Syracuse is the best team in the country with Fab Melo

[tzznandrew]

Some of the criticisms we have stem from having played them 3 times. But the grass is always greener. Who is better?

Kentucky? Okay. Maybe. But who have they played since December?

UNC? They're perimeter shooting is suspect, and they don't play defense. As much as we kill Boat, Bazz, and Lamb for D, Marshall makes them look All-NBA Defensive teamers.

Duke? Hahahahahahaha.

Kansas is good. They've got a star. But if we make fun of Syracuse for underperforming in the NCAAs, look at Kansas' recent history. Yes, they have a recent title, but so does Cuse.

Mizzou is good, but small. They can beat Syracuse, but aren't better.

MSU and OSU are great defensive teams, but you can't argue that they're better than Cuse.

Cuse is more vulnerable than their record suggests, but the field isn't so impressive that they shouldn't commit seppuku if theyiss te Final Four.

 

[mauconnfan]

Cuse can beat anyone but they can also get beat by Murray State - Kentucky can't. Kentucky is the team to beat no doubt but they are far from a guaranteed FF player......but overall talent from the 7 players is hard to argue! Michigan State? Like Izzo too but this team can be had too.....I'd be fine in the 8/9 game with them as my 1............

 

[Kitaman]

Any team that can beat us 3x in one season is definitely FF capable.

 

[auggie22]

Duke in Greensboro, with the refs, and their 3 point shooting is a terrifying thought.

yep, you nailed it. like some sportcenter dude once said of bringing johnny wasdin in from the bullpen with the bases loaded: "like driving a gasoline truck into a bonfire".

 

[BuffOrange]

This is Cuse's best team EVER. They held us off 3 times, fair dues, they're really good, and really experienced. I still wouldn't be surprised if we are playing later than them in the tourney, that's just what we do.

I don't think it's as good as the team 2yrs ago that had two post players, better shooters, and only a slightly worse defense. Onuoku's injury in the BET cost that team a national title imo.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

I don't think it's as good as the team 2yrs ago that had two post players, better shooters, and only a slightly worse defense. Onuoku's injury in the BET cost that team a national title imo.

Maybe... but the competition at the top of the BE and at the top of the national rankings was better that year... so comparatively, to the field, this team is Cuse's best ever to me... I also think this team is just generally better than that team due to depth...

Cuse took Uconn's best shot 3 times this year and held them off each time... Why?

First game: Scoop goes off (in game 3 he didn't even play down the stretch)
Second Game: K. Joseph goes off (he had 1 field goal I think in game 3)
Third game: Southerland, who is not a very good 3 pt shooter in BE games, goes off from 3 and scores 10 points in the final minutes

They just have so many weapons... and someone always seems to step up...

They also have just had things bounce their way this year (bad no calls in WV win and second Uconn win, playing Pitt when they stunk, very few difficult away games, list goes on)... but any team needs those things to be 31-1. Basically, they are a badass team...

 

[HuskyBballFan]

I love that there are so many experts here making sweeping statements like "there is no way that Syracuse can make the Final Four."

They are 31-1 for a reason. They are incredibly deep. They are experienced. They play a defense that most teams haven't seen much of during the season. It would not be surprising if they won the National Championship.

 

[BuffOrange]

Maybe... but the competition at the top of the BE and at the top of the national rankings was better that year... so comparatively, to the field, this team is Cuse's best ever to me... I also think this team is just generally better than that team due to depth...

Cuse took Uconn's best shot 3 times this year and held them off each time... Why?

First game: Scoop goes off (in game 3 he didn't even play down the stretch)
Second Game: K. Joseph goes off (he had 1 field goal I think in game 3)
Third game: Southerland, who is not a very good 3 pt shooter in BE games, goes off from 3 and scores 10 points in the final minutes

They just have so many weapons... and someone always seems to step up...

They also have just had things bounce their way this year (bad no calls in WV win and second Uconn win, playing Pitt when they stunk, very few difficult away games, list goes on)... but any team needs those things to be 31-1. Basically, they are a badass team...

Yah the BE was better that year but the rest of the country IDK. I think UK & UNC this year are pretty comparable to UK & Kansas that year (along w/ 'Cuse clearly the 3 best teams in each respective year). If anything there are probably more 2nd tier "2010 Dukes" this year than in 2010 who can win it all with a favorable draw - KU, Ohio St, Mich St, Mizzou, etc. I never really felt like say, WVU had a team that could win it all that year.

