402 replies to this topic

[The Filthy One]

Figured it was time for a new thread.

To kick things off: DeShonte Riley following Rob Murphy out the door to Eastern Michigan. Kind of disappointing, though I suppose he was fourth on the big man depth chart, behind Melo, Kieta, and Christmas. Still, it always hurts to see a 7-footer leave the program.

Edited by The Filthy One, 24 October 2011 - 10:56 PM.

[RedOctober3829]

Syracuse, NY -- The girlfriend of Syracuse University basketball player Fab Melo told police that the two have had a “volatile relationship” and Melo has been physically violent with her four or five times since they began dating in October, according to a Syracuse police incident report.

On Monday, the 22-year-old woman fled Melo’s Slocum Heights apartment after Melo became jealous, first of a phone call and then of males who had posted comments on her Facebook wall.

On Tuesday, she was escorted to the Syracuse police’s Domestic Violence Unit by an assistant district attorney, where detectives interviewed her. She told them that coming to the police was “her last resort,” records state.

On Wednesday, Melo, 20, was charged with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, accused of breaking off the turn signal arm of her 2003 Chevrolet Impala and arraigned in Syracuse City Court.

She told police Melo was very possessive and did not want her to associate with another male.

The woman is a student at SUNY Upstate, where she is studying physical therapy. She and Melo dated from October until May, when they broke up. She told police they recently got together again.

Link

[Dan Murfman]

Home and away for Cuse next year:

Uconn, Louisville and PC

[Rossox]

Home and away for Cuse next year:

Uconn, Louisville and PC

An absolute crime that G-Town & Cuse do not play each other twice EVERY year. This sums up my thoughts best: Open Letter to the BE.

On a different note, I'm glad the Orange are making a trip back to the Dunk again this year. I know I'll be at that one.

Also, Cuse in Storrs on Feb. 25 for College GameDay.

GameDay at UConn

Edited by Rossox, 11 August 2011 - 10:59 AM.

[The Filthy One]

Ben Detrick has a fun essay on Grantland today about why Syracuse will win the NCAA Championship. More stylish prose piece than actual prediction.

He's a player capable of creating a spark when the Orange's offense slips into sodden stagnation, but he's also an arsonist who can engulf the entire building in the hellfire of mayhem. An adequate 36 percent shooter from deep, Jardine nevertheless regards any successful trifecta as a sign from the basketball oracles that his moment as an omnipotent Sun God has arrived. He'll squander the team's next three possessions, hoisting up long-range prayers and committing acts so sinful that Boeheim will twitch like a Pentecostal snake-handler. Or maybe Jardine's faith is rooted in cold, boring mathematics: He just understands that cranking out two misses gets him closer to another swish. Either way, the good news for the Orange is that they will not live or die by his fickle hand this season.

Why Syracuse Will Win the National Championship

[LeftyTG]

Ben Detrick has a fun essay on Grantland today about why Syracuse will win the NCAA Championship. More stylish prose piece than actual prediction.



Why Syracuse Will Win the National Championship

I had been looking forward to this piece all week and was really disappointed when I read it. As you said, it was more stylish prose piece than any kind of actual analysis. Not to be a nit picker, but is it too much to ask a lifelong Syracuse fan from Rochester to know that it is Bouie, and not Bowie? Also, is it really accurate to call the departure of Rick Jackson a "pear shaped void"? I realize Jackson wasn't in tip top shape in his early years, but he was chiseled last year and not exactly pear shaped before that. He was never a Herb Pope or Josh Smith physique.

[RedOctober3829]

DaJuan Coleman, local top prospect, committed to Syracuse.

https://twitter.com/#!/AdamZagoria/status/128902297978814464

[LeftyTG]

huge get for Syracuse. I was worried that Calipari was going to steal him.

This sets up the Syracuse front court with a ton of high quality depth. Melo, Christmas, and Coleman were all elite recruits and even Keita was a top 60ish guy. Melo and Coleman are both wide bodied bruisers with a soft touch, and both Keita and Christmas are long, rangy athletes who can get up and down the floor, so there is some variety there. There will be a lot of length in the back of that zone with a lot of shot blocking and altering ability.

