Syracuse students agree: Beating UConn is almost as sweet as a Sweet 16.
Syracuse heads to the world's most famous arena this week, for the 2K Classic. They already knocked of Eastern Washington and Morehead State in this "tournament", which is really a few games and the four big boys head to New York. Syracuse takes on UConn and Iowa plays Oregon. Winners and losers match up Friday. But Syracuse, and Orange fans are obviously first focused on UConn, one of the biggest games on the early schedule. Obviously. UConn still moves the needle with the fan base and obviously matching up in MSG takes it to the next level. The two biggest game questions are will the Syracuse scorers show up, and can the 2-3 Zone stop Jalen Adams (or any other random player that wants to try and get hot)? The answer to the 2nd question is probably easier. Syracuse will play some of their best defense of the season in New York. The 2-3 will be working, firing on all cylinders, and Chukwu will look to block a ton of shots from the middle of that Zone. Jalen Adams will have trouble getting to that 18 points he averages. The issue still remains that Syracuse needs to score more points than UConn. Brissett had a brilliant first half. Battle had a brilliant second half in the last game. That's the thing about the makeup of this team. There is someone that can score that is on the floor at all times. Syracuse, with their tough defense, will be able to get turnovers off of UConn, which should lead to some easy buckets. And so far this year, Syracuse has found it easier to get to the rim than last season which helps. What helps is that Syracuse now has a credible outside shooting threat, from Boeheim and others. This game is the biggest early test Syracuse will face (until Friday night), but even freshmen on Syracuse know this game is very important. UConn will have their runs, but this should be a nice Syracuse win. I'm taking the Orange by 13. This game is available nationally on ESPN 2 / WatchESPN at 7:00pm. John will be in the Garden. I'll be in the home office. UConn... U SUCK and GO ORANGE!
Labels: Madison Square Garden, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Yeah their new logo sucks. I'm not using it.
Here we are. It isn't quite the Super Bowl, or even a college Bowl Game, but it's the game on the schedule this season that gets the people (and by people, I mean me) going. With no VTech or West Virginia on the schedule, and Pittsburgh and Boston College with their usual level of hate coming, UConn is the team that I really get up for. While Georgetown is still supreme for me during basketball, this season UConn for football is still big. Perhaps it was the time I was in college and UConn jumped to the Big East. Maybe it's the fact I used to work in Hartford. Maybe it's a lot of reasons (it is). But I hate UConn the most. So we've had a sustained campaign of hate on Twitter this week. And it's culminating in an actual game. Can Syracuse do what everyone expects them to do, and stay undefeated?
Yes. The short answer is yes. No drama or suspense needed. UConn is allowing an average of 673 yards per game. That would be 129th out of 129 in the nation among FBS schools. They allow an average of over nine yards per play to their opponents. They also allow the country's worst in points allowed at 55.7. And while you may be saying that it's only been three games and two of them were against ranked opponents. That's true. But then that third opponent was an FCS school, URI. That they only beat by seven points. At home. Eric Dungey is going to be starting again this week after the chunks of dirty tire were removed from his eye. And after the FSU game I'm a hell of a lot more confident if he goes down again. I don't want him to, but if he does it seems to be clear that Tommy DeVito is capable to come in and play well on offense after a disastrous first game against Western Michigan. Either way, Syracuse, and specifically Dungey, should have their way with UConn. The defense will surely give up a few big plays, but really it shouldn't matter in this one. UConn isn't going to score on every drive, and it is a very real possibility that Syracuse could. Syracuse will look to get up big early again, and I assume coast with DeVito in, saving them both for the big showdown against Clemson. I think Syracuse is focused, and no trap game will be forthcoming, providing Huskey fans with a reason to not drink some bleach. There won't be. Get the Clorox ready. Syracuse rolls big in the (moderately warm, but not insanely hot) Dome, 59 to 17.
This game is available nationwide on ESPNews / WatchESPN at 4:00pm. I'll be tailgating all day, and then heading to the Dome with my good friend John Brennan. We'll be on the Tweets here and there all day I'm sure. If you see us, say hi. If you see John napping in the trough in the bathroom please let me know. Remember kids, it's "UConn", not "UCONN". As always, UConn... U SUCK and GO ORANGE!
Labels: Football, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Syracuse students agree: Syracuse always needs to beat UConn.
Syracuse takes on the rival Connecticut UConn Huskies in the world's most famous arena tonight. A series that should be played every year, Syracuse looks to get back to winning streak with UConn (not UCONN). Both teams are light on depth. A high paced game only benefits Syracuse if they are scoring in transition. Otherwise, it would be the enemy of both. Both teams play their starting five players for a majority, if not all of the 40 minutes. Syracuse has to worry about Jalen Adams, averaging 19.4ppg and leading the team in assists, and Christian Vital, who basically won the game for UConn against Monmouth in overtime recently. But Syracuse also can't sleep on Forward Terry Larrier, who leads the team in 3 point shooting, at 41.7%. If Syracuse is able to defend well, and get points off missed shots in transition, as well as score at the other end, Syracuse should pull away in this game. Syracuse has played tougher teams than UConn and seemed to handle them better than the cupcakes UConn has played. But all that said, Syracuse and UConn always play each other tight, no matter how good each team is. This game will probably be tight. Syracuse needs to not worry about jacking up shots, even if UConn does (and they will). Syracuse needs to play their game and literally stay in their lane. Syracuse needs to drive in the paint and draw fouls or get to the rim. Syracuse has a size advantage over UConn, something that was never really the case historically. Syracuse has a chance to really stifle UConn and only make them take mostly jump shots. Syracuse has to stay active, but also look for the easy baskets or fouls where they can. If Syracuse can get UConn in foul trouble, this game should be over quick. Because it's a pretty short bench for Kevin Ollie. Syracuse has the advantage in a lot of categories, but if UConn can't miss, Syracuse is in trouble. Syracuse needs to find the shooters and cover. If they do, Syracuse will have a great night in the Garden. I'm taking the Orange by 8. This game is available nationally on ESPN / WatchESPN at 9:00pm* (*probably like 9:22). It's like a Big East Tournament game, but it's December. And it only matters for resume purposes. UConn... U SUCK! LET'S GO ORANGE!
