Chris: There were a few factors. The first being that the terrible defense finally caught up with WVU. The unit got away with it against Baylor and Texas. However, when a unit is that bad it's only a matter of time before it gets burned. So, the minute the offense slipped, WVU fell off. The amount of pressure put on Geno Smith and the offense was just too much. If WVU had to punt a few times early they would find themselves down two scores in no time. It just became impossible for them to keep up with efficient teams. After a few losses the team's confidence was noticeably shaken, and games that should have been wins just ended up being garbage fires. It took a Herculean effort led by Tavon Austin to right the ship.

O::44: How have the fans reacted to now playing Big XII opponents?

Chris: It's been a great transition. Sure, the season hasn't gone the way most would want, but it really has been fun. Changing UConn and Rutgers to Oklahoma and Texas has been incredibile. Especially for one of the lone Big East schools that was football-first. I think most fans would love to still have Pitt and Syracuse on the schedule, but really nothing else is a huge miss from the Big East.

O::44: What is the most important unit to the success of West Virginia?

Chris: It would have to be the offense. The defense just doesn't have the talent to keep WVU in games, so the offense better be hitting. Look for WVU to use Austin a lot early to try and create some big plays. The Mountaineers will give up points, so Geno and the offense better be ready to keep pace.

O::44: Obviously the WVU offense can score. Why does the defense have such trouble stopping opponents?

Chris: A lack of consistent pass rush, which then kills very weak cover corners and backers. There's just not a lot of talent, experience or depth at those positions, and it has really hurt WVU. The middle of the field is pretty good. The Mountaineers can and have stopped the run. However, the pass has simply murdered WVU all year. If Ryan Nassib has a good pocket, he will pick the secondary apart.

O::44: Most fans don't seem happy being in the Pinstripe Bowl. Why is that? What are your thoughts?

Chris: The fans are ridiculous. A bowl game is a bowl game. Anytime you make the postseason it's a good season. The problem is many thought this team had a chance to make a serious run at the BCS this year. That was never going to happen with the defense that WVU put on the field.

It's also great for a big alumni base that typically is untapped. Folks don't understand how big the northeast WVU alumni base is. Northern New Jersey and New York have very good alumni numbers, and I expect a decent showing in the Bronx. Plus, it's not a bad drive from Maine, so I'll take it.

O::44: WVU is favored, but the crowd will definitely be more SU fans than WVU. I think this game is more of a push, don't you agree?

Chris: This game is completely a push. There should be more Cuse fans, but I still expect a nice showing of blue and gold. On the field we have two offenses that will probably dictate the game. If you're a betting man take the over.

O::44: Final predictions?

Chris: First to 40! I'll take WVU 42-40 Maybe they'll have the ball last. I really dont expect WVU to stop Syracuse. I also think Geno, Tavon and Stedman Bailey will have huge final games for the Mountaineers. Plus, Dana Holgorsen will have nearly a month to create some crazy gameplan.

Thanks to Chris and the fellas over at the site. My answers to his questions can be found here, so be sure to check those out as well. We'll be seeing Chris in New York and there's a Twitter bet on the line so stay tuned.

Labels: Blog Talk, Bowl Games, Bowling, Football, Preview

1. Orange::44: Cincinnati was in position to win the Big East again. Now it's a toss up. What happened?

Bearcat’s Blog: It's been a combination of things. The defense, which had played well most of the season (Tennessee excluded), has been gashed for huge yards the past couple of weeks. West Virginia put 400 on them. Rutgers, which hadn't run on anyone, ran for 200 yards. The kicking team has had a problem giving up blocked kicks this year, and they gave up a block on the tying attempt against West Virginia. The offense has sputtered with Zach Collaros on the sidelines. It's been a combination of things hammering UC at once, and it's been a little too much for them to overcome.

2. Orange::44: How big is the loss of Zach Collaros. Is your team done?

BB: It's gigantic. He wasn't just the quarterback, he was the offensive captain. To say UC was lost without him against Rutgers would be a lie. Munchie Legaux has talent, but he flat out hasn't played well. He's only hit 42% of his passes since Collaros got hurt. Rutgers keyed in on the running game, forcing Munchie to beat them, and he couldn't. Now, Butch Jones is putting in packages for Jordan Luallen and saying that the starting job is potentially open.

I don't know if UC is done, mainly because the schedule has gotten softer (sorry Cuse fans), but hopes of winning the Big East are fading away like Marty McFly's family when he was playing the guitar during the prom and his dad let the guy cut in on the dance.

3. Orange::44: Who is the best player on your team now that Collaros is done?

BB: Isaiah Pead. It was Isaiah Pead all season offensively. When Pead is getting yards, the Cincinnati offense has been tough to stop. When UC was in the Tennessee game in the first half, Pead had 130 yards. The rest of the game he had 22 and UC scored 9 points. He's been a threat in the passing game as well this season, but didn't get a ball thrown to him against Rutgers. The Pead 50 yard TD against Louisville turned that game, and is the only thing keeping the Cardinals from being the outright leaders.