The future continues to look bright for Syracuse. There is a ton of talent on the team for the next several years.

[ivanvamp]

huge get for Syracuse. I was worried that Calipari was going to steal him.

This sets up the Syracuse front court with a ton of high quality depth. Melo, Christmas, and Coleman were all elite recruits and even Keita was a top 60ish guy. Melo and Coleman are both wide bodied bruisers with a soft touch, and both Keita and Christmas are long, rangy athletes who can get up and down the floor, so there is some variety there. There will be a lot of length in the back of that zone with a lot of shot blocking and altering ability.

The future continues to look bright for Syracuse. There is a ton of talent on the team for the next several years.

As an SU alum (class of '91), I've seen my share of great Orange teams. I think this year has the potential for the 'Cuse to be as good as they've ever been. The roster is *loaded*.

G - Jardine, Triche, Waiters, Cooney, Carter-Williams
F - Joseph, Fair, Christmas, Jones, Southerland
C - Melo, Keita

That's *12* quality players. They have everything: ballhandlers, shooters, athletic wings, big men, slashers, shot blockers, depth, veteran leadership, youth....everything. It's just a question of them putting it all together.

[bosox1025]

It'd be nice to have one thread solely focused on the team...

Big game against Florida tomorrow. It'll be the first one I'm able to watch--do people buy into them as legitimate Final 4 contenders this year? Seems like Southerland and Waiters are really coming along (albeit against some pretty dreadful competition).

[LeftyTG]

Talent wise? Absolutely a Final Four contender. I love the growth in Waiters, Melo, and Fair and this team is both incredibly deep and incredibly versatile. They can go big or small, play up tempo or grind it out. As an unexpected bonus, Boeheim has shown he isn't afraid of stapling Scoop to the bench late in the game and going down the stretch with Waiters/Triche as the guards.

The problem is this season doesn't exist in a vacuum. In my mind, given the craziness and uncertainty going on around the program, all bets are off. I just don't see any way of knowing where the team will be mentally as the season wears on. This will be especially true if the rumored Laurie Fine sexual affairs with players thing comes out. I just don't see how the players will be able to handle several months of media firestorm regarding things not related to on court activities.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Another team performance related aspect to the scandal; how important a role did Fine have and now that he has abruptly departed, can Gerry McNamara adequately fill in this season? I'll be honest, I have no idea what Bernie Fine's role was in terms of coaching. Anyone have any insight? Is this a big loss in regard to in-game coaching, preparation, player development, etc. that could manifest itself on the court as the season progresses?

Edited by Bucknahs Bum Ankle, 01 December 2011 - 12:41 PM.

[Rossox]

The ongoing development of Melo, Keita and Christmas is likely where this team will miss Fine the most. Should be a good test tomorrow night.

[The Filthy One]

Glad somebody bumped this thread. I love the hydra-like talent on this team. Anybody of about 8 or 9 guys can have a big game for them. Waiters, Fair, and Southerland are huge assets off the bench. I think my biggest on the court concern for the team is whether Kris Joseph or Waiters can be "The Man" at the end of a close game. We saw Joseph do it in NYC, so maybe he's up to the task.

[LeftyTG]

nice win against a pretty solid Florida team. This team still has a few issues on offense to iron out, but the talent and ability is there. They were clearly the better team last night, and only the fact that Syracuse was ice cold from three while the Florida guards were hitting some threes a step or two behind the NBA line kept the game even reasonably close. Syracuse can really be a monster defensively when they are motivated.

[bsj]

gotta bump the thread for the likely #1 ranking tomorrow.

[Rossox]

Indeed, this team has a lot of weapons.

[Rossox]

#1 in both polls.

Rankings

[bsj]

NC State is a massive game.

