What program mirrors ours most | Syracusefan.com
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What program mirrors ours most

GooseMutt

GooseMutt

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Syracuse basketball is an island all to itself. I was trying to think about what program has similar attributes. We are elite, consistent performers, rabid fan base, dis-respected often, hated, opponent fan bases pack games to see us play/get beat they hope, major swag, NBA launch pad, top notch coaching, pretty, and have the world vs us attitude we embrace. We are often show stoppers and our style of play aggressive and fast. I don't think we have anyone out there like us Do you?
 
Duke, except we don't launch top 10 recruits. We do more with less. And yes, I know that Duke historically has more titles and yada yada yada, but I'm talking about right now. Both hated, great coaches, great fan bases, same conference, you name it. At first I was thinking UNC, but they keep guys 3-4 years, we have moved past that stage.
 
Cuse House said:
Duke, except we don't launch top 10 recruits. We do more with less. And yes, I know that Duke historically has more titles and yada yada yada, but I'm talking about right now. Both hated, great coaches, great fan bases, same conference, you name it. At first I was thinking UNC, but they keep guys 3-4 years, we have moved past that stage.
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I agree except the huge recruiting disparity and of course our zone. Don't see Duke play zone often and we run more imo. Duke is rarely in a position to upset anyone cause they are typically favored
 
I would say Louisville.

1. Non state school (in name anyway). The schools are king in cities that have no pro sports presence.
2. Large fan base
3. They do have more national titles, but our success other than championships is pretty close.
4. Both had trouble with the NCAA unfortunately.
5. Both rely on the graduate transfers now
6. Both good recruiters but not at the elite level of Duke or Kentucky
7. Recruit based on system, and will do really well some years even without McD AA's.
8. Both in the next tier below the blue bloods.

And finally both schools are going through a transition with long time hall of fame coaches who will be leaving. (except our coach can contain himself while in a restaurant)
 
jncuse said:
I would say Louisville.

1. Non state school (in name anyway). The schools are king in cities that have no pro sports presence.
2. Large fan base
3. They do have more national titles, but our success other than championships is pretty close.
4. Both had trouble with the NCAA unfortunately.
5. Both rely on the graduate transfers now
6. Both good recruiters but not at the elite level of Duke or Kentucky
7. Recruit based on system, and will do really well some years even without McD AA's.
8. Both in the next tier below the blue bloods.
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Beat me to it. I think Louisville is by far the best comp. We're also #6 and #7 respectively all time in program winning percentage.

I know that many on this board will feel we're much better than them, but when you sit down to think about it, it's an almost perfect analogy. Louisville over the past 10 years has been as good as any team in that span, same as us, but no one remembers them as such--same as us.
 
I was going to say Arizona as well, especially when Lute was the long time coach there. They own their city. They don't compete with any professional sports. They are consistently good. The only big difference is that it is a public vs private college. Oh, and the weather.
 
NYCorange said:
Beat me to it. I think Louisville is by far the best comp. We're also #6 and #7 respectively all time in program winning percentage.

I know that many on this board will feel we're much better than them, but when you sit down to think about it, it's an almost perfect analogy. Louisville over the past 10 years has been as good as any team in that span, same as us, but no one remembers them as such--same as us.
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I don't consider it an insult to be compare to them -- not that I have any doubt about your observation you have made about others. Sure it would be nice to be in the blue blood category, but being in the next tier is pretty good. To me it is a much better and more complimentary comp than Arizona.
 
For consistency and longevity, I don't see anyone who compares. During the JB Era, a BAD year for us is an NIT appearance. All other programs, even the blue bloods, have gone thru down periods where they have a losing record or miss the postseason entirely.
In my lifetime I can never remember an SU team ending the season in the negative. JB critics will try to say it's due to an inordinate number of cupcakes that JB plays, but how does that explain having the winningest record in the best, most toughest conference ever formed, the original BEast?
What separates us from our peers like Arizona or Louisville or MSU, is the fan support that's reflected thru our attendance records, and the dogged consistency of one James Arthur Boeheim.
 
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NYCorange said:
I also think that until a few years ago, UCONN would have been a good comp as well.
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I won't give my traditional snarly response about UConn. They have accomplished a lot in the modern era and one can certainly look at their resume and the 4 titles and say it is a compliment to be compared to them.

But moving forward it is certainly not a good comparison. The AAC is a major hindrance and an unenviable position to be in. I would feel bad for most fanbases that were put into such a situation. However, I said most and not all for a reason. "Sixth letter in the alphabet" UConn.
 
Louisville. And that is why I am seriously bummed that we are not partner teams in the ACC. Instead we get the horrifically awful and traditionally irrelevant Pizzleburger.
 
Arizona's benefitted from an extremely weak conference the past decade.
 
You guys all took my answers. Good topic. Arizona & Michigan State. I agree with Louisville but didn't think of it until I saw it posted.

What makes us unique: JB's longevity and the zone. Since no one else plays the zone, it's hard to compare anyone to us stylistically. (I hope we run more this year. That was our style in the 80s and early 90s and that's what made us fun to watch.
 

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