Defensively the most talented player is Derek Wolfe. He's got 14.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and is a big reason why people haven't run the ball on UC. He's the only guy on the defense that seems like he could be in the NFL tomorrow.

JK Schaffer is the heart and soul of the defense though. He's among the Big East leaders in tackles. He is tied for the team lead in INTs and passes broken up, and he goes hard every play. Losing him would hurt the defense more than Collaros being hurt has changed the offense.

4. Orange::44: So who do you think is going to win the Big East now?

BB: West Virginia. They shouldn't lose to Pittsburgh or South Florida. I'm disappointed that they are back to having a great chance of winning the league. I would love to see Rutgers or Louisville win the league, just so people bitch and moan about the Big East having a team that is clearly inferior in a BCS game. I think the weird outrage people get about a team that isn't that good playing in a game they aren't going to watch is funny.

5. Orange::44: What scares you about this Syracuse team the most?

BB: I'm worried that Syracuse is going to play the same kind of game Rutgers did against the Bearcats. Run the ball down their throat, keep the defense on the field, go on long drives, and that they stop Isaiah Pead. I think Munchie Legaux could be a good QB next year, but I don't know how I feel if he's forced to win the game.

6. Orange::44: Admit it. Your team is losing on Saturday right?

BB: I will never admit any such thing. I will admit that it should be an interesting contest.

7. Orange::44: What is Cincinnati Basketball going to achieve this season?

BB: That's the question on a lot of people's minds. Obviously the loss to Presbyterian is a giant WARNING sign in some regards. The biggest test for his team is going to be their defense. If they defend well, they are going to win. If they don't, they are probably going to lose. Same as last year in that regard. Depth is a big issue. Starters have seen 30+ minutes a game against subpar competition, which is never a great thing to see. There is no one off the bench that seems like they are going to get theirs offensively, like Sean Kilpatrick last year. It's going to be an interesting year.

8. Orange::44: What is it about cooking shows that make them fascinating?

BB: I have no idea. I think some of it is because it's easy to judge from just looking at it. You can say "oh man that pasta is burnt to hell," and not sound like a moron. I think another part of it is that cooking is something that we all can do, and do somewhat well. Obviously it's not going to be top shelf material, but the average person could cook a good meal. Thrown in the competition aspect of things and it's got appeal. The fact it seems every other female cooking show host is hot is a plus. Most of the male hosts are insane, like whoever the Sweet Genius guy is, or they are complete a-holes, which draws in the viewer. And they are fun to watch, you can jump in at any time and know what's happening and they are on all the time.

Thanks to Scott for answering the questions and enjoying great television. You can follow him on twitter @cardscott5, along with the blog @BearcatsBlog. When you do, be sure to whish him a Happy Birthday today. You can read my answers to his questions here!

Labels: Big East, Blog Talk, Football

1. Orange::44: West Virginia is playing very well right now, with their only loss to LSU. Do you see West Virginia winning the Big East this season?

Chris: I do. If WVU plays their game, it's hard to see them losing more than one game in the Big East. And it seems that one loss may do it this season in the conference. The Mountaineers can't bury themselves with mistakes and slow starts. If they do, then anything is possible. But, strictly looking at the matchups, they are pretty favorable on paper. But, hey... there's a reason they play the games so we'll see.

2. Orange::44: Syracuse got the better of West Virginia in Morgantown last year. What is the number one thing WVU has to do to make sure that doesn't happen again?

Chris: They have to protect the ball. The Mountaineers have been buried by mistakes the last few years, and the biggest issue is protecting the ball. It put them in a hole against LSU earlier this year, and got them in a bit of trouble against Connecticut. If WVU holds on to the ball, and gets off to a good start they are a tough team to hang with. Special Teams needs to continue to improve as well. The unit did well in the last game, but overall has struggled. Look for Syracuse to try to exploit the unit as much as possible.

3. Orange::44: Geno Smith seems to be much more consistent this season. Do you agree?

Chris: It's a great scheme for him to play in. He has a live arm, and is now able to show it off. His completion percentage is a bit low, but he is also throwing the ball much more. He moves well in the pocket, and is tough to bring down. Geno is also a natural leader, and you can see it on the field. It's been fun to watch him mature. He also has a very good crop of receivers.

4. Orange::44: WVU has had consistent strength at running back the last several years. Now, who has taken over the running duties and is he living up to the recent past?