They are better than the Wolfpack, but its the first "road" game vs a quality opponent. A win validates much of what they have done so far, in the eyes of the nonbelievers. A loss and they will probably fall big, potentially as low as #6 or #7.

Edited by bsj, 12 December 2011 - 01:17 PM.

[ivanvamp]

Pretty impressive win for SU last night. Hung in there against a solid opponent in a crazy loud building...fell behind, put on a spectacular run to end the first half. Took a string of bad shots to let NC State right back in it in the 2nd half, but finished very strong. Overall, a 16-point win at NC State is a very good win.

This team is absolutely loaded. One of the best recruits in the nation, Rakeem Christmas, is playing like 2 minutes a game for them. Carter-Williams, another top-shelf freshman, played 2 minutes. And the guy that's probably their best shooter, Cooney, was redshirted.

As excited as I am for this current year, I'm also thinking two years down the road. This team will still have Melo, Keita, Waiters, Fair, Christmas, Carter-Williams, Cooney, and two excellent recruits for 2012 in DeJuan Coleman (#10 in the US), and Jerami Grant (#60 in the US).

[LeftyTG]

Pretty impressive win for SU last night. Hung in there against a solid opponent in a crazy loud building...fell behind, put on a spectacular run to end the first half. Took a string of bad shots to let NC State right back in it in the 2nd half, but finished very strong. Overall, a 16-point win at NC State is a very good win.

This team is absolutely loaded. One of the best recruits in the nation, Rakeem Christmas, is playing like 2 minutes a game for them. Carter-Williams, another top-shelf freshman, played 2 minutes. And the guy that's probably their best shooter, Cooney, was redshirted.

As excited as I am for this current year, I'm also thinking two years down the road. This team will still have Melo, Keita, Waiters, Fair, Christmas, Carter-Williams, Cooney, and two excellent recruits for 2012 in DeJuan Coleman (#10 in the US), and Jerami Grant (#60 in the US).

I agree the future looks bright, but I think next year is the "look out" year. Maybe I'm just cynical, but I don't think there is any way Waiters will be in college his senior year. Frankly, I'm hoping he'll come back next year. Similarly, given the improvement and trajectory of Melo, the scarcity of true centers in the NBA, and the fact that Melo is already a 21 year old sophomore, I don't expect him on the team in two years (unless his development flatlines, of course).

Next year the team loses Joseph and Scoop. CJ Fair will be ready to step into Joseph's position, and frankly, with Scoop there is a bit of addition by subtraction. Scoop has been more under control this year, but I think a strong argument can be made that Scoop is the least talented guard among Waiters, Triche, MCW, and Cooney. Next year Waiters and Triche can start with MCW coming off the bench and Cooney acting as the deadeye shooter. The team will be absolutely loaded down low, having Melo and Christmas with another year of development and Coleman, who is an offensively inclined center, coming in. I actually think there may even be a chance that Keita redshirts. He's a useful player, but I don't see a whole lot of minutes for him. If he would be willing to sit a year, Melo, Christmas, and Coleman all could very well be out of the program in the following year or two. Keita would be a valuable bridge to whatever younger bigs they bring in.

Defensively, next year they could be even better. A lineup of Waiters and MCW at the top of the zone with Christmas, Melo, and Fair in the back would be very long, very quick, and very disruptive.

The team will still have ridiculous depth, with four quality guards, three quality post players, and depth on the wing with Southerland and Grant. They should have an uptick in post scoring with the addition of Coleman and the continued development of Melo and Christmas. Waiters already looks like an 18-20 ppg scorer, and Cooney is there to keep teams honest from three.

I like this years team, but I really love the potential for next year's team.

[Rossox]

Just beat the #7 RPI team in the nation by 26 pts and KJ didn't score a single point. The depth on this team is amazing.

[ivanvamp]

Just beat the #7 RPI team in the nation by 26 pts and KJ didn't score a single point. The depth on this team is amazing.

Geez...I didn't realize that Seton Hall was having that good a season.