Labels: Basketball, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Syracuse students agree: Few things finer than beating UConn in MSG.
Few games create the excitement on the schedule than seeing Connecticut. You know the history. You know the rivalry. Now it's time to play again. After Syracuse's surprising run in the Battle 4 Atlantis last season, where Syracuse beat UConn on Thanksgiving, we turn to this year. The game is in the Garden. I'll wait here while you look up Youtube clips from 2009. Anyway, Syracuse had a bit of a tune up against North Florida. Now comes a Blue Blood. UConn is led by sophomore Jalen Adams, who is their leading scorer. If Syracuse can find a way to shut him down, that will go a long way in beating the Huskies. They do start a veteran 7' center in Amida Brimah. So this should be a fun battle, watching DaJuan Coleman battle it out down low. If Syracuse can rebound and earn transition baskets by turning over UConn, specifically freshman Christian Vital, it should be a fun night. If UConn gets hot and Syracuse doesn't rotate in the Zone though, we'll be miserable at work. And I'll have a UConn fan at my desk tomorrow giving me the business. That is unacceptable. However, while Syracuse does have 2 losses, they are against quality opponents. UConn has lost to Wagner and Northeastern. Uhhhh... what? I just think despite Syracuse's flaws, the talent should win the day. And I think Syracuse is a little more talented right now. I'll take the Orange over the Connecticut UConn Huskies by 9. This game is available nationally on ESPN 2 / WatchESPN at 7:00pm. Both John and I are in the home office. Should be a fun one. UConn... U SUCK!
Labels: Basketball, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Syracuse - Connecticut Postgame Reactions OR Finally!
0 Comments Published on 10.04.2016 by Brian Harrison
A record setting day helped beat the Huskies.
Syracuse had never won a football game in the State of Connecticut before last Saturday. And then they played the game. Even though UConn was favored (for some reason), Syracuse managed to persevere after buttoning the game up with a 99 yard touchdown drive. Despite a garbage time touchdown making the ending more interesting than it should have been, Syracuse was the winner over the Huskies at Rentchler Field 31 to 24.
Offense
B
Eric Dungey (26/40, 407yds, 2 TD, 0 INT) had a good day, despite piling up a whole bunch of yards. Not a great day, but a good day. In no small part to Amba Etta-Tawo, who had a single game record 270 yards on 12 catches with 2 touchdowns for the Orange. Syracuse had 19 first downs, and were 8/15 on third downs. But what was really impressive was Syracuse put together a 12 play, 99 yard drive to score a touchdown and win the game.
Defense
B
They bent but never broke. Too much. They did allow 23 first downs and 4/6 fourth downs. Not great. But a goal line stand is always good. And a Pick Six is magical.
Special Teams
D
Another horrible day for Syracuse special teams. They were immediately fooled by a fake field goal, that resulted in a long 4th down conversion (that the defense had to bail them out on). Cole Murphy was 1/3 on FG.
Coaching
B
Honestly the play calling was fine. I think they are probably relying a little too heavy on Dungey to Etta-Tawo, but for now, and against UConn, it worked.
GPA
B- (2.5)
Overall a solid performance, but a win is a win. And the first win against UConn at UConn is magical.
Syracuse played Notre Dame next. It was bad. Stay tuned for that postgame soon.
Offense
B
Eric Dungey (26/40, 407yds, 2 TD, 0 INT) had a good day, despite piling up a whole bunch of yards. Not a great day, but a good day. In no small part to Amba Etta-Tawo, who had a single game record 270 yards on 12 catches with 2 touchdowns for the Orange. Syracuse had 19 first downs, and were 8/15 on third downs. But what was really impressive was Syracuse put together a 12 play, 99 yard drive to score a touchdown and win the game.
Defense
B
They bent but never broke. Too much. They did allow 23 first downs and 4/6 fourth downs. Not great. But a goal line stand is always good. And a Pick Six is magical.
Special Teams
D
Another horrible day for Syracuse special teams. They were immediately fooled by a fake field goal, that resulted in a long 4th down conversion (that the defense had to bail them out on). Cole Murphy was 1/3 on FG.
Coaching
B
Honestly the play calling was fine. I think they are probably relying a little too heavy on Dungey to Etta-Tawo, but for now, and against UConn, it worked.
GPA
B- (2.5)
Overall a solid performance, but a win is a win. And the first win against UConn at UConn is magical.
Syracuse played Notre Dame next. It was bad. Stay tuned for that postgame soon.
Labels: Football, UConn, UConn USuck
Now this was a logo.
