Syracuse - Rutgers Postgame Reactions OR False RAC Attack
0 Comments Published on 2.21.2012 by Brian Harrison
Boeheim looked like this a bit, but he smiled in the end.
Syracuse was still atop the Big East and #2 in the nation when they entered the RAC on Sunday for a tilt against Rutgers. They left with the same status. While Rutgers is a tough team at home, having defeated the last three top 10 opponents to enter, Syracuse was the better team and prevailed. Syracuse earned another victory and another experience that can only help when tournament time rolls around very soon.
This game was close throughout the entire game except for just over the last minute. Syracuse was up at the half 40-34, but Rutgers continued to play well despite not making three point buckets. Rutgers kept the game close, always between one to three possessions. Rutgers even closed the game to just two points with 3:08 remaining, but Syracuse continued to score. Scoop Jardine hit the dagger three from the top of the key with 1:11 remaining to put the game out of reach at 69-62. Syracuse went on to win 74-64, the biggest lead Syracuse had all day.
- CJ Fair was the leading scorer off the bench with 21 points. He had some big dunks, put backs, layups, and one massive reverse slam off a lob from Jardine that was just FILTHY. Next in line was Jardine with 17, including 2-4 from three point range. Fair was 6-8 from the floor, 1-1 from three, and a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. 21 points is his career high.
- Fair was also the leading rebounder with eight. Fab Melo was next with six.
- Jardine led in assists with seven.
- Syracuse again led in turnovers, having only 10 to Rutgers' 12.
- Syracuse finished on the day shooting 50% from the floor, 5-12 (41.7%) from three, and 21-31 (67.7%) from the free throw line.
- Rutgers was 41.9%, 3-18 (16.7% [woof!]), abd 9-11 (81.8%) respectively.
- Syracuse was outrebounded by Rutgers 31 to 26. They also had more assists than Syracuse 15 to 11.
- CJ Fair had a fantastic game obviously. But he has been the most consistent player all season, and interesting, Syracuse's best rebounder. His only bad game has really been the loss at Notre Dame.
- Mike Rice is probably more intense on the sideline than Frank Martin at Kansas State. He may be the most intense coach in the nation.
- Syracuse has now beaten Rutgers 12 consecutive games.
- Jim Burr is seriously awful. Seriously. Blatantly blew an out of bounds call really badly. Also, how has goaltending become the call referees mess up the most all of a sudden?
- Syracuse snaps Rutgers' three game winning streak over top 10 opponents at the RAC. However, Rutgers is now 0-7 all time versus #2.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Suck It Rutgers
Syracuse - Rutgers Postgame Reactions OR Let's Go Bowling
0 Comments Published on 11.16.2010 by Brian Harrison
It was as fine as any evening could be in NJ. Syracuse clinched a bowl.
It definitely wasn’t pretty. I agree with my colleague John in his assessment of the SU / Rutgers football contest. But on a final drive in which Syracuse traveled 66 yards, made Rutgers burn all of their time outs, and then got a go ahead score, it was perfection. In the stands it was a thing of beauty. On the field, it was a well earned release for seniors and upper classmen haunted by the ghosts of Greg Robinson and his losing ways. Syracuse earned more than a bowl with this win. They earned respect back. This has turned into a dream season for Syracuse fans as Syracuse clinching a bowl birth on their seventh win. They win two in a row over Rutgers, returning the world to its natural order, winning in Piscataway 13 to ten.
Offense
C
The Syracuse offense was pretty forgettable in the first half, save for one scoring drive in which Ryan Nassib had forever to find an open Antwon Bailey. The second half was just as pitiful, except for the final magical drive in which the team drove 66 yards in 2:44 to get a 24 yard field goal. Ryan Nassib (16/31, 214yds, 1 TD, 1 INT) had flashes of good moments, and at times looked bad underthrowing and lofting balls he should be more accurate with. Three turnovers do not help either. Delone Carter and Bailey were the stars of the offense in this game, along with Marcus Sales, who led the team in receptions and yards, appeared out of nowhere to be very solid and contribute in that final drive as well. The offensive line really had trouble on occasion, as well as a needless personal foul to kill some momentum. Overall, the offense was not that good, but they were good enough when they needed to be.
