mind. Many people have forgotten how well these kids handle adversity and respond to it by playing more like a team.

I also think Scoop's slump will be over by the 2nd or 3rd game. He works hard and has a good attitude, he won't stay down long.

As to Cincy's win, don't forget that in the first half, they couldn't miss a 3-pointer, unbelievably hot, this after and incredibly ice cold game v. Georgetown. Kind of a fluke for Cincy. You can see how they fared on Saturday.

 

[310Pigpen]

I don't think Cuse is as bad as some of you in here are making it out to be.

 

[dollarbill44]

What team in this tourney isn't vulnerable?

 

[Cuseology]

I'm told Kentucky can't lose

 

[SBU72]

they struggled against a 10 seed, a 9 seed, a 6 seed a 4 seed and a 3 seed :bang:

But beat said 10 seed, 9 seed, 4 seed and 3 seed over the last 10 games. And they were only 12 - 2 against tournament teams over all. Yeah they are vunerable but then so are all the other teams.

 

[senorpalmer]

I'm told Kentucky can't lose

And the one team who did beat them over the weekend is now Final 4 bound so we're told. I mean any teAm that could beat Kentucky is top 5 material by default.

 

[KevMonstah]

I'd have more faith in them if they decided to use Fab as an offensive threat in the post when he has a physical advantage over the opposing team. Hey wait, that's almost every game! Using him as a 12 shots per game player instead of an 8 shots per game player I think would be beneficial for Syracuse's offense, especially when "we couldn't get anything going offensively."

That would be because having the perimeter players pass the ball around far from the hoop without looking to the basket until the shot clock is around 12, then attempting a (bad) shot, is not the same thing as "working the clock looking for a good shot."

Other teams with players with an advantage down low make use of it, why SU doesn't is beyond me. Low post scoring allows a team to weather a half (or more) of bad perimeter shooting.

Kev

 

[CuseFaninVT]

According to this guy - http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebas...ast-Region-but-may-be-primed-for-upset-031112 - we are vulnerable because of our coach. Drivel of course as this has been one of JB's best performances ever.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I'd have more faith in them if they decided to use Fab as an offensive threat in the post when he has a physical advantage over the opposing team. Hey wait, that's almost every game! Using him as a 12 shots per game player instead of an 8 shots per game player I think would be beneficial for Syracuse's offense, especially when "we couldn't get anything going offensively."


Kev

I'd like them to use Fab more, but not where he's been taking his shots recently. 8-10 and in is where he does his best work, and he got a little out of his own mind taking some of those "almost" three pointers. MCW really does this better than any other guard. Scoop is in a major rut and I'm not sure how to break him out of this one.

 

[SoBristol]

I'd have more faith in them if they decided to use Fab as an offensive threat in the post when he has a physical advantage over the opposing team. . . .

That would be because having the perimeter players pass the ball around far from the hoop without looking to the basket until the shot clock is around 12, then attempting a (bad) shot, is not the same thing as "working the clock looking for a good shot."

. . . .

Kev

Fab has an height advantage, but is short on actual post-up moves and isn't a great passer from the low post.
Better to get him feeds off dribble drive moves.
Would be nice to see Fab use his height advantage to get a couple of offensive boards per half.

 

[OttoMets]

I'd have more faith in them if they decided to use Fab as an offensive threat in the post when he has a physical advantage over the opposing team. Hey wait, that's almost every game! Using him as a 12 shots per game player instead of an 8 shots per game player I think would be beneficial for Syracuse's offense, especially when "we couldn't get anything going offensively."...

Other teams with players with an advantage down low make use of it, why SU doesn't is beyond me. Low post scoring allows a team to weather a half (or more) of bad perimeter shooting.

Kev

Yes. Syracuse could be the only school in the country who has a McDonald's guy who's projected to be a first-round pick but has no offensive plays run for him. There's no excuse for that.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

Yes. Syracuse could be the only school in the country who has a McDonald's guy who's projected to be a first-round pick but has no offensive plays run for him. There's no excuse for that.

Okay, instead of an excuse how about a reason, maybe Fab has no post game at this point. You seem to be pointing a finger at JB here but do you really believe he wouldn't love to have a consistent low post scorer? Are you trying to suggest that Fab is unstoppable in practice but JB forgets about this during game times?

And I think you know as well as everyone else on this board know that Fab is getting drafted on because of his height and his potential, along with a large year to year improvement. His draft position has nothing to do with his college offensive game.

It may be time for the admins to open up a board for "hater" speak. Where you and Otis and Bluecurtain can go and give your snarky little comments.

 

[OttoMets]

Okay, instead of an excuse how about a reason, maybe Fab has no post game at this point. You seem to be pointing a finger at JB here but do you really believe he wouldn't love to have a consistent low post scorer? Are you trying to suggest that Fab is unstoppable in practice but JB forgets about this during game times?

And I think you know as well as everyone else on this board know that Fab is getting drafted on because of his height and his potential, along with a large year to year improvement. His draft position has nothing to do with his college offensive game.

It may be time for the admins to open up a board for "hater" speak. Where you and Otis and Bluecurtain can go and give your snarky little comments.

That's a nice pollyanna sentiment, but I believe you're wrong - both in your belief that anyone who criticizes the team's poor play or the coach's questionable decisions is a "hater" and in your silly supposition that the player who's able to leap over the nine other guys on the court doesn't have the ability to contribute to Syracuse's offense.

Further, if it really is the case that Fab is wholly unable to contribute, then wouldn't the coaching staff share in this failure to develop a future draft pick into a reliable scorer after two years and over 60 college games? Every team that Syracuse plays has a big man who can catch an entry pass and make a dunk. Isn't it curious that we'd be the exception?