For everyone who complains about SU's "weak" schedule, according to (http://statsheet.com/mcb/rankings/RPI), SU has the highest strength of schedule number of any team in the rpi top 10, and they have the #10 SOS in the nation so far. So they are unbeaten against the 10th toughest schedule in the country.

So......they're pretty good.

[Doooweeeey!]

Hypothetical question: Could this second five make the NCAA tournament?

Waiters
Southerland
Keita
CJ Fair
Michael Carter-Williams

My guess is probably not, the supporting cast being the big question.
But damn this team is deep...

Edited by Doooweeeey!, 02 January 2012 - 09:32 AM.

[LeftyTG]

assuming, for the sake of the hypothetical, you are discounting any depth issues and looking at it as "would a starting 5 of the above who take the majority of minutes be good enough for the tournament", then I'd say yes, easily. I think they'd be a fringe top 25 team.

The more interesting question might be, which is the better 5, the starters or the second team?

Scoop------Carter-Williams
Triche------Waiters
Joseph------Southerland
Christmas---Fair
Melo-------Keita

Melo has really started to break out in the past few weeks, which in my opinion really pushes the starting 5 over the top. But prior to that, it is a really close call. Fair and Waiters are essentially starters, where Fair has a massive advantage and Waiters a decent one. Joseph has a big advantage over Southerland. MCW is quicker and more athletic than Scoop and probably has a small advantage defensively being 6'5" at the top of the zone. He has also shown he is one of, if not the, best passers on the team. Scoop has value as a 5th year senior, in terms of running the team, which gives him a slight advantage.

The second team is a bit more offensively explosive and better defensively, especially on top of the zone. The first team is steadier, more well rounded, and would have a big rebounding edge.

[ivanvamp]

assuming, for the sake of the hypothetical, you are discounting any depth issues and looking at it as "would a starting 5 of the above who take the majority of minutes be good enough for the tournament", then I'd say yes, easily. I think they'd be a fringe top 25 team.

The more interesting question might be, which is the better 5, the starters or the second team?

Scoop------Carter-Williams
Triche------Waiters
Joseph------Southerland
Christmas---Fair
Melo-------Keita

Melo has really started to break out in the past few weeks, which in my opinion really pushes the starting 5 over the top. But prior to that, it is a really close call. Fair and Waiters are essentially starters, where Fair has a massive advantage and Waiters a decent one. Joseph has a big advantage over Southerland. MCW is quicker and more athletic than Scoop and probably has a small advantage defensively being 6'5" at the top of the zone. He has also shown he is one of, if not the, best passers on the team. Scoop has value as a 5th year senior, in terms of running the team, which gives him a slight advantage.

The second team is a bit more offensively explosive and better defensively, especially on top of the zone. The first team is steadier, more well rounded, and would have a big rebounding edge.

I know Mookie Jones doesn't really play, and Cooney is redshirting, but those two guys may be the best pure shooters on the team. Put Jones on the first team (since he is "active"), and put Cooney on the second team. That makes for a heck of a 6-on-6 matchup.

One real tangible way this has to help this team: practice scrimmages. Most teams have their first unit go up against a far inferior second unit. Here, it's basically equal competition in practice. That has to have a real benefit over the course of the season.

[Doooweeeey!]

My pessimism is centered only around the difficulty of Big East conference play. It's a meat grinder.
And to clarify my question, yes I was thinking about a team with the above players, with an "average" supporting cast.

I can't think of a Boeheim team with this much quality in all my years as an alum/fan.

Great point about the practice team, ivan...

Edited by Doooweeeey!, 02 January 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[LeftyTG]

I can't think of a Boeheim team with this much quality in all my years as an alum/fan.

Great point about the practice team, ivan...

Just wait until next year, IF Waiters and Melo stay for their jr. year. The guards will lose Scoop, but gain Cooney (the deadeye shooter they're missing this year) and MCW and Waiters will be a year mroe polished. The forwards lose Joseph, but CJ can step into his starting role pretty seamlessly - might lose a bit of shooting but gain in rebounding and defense. The centers will have a even more polished Melo, solid depth in Keita, and will be adding top recruit DeJuan Coleman - a big who can score. Provided all the underclassmen stay, I think next year's team will be much better than this year's team.