Defense
B
They held Rutgers to only 280 yards total, caused one turnover, and almost had another but the fumble went out of bounds. They allowed Rutgers to run the ball out of the Wildcat set up the middle too many times to mention for big gains though, which was extremely frustrating to watch. When we as fans in the top of Rutgers Stadium can see they are going to run up the middle, surely the defense should right? However, they managed to stop Rutgers behind the line, and then get a sack to push Rutgers just out of field goal range, with a little help from a bad snap. Really, they only allowed one touchdown, and held Rutgers scoreless in the last quarter. They also only allowed ten total points for Rutgers in this defensive heavy game. Despite bending, they never really broke except the one touchdown drive for Rutgers. Syracuse did manage in the final analysis to hold both Rutgers QBs to low numbers as well and get sacks when needed. An impressive day overall.
Special Teams
B+
Ross Krautman is your hero in this one. The local NJ project got it done with family in attendance. He drilled a career long 48 yard attempt, and scored the go ahead points with 1:07 to go from 24 yards out on the difficult right hash. Rob Long did his job, punting well in this important position game. Kick and punt returns were also again solid. This might have been the special team’s best overall day this season.
Coaching
C
Syracuse allowed Rutgers to gain too many yards on the ground in the wildcat set. They knew Rutgers was going to use it over and over, and yet they continued to let Rutgers gain chunks of yards and first downs with it. No adjustments were made to put more people up on the line, or bring coverage out to help with run stopping. Similarly, I liked the call going for it on 4th down in the game that needed sparks on offense, but the play call was bad. When you are within inches, why not just QB sneak the ball over the line and get a fresh set of downs. Instead the quarterback had to drop back three yards to hand the ball off, where Carter was stopped behind the line by a dominant Rutgers defense at that moment. With a changed snap count, and a QB sneak, that would have been a drive that was able to be continued. Either way, a few questionable calls, not too many adjustments, and some interesting choices on offense. Shotgun formation anyone? Still no on that?
GPA
B- (5.575)
It’s hard to be too upset when the result goes in your favor, but this game could have easily ended up lost in regulation or overtime because of the inability for the offense to put together sustained drives. Overall the defense and special teams did their jobs, and the offense did when it was absolutely necessary, after their initial score. The team played hard and together, and this win is all the more impressive looking at where the team is during the year and the physical toll football has, as well as the scholarship levels for Syracuse. I’ll take it, along with a bowl bid thanks.
Intangibles
B+ to the amount of SU fans that showed up in Piscataway. There were three big groups of orange around the stadium, and many more scattered around. It was nice to see a heavy road presence in person, and a fun atmosphere to enjoy a win in.
A to all the nice Syracuse fans that approached myself, John, or Matt Glaude. Not only was your timing spot on, but all of the conversations were enjoyable.
F to the Rutgers fan that screamed at me out of the blue on the concourse “Fuck you Syracuse!” You stay classy Rutgers.
A to all of the tributes and fundraising efforts for injured Rutgers player Eric LeGrand. Even Syracuse fans helped support such a brave individual who has been the victim of a tragedy.
Syracuse will now take on hated Connecticut, the next best thing to a rival Syracuse has after West Virginia and lately Rutgers. Randy Edsall is now the perfect villain for Syracuse fans, and he continues to play that part well. I’ll have my preview out later this week, but who honestly knows what will happen? What we do know will happen is that Syracuse is bowling for the first time since 2004 after earning their seventh and clinching win against a Rutgers team struggling to find wins as the season fades. But I’ll enjoy this one, as it has been a long time. Syracuse sweeps their conference road slate, winning all four games for the first time in Syracuse history. I was at the last two Syracuse bowls, and I look forward to seeing this one as well. Hell, This notebook didn’t even exist the last time Syracuse went to a Bowl Game.
