The Upside

[SWC75]

- Another easy win over an over-matched team. But this time last year we were complaining that we never seemed able to pull away from anyone. Our best teams have had that extra gear that removed any doubt about games like this one and this has that gear.

- Last year’s team lacked an explosive scorer that could get 10-12 points in 5 minutes and change the game. This team seems so far to have several. Kris Joseph, Dion Waiters and James Southerland have all shown that potential. And everybody else can at least score. We aren’t going 4 on 5 against anybody.

- The answer to our search for inside scoring may have been found and it isn’t Fab Melo. Baye Moussa Keita is so smooth and has such long arms. And he’s shown some back-to-the basket moves. He had 14 points in 14 minutes and made it look easy. Melo gets the attention but Baye makes more plays.

- Together Melo, Keita and Christmas were 13 for 15 from the field, scored 31 points, had 16 rebounds and blocked 3 shots in a combined 49 minutes playing time. In past years, we heard about how big men have a hard time when they are surrounded by little guys. It didn’t seem to make much sense. No one is saying that this year.

- Kris Joseph continues to look smooth and explosive and can score inside or out.

- Scoop Jardine isn’t shooting well but he finally seems to be settling down and realizing all he has to do this year is run the show.

- Michael Carter-Williams is like a young, awkward colt, one where you can see how fast he’ll be running in the future, maybe the near future. It can be painful to watch now but sometimes you just say “Wow!”

- CJ Fair is our most aggressive offensive rebounded. He kept possession after possession alive. Offensive rebounding was really the key to this game, (22 of them), as we didn’t force turnovers like we did vs. Manhattan.

 

[SmilinBob]

I thought the same thing about MCW, he looked like a new born colt but once he gets his legs he's going to be quite a player.

If SU can't force turnovers they have to make it up somewhere else and it's a good sign to see they crashed the boards.

 

[arbitragegls]

the best that can be said last night was that Scoop seems settled down...terrific.
Even in presser JB said that the guards were ok, had 19 assists among the 4 of them with Scoop, Triche, and Waiters at 5 ea and MCW with 4...JB not pleased by overall defense and in particularly the guards...said we scouted Albany and they had two scorers...NOT HAPPY THEY SCORED 51 PTS...he tried to make a joke of it in presser...and agree...wings and low post players played better this game than did the guards.

 

[bballbeadle]

I love the Nov/Dec. games because it is the time you watch the team develop. The atmosphere is relaxed, although there is still plenty of sizzle and YOW. But last year walking home from the Dome, one felt uneasiness. We knew things weren't quite coming together. We weren't as good of a team as the polls said we were. It's now only been 5 games, but walking home my daughter and I have a peaceful, easy feeling. At the moment, #5 seems right.

 

[SWC75]

I love the Nov/Dec. games because it is the time you watch the team develop. The atmosphere is relaxed, although there is still plenty of sizzle and YOW. But last year walking home from the Dome, one felt uneasiness. We knew things weren't quite coming together. We weren't as good of a team as the polls said we were. It's now only been 5 games, but walking home my daughter and I have a peaceful, easy feeling. At the moment, #5 seems right.

Last year's pre-Big East opponents had averaged 21 wins a game the previous year. This year it was 16. Fordham had 7 wins last year, (and 5 in the previous two years combined). Manhattan had 6 wins last year. Both are improved but still... Albany was 16-16 but lost their leading scorer. So we've had an easier road so far and I think that will continue until the Big East. Last year we seemed to be in low gear until we went to new York and smashed Michigan State. We came back and beat Colgate by 57, Morgan State by 42 and Drexel by 28. We then won our first 5 Big East games to go 18-0 but in the last of those games Kris Joseph whapped his head and then we travelled to Pittsburgh. We were 9-8 the rest of the year.

 

[OttoMets]

I love the Nov/Dec. games because it is the time you watch the team develop. The atmosphere is relaxed, although there is still plenty of sizzle and YOW. But last year walking home from the Dome, one felt uneasiness. We knew things weren't quite coming together. We weren't as good of a team as the polls said we were. It's now only been 5 games, but walking home my daughter and I have a peaceful, easy feeling. At the moment, #5 seems right.

I remember leaving that William & Mary game and feeling sick about our prospects (and reading this board didn't improve matters).

But, as SWC said, those were some pretty decent teams who were giving us their Super Bowl -level performance. It's going to be another two months before we know much about this team, but it looks pretty good right now.

 

[bballbeadle]

There were many games last year in Nov/Dec. where I left shaking my head, even though we won. It didn't feel right. Kris in particular was out of sync (now we know about his knees) and it seemed psychological. He kept bulling his way to the basket - it rarely worked - he never seemed to learn - and then he was badly hurt doing exactly that. I am not seeing/feeling things like that with this team. Obviously, time will tell and we will need to play some good teams.

 

[OttoMets]

There were many games last year in Nov/Dec. where I left shaking my head, even though we won. It didn't feel right. Kris in particular was out of sync (now we know about his knees) and it seemed psychological. He kept bulling his way to the basket - it rarely worked - he never seemed to learn - and then he was badly hurt doing exactly that. I am not seeing/feeling things like that with this team. Obviously, time will tell and we will need to play some good teams.

How about that play last night in the second half where he came in from the near side, took an extra step, and dunked with two hands?

Last year that would've been one fewer step, contact, awkward floater, and a likely miss. I know we're working with a small sample size right now, but I'm cautiously optimistic - if he's really learned to finish strong in traffic and not wait for a whistle, that could be 6-8 more points a game.

 

[orangefan13]

MCW is the best passer I have ever seen at Syracuse. Yes I can tell 3-4 games in.
Im not old enough for Sherm.

 

[SWC75]

MCW is the best passer I have ever seen at Syracuse. Yes I can tell 3-4 games in.
Im not old enough for Sherm.

Leo Rautins #1. Andy #2. Sherman #3 with his amazing timing on the alley-oops. Pearl was great with the long-distance passes. MCW is an interesting work in progress.