I also agree on the point about the depth helping on the practice court. It also helps keep hard work and motivation up. If anyone starts dogging it, or are playing outside the team concept, then they are easily replaced in the game. I think back to the year Flynn/Harris/Greene were all freshmen, and Rautins and Devendorf had blown out their knee and Syracuse had absolutely no depth. Boeheim couldn't take them out of the game, and they played like it. Being a Syracuse fan, I'm not used to it, but I'm loving this whole quality depth thing.

[ivanvamp]

Just wait until next year, IF Waiters and Melo stay for their jr. year. The guards will lose Scoop, but gain Cooney (the deadeye shooter they're missing this year) and MCW and Waiters will be a year mroe polished. The forwards lose Joseph, but CJ can step into his starting role pretty seamlessly - might lose a bit of shooting but gain in rebounding and defense. The centers will have a even more polished Melo, solid depth in Keita, and will be adding top recruit DeJuan Coleman - a big who can score. Provided all the underclassmen stay, I think next year's team will be much better than this year's team.

I also agree on the point about the depth helping on the practice court. It also helps keep hard work and motivation up. If anyone starts dogging it, or are playing outside the team concept, then they are easily replaced in the game. I think back to the year Flynn/Harris/Greene were all freshmen, and Rautins and Devendorf had blown out their knee and Syracuse had absolutely no depth. Boeheim couldn't take them out of the game, and they played like it. Being a Syracuse fan, I'm not used to it, but I'm loving this whole quality depth thing.

And so far, JB has managed this roster very well. He's got so many guys he can go with, he can just ride out the first half and determine who is having a good game, and run with those guys in the 2nd half. It can happen, but the odds are not good that all 10 guys are going to stink on the same night. Somebody is going to be hot.

[Rossox]

Anyone else making the trip down to the Dunk tonight? A 9pm start is odd for a Wednesday game that isn't nationally televised. Very excited to see this team live.

[LeftyTG]

that thrashing of Seton Hall is starting to look better and better.

[ivanvamp]

that thrashing of Seton Hall is starting to look better and better.

Nice solid win on the road against Providence. They just keep on rolling.

[Doooweeeey!]

38 minutes from CJ Fair last night. I would think we'll see him as a starter soon.
Probably will replace Christmas, who's looking more like a freshman right now. He's picking up lots of fouls in short minutes.

It's definitely a luxury for Boeheim to be able to play Christmas like he has.

[ivanvamp]

38 minutes from CJ Fair last night. I would think we'll see him as a starter soon.
Probably will replace Christmas, who's looking more like a freshman right now. He's picking up lots of fouls in short minutes.

It's definitely a luxury for Boeheim to be able to play Christmas like he has.

I wouldn't change a thing. Fair may respond better coming off the bench.

[Rossox]

This team is definitely fun to watch in person. Credit PC for playing hard and keeping it close at times, but I was never worried about this one. Way too much talent on the floor compared to the Friars. When Cuse played defense in the half-court, PC simply had no answers. They did a good job w/ dribble penetration against the zone in the first half, but when SU turned it on - it was over.

The fast break dunk by Joseph brought the house down. He was really the only player on the floor who I was a little disappointed in, though. He was trying a little too hard to get his points at times, which his talent alone enabled him to do.

When Triche's stroke is on from outside, this team is pretty much unstoppable.

First time I have seem MCW. Wow, that kid is quick. The future definitely looks bright for the Orange. It's just so hard to get that kid minutes right now with the way the rest of the team is playing.

Agree on Fair, although Christmas did get a lot of minutes last night. Fair was playing center for a good stretch there in the 2nd half.

Waiters is a beast. He could be 1st team Preseason All-Big East next year.

Nice revenge game coming up on Sat against Marquette.