It's been a long time since Syracuse played UConn in football regularly. And by a long time, I mean not that long in terms of years. But definitely a long time in terms of things that have happened since. Like changing conferences. Saying goodbye to the Big East. And a whole host of other things. But we all still hate each other. So can Syracuse finally beat the Connecticut UConn Huskies at their own field?
Syracuse's offense is fast, fast, fast. And pretty good. Amba Etta-Tawo has been the most pleasant surprise. And frankly, despite some missteps along the way, the offense has looked pretty good. The defense on the other hand, has been a disaster in many ways. You can't really blame them though. They lost a lot of talent to graduation, and on top of that, have had several injuries already this season. So we're playing with kids who probably shouldn't have been playing this season. And that is never a recipe for success. On the other side, UConn plays sloooooow. And not only that, but Coach Bob Diaco hasn't proven the most adept at clock and time out management. They lost their game to Navy on the 1 yard line after all. They beat a very weak Virginia team by 3, and their only other win is against FCS Maine, of which they had to win on a last second field goal. Now granted, Syracuse hasn't won their last 2 games, but they played Louisville and USF. So needless to say, I'm not picking against the Orange in this one. I said in my season preview before any football was played that SU would win against UConn this year, and I haven't seen anything to convince me that UConn has suddenly become the team that got blown out in the Fiesta Bowl (after the taxpayers of the State of Connecticut had to pay $3 Million because UConn couldn't sell out their ticket allotment). That was back when Syracuse was VERY bad. They aren't that bad anymore. They aren't really good, but they definitely aren't that bad anymore. I'm taking the Orange in this one 23 to 17.
This game is available nationally on CBS Sports at 1:00pm. John is off the grid this weekend, but I'll be in the field at The Rent tailgating and then attending this one. So Syracuse better show up. Because I need to see a game there that doesn't involve me slowly walking the miles back to my car disappointed and sober (bad football is sobering), or soaked. UConn... U SUCK!
Syracuse's offense is fast, fast, fast. And pretty good. Amba Etta-Tawo has been the most pleasant surprise. And frankly, despite some missteps along the way, the offense has looked pretty good. The defense on the other hand, has been a disaster in many ways. You can't really blame them though. They lost a lot of talent to graduation, and on top of that, have had several injuries already this season. So we're playing with kids who probably shouldn't have been playing this season. And that is never a recipe for success. On the other side, UConn plays sloooooow. And not only that, but Coach Bob Diaco hasn't proven the most adept at clock and time out management. They lost their game to Navy on the 1 yard line after all. They beat a very weak Virginia team by 3, and their only other win is against FCS Maine, of which they had to win on a last second field goal. Now granted, Syracuse hasn't won their last 2 games, but they played Louisville and USF. So needless to say, I'm not picking against the Orange in this one. I said in my season preview before any football was played that SU would win against UConn this year, and I haven't seen anything to convince me that UConn has suddenly become the team that got blown out in the Fiesta Bowl (after the taxpayers of the State of Connecticut had to pay $3 Million because UConn couldn't sell out their ticket allotment). That was back when Syracuse was VERY bad. They aren't that bad anymore. They aren't really good, but they definitely aren't that bad anymore. I'm taking the Orange in this one 23 to 17.
This game is available nationally on CBS Sports at 1:00pm. John is off the grid this weekend, but I'll be in the field at The Rent tailgating and then attending this one. So Syracuse better show up. Because I need to see a game there that doesn't involve me slowly walking the miles back to my car disappointed and sober (bad football is sobering), or soaked. UConn... U SUCK!
Labels: Football, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
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| This is the hurricane that slammed into the Bahamas last week |
Before leaving for the Bahamas, Syracuse played the first game of the Battle 4 Atlantis at the Carrier Dome, and won, improving to 3-0 on the season. Those three wins were examples of how we thought this team would be: decent, winning the winnable games, young, not dominant, and with lots of room for improvement. So knowing that if the team could advance passed Charlotte in the first game at Atlantis, either Texas or UConn would be waiting, probably scared some of us. Playing either of those teams in January or February (or March or April), well, sure. But this young team might not have what it takes to play one of those teams in November. Maybe it was the magic of the islands, the thrill of Thanksgiving, or just the pure talent, but Syracuse made a statement. Several, actually.
Syracuse vs. Charlotte
Basically from the opening tip, Syracuse owned this game. The 49ers certainly weren't favored to win -- they had previously lost to Elon -- and the Orange made sure it showed they were the dominant team. It helps when you shoot as well as Syracuse did (54.29% in the first half) to streak out to a 50-27 halftime lead. Charlotte bounced back in the second half, as Syracuse wasn't able to keep up that production but still never let it get too close. I'd say Michael Gbinije couldn't miss, but he did -- only two shots of his 11 attempts didn't go in, and they were both beyond the arc. Otherwise, he hit six 3's and led all scorers with 26 points. More on him later. Tyler Lydon continued to do his thing, contributing 18 points and being such a presence on the floor. Even Trevor Cooney got 19, despite only hitting three 3's. What's most notable in terms of an improvement from the first three games is that Syracuse found some balance -- 30 points in the paint. Syracuse beat Charlotte 83-70.
