Nunes and Coach P would have smoked UConn.

It is that time of the week when I throw some questions at Sean from Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician, and he heaves back some intelligent, well thought out answers. Then I proceed to edit them until he sounds like a moron Then I post them for your information and enjoyment. Today we talk about that terrible UConn game, Greggers, the basketball team, and the implications of expanding Big East football. As always enjoy.

1. Orange::44: Before we get to Greg, your thoughts on that UConn game?

Nunes: Do I have to relive it? Syracuse football games seem to have developed a pattern this season. We do a couple good things early to instill a sense of hope that it'll be different this time and then we pull the rug out from under ourselves. If the running game is clicking, we start chucking up tons of passes. If their running back in decimating us, we don't adjust or tackle properly. And it's best not to think about where we'd be without our special teams unit. Bless their hearts.

It ended up being exactly what I thought it would. Anytime we play a team with a good running game, we're done. We can't stop it. End of story. Everything else is just window dressing. We do what we can to try and keep it respectable but we can't. We just don't the horses.

Offensively, it was pretty dreadful. How did our passing game get this bad? It's almost impressive. Almost as much as Greg's need to keep Dantley and Robinson in there instead of just blowing the whole thing up and trying out Legree. What could it possibly hurt at this point? Especially at the end of the game.

2. Orange::44: Was this the correct time to dismiss Robinson and what do you think about how the school (and specifically DOCTOR Gross) handled it?

Nunes: Well, the CORRECT time was at the end of last season. But given the circumstances and taking into account that the decision was left this long, yes it was the right move. Why delay the inevitable and keep that black cloud hanging over the program? Everyone, including Robinson, knew he was out, so you might as well get it out there so everyone can loosen up for the last couple games and then by the time the season is over we should have a fairly clear idea as to who the next coach might be.

3. Orange::44: Is Randy Edsall your guy now, or do you favor another coaching alternative?

Nunes: On paper, he's the best fit. Syracuse alum, worked extensively for the football program, strong Northeastern ties and he's a proven winner and program-builder. Can't ask for much more than that, my friends. Throw in the bonus that by poaching him you make one of our rivals weaker and I think that would put him over the top. That said, if he's not interested (which I don't believe) then we need to look around. There's some great names out there but I have to say there aren't a lot of coaches that make me think "YES! GET THAT GUY! PAY HIM WHATEVER HE WANTS!" Throw in the fact that there are a lot of high-profile programs out there looking for coaches that look a lot better than we do (Tennessee, Clemson, Washington, maybe Auburn).

I have a feeling Syracuse fans are expecting a white knight to come in and rescue us and I just don't think that's the case. I think we're going to have to accept the fact that the next coach will likely be a very good but not very "sexy" pick. I turn to Ben Folds in a time like this...

There's never gonna be a moment of truth for you
While the world is watching.
All you need is the thing you've forgotten
And that's to learn to live with what you are.

4. Orange::44: Now that Greg knows there is no tomorrow after the last two games, how do you think this will affect his coaching and the team for the upcoming Notre Dame game?

Nunes: Knowing that Greg has a bit of a soft side, I think you're going to see a lot of the backups and young players get an opportunity to play, especially if either game gets out of hand. He's no longer under the impression that "we're still in this, fightin' the fight" so maybe that will allow him to take a step back and realize it's about the players now. It's about their experience and their growth and he can give them that as a final thank you.

Will there be more trick plays and more of a go-for-broke attitude? I don't know...you still want to try and win the game and you have to be smart to do it. I don't think fourteen flea-flickers is the way to go there. But if a late-game situation calls for going for it on fourth down, expect to see it. If the team is punting but needs the first down, you might see another fake (which worked very well last week). The offense should open up slightly, but not that much.

5. Orange::44: The basketball team has had two (after Richmond) games now. What are the major pros and cons you see in this team so far?

Nunes:
Pros
Jonny Flynn. He's as good as advertised.

Arinza Onuaku is really taking up space down low. He becomes more valuable and a better player with every game. He's going to challenge Paul Harris for "Unsung Hero" status each game, assuming he gets enough touches.

It's way too early to discuss chemistry but I think the team is heading in the right direction. Everyone is slowly but surely beginning to find their place and it's only going to get better.

Cons
Any interaction with women. Ever. Ugh.

Free-throw shooting. This is going to come back and bite us in the ass. Don't know what to say other than Hit Your Free Throws!

Andy Rautins is going to need some time to get his legs under him. Please oh please don't let anything happen that forces Andy to progress sooner than needed (Devo leave, freshman not step up, etc.)

6. Orange::44: Who do you really see as the clutch, go to guy for the basketball team to take that last second shot?

Nunes: Whether he takes the shot or not, I want the ball in Flynn's hands with seconds ticking off the clock. I trust him to, most of the time, make the right decision. McNamara had that, and every time I doubted him for taking an absurdly long three, he made it. Or made the smart pass. I trust Flynn in the same way.

7. Orange::44: Grab Bag Big East Question: Do you ever see a day when the Big East will have enough members to have a conference championship, and who would you take to do it?

Nunes: I think Big East football has no choice. Grow or die. Maybe not in five years, maybe not in ten, but eventually the Big East is going to have to join the other conferences by expanding to double-digits. Otherwise, it will cease to exist or cease to have the same value. Hell, if the Mountain West keeps this up they might make a case for taking our place sooner than we think.

So you need 12 teams to have a conference championship, right? That means we need four teams to join the conference. There's two ways to go about it, the pie-in-the-sky and the realistic options.

My pie-in-the-sky options would be:
Villanova moves up to 1-A (giving us back the Philly market and keeping it in the family)
Penn State wises up and comes home.
Boston College does the same.
Notre Dame finally caves and join the conference.

Now THAT'S a Big East! But let's be realistic, none of those things are going to happen anytime soon. So working with what we've got...

East Carolina gives us access to the Carolinas and expands our reach.
Memphis gives Louisville a natural rival and expands the reach some more.
Army gives Syracuse an in-state rival.
Navy gives us Baltimore and makes Army vs. Navy a Big East affair.

Honestly, I'd rather not have Memphis, Army or Navy in the Big East, but if we gotta expand, that's what we have to work with.

Thanks Sean as always. Do you think Greg is listening to Song For The Dumped over and over again?

Before you depart, a brief programming note: Nunes::44 and Orange::44 is an Absolute Magician articles will appear here and on Nunes/Magician every Wednesday from now on, instead of Tuesdays like previous installments.

Editor’s Note: This is another installment in the ongoing collaboration between Orange::44 and Nunes/Magician. Usually every other Wednesday Nunes::44 will appear here, while the following week Orange::44/Magician will appear on his site. Until then, enjoy Nunes/Magician articles and stay tuned to Orange::44 for complete postgame coverage from every Syracuse game.