Yes, it is the end of the world...

[cto]

Perusing this board for past three days, one would think SU was Rutgers or some equally ill-fated and inept program. Looking at the record...shows something totally different.

In the past four seasons (including one in which we were not eligible), SU has two Final Four appearances.

Only two other schools (Kentucky and Wisconsin) have as many, and no one has more. Not Duke, not Nova, not UNC, not Kansas (which has zero), not anyone.

Sometimes perspective is a good idea. Or maybe we are just spoiled.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Perspective is great.

Premise of this post is great.

Final fours are great.

Does not change the fact our offense is unwatchable and has been for some time. It's okay to acknowledge that while appreciating the past accomplishments.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Or maybe we are just spoiled.

41 years worth. But some people don't think that HOFJAB can coach. So we have Lydon, Coleman and Roberson in basically the same role. Howard as the new starting point guard and everyone else basically new to the program. Amazing how many people are jumping ship because the team hasn't jelled yet. We are not even done with the OOC schedule yet. Last year we lost three OOC games also with a team a lot more experienced playing together. Thank you for the post.

 

[jec1521]

As stated Final Fours are awesome, but there is no denying that regular season wise we have been struggling since losing to Boston College with those god awful blue shorts.

Then again, it wasnt long ago that we all said that we would trade our great regular season success (2009-2012) for final fours and a NC.

I guess we all just want both.

 

[SUfaninAZ]

 

[OrangeDW]

Perspective is great.

Premise of this post is great.

Final fours are great.

Does not change the fact our offense is unwatchable and has been for some time. It's okay to acknowledge that while appreciating the past accomplishments.

I feel like our pieces were just limited last year and the year before, offensively.

This year we're just a disjointed mess so far. Hopefully these guys gel, because on paper we have the pieces to have a pretty good offense, in my opinion. They are just completely out of sorts right now.

 

[Ryand877]

I am not implying that we are an ill-fated program or on the level of a team like Rutgers. I'm sure many will disagree with this, but I'm never going to go along with the "we are spoiled" theory. If we are or want to be an elite program, expectations are supposed to be high every year. I'm sure if Duke was 5-3 right now, they wouldn't say that they have been spoiled. They would be upset like we are because they are an elite program. I'd like to consider Syracuse in that category, but we are probably a notch below. Just saying if you want to be an elite program, there are other things that come along with that. Just my opinion, not trying to debate with anyone

 

[We Are Syracuse]

I am not implying that we are an ill-fated program or on the level of a team like Rutgers. I'm sure many will disagree with this, but I'm never going to go along with the "we are spoiled" theory. If we are or want to be an elite program, expectations are supposed to be high every year. I'm sure if Duke was 5-3 right now, they wouldn't say that they have been spoiled. They would be upset like we are because they are an elite program. I'd like to consider Syracuse in that category, but we are probably a notch below. Just saying if you want to be an elite program, there are other things that come along with that. Just my opinion, not trying to debate with anyone

Agree w/ this!

 

[pearl31]

Perspective is, indeed, the operative word here. And many on this board lack it.

 

[CusefanATL]

Perusing the board here for past three days, one would think SU was Rutgers or some equally ill-fated and inept program. Looking at the record...shows something totally different.

In the past four seasons (including one in which we were not eligible), SU has two Final Four appearances.

Only two other schools (Kentucky and Wisconsin) have as many, and no one has more. Not Duke, not Nova, not UNC, not Kansas (which has zero), not anyone.

Sometimes perspective is a good idea. Or maybe we are just spoiled.

Perspective changes just by looking at something differently.

I havnt posted or thought that the sky was falling. But if I were a betting man, I would bet that we will not make the tournament this year. I think that makes the only time in my life I would place that kind of wager by a December 5th.

I certainly hope things change - but I'm not as cheerful or optimistic or energized as I was in early November.

 

[newmexicuse]

The problem is simply that almost everybody on this forum, myself included, had high expectations for this squad. Plain and simple this team is not fulfilling it's expectations both on an individual player performance basis and on a squad basis. As a fan, I want to see the teams I root for play with intensity and play smart. Beyond that the W's will take care of themselves. Regretfully, I see neither effort or smarts from the vast majority of players so far this season and it has to be said, but much of that has to fall on the staff.

Add to that a very disappointing recruiting season to date, and yes, that is a formula for forum unrest.

And to your point, so what if we have been spoiled as a fan base and so what if we have had some recent FFs, that doesn't change the issues that are at large with this year's team.

 

[Jasoncuse]

I'm sure every single person on this board is appreciative of our recent FF's. I am. But I'm also pretty realistic as to how this program has performed in the regular season in recent years. It's simply not what any of us expect or want. The offense has simply disintegrated over the past 5 or so years and it shows no signs of improving. We've had a number of recruiting misses in recent years and completely swung and missed on all the high end recruits in the 2017 class. While the FF's have obviously buoyed the program recently and masked some of the issues, they don't take away those issues and how this program has trended down since joining the ACC. Maybe it's a bad regular season stretch, maybe it's more. We just want this program to be successful, but with JB's pending retirement, we have no idea where this program is headed. And that's a bit scary.