Syracuse vs. Connecticut
It's basically constitutional law that anytime Syracuse plays UConn, all anyone can talk about is the six overtime thriller in the 2009 Big East Tournament. And that's fine, because Syracuse won that. We'll always have that. 18-ranked Connecticut so wanted to be the brick wall for Syracuse to run into in this tournament on Paradise Island, but the Orange had some swagger from Wednesday's game. They were looking for a Thanksgiving feast, but it was husky, not turkey, on the menu. This game wasn't a 6OT thriller, but it was a very exciting game featuring several tied scores (including at halftime) and several lead changes. UConn had the advantage early, growing its lead to 10 at 13:39 in the first, but Syracuse fought back for that halftime tie. Syracuse then built a 10-point lead of its own by 7:47 to go in the game. Gbinije and Lydon had great games again, along with Cooney and Malachi Richardson stepping up their offensive production as well. Tyler Roberson was also much improved, with a rebound short of a double double on the day. Great team effort for the win over UConn, 79-76. There was talk after the game about these schools -- once conference rivals -- reaching an agreement to play each other on a regular basis. This game had that feel to it, as many of those conference & BET games did, and I don't think you'll find a fan of either school that wouldn't want there to be at least semi-regular meetings of these teams.
Syracuse vs. Texas A&M
Sure, Syracuse was the underdog against #18 UConn the day before, but that hard-fought victory had no matter to the odds makers in determining Syracuse would again be underdog against #25 Texas A&M in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. My fear entering the game was that the Aggies would be too big or too physical for Syracuse to handle, and/or get hot shooting the 3 as they'd be tempted to against the 2-3 zone. Plus, it was going to be difficult to keep the Syracuse shooters hitting those shots at the same clip they had been in the previous days. But hey, when things are going well, things are going well. And the Syracuse shooting did cool off -- but 44% from three and nearly 80% from the foul line is gonna get you places. This was yet another games where the usuals did well -- and damn, Tyler Lydon continues to play well ahead of his time -- but Roberson's production trailed off a bit. What was great to see, both in this tournament but particularly in this game, was the improvement of Dajuan Coleman. While he struggled at times and was on a short leash, he ended up with decent minutes in this game and made the most of them -- four points, six rebounds, and was just an active presence under the basket. I hope some confidence can carry over for Coleman so he can play more minutes and allow Lydon more time at forward -- think of how many more points he could score! With this 74-67 win over the Aggies, Syracuse is your 2015 Battle 4 Atlantis champions!
What a great tournament for Syracuse! It ended up to be the stepping out party for several players, and for the team as a whole. Finally, some national attention at how good this team is, and how good they could be. That was surely reflected when the national polls were released today (#14 AP, #19 Coaches). But now is no time to rest on your laurels -- Wednesday features a home game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge; Saturday brings the real rivalry renewed when the Orange travels to DC to face Georgetown; and eight days later a trip to MSG to face St. John's. I'll be at all of those games, and of course we'll have coverage here on Orange::44.
PS -- rumor has it if you put your ear up to the seashell on the Battle 4 Atlantis trophy, you can hear chants of "UConn... USuck!"
Labels: Basketball, Battle 4 Atlantis, Championship, Recap, UConn USuck
Syracuse - Connecticut Battle for Atlantis Preview
0 Comments Published on 11.26.2015 by Brian Harrison
Syracuse students agree: Have a Happy Thanksgiving and UConn... U SUCK!
Well well well... look who it is. Connecticut. Former Big East rivals take to the floor in the Bahamas for the right to advance to the Battle for Atlantis Championship against Gonzaga or Texas A&M. It should be a fun match. No matter how good or bad each team is relative to each other, they deliver a highly competitive, fun game. UConn is a tough team because they can take the ball inside or shoot from the perimeter. However, keeping UConn out of the lane with the Syracuse 2-3 Zone will be critical. If Syracuse can force shots from UConn and actually manage to box out, Syracuse has a great shot to advance. Look for UConn to attack on the baseline behind Lydon or Coleman. UConn has a slight size edge, and could force Coleman and/or Lydon in foul trouble. Either way, Gbinije and Cooney should also be attacking and shooting. While Gbinije will be bothered on the perimeter, the good news is whoever is guarding him will probably be slightly undersized. If Syracuse is making shots half as well as last night, they will be in good shape. Either way, this should be a fun one. But I'll give the slight edge to UConn right now, who is playing slightly better defense than Syracuse, and rebounding better as well. I'll take UConn by six. This game is available nationally on ESPN / WatchESPN at 3:30pm. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Labels: Basketball, Battle 4 Atlantis, Farewell Big East Basketball, Preview, Syracuse Needs to Win to Make Thanksgiving Tolerable, UConn, UConn USuck
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| Maybe the best part of this picture is Donna & Mike's faces |
It started March 12, 2009. It ended March 13, 2009. It spawned Marathon Men t-shirts, a website, and brought the rivalry of Syracuse and Connecticut to a new level. The 2009 Big East Tournament quarterfinal between Syracuse and UConn was a six overtime epic battle that will forever be etched into the memories of all who experienced it: whether in person, on TV, or on twitter.
March 2009 was around the time twitter was taking off. I finally bowed to the pressure on March 11, 2009, of course not knowing that my decision to register @jbren would so greatly enhance my 6OT experience. My first tweet was so i just joined twitter. i wonder if i'll actually use this thing. I can't remember how many people I started following, or who, or even who was following me. But I had my twitter all ready to use the next night.
March 12, a coworker was turning 50, so we went out that night for drinks. I was in Simon's in Horseheads, where there are no TVs. Luckily, the 7pm game ran late, so the SU-UConn game wouldn't start till approx 9:45pm. I ducked out of the celebration to head across the street to Hanover's Grille -- I knew they had TVs. I got a prime seat at the bar, ordered a drink, and got through the first half. UConn had a 37-34 lead at the half, and I decided I wanted to watch the rest of the game back at my apartment, so I left. In retrospect, great call.