[Doooweeeey!]

I wouldn't change a thing. Fair may respond better coming off the bench.

Not sure I buy this. The guy played all but two minutes of the game.
It's more likely they don't want to "demote" Christmas.

Either way, it's a nice problem to have.

[ivanvamp]

Not sure I buy this. The guy played all but two minutes of the game.
It's more likely they don't want to "demote" Christmas.

Either way, it's a nice problem to have.

Yes it is, and I agree that it might be as much about Christmas as it is about Fair. Think about Fab last year...started every game basically but only averaged a couple of minutes a night.

[Doooweeeey!]

Yes it is, and I agree that it might be as much about Christmas as it is about Fair. Think about Fab last year...started every game basically but only averaged a couple of minutes a night.

If Christmas develops anywhere close to how Melo has, the team will be in great shape next year. (See Lefty's posts...)
And he will develop. We're not talking about Craig Forth here...

They're churning slowly toward the tough part of the Big East schedule, and Boeheim won't risk a player's development for wins.

So we're both right. ;-)

[Doooweeeey!]

Boeheim chimes in about the bench depth:

“I’ve said this about this team,’’ Boeheim said. “We don’t have the one or two guys that you have to leave in the game the whole game that are that much better than six, seven or eight.
When we had Derrick Coleman we had good players at seven and eight, but not ones that beat them in practice.’’

Full Article

[ivanvamp]

Another impressive win for the Orange tonight, manhandling Villanova by 13 on the road (the game wasn't as close as that score may make it appear). The announcers said SU's bench would be the 7th or 8th best team in the conference, which probably means that their bench would be an NCAA tournament team.

Which is amazing.

[luckysox]

Another impressive win for the Orange tonight, manhandling Villanova by 13 on the road (the game wasn't as close as that score may make it appear). The announcers said SU's bench would be the 7th or 8th best team in the conference, which probably means that their bench would be an NCAA tournament team.

Which is amazing.

The bench had over 50pts. Insane. This is the best, deepest SU team I have ever seen. Period. The only issue is the no "go to" guy, but when you are 10 deep and there is no drop off from 1 to 10, any guy can be that guy. The announcers were calling it a line change when Boeheim brought 2 or 3 guys in at the same time. It amused me.

[alydar]

Funny how sports passions wax and wane. When I was in high school, SU basketball was clearly my #1 passion -- I'd say Moten calling timeout in the second round against Arkansas in '95 is right up there with the '03 ALCS and the '07 Pats SB in my personal all-time-worst sports moments. But now due to a combination of not living as near to Syracuse, much less free time on my hands, etc. etc. I don't follow the team nearly as closely.

I don't know why I'm bothering to post this, maybe just that the few minutes of reading this thread reminded me how much fun SU hoops is and perhaps I should make more of an effort to engage it more. Put another way, when I tune in to the Saturday game against PC and they lose, you are more than welcome to blame me!

[luckysox]

Funny how sports passions wax and wane. When I was in high school, SU basketball was clearly my #1 passion -- I'd say Moten calling timeout in the second round against Arkansas in '95 is right up there with the '03 ALCS and the '07 Pats SB in my personal all-time-worst sports moments. But now due to a combination of not living as near to Syracuse, much less free time on my hands, etc. etc. I don't follow the team nearly as closely.

I don't know why I'm bothering to post this, maybe just that the few minutes of reading this thread reminded me how much fun SU hoops is and perhaps I should make more of an effort to engage it more. Put another way, when I tune in to the Saturday game against PC and they lose, you are more than welcome to blame me!

The Moten timeout still haunts me, too. Man, that dude was a smooooooth player.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

The Moten timeout still haunts me, too. Man, that dude was a smooooooth player.

Poetry in Moten! That was a shitty way for the season to come to an end (and I was on campus at the time), but it was only the second round of the tourney and it wasn't like anyone thought they had much of a shot at the Final 4 that year. Plus they still had a chance in OT and couldn't get it done. It sucked for sure, but life just kind of went on. I don't recall any rioting on M-Street or anything like that. In fact, I remember being a lot more disappointed when they lost to Kentucky in the finals the following year, even though they had played way over their heads to get there.

