Quote:
Originally Posted by jcruse64
2 undefeateds left. Murray could get nailed by anyone, although getting Aska back in the next week or so will help a lot. What about 'Cuse-who do you see knocking them off???
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I'll deal with this one first, Joe. As with your Racers, anybody can knock Syracuse from the undefeated ranks. Against a zone, all it takes is one guy getting hot from downtown, or a bad defensive rebounding effort from the Orange, and they're down by 6 or 8 possessions . . . from which a zone-based team has difficulty recovering, especially as they have no experience pressing to force turnovers and increase possessions. But to be more specific, here's the games I'd be more leery of, were I Jim Boeheim:
1/21 @ Notre Dame = The Irish are not great, but they don't stink either. Plus, South Bend is not the Dome.
1/23 @ Cincinnati = The Bearcats have some bad losses, and some good wins too. And again, the Orange will be on the road.
2/8 Georgetown = 'Cuse is back home, but this is a dangerous Hoya squad. They themselves may not be experienced, but their coach has seen that zone many times, and knows how to attack it.
2/11 U. Conn = Pretty much the same story here, save that the Huskies do have more experience, and maybe a bit more talent too.
2/13 @ Louisville = The third tough game for Syracuse in less than a week, on the road again, and against another dangerous team. Yeah, Pitino's boys have sucked at times, but you know Rick will have them focused for this one. If they can respond . . . well, that's another question.
2/19 @ Rutgers = I don't know how they are doing it, but the Scarlet Knights have managed to surprise better teams, on their own court anyway. Even if the Orange survive all the above, and maybe more so if they do, I could see them coming into this one with a cocky attitude, and taking one in the stones.
2/25 @ U. Conn = In a mirror-image of the 'Cuse, the Huskies are tough at home and not so much on the road. Playing in the Nutmeg State perhaps adds enough spice to turn the table.
3/3 Louisville = You'd suspect, or if you are a Cardinal fan you'd hope, that by this point in the season Pitino'd have his team primed and ready for post-season. This game may not be key to Syracuse to secure them a high NCAA bid, but it might be huge for Louisville. If Rick can impart that to his kids, they should be hyped and focused.
Plus, even if the Orange can survive this minefield, they then enter the Big East tournament, where anything can happen. Remember last year, with the Huskies coming in with a 9-9 conference record, only to ride Kemba Walker all the way to the championship? And ALL of the above ignores the other possible factors: injuries, illness, suspensions, bad calls, bad weather, whatever. So there might not be your answer, but it may help some (including Orange faithful) understand why I don't see them going without a loss all year.
Back later, I hope.