Once home, I poured myself a drink. I'm sure it was either Jameson or Vanilla Vodka. For whatever reason, I didn't tweet at all during regulation. I think I was still trying to get the hang of it. I didn't have an app for my phone (a Blackberry Storm at the time) so I was literally using the mobile twitter website. The score was tied with mere seconds left in regulation, and Syracuse was to inbound the ball.
holy shit eric
That was my first tweet of the game. We all thought he had hit a three at the buzzer. He jumped on the media table and punched his chest as if to say he was king of the world. And then, that amazing midcourt floor camera from ESPN had caught the shot -- with the basket and clock -- from the perfect angle to show that the ball was still sitting on Eric's fingertips when time reached 0.0. So onto overtime we go.
this is what BET is all about!
I must've tweeted that at the end of the first overtime. I had gotten at least one more drink in since the first. I was thoroughly enjoying the game at this point.
do i have enough alcohol for this?
A tweet probably around the end of the second overtime. Things were happening fast and furious, and I was worried that I'd run dry before the game ended.
great guts shown if that means anything
That may have been a comment I picked up on from Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas, or Bill Raftery. Or it may have been some nonsense gibberish fueled by booze. Or maybe both.
this may be the best game ive ever seen
Easy to say this around the end of three overtimes. Plus some booze. You can tell I didn't much appreciate punctuation at that point.
5 overtimes? i want money or something
Well, the good news is this tweet actually mentions an event, so I can place this at the end of four OTs. If my memory serves me correctly, I think I had made a bet with myself that this game would go five overtimes. I won that bet, but I don't know if I ever paid myself.
6 is my lucky number. don't even know what to say at this point.
Obviously at this point, the game was tied at the end of five overtimes, and so onto the sixth we go. It is true that six is and always has been my lucky number, so I guess I felt pretty good about Syracuse's chances at this point.
And that would actually be my final tweet of the game, and of the night. By the time Syracuse had outlasted Connecticut 127-117, I think I was so exhausted that I didn't want to deal with that weird "SurePress" touchscreen on my Storm. I do remember at some point during one of the overtime periods, I decided to stand up. Right there. In my apartment living room. By myself. I think it was early -- may have even been at the end of regulation when Eric almost got that shot off in time.
Going to bed after that game was interesting. On the one hand, it's late, and I had been drinking, so you'd think falling asleep would be easy. But on the other hand, that was like 3+ hours of adrenaline pumping through my veins. Suffice to say, I didn't get much sleep that night.
But I still had to get up and go to work in the morning. Luckily when I had found out Syracuse would have the late Thursday game, I had blocked off my Friday morning as "KEEP OPEN FOR DESK TIME," because I didn't already have any court appearances scheduled. And it's a good thing I didn't have anything going on that morning. I was worthless. I was tired, and quite frankly, I was still shaking from the night before -- the adrenaline I think was still pumping through me.
Syracuse won the next night in the semifinals. A found a few tweets from that one:
anyone else having a hard time getting excited over this game?
OT? we've played this game before.
shut up jay bilas
But at any rate, 6OT is something I'll never forget. It was one of those experiences that, as a Syracuse fan, you remember exactly where you were and how things went down. You can close your eyes and immediately bring yourself back. You can maybe even smell the same smells. As we are now about to watch our beloved team embark on a new conference tournament, the ACC Tournament, we can only hope that someday that will provide us with another great memory.
Labels: 6 OTs, ACC Tournament, Big East, Big East Tournament, Syracuse Basketball, UConn USuck
Syracuse - UConn Postgame Reactions OR Hate the Huskies
0 Comments Published on 2.15.2013 by John Brennan
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| You kinda wish Calhoun was at the helm for this one last game |
Syracuse's participation in ESPN's "Rivalry Week" was Wednesday night's game at Connecticut, for the final time ever as Big East opponents. It is a rivalry game, for sure. Most out there, myself included, would rank the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry as bigger and more heated than Syracuse-UConn. UConn is a close second. There have been a lot of epic games in the past; notable recent games include the 2006 Big East Tournament win by Syracuse over then #1 UConn, and the epic 2009 Six Overtime Big East Tournament win by Syracuse over UConn. Unfortunately, Wednesday night just ended up being another game. Husky fans may see it differently, though, as UConn was clearly the better team out there that night, beating Syracuse 66-58.
- Michael Carter-Williams was the offensive leader for Syracuse, scoring 15 points on 6-13 shooting, 3-4 from the line, but an 0-for from three. Though he had five rebounds and four steals, MCW only had one assist and turned the ball over four times.
- James Southerland continued his good shooting from the St. John's game, scoring 14 points off four three-pointers. That was basically the extent of Southie's contribution, stat-wise. From a defensive standpoint, James adds the length on the wing that we unfortunately don't get from Jerami Grant or CJ Fair. Not to say they're not great defensive players, but the zone works the best when it's long and athletic.
- Speaking of CJ, he had another 10-point game with five rebounds.
- The rest of the team? Well, big goose egg pretty much. Brandon Triche I think gets the biggest glare from me, shooting 3-15 for a pitiful 20%. He kept on chucking up shots, including seven from 3, and they weren't going in (none of the 3s).
