What's the better year for SU hoops: 2009-10 or 2015-16?

[Lawrinson14]

Just curious what everyone thinks. Is the post season all that really matters?

2009-10:
30-5
Big East Regular Season Champs
Sweet 16

2015-16:
currently 23-13
Sub par regular season in the ACC
Currently in the final 4

 

[OrangeYaGladi]

09-10 was the best team we've had since 02-03.

But there's no doubt about it: 15-16 is the better year for SU hoops.

 

[Cusefan0307]

There's no doubt we had a better team that year, but this season will be always be more satisfying.

 

[RowdyOrange]

A surprise run to the final four when just a few weeks ago we thought we were a bubble team at best is hard to beat.

 

[Jake]

IMHO, if AO doesn't get hurt, we cut down the nets...and if we cut down the nets that year, I would argue it would have been the greatest SU team of all time. Healthy, I would take that team against ANY SU team ever except for maybe the team that got beat by Illinois in the elite 8 in 89(?). 09-10 would have taken out the 03 NC team.

 

[Mano22]

This is a very good question, I agree with Jake here for sure. But still, in a vacuum, given what happened, what was the better year? I think I have to say 2009/2010. Really put us back into the blueblood mix after we had been middling since the 03 title. Plus that team was light years better than this years. I generally agree that postseason success trumps all, but unless we win it all this year (or maybe lose a nailbiter in the final or something I guess) I think I would choose 09/10 over this year.

 

[raf4488]

This year obviously will have a better ending, but start to finish 09-10 was a much more enjoyable season. Elite programs need to have elite teams, and we did that year and in 11-12 as well.

 

[jec1521]

All about March for me. This year has been the most satisfying season for me personally. I just started watching Cuse hoops in 2001 when I was 12, so I didn't get the full effect of how special winning a championship really was.

 

[RF2044]

IMHO, if AO doesn't get hurt, we cut down the nets...and if we cut down the nets that year, I would argue it would have been the greatest SU team of all time. Healthy, I would take that team against ANY SU team ever except for maybe the team that got beat by Illinois in the elite 8 in 89(?). 09-10 would have taken out the 03 NC team.

Good post. I don't know if the 09-10 team would have cut down the nets, but I think they would have gone a lot further in the tourney with AO not getting injured. I'm fairly certain that we would have overcome Butler, and from there--who knows.

Great team, also agree about the 89 team perhaps being the best ever, record notwithstanding.

But in terms of overall years, this team has accomplished more as a function of getting to the final four, compared to 09-10 getting only to the sweet 16 and then getting upset. That was a very frustrating outcome for such a talented team. That AO injury sunk a perfectly offensively balanced team's chemistry and depth.

 

[SUFan44]

IMHO, if AO doesn't get hurt, we cut down the nets...and if we cut down the nets that year, I would argue it would have been the greatest SU team of all time. Healthy, I would take that team against ANY SU team ever except for maybe the team that got beat by Illinois in the elite 8 in 89(?). 09-10 would have taken out the 03 NC team.

I would also argue that if we had Fab Melo for the 2012 tournament, we beat Ohio State and make the Final Four. Not sure we end up beating Kentucky or Kansas, but those two separate issues with our centers are the only thing that separates us from four Final Four appearances in the last seven seasons. Pretty incredible.

 

[two3zone]

11-12

 

[jec1521]

I am surprised so many people are saying 09-10 or even 11-12. I understand that those teams were better, but a Final Four is a final four. Would anybody rank our Nova game in 2010 to become #1 in the country above the past 2 games we just played? These last 2 games were ***ing legendary.

 

[General20]

I've never really gotten why people lose their minds over tournament results.

This year SU beat three mediocre (or worse) teams and had five brilliant minutes of basketball against a Virginia team that was leading for most of the game. And everyone would trade an entire season of brilliant basketball for that? Why even watch if that's the case?

 

[CorduroyG]

This year, not even close.

 

[Toga]

I would also argue that if we had Fab Melo for the 2012 tournament, we beat Ohio State and make the Final Four. Not sure we end up beating Kentucky or Kansas, but those two separate issues with our centers are the only thing that separates us from four Final Four appearances in the last seven seasons. Pretty incredible.

If we didn't get hosed by the refs against OSU, we would have been in the FF.

 

[CorduroyG]

I've never really gotten why people lose their minds over tournament results.

This year SU beat three mediocre (or worse) teams and had five brilliant minutes of basketball against a Virginia team that was leading for most of the game. And everyone would trade an entire season of brilliant basketball for that? Why even watch if that's the case?

In football would you rather your team go 15-1 but lose in the playoffs? Or go 9-7, sneak in the playoffs as the last wild card team, and make a run and at least get to the super bowl?

Ncaa tournament is all that matters. Nba and nhl playoffs are all that matter. Golden state could set the record for wins, but if they dont win it all they had a better season last year.