Chris: Dustin Garrison is the latest to take the reins. He is a freshman from Texas, who has done well the last two games. I wouldn't say it's a done deal that he's the primary back, but he has certainly taken the lead in that department. You will also see Shawne Alson on short yardage and freshmen Andrew Buie and Vernard Roberts as well. But, this offense doesn't have a true rusher like you have seen in the past with WVU. The true superstar now is Geno Smith.

5. Orange::44: Obviously Syracuse is most vulnerable in the secondary. What is the Mountaineers' biggest weakness and how can Syracuse exploit it?

Chris: WVU seems to be improving defensively, but the pass rush is still inconsistent. Look for Syracuse to let some plays develop early to see if they can find open receivers down the field. The Mountaineer kick coverage is also a bit of a disaster. They have already allowed two touchdowns and are one of the worst teams in Net Punting in the country. Look for the Orange to try to do as much as possible to win the field position battle and time of possession.

6. Orange::44: Finally, some quick thoughts on Syracuse no longer being a conference opponent in the not too distant future?

Chris: It's strange. It's a better rivalry than most people want to believe. There have been some great games throughout the years, including huge upsets and even huge brawls. It will be interesting to see if the two schools look to pay some non-conference games. Maybe not every year, but at least on occasion.

Labels: Big East, Blog Talk, Football

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

Labels: Audio Euphoria, Basketball, Blog Talk, Lacrosse, Nunes/Magician

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

Our good friend Pico, who you may know from his many basketball roundtables at The East Coast Bias, has jumped ship and is the official St. John’s blogger for Sports Blog Nation. His new site Rumble In The Garden is now live and we’re honored he asked us to be his first big Q&A. We’ve done this before so let’s get right to it.

1. Orange::44: St. John’s has had an up and down season so far. How the hell did they lose to Bonaventure and Fordham?

Rumble In The Garden: Experimentation. You know, like kids and drugs? No, the staff was trying to install a more aggressive style of play, but that style exposed some weaknesses in decision-making and defense. And then the staff decided to slow it down, which has been more successful. The team also was struggling to close out on shooters when playing the faster style; they've shored up that weakness a bit.

2. Orange::44: They have bounced back recently beating Big East heavy Georgetown but lost to Notre Dame. What was the difference in those games?

Rumble: St. John's was faster in their defensive rotations against the Hoyas. They were also more controlled or principled in how they went about their offense and defense. And they got better position against the Hoyas. The Irish are also a much better perimeter shooting team; and they can make the Johnnies pay for leaving gaps on the perimeter.

3. Orange::44: Obviously home court advantage in the Big East is important, but Madison Square Garden is usually owned by the Orange. What effect will the crowd have on this game?

Rumble: St. John's fans might actually attend this one; I hear it's a sellout, and that can't just be Syracuse fans from the NYC-area taking up the seats. It should be a pretty lively atmosphere; the game against the Hoyas had a homecourt feel. This one will be a little more neutral, but better than the pro-Cuse feel some recent games at the Garden have felt like.

4. Orange::44: Ten seniors. Break down who to look for?

Rumble: Justin Brownlee is an excellent finisher inside. Look for him to get some touches, but he might pass against Syracuse's length.

Dwight Hardy handles the ball and is a dangerous outside shooter. If Malik Boothe can play, Hardy might have some time off the ball and Dwight can stroke it.

DJ Kennedy is a slasher and can make plays off the dribble.

Justin Burrell will be working the post with strength; he has good athleticism.

Paris Horne is a defensive specialist who will dunk on folks.

5. Orange::44: What is the biggest weakness of this St. John’s team?

Rumble: Either size or shooting. They've played bigger than they are, but I think they will struggle against bigger teams. But the lack of outside shooting has meant that they need to play a controlled style to get the shots they want. If they don't get looks in the paint, the offense (as it has been) struggles. There are players who have shot well in the past, and may shoot well in the future. But right now, no one's killing it from outside.

6. Orange::44: Put it on the line. Is St. John’s making the NCAA Tournament this season?

Rumble: I'm not ready to say yes. But if I have to put it on the line, I say yes.

Thanks to Pico for answering my questions. My answers to his questions can be viewed here. Check back tomorrow with our usual preview of the Syracuse / St. John’s tilt live from New York, and check out Rumble In The Garden for all your St. John's musings.

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

1. Orange::44: Give an outsiders view of the Syracuse program so far this season?

The Collision Course: There's definite improvement in year one under Charlie Strong. Last week notwithstanding, the offense has been remarkably improved, especially the play of running back Bilal Powell. And the defense, even after a couple of tough games against talented offenses, is playing its best football of the year. I think if you'd told fans prior to the season that Louisville would be 4-4 going to Syracuse, they'd have been thrilled.

2. Orange::44: Louisville, like Syracuse, is experiencing a better than expected season. How do you view Louisville so far and where do you see them at the end of the season?