- The team as a whole shot 35.4% from the floor, and 17.4% from three (23 attempts). The game was marked by a bunch of rushed, ill-advised shots. There were very few attempts to get the ball inside, which boggled my mind since Syracuse was the bigger team on the floor.
- Officially, SU Athletics says Syracuse scored 26 points in the paint. That's either a flat out lie, or it just didn't seem that way. Either way, the game plan clearly turned into "shoot from the outside" first, instead of "drive the ball inside" first.
- Ryan Boatright, Omar Calhoun, and Shabazz Napier all played well for UConn. As did the rest of the team, really. We all thought that the absence of suspended center Enosch Wolf would be devastating for UConn, but they rose above it and clearly played better than Syracuse.
- Rebounds were pretty even (UConn 38, Syracuse 36), and many other categories were either close or tied. I think the key was just the number of times Syracuse had empty possessions. They dug themselves into a hole they couldn't climb out of.
And so, that's pretty much all I want to say about that game. It's sad that things with UConn are over. We won't see them in the Big East Tournament or the NCAA Tournament this year due to their postseason ban. I'm sure they'll end up on Syracuse's non-conference schedule in the future, but it won't be a yearly thing. It's not the same without Jim Calhoun anyway. But who knows, maybe UConn eventually will find itself in the ACC. At any rate, we'll always have our memories, especially 2009.
Labels: Basketball, UConn USuck
Syracuse students agree: It would be nice to win the last one.
Syracuse travels to Hartford to take on the University of Connecticut for the last time as a member of the Big East Conference. While the XL Center is certainly not the best arena, it's as good a place as any (except for maybe Madison Square Garden where Syracuse has played UConn more than any other team in the league) to end this thing. Connecticut isn't eligible to be in NYC this year for the BET so this is guaranteed to be the final conference meeting between the two. And it should be a fun one. Syracuse has James Southerland heading on the road again, where Syracuse, on average, scores 14 more points with Southerland in the lineup. Syracuse desperately needed a more consistent outside shooting threat to not only pull defenders out, but keep Syracuse scoring when other teams gain momentum. What also bodes well for Syracuse is they are a better rebounding team. If Syracuse can get rebounds then they should win the game. UConn is 4-0 in Big East games when they outrebound their opponent. Attacking the glass is the key for Syracuse in this game. UConn is led by guards Shabazz Napier (17.2ppg) and Ryan Boatright (15.8ppg). While both players are good, and both are playing well lately, those caliber players should score a ton against Seton Hall, which they did. What is more telling is the fact that both players have struggled against Syracuse in the past, including all three games they lost to Syracuse last season. Moral of the story is that they will make shots, and rotate the ball to get open looks, making Syracuse defenders run all over the court to try and cover them. They will shoot a lot of 3s and if they make them it will be a tougher game for Syracuse than if they miss a whole bunch like they did last season. Syracuse allows 0.68 points per play, the lowest in Division 1. That will put the onus on Connecticut to score and keep scoring. What also bodes well for Syracuse is the Connecticut loss of Enosch Wolf who is suspended indefinitely with legal issues. That makes a thin bench for the Huskies. While I think UConn will be in this game in the first half, and maybe even take a lead into the locker room, I don't think they can sustain the continued outside shooting to be able to open the zone up and get easy inside looks. Syracuse should come ready to play and has the talent back on the court to put this game away in the second half. Initially I would have picked the home team in this one, but now that Southerland is back in the lineup and we have seen what Syracuse is done in the past two games in getting back to strong defense and, more importantly, good offensive shooting performances, I a picking the Orange. Syracuse wins this last conference match in Hartford by 13. This game is available nationally on ESPN at 7:00pm. While I don't think this game will go into overtime I kind of want to see it not only for old time sake, but to piss off the Carolina and Duke fans waiting for their game to start at 9. For one last time... UConn... U SUCK!
Also, check out my contribution to The UConn Blog's annual Syracuse Hate Week here. It's been a tradition so it's fitting that I'm there until the end.
Also, check out my contribution to The UConn Blog's annual Syracuse Hate Week here. It's been a tradition so it's fitting that I'm there until the end.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Goodbye Old Friend, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Connecticut - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Sorry Coach P.
1 Comments Published on 10.24.2012 by Brian Harrison
Fun to see that Coach P face one last time, on a different sideline.
The Orange faced a familiar face on the opposite sideline on a Friday night. I love Friday night games, but not as much as the Syracuse football team apparently. Granted, UConn isn't exactly a powerhouse. But dropping 40 points on a team that you were expected to barely beat is always fun. Syracuse beats UConn 40-10.
Offense
A-
Ryan Nassib (14/20, 251yds, 2 TD, 0 INT) had a great game. Jerome Smith had 133 yards on 19 carries, bowling over UConn players. In a feat I've never seen, Syracuse had exactly the same rush yards as passing yards with 251 each. They had 21 first downs, were 8/15 on third downs, had 502 total yards, and had the ball almost ten minutes more than UConn. They also put up 28 of Syracuse's 40 points. A great day on the field, despite a relatively slow start.
Defense
A-
-6. That's right, UConn had -6 rushing yards. Granted, sacks played a part of that, but limiting Lyle McCombs to only 16 yards on 12 carries os pretty fantastic. They forced a turnover in a fumble and picked off a late INT to stop any hope of a garbage time TD. No complaints here, except for the one UConn touchdown that was allowed due to just a terrible blown coverage in the secondary. That was just terrible. But I guess it mattered little in the long run. Either way, that earns the minus.