[bsj]

I was a graduating HS senior and had been accepted (and decided to attend Syracuse's Newhouse School) literally weeks prior.

This was my indoctrination to Syracuse sports, that timeout.

[LeftyTG]

The bench had over 50pts. Insane. This is the best, deepest SU team I have ever seen. Period. The only issue is the no "go to" guy, but when you are 10 deep and there is no drop off from 1 to 10, any guy can be that guy. The announcers were calling it a line change when Boeheim brought 2 or 3 guys in at the same time. It amused me.

I don't understand this criticism either. Waiters is clearly the most offensively gifted guard on the team and can create his own shot. If you prorate his scoring average to 40 minutes, he's putting up 23/game. Syracuse could put the ball in Waiters' hands and surround him with 3 very good spot up jump shooters in Triche, Joseph, and Southerland (each who hit over 40% from 3) and have Melo down low to go after any putbacks. Waiters has the ability to get to the rim against anyone, and if he draws a help defender he is surrounded with guys who can knock down an open jumper.

[ivanvamp]

I was a graduating HS senior and had been accepted (and decided to attend Syracuse's Newhouse School) literally weeks prior.

This was my indoctrination to Syracuse sports, that timeout.

Funny. Mine was similar. I got accepted to Newhouse in the spring of 1987, and I started rooting for Syracuse for that 1987 NCAA tournament. Obviously that was the Keith Smart game, so my first "I'm an SU guy" experience ended in heartbreak. I went to go to school there and live there until I moved to CT in Feb 1996. That was the year they lost to Kentucky in the championship. In-between, nothing. So right before I got to Syracuse they went to the Final Four, and right after I left Syracuse they went to the Final Four, but all the years I lived there, they did bupkus.

How wonderful 2003 was as a fan! This year I think SU has the best team I've ever seen, except for that 2003 team. I think that 2003 team was better, not because they won the national championship, but because they were loaded. Carmelo, Warrick, G-Mac, Edelin, Pace, Duany, and even their bigs were solid that year. But this year is really fun for sure.

[Rossox]

Talent wise, I would put this year's team in my Top 3-4 with the '03 and '89 teams, and the team from two year's ago is pretty darn close, too. The '89 team with Coleman, Owens & Thompson was loaded in the front court and they had Sherm at the point. That's 3 NBA players right there and Thompson was an unbelievable college player. Up until '03, I always thought that was the most talented team in SU history - at least in my lifetime. But, that team didn't play D like this current team AND the '89 team was absolutely brutal at the free throw line, which was always the case with SU for some reason. Depth wise that team doesn't compare either, but then again what team in the JB era does?

The '03 team takes the cake for obvious reasons. They played D, had length at the top of the zone, a penetrating PG with size, a stone-cold assassin in G-Mac, Warrick and some guy named Melo. The reality is that this team hasn't don't anything. Yet.

Ivankamp, you saw some pretty talented teams during your stay in Syracuse. Underachieving? Yes, especially from '88-90 but very talented and some great rivalry games with G-Town. Moten was excellent but there was a noticeable drop-off in talent after Owens left until the Wallace team in '96. I remember the expectations heading into '96 being pretty low after Moten's departure....just like in '87 after Pearl left.

[Rossox]

Ho hum, just beat PC by 23.

[ivanvamp]

Ho hum, just beat PC by 23.

LOL. 11 guys played 8+ minutes (including Mookie Jones!!). Nobody scored more than 13, but six guys had 8 or more. Defense held PC to just 35.1% shooting and caused 22 Friar turnovers.

SU also assisted on 23 of 30 field goals, which is an amazing number. Great team basketball from the 'Cuse.

Nice sports day for me yesterday....UConn women won, SU men won, Pats crush the Broncos. I'll take that!