CC: I think Louisville is going to find a way to a bowl. 6-6 seems pretty likely, which means splitting these last four games against Syracuse, West Virginia, South Florida, and Rutgers. So much of how this season winds up will depend on the outcome of the Syracuse game Saturday.

3. Orange::44: Both RB Bilal Powell and Adam Froman are facing injuries and the possibility of not playing this weekend. What is the latest and do you think they will play? If they don't play, who will Syracuse see?

CC: The update given on Powell is that he's "day to day" with some swelling on the knee. So the good news there is that it doesn't appear to have been a serious injury, but more like a nasty bruise right on the knee. I know he and Froman did not practice on Tuesday but I expect them both to play on Saturday. If Powell doesn't or can't go, running back is actually one of the deepest positions on the Louisville team, so there's still going to be some weapons back there. Without Powell, expect Louisville to rotate Blayne Donnell, Victor Anderson, and Jeremy Wright. All three of those backs are smaller than Powell, and Anderson is really the only homerun threat of that group, but Wright and Donnell run hard between the tackles and should do a decent enough job, especially if they're just lightening Powell's load.

If Froman can't go, you'll see Justin Burke, who started a couple of games in 2009. Burke's less mobile than Froman, but the offense really doesn't use many designed runs for the quarterback anyway, so it will still just be a matter of relying on the running game and using a controlled passing game to move the chains.

4. Orange::44: Do your best to explain what is going on in the Big East this season?

CC: The thing I've been saying all along is that the 2010 season is the season where all of the coaching brain drain has come home to roost on the conference. In the past four years, the Big East has traded Bobby Petrino, Rich Rodriguez, and Brian Kelly for Steve Kragthorpe, Bill Stewart, and now Butch Jones. Jones may end up being ok, but, the coaching turnover is just killing the programs at the top and this year, the other schools have just been unable to step up. The league's best chance for respect this year was for Pitt to not lay eggs against its out of conference opponents, but that they did. I think we're at a bit of a crossroads in the Big East where UConn, Cincinnati, and Rutgers are headed back to the cellar, and Louisville, USF, Syracuse, and West Virginia are going to be good programs again. But this year, everyone sucks.

5. Orange::44: Louisville lost to Cincinnati, crushed Connecticut, and then had a poor showing against Pittsburgh. What team is going to show up in the Carrier Dome?

CC: I expect the team that played against UConn to show up. I don't think Syracuse can test Louisville through the air the way that Cincinnati did. However, I don't think Louisville's going be able to move the ball particularly well against a Syracuse team that's playing exceptionally good defense this year. I think you'll see Louisville feed a running back by committee and play good defense and perhaps try to get a big special teams play like UConn.

6. Orange::44: What is the key match ups in this game?

CC: I think the key match up in this game is Louisville's offensive line and tight ends against the Syracuse front seven. Syracuse is playing fantastic football, and in the games it has won, it has won by smothering the rushing attack of its opponents. Conversely, Louisville doesn't win anything without a big game on the ground from either Powell, or Powell + committee. If Louisville can't run better than it did against Pittsburgh, it has no chance on the road against Syracuse either.

7. Orange::44: Finally, how do you see the game turning out?

CC: I'm going to sound like a tremendous homer, but I believe Louisville is going to win this game. I think the Cardinals will get a stellar game from their own defense against a Syracuse offense that's got a banged up Van Chew at wide receiver and is probably going to be without its starting right tackle. Louisville matches up well with teams liek that. Let's not forget, the Cardinals held Pitt to 255 yards of total offense and shut UConn out the week before. I think Powell will play, and play well, and the Cards find a way to end their 11 game road Big East road losing streak, and come home to face West Virginia for a shot at a bowl berth.

Thanks to Mark for his answers. You can check out my answers to his questions when they are posted. Check out The Collision Course for all your Louisville news this season.

Labels: Big East, Blog Talk, Football

Syracuse has a pretty important game this Saturday with Cincinnati. Cincinnati has been one of those up and down teams in the league this year (like everyone else) so I thought we better go to the expert. The first Cincinnati blogger out there was Scott King of Bearcats Blog. So he's basically the Orange::44 of Cincinnati blogs. He was nice enough to take some time and answer some questions on the upcoming game and just what the hell is going on with the league this year. Enjoy.

1. Orange::44: Admit it. You're kind of impressed with how Syracuse is playing right now and this season?

Bearcats Blog: Of course. If someone says they aren't impressed with the Orange, they are lying liars who lie. Syracuse stopped WVU after the first quarter, and generally tortured Geno Smith. The running game has been very impressive. I like Antwon Bailey a whole lot, and even with Carter playing, I'm worried about Bailey.

2. Orange::44: Cincinnati went down to the wire, but just couldn't seem to hold off or beat USF. What are the main issues with Cincinnati right now?

