If we lose it is just the latest symptom in a three year skid* that has provided enough red flags to date that something is wrong. Is it related to top talent not wanting to commit to SU because of the uncertainty surrounding a coaching transition; are we just not recruiting the right kids; has Boeheim become too blase or hands off as retirement approaches; has our defense become so static that its novelty has worn off and other programs now know how to dismantle it; is the offense just too stale; are our player dorms and other BB facilities lacking in some respect; do kids all of a sudden just not want to play ball in the snow belt of upstate NY?
Al Davis, Jr had the right answer. Just win, baby! Because when you don't everything starts getting questioned.
As a stock jock I know it is always darkest at the bottom of a bear market. Maybe we are at the bottom of a down cycle. But, right now I
really just don't see a path back yet to the days we're we were a reliably top ten, forgetting about when we where top five for a good while.
*I am aware we went to the FF last year, but lets be real, save for the big Virginia upset (the Dayton win was solid, too) we had the path cleared for us to a large degree by Middle Tenn and Gonzaga as they took out the 2 and 3 seeds for us. It was a great ride, but it was a bit flukey. Anyway, one mans opinion.
Good luck to all my fellow northeastern's as that monster blizzard barrels down on us.