 

[QUSE]

I bet if you ask Michigan State, Kansas and Virginia fans if they would trade their season for ours, most of them would do it in a heart beat

 

[CusefanATL]

A surprise run to the final four when just a few weeks ago we thought we were a bubble team at best is hard to beat.

don't forget the feeling you had when we were 24-1 - after losing to lemone. it was probably just as surprising as this final 4 trip.

but postseason is all that counts. And arinzes injury killed all of our hopes.

But if we still get by Butler, we coast to the championship with the other 3 games (i think it was kstate, an avg mich st team, and duke the rest of the way - let me double check)

 

[Ptzburghcuse]

This year has been rewarding due to the circumstances surrounding the team and the hate being thrown our way by virtually everyone - just read the "Is Syracuse the Worst Final Four Team of All Time?" article currently on the Mens homepage on ESPN - can'y imagine how they get away with such blatant trashing - I ope our boys read it and use it.

The 09-10 season was special and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it - we had options at every position and the team was a joy to watch - the ending was unfortunate.

 

[br801]

This season isn't even over. Why would I even ponder the question until then?

 

[two3zone]

I am surprised so many people are saying 09-10 or even 11-12. I understand that those teams were better, but a Final Four is a final four. Would anybody rank our Nova game in 2010 to become #1 in the country above the past 2 games we just played? These last 2 games were ***ing legendary.

For example, 11-12, the ENTIRE season up until the last game (well, maybe when Fab was deemed ineligible) was a party. Every bar was packed in the Cuse for the away games, every game seemed full for the home games and it was a party atmosphere anytime the team was mentioned. It was a full season experience of excitement.

Outside of this tournament this season did not do that. I wasn't there but from what I've heard from people around town there was little to no buzz, trouble getting the dome full, and a stinker in the ACC tourny while limping into the tournament. There is zero doubt that the tourney has been exciting but for what it's worth the last two games, Zags and Virginia made this, not the first two games. We have a great thing to cheer about and to be ecstatic about but we're high off of last weekend and that's pretty much it, not an entire season. Maybe the high is higher but the season I mentioned just seemed electric from the opening game tip off until the end.

 

[jec1521]

For example, 11-12, the ENTIRE season up until the last game (well, maybe when Fab was deemed ineligible) was a party. Every bar was packed in the Cuse for the away games, every game seemed full for the home games and it was a party atmosphere anytime the team was mentioned. It was a full season experience of excitement.

Outside of this tournament this season did not do that. I wasn't there but from what I've heard from people around town there was little to no buzz, trouble getting the dome full, and a stinker in the ACC tourny while limping into the tournament. There is zero doubt that the tourney has been exciting but for what it's worth the last two games, Zags and Virginia made this, not the first two games. We have a great thing to cheer about and to be ecstatic about but we're high off of last weekend and that's pretty much it, not an entire season. Maybe the high is higher but the season I mentioned just seemed electric from the opening game tip off until the end.

Understood. Maybe I am coming from a different angle since I am not a local. To me, some attendance doesn't mean much.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Best team we have ever had is 2011-2012, imo.

 

[A Clockwork Orange]

I have to say, I think I'm in the minority with this one. Let me preface all I'm about to say with this: This run has been amazing. The Gonzaga and UVA wins were all time classics for SU sports fans. These couple of weekends have been awesome, and I won't soon forget it.

Here's the thing though, that '09-'10 team was SO satisfying to watch. It came on the heels of two missed tournaments, and a Sweet 16 beatdown. We lost great athletes, who weren't necessarily great basketball players. Expectations were down, and then that team came out of nowhere. And it wasn't just the record. It was the way that team played basketball. Honestly, it was the most enjoyable SU basketball team I've ever watched. Offensively they played the right way. A ton of points came off of assists, they were unselfish, and every cog just fit. We were an Arinze Onuaku bum knee away from winning or at least competing in the national championship game.

That team was brilliant to watch. As a fan of great basketball, that team and that year has it all over this one. The Sweet 16 loss sucked, it was a bitter pill to swallow. But I choose to remember the amazing run up to that point. That was the best offensive basketball team I've ever seen at SU. There have been better or more gifted offensive players (Melo and GMac in 2003) but there has never been a team that played as a unit better than that one on offense.

So I tend to favor the 2009-2010 team, because it gave me nearly 16 weeks of incredible basketball. This team has given me two weekends. And what weekends they have been! But they still can't compare to the quality of basketball that '09-'10 team played.

 

[Cuse House]

Both years were special for different reasons. I don't think one is necessarily better than the other. Now, if we win Monday night that all changes. The '09-'10 team started a special 4 or 5 year run for this program that is almost unmatched by any team. This year we underachieved all year but started winning when it really counted. In all honesty though, that 2009-2010 squad would wipe the floor with this current team any day of the week. That was a complete basketball team until AO got hurt.