BB: The main thing that stands out to me are gigantic lapses in concentration. The defense will play well, but get lost on an assignment that ends up being a TD. It happened on the spectacular Powell run against Louisville, and it happened at least three times on huge pass plays against USF. The offense had a ton of drops against USF, including what could have been a first down at the end of the game. The offensive line is still an issue. The Bearcats couldn't run the ball against Fresno or USF, which is rather odd because they both have SFU in their initials. If Syracuse stuffs the UC run, I'll add an f to make it 3 for 3.

3. Orange::44: Zach Collaros is on crutches. His start appears doubtful versus Syracuse. Your thoughts?

BB: Obviously it's a huge blow the way he's been playing the past few weeks. Chazz Anderson has started a couple of games, and splits with Collaros in practice, but he's obviously not to the level of Collaros. Anderson has talent, but it is an unknown. He can make throws, and Cincinnati has had pretty good success with their back ups the past few years.

4. Orange::44: Give me your best explanation of what the heck is going on in the Big East this year?

BB: The talent levels have become closer. Granted, some of the teams have much better talent, but their players are inexperienced or injured. Everyone has some players. The new coaches have brought something new to the conference as well. Charlie Strong and Doug Marrone have gotten the programs turned around. Butch Jones and Skip Holtz are suffering from a talent/experience drop off in their programs. I still expect WVU and Pitt to battle for the title, just like everyone thought in the preseason. In that way, nothing has changed.

5. Orange::44: What will the key matchups be in the Syracuse / Cincinnati tilt?

BB: The Syracuse OLine v. the Cincinnati DLine. The Bearcats were pushed around by Louisville to the extreme. Syracuse, like Louisville, isn't going to beat Cincinnati throwing the ball, so it's very important to contain the run. If the Orange can use ball control and clock control, they can keep it close. Fresno St did that to UC last year.

6. Orange::44: Finally, how do you see the game going and what is your final score?

BB: I think it's going to be a good game. I don't really see a ton of points being scored. I think the Bearcats will find a way to win however, because I'm a pretty big homer. It's probably the biggest game of the UC season, because they would have to pretty much win out to get a bowl game if they lose. I'll say Cincinnati 24, Syracuse 20.

Thanks to Scott for the insight and the time. You can follow him on twitter right here. It's good stuff. My answers to his questions are posted here, so you should check those out as well. Should be a good one this Saturday folks, with a decent amount riding on it for both teams. Be sure to check out Bearcats Blog for the Cincinnati prospective leading up to the game.

Labels: Big East, Blog Talk, Football

Labels: Blog Talk, Expert Analysis, Football, Preview

It’s that time again. Welcome to the 2010 SOB’s. Thanks to Cuse Country we know the previous winner. I’ll be your host for this hour as we take a look at the category of Best Syracuse Blog/Fan Video. There were a lot of great videos this year made by the various Syracuse blogs and fans out there, but we take a look at the ones that garnered the most votes from our esteemed panel. First with the losers, or if you prefer, non-winners.

Fourth Place



Brian from CuseOrange picked “The Offering” by our friend Sean at Nunes/Magician.

Third Place



D.A. from The Orange Fizz picked another of Sean’s videos. “Keely's Syracuse Preacher Boy. So intense. I yelled like that when DC missed the free throws.”

Second Place



This one received four votes and it comes from our good friend Matt “The Glaude” Glaude from Hoya Suxa.

Sean from Nunes/Magician: Destroying the Hoya - simple yet elegant. Just like Glaude.

Syracusan from Cuse Country: Anything from Glaude. I can’t even pick.

Steve of CuseOrange: The Glaude's focused hate at its finest. DaVinci quality smack.

Josh from Cuse Country: Hoya Destroya! by Hoya Suxa.

And now, The Winner of the 2010 SOB Award for Best Syracuse Blog/Fan Video goes to..



Glaude again, from Hoya Suxa for his riveting dancing and celebration of Syracuse’s demolishing of Georgetown at the hands of the Orange in the Carrier Dome. He received five votes.

Dan Lyons of Bleacher Report: Hoya Suxa's epic dancing.

Brian Harrison of Orange::44: Glaude had some gems, but the celebration of the Georgetown victory was the best.

Orange Chuck of The Big Orange Bloggers: Hoya Suxa victory dance after the Jan. 25 SU win over Georgetown though thankfully I have a weak stomach so missed his last one following the BET loss.

Jameson Fleming of Bleacher Report: I haven't laughed this hard in awhile.

And finally Andrew of The Three Idiots agreed with me: What Harrison said, that's the best.