 

[Cuse House]

Final Fours mask the fact we have been average the past few years. Even JB himself has said he thinks of success more as having a good season overall. I don't necessarily think going 19-13 in the regular season and then making the final four is a successful season. It was a great run, but last year was agony for most of the year. We all have orange-colored
glasses, but at some point we have to be realistic. Our offense is terrible, our recruiting has been below average (to this point), and we just lost to a rival who is straight up terrible. Everyone wants to say "Well look at our final fours," but wants to ignore the obvious decline of the product. I would much rather have a season like 2012 and lose before the final four than last years squad because we had months of top notch basketball. I understand cto's point, but we are Syracuse, we shouldn't just settle for the easy excuse.

 

[81South]

 

[Cusefan0307]

Final Fours mask the fact we have been average the past few years. Even JB himself has said he thinks of success more as having a good season overall. I don't necessarily think going 19-13 in the regular season and then making the final four is a successful season. It was a great run, but last year was agony for most of the year. We all have orange-colored
glasses, but at some point we have to be realistic. Our offense is terrible, our recruiting has been below average (to this point), and we just lost to a rival who is straight up terrible. Everyone wants to say "Well look at our final fours," but wants to ignore the obvious decline of the product. I would much rather have a season like 2012 and lose before the final four than last years squad because we had months of top notch basketball. I understand cto's point, but we are Syracuse, we shouldn't just settle for the easy excuse.

I'm sorry, but I disagree here. I would take UConn's garbage regular seasons and National titles in 2011 and 2014 over 34-3 any year. That's just stupid. Titles are titles.

 

[Cuse House]

I'm sorry, but I disagree here. I would take UConn's garbage regular seasons and National titles in 2011 and 2014 over 34-3 any year. That's just stupid. Titles are titles.

We are talking final fours, not titles. If we won last year, it would be a different story, but we didn't. I agree with a title, but I would rather have a great overall season and lose in the elite 8 than have a bubble season and make the final 4.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We are talking final fours, not titles. If we won last year, it would be a different story, but we didn't. I agree with a title, but I would rather have a great overall season and lose in the elite 8 than have a bubble season and make the final 4.

The problem is we have had great regular seasons, lost before the final four and people are still mad. I think the moral of the story is some people won't be happy either way.

 

[tbonezone]

 

[Cuse House]

The problem is we have had great regular seasons, lost before the final four and people are still mad. I think the moral of the story is some people won't be happy either way.

Oh trust me, I understand that. I have never been mad when we lose in the final four, although I have been upset that we have been bounced by inferior teams due to injury (Butler).

 

[llandz]

I would rather peak late in the season then early and then flame out. This team just needs to find themselves. With 2 5th year seniors and at least one freshman if not 2 playing large roles, it will take some time to find the right flow and leadership. I think the UConn game was a wake up call for the players and we hopefully will see a team leader emerge from this. Last season we won the early tournament and we all thought we were the best team ever, and then quickly found out, maybe not so fast. Even with the UConn loss, I saw improvement in the new starting line. As long as we are taking steps forward, then I am ok. And let's not forget that someone made that starting lineup change, namely the head coach. So the thread where he is being totally admonished, and comments being made that he is burned out just do not fly when you see the effort is being made.

 

[dollarbill44]

Perspective is, indeed, the operative word here. And many on this board lack it.

The funny thing about perspective is that everyone has it, but it only seems valid if it matches your own.

 

[pearl31]

The funny thing about perspective is that everyone has it, but it only seems valid if it matches your own.

but then it's no longer perspective!

 

[cuseinseattle]

I am not implying that we are an ill-fated program or on the level of a team like Rutgers. I'm sure many will disagree with this, but I'm never going to go along with the "we are spoiled" theory. If we are or want to be an elite program, expectations are supposed to be high every year. I'm sure if Duke was 5-3 right now, they wouldn't say that they have been spoiled. They would be upset like we are because they are an elite program. I'd like to consider Syracuse in that category, but we are probably a notch below. Just saying if you want to be an elite program, there are other things that come along with that. Just my opinion, not trying to debate with anyone

If Duke were 5-3 I don't believe Duke fans would be calling Coach K arrogant and all sorts of negative things and questioning succession plans.

 

[two3zone]

I'm sorry, but I disagree here. I would take UConn's garbage regular seasons and National titles in 2011 and 2014 over 34-3 any year. That's just stupid. Titles are titles.

To go one step further. I'd take 34-3 over a final four, but I'd take a title over 34-4.

 

[Forza Azzurri]

To go one step further. I'd take 34-3 over a final four, but I'd take a title over 34-4.

Never.

I'll take a .500 season with a final four over an undefeated regular season with an elite eight.