Sick of Hearing About All This Big East Hype? Too Bad.
5 Comments Published on 10.25.2006 by Hoya Suxa
. . . And so begins Syracuse's imaginary 31-0 regular season.
Today marks the 27tth installment of Big East basketball media day. Syracuse -- a charter member of the famed conference -- fared well with respect to pre-season conference honors and prognostications.
2006-2007 Big East Pre-season Rookie of the Year
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to Orange fans, but income freshman and universally acclaimed Basketball Jesus Paul Harris was tabbed by league coaches as this season’s pre-season Rookie of the Year:
2006-2007 Big East Pre-season Rookie of the Year
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to Orange fans, but income freshman and universally acclaimed Basketball Jesus Paul Harris was tabbed by league coaches as this season’s pre-season Rookie of the Year:
Syracuse's Harris was ranked in the top 10 nationally by some recruiting services. The 6-5 forward was a second team selection on the USA Today All-USA Team. He played on the USA Junior Select Team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit. Harris has already been picked as the national newcomer of the year by Blue Ribbon and Athlon magazines.2006-2007 Pre-season All-Big East Team
Unsurprisingly, the Orange placed only one player on the pre-season all-conference squad: Terrance Roberts. He was not, obviously, a unanimous selection.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse’s sophomore shooting guard and resident body paint exhibitionist, was tabbed as an honorable mention selection.
2006-2007 Big East Pre-season Poll
The coaches have spoken: Syracuse should remain competitive in 2006-2007.
Unlike the league’s beat writers, the Big East fraternity of coaches picked Syracuse to finish the regular season in the third position. The Orange also received a first-place vote, which is more than Connecticut received. As the press release notes:
Syracuse was picked for third place with 182 points, just one point ahead of Marquette. The Orange, who have won the last two BIG EAST Championships Presented by Aeropostale, finished 23-12 last season. This year, SU returns four starters but must replace guard Gerry McNamara, who graduated.A .pdf version of the 2006-2007 Big East Conference media guide can be accessed here.
finally we're getting close to the season. the buzz about Harris is deafening, and well deserved.
The season can't start fast enough.
Seven legitimate pre-season Tournament teams with the potential for a couple more if individual seasons break right.
Once again, there are no nights off in the Big East. You've got to love that.
It's about time the other coaches in the league gave Syracuse a couple of props. I agree with Pitt being the frontrunner so it's nice that we're getting some props, especially above UConn.
Plus Paul Harris will be off the chain.
Let's be serious though. Syracuse is nowhere near the top three teams in this conference at this juncture. Given the question marks created by Boeheim's senior class, much of Syracuse's pre-season love is probably attributable to potential, rather than serious expectations.
When it comes down to it, Connecticut and Cincinnati are probably underrated. Syracuse and DePaul are probably overrated.
The question is, consequently, how much?
I think the real question that will impact the Big East the most this year is how good is AJ Price really? That will, in my mind, determine the fate of the top 8 teams in the Big East. That and how many bricks/lost balls Watkins will have for the Orange. I'm also not convinced on DePaul yet, so we'll see how the non-conference slate goes for all the teams above.
But I'm definately ready for the sport right in my wheelhouse to start.