So there you have it. The winner of the Best Blog/Fan Video is Hoya Suxa. Congratulations to him and that must mean he’s now chugging three finger’s worth of his favorite adult beverage and taking pantless photos. Kudos to him. The SOB’s roll on with Jameson’s presentation of the Best Sophomore of the year over Jameson's Bleacher Report page at 6:00pm EST. Check it out. I’ll see you back here tomorrow morning at 10:00AM EST for the presentation of the Best Senior. As always, check out Nunes/Magician for today’s results.

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk, Matt Glaude, Nunes/Magician, Syracuse Orange Blogger Awards

MVP
Andy Rautins – Syracuse

First Team All Big East
Scottie Reynolds – Villanova
Da’Sean Butler – West Virginia
Dominique Jones – South Florida
Luke Harangody – Notre Dame
Wes Johnson – Syracuse

Second Team All Big East
Austin Freeman – Georgetown
Greg Monroe – Georgetown
Kemba Walker – Connecticut
Lazar Hayward – Marquette
Devin Ebanks – West Virginia

Most Improved
Kris Joseph – Syracuse
Scoop Jardine – Syracuse
Rick Jackson - Syracuse
Ashton Gibbs – Pittsburgh
Kemba Walker - Connecticut

Freshman of the Year
Lance Stephenson – Cincinnati

Coach of the Year
Jim Boeheim - Syracuse

Game of the Year
Backyard Brawl II - #4 West Virginia v. #23 Pittsburgh 3OT

Honorable Mention - #8 Villanova v. #4 Syracuse

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

The newly minted #1 Syracuse Orange take on St. John’s tonight in the Carrier Dome. An old foe, but not a formidable one in recent years. Either way, in deference to the history and long standing feud between these two teams it was time for another Q&A. This time we exchanged questions with Pico Dulce of The East Coast Bias and Johnny Jungle. They both are done excellently with Pico and both cover St. John’s and The Big East well. The answers to my questions are right here. Pico’s answers are below. Enjoy.

1. Orange::44: St. John's is better than last year, but still not where it needs to be in the Big East to hang with elite teams. What is the Red Storm's biggest issues?

East Coast Bias: The biggest of the big issues, I will touch on later. But in the immediate term, the problems for St. John's are myriad. Most glaring is a general inability to score. They have had some better moments, but a consistent offensive attack has eluded the team for the last 6-7 years. Part of that could be talent, but when you watch the Red Storm tonight, you can see that their execution is a cut below what one might expect from a Big East team. There is a lot of wing-oriented play, but the wings aren't so great that the team should avoid the post players. The Red Storm have done better with respect to turnovers than in years past, but aren't grabbing offensive boards as well, which hurts when the team misses that many shots.

Also an issue is the defense. The defense has been decent overall, but there have been some inconsistent efforts against Rutgers, for example, and against Pitt, where they seemed not to know what the Panthers were doing... though they played them earlier in the year. At their best, St. John's depends on being annoying and disrupting, but the team doesn't do any one thing well that we normally correlate with good defense - they're not tall (or they don't play their height), they don't block many shots, they don't force steals and turnovers, they don't defend without fouling.

2. Orange::44: The Red Storm had Pitt on the ropes for a while. What happened in that game that Pitt came back to win it?

ECB: Well, Pitt had control of the game the whole way through. St. John's will come out hot against good teams for 10 minutes on pure grit and determination. Then the other team will realize they actually have to play and it's not a practice session. More technically, St. John's could not execute on offense. They couldn't get the ball in to Justin Burrell, and they couldn't get clean shots off. On the other end, Panthers were getting open on the wings, they moved the ball around, and easily got deep position in the paint with the likes of Gary McGhee and Dante Taylor, sucking in the defense and creating more opportunities.

3. Orange::44: Paris Horne was outstanding for the team last year. He hasn't been nearly as dynamic this season. Why is that?

ECB: Partly because he has less time; partly because he has a lesser role; partly because the warts were beginning to show a little at the end of last year; and partly it has to be psychological. Horne was a feature guy last year and just seems to have less of "it" this year; but last year, he wasn't great at creating his own opportunities, being a better scorer off the catch in my opinion (since I don't have stats). So if there isn't a guard or wing creating for him, it's hard for him to get shots off.

But his role is different with shooter Dwight Hardy in the mix. Horne has less time to get into the flow of the game, and sometimes he is the focal point for the offense (shooting 3's in the corner), sometimes he's not, and it may be affecting his confidence, the not knowing what he will be doing possession to possession.

4. Orange::44: Would you fire Norm Roberts? If so, who would you hire, besides Jim Boeheim of course?

ECB: I wouldn't hire Jim Boeheim! The goal is to beat Jim Boeheim (and Calhoun and...)!