Special Teams
A
Ross Krautman went 4/4 on field goals, including a 47 yarder. Not to mention the great field position Syracuse often started in, and the not so great field position UConn did. Bang up job.
Coaching
A
There were no issues that came up like trying to make a comeback late in this game. The gameplan worked and was executed. Syracuse stopped practically everything thrown and ran at it. The Tank Formation and running the ball worked extremely well. All and all, Marrone and the coordinators earned their paychecks.
GPA
A (3.85)
Clearly this is the best outing of the year. While UConn is not a good team, Syracuse just played extremely well in all phases of the game. Absolutely fun to watch when a team plays this well against a team that you love to see them beat. I like when Syracuse wins. I love when Syracuse beats UConn. Sorry Coach P.
Intangibles
D- to the extra security. Not only was it unnecessary, not only did it create a long line, not only was it pretty pointless, but they didn't even really use the metal detecting wands when I got to the front of the line. So that means that there was just a long line for no reason. Thanks Carrier Dome
Syracuse likely goes out beating UConn in their final match up, not only in the conference, but probably for a good long while. Syracuse travels to South Florida for another evening affair, but this time on a Saturday. USF hasn't won a conference game yet. Syracuse's defense could stop them, or get owned. We'll find out on Saturday.
Labels: Big East, Coach P, Football, UConn, UConn USuck
Happy kids with an indifferent husky. Sorry, UConn.
Labels: Big East, Smiling child, UConn, UConn USuck
Do not gaze directly into Paul's eyes.
Syracuse lost last week on the road to Rutgers putting them at 1-1 in conference play. Syracuse now is backed against the wall in terms of earning wins that can keep them in a bowl hunt. Can Syracuse finally get a win against UConn in Coach P's return to the place he coached for many years?
I have a confession to make. I used to love Coach P. Growing up Syracuse's worst season would have been around seven wins. I arrived on campus at Syracuse for the 2001 season, ending up with 10 wins and a huge bowl win against Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl in Phoenix. Then things began to slide and never got better. It was in 2004 that I started the Facebook group "I Fucking Hate Coach Fucking P". The websites popped up asking for his firing. Despite what happened under the next guy, firing Coach P was still the right move. The guy lost his recruiting edge. Syracuse slid to below average, especially offensively. He refused to fire his good friend and OC George DeLeone, who's patented "run, run, pass, punt" offense was pretty tired after all those years. P then bounced around the NFL between Dallas and Miami. I actually met him once when he was the Defensive Coordinator of Miami and he said he didn't really think about Syracuse anymore but when he did he thought about his time fondly. It was like hanging out with your favorite grandpa. I still agree he is one of the nicest coaches out there. But nice doesn't win games. And he's still hitched his offensive success to George. UConn fan tweets from this season look like what we were all saying to each other on campus in 2003. It was like a weird time warp back to my undergrad days. Stagnant offense is a pretty big feature of UConn this season. QB Chandler Whitmer has done not much in the way of impressing on opponents he is a major threat to light up the field. RB Lyle McCombs has found more success, but this is an offense that really struggles, even against just better than average defenses. It's also worth mentioning that their kicker probably should be sent to Shawshank. He missed a critical field goal in overtime against Temple last week. Yes, that Temple. That allowed the Owls to kick one for the win and they drilled it. It's also worth noting that UConn has allowed every opposing team's trip to the red zone to result in at least some points. Syracuse can only really beat themselves in this game, on paper. We all know Syracuse has had some offensive struggles of their own. If UConn can get some pressure on Nassib, he can rush throws and is not interception proof. Syracuse needs to just run the ball and then hit Marcus Sales or the Alec Lemon. It's Friday night in primetime. Syracuse loves Friday night games. If you can't get excited to be playing UConn in your last time in the Big East on a Friday night at 8:00pm you might as well hang up your pads. I think the defense will again play stellar. Ryan Nassib will manage to play well enough. But the running game should provide the key to Syracuse's success getting big gains on early downs for quick and short completions for Ryan Nassib. Pending some unbelievable mistakes like dumb turnovers and fumbles, I, for once, actually love Syracuse in this game. Syracuse should cruise in this one, but I think it will be a little close for comfort most of the game. Either way, Syracuse wins this one. 27 to 17.
Syracuse plays this one tonight in front of a national television audience for a little FNL on ESPN at 8:00pm. It should be available online as well. Should be a fun one. We're gonna be tailgating most of the day and then staying out right after so that should be some Twitter gold. We'll be in the Dome during the game tonight so that will also be fun. Stop by and stay hey. And do whatever you want with Coach P. Boo or cheer. I don't think he cares much either way.
Labels: Big East, Football, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
Connecticut - Syracuse 2012 Big East Tournament Quarterfinals Preview
0 Comments Published on 3.08.2012 by Brian Harrison
Syracuse students agree: If you've been, there's nothing else like it.
The regular season is finished. The first two rounds of the Big East Tournament are set. Syracuse faces an old foe in Connecticut. What more could you want? The best matchup the past several years happened again.