Programming Note: I will not be having any Postgame Reactions for the first two basketball games of the season. I was on the road and couldn't give them my usual attention in watching, so we'll pick up with the Detroit game, as handled by John Brennan. I'll be back next week with full coverage of the Connecticut game, and the basketball therein.
Labels: Big East, Bowling, Football, Suck It Rutgers
After a couple weeks off your favorite SU related podcast is back.It's true. Sean of Troy Nunes is an Absolute Magician and I are back to talk all things Syracuse. Today we discuss the Rutgers win, the fact no one likes DOC Gross, the merits of USF's hire, why Ithaca, NY sucks, why we can't have nice things, and plenty of other interesting tid bits. It's 44 minutes of quality banter that is worth your time as an SU fan. Download it and put it on your iPod if you're so inclined. You know you want to. You can do that here, along with downloading any of our past episodes. Or just listen below. Your choice.
Labels: Audio Euphoria, Basketball, Big East, Football, Ithaca Is Awful, NCAA, Nunes/Magician, Suck It Rutgers
Syracuse students agree: Rutgers isn't looking so hot these days.Man, Rutgers Basketball has got some problems. One of their best players, and their second leading scorer has been out for the year with a detached retina. Oh yeah, and he just decided to transfer too. Greg Echenique, a pretty good center, will no longer play for Rutgers. Couple this with former players wishing the demise of Fred Hill and you have a sticky situation for the head coach of the Rutgers men's basketball program. Let's face it, Rutgers really hasn't been a threat to the top teams of the league since losing future NBA player Quincy Douby. He was a decent orange juicer if there ever was one, and some of those games in the RAC with Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, and yes even Carmelo Anthony, ended in a loss. Those days seem like forever ago with the slow but steady decline of this once decent Big East program. That is the backdrop for which the #5 Syracuse Orange travel to New Jersey to take on this fading program. Syracuse enters the game coming out of what was their worst stretch of games all season, playing poorly against Pittsburgh, as well as Memphis. They finally snapped out of it against USF on Sunday, but that is a team that is 0-3 in the conference. Good news for Syracuse is that Rutgers is also 0-3 in the conference, already losing to Cincinnati, #9 West Virginia, and Providence. Rutgers plays some decent defense, only allowing opponents to score 67.4ppg, only about three more per game than Syracuse. Rutgers' problem is offense however, as they only score 67.9ppg, as supposed to the 85.5ppg that Syracuse drops. Rutgers PG Mike Rosario is the one legitimate talent on the team who averages 16.1ppg and shoots 33.7% from outside the arc. He is a good player and Rutgers will have to put the ball in his hands a lot if they want to have a chance in this one. Their next leading scorer is PF Jonathan Mitchell who transferred from Florida to Rutgers (Editor's Note: Why?!?) and is averaging 10.5ppg and 4.9rpg who is a good player and will look to challenge Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku down low. The weakness in Syracuse lately has been committing dumb turnovers they haven't in weeks past (especially Brandon Triche and Andy Rautins) and not covering three point shooters as well as they have been. This will need to change. Although Rutgers is no North Carolina, they will have to step up and guard Rosario and force shooters that are not as comfortable to take those long shots. It will be difficult for Rutgers to penetrate the zone defense, so they will be taking a lot of outside shots. Making sure some random player does not have a career night falls on everyone, but mostly the two up front in the zone. If they can keep composure, no matter what guard combination is in front, then Syracuse will have a very good chance in blowing Rutgers out at home. Andy Rautins having a nice day will not hurt either. Wes Johnson will be Wes and probably score at least 19 points as he has the past two games, but the key in this game will be taking care of the ball and taking care of the glass. The Syracuse defense will do what it has been known to do for most of the season. Rutgers is too untalented to stretch the defense of Syracuse the way Pittsburgh, and even Memphis, did. Syracuse will roll in the RAC in front of what I assume will be a 95% orange covered crowd by 22, completing the Rutgers sweep for the year.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Preview, Suck It Rutgers
Couldn't be happier my prediction was wrong. GO ORANGE!And for your Big East win pleasure...
Thank you seniors!
Labels: Big East, Congratulations Are In Order, Football, Puppies, Suck It Rutgers