I would most definitely fire Norm Roberts. I could go into the many ways that this program isn't working, but I will leave that for my own blog instead of complaining on yours. As for who I would hire, it depends a little on the parameters for the school. St. John's wants to stay clean in recruiting and player retention, they probably won't break the bank, and I bet they will be obsessed with a "New York guy." Personally, I would start looking at guys who can build a program, who can get a lot out of decent-to-good players - not just unheralded players, but also not a guy who recruited stars in their area. St. John's isn't going to reel in the top-5 athletes. Maybe not even the top-25. But I envision a St. John's with a coach can evaluate and develop talent, further build relations with local coaches, and maybe craft an out of nowhere win.

It's funny - I can't say who I WOULD hire, pie in the sky type. Maybe Sean Miller. Tom Izzo. John Thompson III. Lawrence Frank. Like Pitino might say, none of those guys are walking through the door. So I'm hoping for someone capable with a decent record so far.

5. Orange::44: Finally, how does this game go down. SU kills St. John's right?

ECB: Yes. I'll be watching with no expectations, it'll be like watching your kids play and thinking, well, just don't get injured out there.

Thanks again to Pico for answering my question, and him asking to do this. Be sure to check out East Coast Bias, as well as Johnny Jungle for all the St. John’s info you can handle. I’m guessing it won’t be a lot, but they will have a great take on the game tonight, which is worth a read.

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

1. Orange::44: Scottie Reynolds seems like he's been at Villanova forever. What kind of legacy do you see him having once he finally leaves school?

IBBW: It really depends on how this year shakes out. If we go back to the Final Four, he's in the conversation for greatest ever. If we win it all, he's absolutely the greatest to ever wear a 'Nova uniform. He's got a great shot at becoming the all-time leading scorer in school history (I think he's got it in the bag actually).

Really, he's been the rock of this program for the last 4 (okay fine, 9) years. After Ray, Foye and Lowry left there was a lot of uneasiness about what would happen to the program. His freshman/sophomores years both felt like they would be spent rebuilding, but he continually took us to the NCAA Tournament and beyond.

I think I'm in love with him.

2. Orange::44: How has your team managed to be so successful this season? Is Jay Wright doing something different or is it simply a matter of talent?

IBBW: A lot of it is just pure talent. You've got Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, who you could argue are the top 1-2 combo in the country some nights. Pena has really stepped up his game and is filling Cunningham's role nicely, and Reggie Redding and Corey Stokes have been there too. Then you have the new guys, who have all been fabulous for freshman. Even Mouphtaou Yarou seems to finally be coming on.

Jay deserves his credit too though, as he's instilled an attitude amongst the team that 1. we're a team, not a bunch of players, and 2. your spot is not safe. That has led to a lot of the younger guys only getting 5-8 minutes a game, but they KILL themselves while they are out there. They know their role and they are good at it, because every one of them has gone through the doghouse phase it's felt like where their effort wasn't up to par.

3. Orange::44: Unlike Syracuse getting flack for LeMoyne beating them in a fake game, Villanova got beat in a real one by Temple in their home gym. Temple is a pretty good team this year, but it's still Temple. What happened?

IBBW: You son of a bitch, I knew you'd bring it up. Temple has turned into a pretty decent team this season, so it doesn't hurt as bad, and all 'Nova fans are accustomed to our one "what the hell?" OOC loss every year.

In that game, Temple (specifically Juan Fernandez) shot the friggan lights out and we couldn't shoot it in the ocean. They are a great defensive team, so I wasn't SHOCKED we didn't shoot well, but I was shocked at how they shot. That is really the story of the game. They would wind the clock down, hoist a 3, and bury it.

4. Orange::44: How will Villanova attack this revamped 2-3 Zone and do you think they will find success?

IBBW: I know you don't want to hear it, but we are one of the few teams that has consistently been able to beat your zone. I realize it is revamped, and I also realize that we don't have Dante Cunningham's automatic 12-15 footer anymore, which is a big issue.

Pena hasn't shown he can hit that foul-line jumper, but I think he's a smart enough player to do some damage in that area. And we're also going to need Corey Stokes and Taylor King to have great shooting nights. There will be stretches where we can't get it inside, so can we hit the jumpers? That's a big issue. Corey Fisher should be able to get by the top of that zone though, and he can cause havoc in the lane.

5. Orange::44: Who, besides Reynolds, will step up for Villanova and make an expected or unexpected impact on the game?

IBBW: As I just mentioned, Stokes and King will be huge. If we're going to win they need to hit some treys. Corey Fisher as well, because if he can get into the zone, he can get the bigs in foul trouble and finish as well. And lastly, Antonio Pena and Mouphtaou Yarou are going to need to deal with Jackson and Onuaku. They're a load. Pena needs help and Yarou looks like he cold be ready to play some D.

6. Orange::44: Finally, prediction time. How do you see this game playing out? Who do you see claiming the top spot in the league?

IBBW: My head says Syracuse. Playing too well right now, and The Dome is going to be insane (still pissed I'm not going). I think they'll be too much for us at their place. I can't believe we aren't playing twice this year. Seems like a crime.