Syracuse takes on Connecticut after having beat them a couple of weeks ago in Storrs for the first time ever. While Syracuse has been resting up and relaxing, Connecticut has beaten DePaul (predictably), and then West Virginia in overtime. First off, let me say two things. The notion that it's tough to beat a team three times in a season is bunk. You just didn't do your job the third time if you couldn't do it. Second, the notion that players get fatigued playing several games in several days is bunk. UConn disproved that last year. Syracuse disproved that in 2006. Now that that business is out of the way, why would you ever pick against the team that's already won twice against a team. It's illogical. While UConn is playing better together, and Jeremy Lamb is filthy, Syracuse provides a bigger defensive challenge than West Virginia did to Connecticut. In both meetings this season, Syracuse outrebounded Connecticut. That should be the case tomorrow. The only X Factor in the game is what impact Jim Calhoun will have on his team. He is admittedly a better coach than George Blaney, but the players on the court playing the game are still the same ones available in the other two. Syracuse simply causes turnovers against Connecticut and it allows for run outs. Additionally, Syracuse has shot well against Connecticut in both games and in their games in MSG this season, including NIT games and the one meeting against St. John's. This game may be close for the first half. But then I see Syracuse pulling away and maintaining a six to 12 point lead throughout the second half. Syracuse will hit a patented run and should put themselves in a good position to advance. The statistics, the team history this season, and the talent levels all tell me to pick Syracuse as I have in the previous two games. I am doing just that. I'm picking the Orange again. by 12.
This game is of course being played in front of a national television audience scamming views during work on ESPN at 12:00pm. Syracuse does it at noon. Both John and I are enjoying respective liquid lunches, so let the fun commence. The Big East Tournament is a blast in person or on television. Enjoy the ride folks. This is merely an appetizer to the main course that is the NCAA, but it is amazing and I'll be sad when Syracuse is no longer a part of it. Savor it this year my friends. Whether you're rooting for Syracuse, Connecticut, or just some great basketball.
Labels: Basketball, Big East, Big East Tournament, Preview, UConn, UConn USuck
UConn - Syracuse Postgame Reactions OR Season Sweep
0 Comments Published on 2.26.2012 by John Brennan
The seniors get a win at Gampel
Leading up to Saturday night's game, there was a lot of hype that Syracuse had never won at Gampel Pavilion. Granted, the sample set was only four games, but winless is winless. Or, rather, was winless. Syracuse played one of its bast halves of basketball in the first -- complete with scoring, rebounding, defense, creating turnovers -- and carrying a 43-29 lead into halftime. And then, the second half. The Huskies clawed their way back into the game, eventually tying it 63-63 with 4:18 left to play. Syracuse wouldn't let UConn grab the lead. A rebound put-back by Fab Melo with 31 seconds to go put the Orange ahead 71-69, and the Syracuse defense shut it down on the other end to preserve the victory. Put it in the books, 71-69!
- Kris Joseph had a great game offensively (despite being hurt) and was the team's leading scorer with 21 points on 8-15 shooting, including 3-7 from three. He was actually shooting with some confidence, which is nice to see in any game, let alone the hostile environment of Gampel.
- Scoop also played very well. While he wasn't outstanding from a scoring standpoint (seven points on 3-10 shooting, 0-3 from three), his presence was definitely felt (and necessary) out there on the floor. Scoop had five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Those are solid numbers that compliment an offense working very efficiently, as Syracuse was especially in the first half.
- Scoop was a disappointing 1-2 from the line, though the team was 10-14 in the game.
- The effort of Fab Melo in this game cannot be understated. 11 points, nine rebounds (five offensive), and three blocks. All this while only fouling three times. Granted, there were times (especially in the second half) when Fab fell asleep on defense and gave up position at the back of the zone but, as the final score indicates, it didn't matter in the end.
- Prior to the game, head coach Jim Boeheim noted that he expected to get his bench some more playing time in this game, particularly James Southerland and Michael Carter-Williams. He followed through on that expectation. Southy logged 15 minutes, with seven points and a big block. Carter Williams played seven minutes, hit a three, and dished a couple of assists.
- CJ Fair, Mr. Consistency, scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had three blocks -- the most important of which prevented UConn from taking a potential game-tying buzzer shot. I think his mere presence on the court makes this team better.
- Rakeem Christmas started. Played four minutes. Had a couple rebounds.
- UConn put together a pretty good team effort, something that could make them potentially dangerous here in the crucial final week of the regular season, and into conference and NCAA tournament time. Saturday night, they had four players in double-digit scoring. Jeremy Lamb put up 19 points, Andre Drummond 17, Ryan Boatright 14, and Roscoe Smith 11.
- UConn's savior from the Villanova game, Shabazz Napier, didn't start but came off the bench and got starter's minutes with 32. Unfortunately for him, he didn't get starter's stats: no points, seven assists, one rebound, three turnovers. So, that was good for Syracuse.
- Syracuse outshot UConn 43.8% to 40.3%, though those numbers looked much better at halftime (51.4% to 36.7%).
- Syracuse outrebounded UConn 41-37.
- Though UConn had one more offensive rebound than Syracuse, the Orange had more second-chance points, 16-14.
- Jim Burr was on the floor, a night after officiating the game in Morgantown between West Virginia and Marquette. He was his usual self, but can't say he actually played a role in the outcome of the game, one way or the other. So that was a welcomed change.
- With this win, Jim Boeheim earned his 400th Big East win.
- Coming into the game, Syracuse knew it had clinched a share of the Big East regular season title and, with the tie breaker, a guaranteed #1 seed in the Big East Tournament. With the win, Syracuse wins the Big East regular season outright. T-shirts are out already, of course.
Labels: Syracuse Basketball, UConn USuck