Reply to thread

Message

[QUOTE="HtownOrange, post: 2078491, member: 622"]
Let's review:

Cardinals:  #8 in country
Pitino:  Approaching 800 wins, 2NCs, former JB Protege, knows JB well
Cards Game Plan: Crash the boards, slow down transition game
Syracuse: Rebuilding year, can beat anyone, can lose to anyone, still a team nobody wants to play
Boeheim: 1000 wins (900 for NCAA - fill in the blank), 1 NC, most seasons with 20+ wins

After watching the game, the Cards did exactly what they had to do: Crash the boards AND slow down the transition game.  JB loves transition and the team feeds off of the quick baskets.  Our guys could not get long spurts with turn overs and forcing quick bad shots against the #8 team, and yet the went into O.T.  The Cards are highly disciplined, as are our Orange.  The fact remains that had our Orange hit a couple of shots - inside and/or outside -  in the first 15 minutes of the game, the outcome would be different.  Pitino is not afraid to let his kids run but he knew this would feed the Orange, he kept is slow to stop the Orange from getting into their best game; Pitino played the odds that a slow, low scoring game gave the Cards a better chance to win than playing into JB's hand of speed.

Credit where it is due: Pitino and the Cards.  JB called a good game and the kids played hard.  Recall, the Cards are #8 for a reason (they are good!) and Syracuse is not ranked for a reason (this is a rebuilding year).  Going toe to toe with a top 10 team and taking them into overtime does not equate to bad coaching.  we are spoiled as Orange fans and sometimes forget that even the Orange have to rebuild every now an then.  This was a great game with two great coaches and two great teams.  That our Orange lost does not make JB a bad coach.
[/QUOTE]

Verification

What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?