But who would I be if I didn't pick my boys? Scottie adds to his legend and gets us back into the hunt for a #1 seed and gives us the inside track to the conference title. 'Nova squeaks one out 78-76.

Thanks to Chris for the time and answering the questions. The answers to his questions on his site are right here. Get your knowledge on folks.

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

Labels: Audio Euphoria, Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk, Georgetown, Nunes/Magician, Rivalries, Unprompted Hatred

1. Orange::44: What are the things every opposing fan should know about this Bearcat basketball team?

Bearcat Blog: 1) This Bearcats team is a pain to watch on offense. I don't know how many of your readers have watched UC play, so I'm going to apologize in advance. They have 3 players capable of scoring explosions in Lance Stephenson, Yancy Gates and senior Deonta Vaughn, but they go quiet an awful lot. The Bearcats shoot under 30% from 3, and they love to shoot 3s.
2) The Bearcats rebound, and defend relatively well. They have slumped lately, but they are a very good defensive rebounding team. They lead the Big East in defensive rebounding percentage. The Notre Dame game notwithstanding, UC plays tight man to man defense, and everyone besides Vaughn guards well.
3) The Bearcats are good at home and god awful on the road. Unfortunately for the Orange, this game is in Cincinnati where the Cats have only lost to Pittsburgh.

2. Orange::44: Who is the MVP of your team halfway through the Big East slate?

BB: Just in the Big East, it's been Deonta Vaughn. Vaughn was averaging single digits in scoring until conference play started, and is putting up 14.5 a game in Big East play. Overall for the season, it's been Lance Stephenson. Stephenson leads UC in scoring, and is second in assists and rebounds. Stephenson has been banged up lately, missing a game against South Florida and not playing much against Providence, but seems healthy now.

3. Orange::44: What do you think of Mick Cronin as coach?

BB: That's a pretty tough question. I'm sure there a whole bunch of UC fans who don't like Mick because he's not Bob Huggins. Yes, Cincinnati fans are STILL bitter about Huggins getting fire. I like Mick, I really do, but a lot of the fanbase is getting tired of his act including myself. Cincinnati legend Oscar Robertson is not a fan. Mick came into a terrible situation, and has rebuilt Cincinnati to a respectable program. No one thought UC would make the tournament last year, but when they were getting mentioned in late January, expectations raised. UC went in the tank and didn't play in any tournaments. This year, the bar was raised with a McDonald's All American (Stephenson) and the highly touted Gates and Cashmere Wright coming back after missing last season. Add in Deonta Vaughn and people thought UC would compete. However, UC has been horrible on the road. The only road win was against Rutgers. UC gave away a game, literally, to St John's, and gave away another big lead at Seton Hall. Then there was last night. The offense is awful. It makes a Bob Huggins offense look like the 6 seconds or less Suns. Cincinnati is only getting 8,000 a game, which shows the fans aren't buying in. It I don't think the clock is ticking on Mick, but the drum beat for change is starting. It will escalate if UC tanks again late, like they have every year under Cronin. It's not all his fault, but Cincinnati has won 0, that's right 0, games in March in Mick Cronin's 4 years.

4. Orange::44: Cincinnati has not faced a team as talented as Syracuse so far this season. How will they try to contain this Syracuse team and attack the 2-3 zone?

BB: They will play man to man on defense, and may switch up into some zone. Expect to see Rashad Bishop, Darnell Wilks, maybe even Lance Stephenson on Wesley Johnson. As for offense, expect Cincinnati to shoot many, many 3s. Even if they aren't open. Notre Dame zoned UC, and the Cats shot 28. No one on UC besides Stephenson, and maybe Cashmere Wright, drives to the rim. Gates can score down low, but he doesn't demand the ball, nor does he have the highest running motor. UC will look highly disjointed on offense for 5 minute spurts, and you will wonder how they won 14 games.

5. Orange::44: How do you see this game going down?

BB: I think this is going to be a tight contest. The lead won't balloon to more than 9 or so. Seth Davis went out on a limb and picked UC to win, but I'm not that bold. The Bearcats need this one as a bounce back and a resume builder, but I really don't see it. I love this Syracuse squad. Unless they are looking forward to UConn, I think the Orange win by 5.

6. Orange::44: Finally, where do you see Cincinnati ending up at the end of the year?

BB: After last night I said NIT, and while that was an anger post, it's looking like it. UC hasn't played any of the top 4, and end the year with the other 3 who aren't Syracuse.

Thanks again to Scott for answering the questions. Stay tuned here for all your postgame coverage, and check out Bearcat Blog for all your Cincy info and their take on the upcoming game.

Labels: Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk

Labels: Audio Euphoria, Basketball, Big East, Blog Talk, Nunes/Magician, Preview