 

[Druken Friar]

The polls have it right - Kentucky then Syracuse. In a single elimination tournament, Syracuse could easily beat Kentucky. I will be surprised if Syracuse and Kentucky don't both get to the Final Four.

The BE will really miss Cuse in BB; Pitt & WV not so much.

 

[Walker11]

Cuse is damn good but I fully expect a typical flame-out. I actually think they would matchup well with UK and give them fits with the zone but I can see a heady, 3 point shooting team knock them out early. There really aren't any lights out shooting, fundamentally sound teams in the B East, save Notre Dame and this style of play is what usually tears up a zone.

I think if we see a team like Creighton get a 8 or 9 seed on Cuse's side of the bracket, a standard Cuse choke will ensue and we will get to laugh at them some more.

 

[BuffOrange]

How exactly does "if team X shoots lights out..." not apply to any team? Cincy is as 3happy as anyone in the BE and they lost at home without Melo despite making a half dozen shots from Cleveland in the first 5 minutes.

 

[Ricky1Moore]

How exactly does "if team X shoots lights out..." not apply to any team? Cincy is as 3happy as anyone in the BE and they lost at home without Melo despite making a half dozen shots from Cleveland in the first 5 minutes.

It's not JUST the lights out shooting... For a team like Cuse to lose, the stars have to align for the opponent, no matter who they are... But one key component that this team MUST have (especially a non- 1 or 2 seed quality team) is lights out 3 pt shooting. The zone is both the reason Cuse has been a very solid good team year in year out under Boeheim - but it is also the reason for lots of early exits... because in the tourney, crazy teams just catch fire.

The other compnent that is key is not turning the ball over. If any team can turn the ball over less than Cuse does in a head to head, and drain 3s then they can win. Cuse is not great in halfcourt, they need the run outs to blow teams out

 

[Walker11]

Being 3 point happy is not the same as being an efficient offensive team that shoots 3's very well. I wouldn't call Cincy a heady, fundamentally sound team.

 

[BuffOrange]

Being 3 point happy is not the same as being an efficient offensive team that shoots 3's very well. I wouldn't call Cincy a heady, fundamentally sound team.

Well Pomeroy doesn't think there's any difference between the two in offensive efficiency. Why do I get the feeling that "heady, fundamentally sound" = white guys? ND didn't look all that smart to me last night.

 

[Walker11]

Well Pomeroy doesn't think there's any difference between the two in offensive efficiency. Why do I get the feeling that "heady, fundamentally sound" = white guys? ND didn't look all that smart to me last night.

Notre Dame's best two players are black so not sure where you are going with that.

When you come to one of your rivals boards, you shouldn't be surprised that they are biased against your team and don't have the same opinion of them as you do.

To show some bias against you, I will laugh at the fact that Uconn won more tournament games last year than Cuse has in the last 6. I will also laugh at the fact that Cuse has advanced past the Sweet 16 twice in the past 2 decades plus.

 

[BuffOrange]

When you come to one of your rivals boards, you shouldn't be surprised that they are biased against your team and don't have the same opinion of them as you do.

On the contrary, I think my opinion that we're the 2nd or 3rd best team in the country and can win it all with a few breaks is shared by a lot of rival fans. I just don't like lazy/lame/cliche analysis and call it out regularly on our board just the same.

 

[geordi]

That makes sense. Syracuse is the ONLY team in the country with Fab Melo.

 

[UConn76]

I don't think Syracuse has any chance at winning a title this year without a favorable draw. Not enough top level talent (rare to win a title without a lottery pick or two on your roster) and a gimmicky defense that is just dying to be exposed by some hot shooting team in the tourney.

The key with SU is that teams outside of the Big East don't see their zone on an annual basis. I think that gives them a rather large advantage when they play in the NCAA.

 

[Marty Jackson]

We have more individual talent than 'Cuse but they are a much better team. They have many versatile players that can adjust to the flow of a game while ours have set roles and play pretty much the same way all the time. They also have a better bench. If we played them 100 times, we would win maybe 20 times. We need to play an absolute perfect game to beat them and we just can't. They say you can't beat a good team three times in one season. Whether it's poor rebounding, poor free throw shooting, failing to defend the three, giving up second chance points, it's a different reason every game why we lose.

On the bright side, I hate to say this but I really wanted to win today but was fine with not winning the tournament. I prefer the guys get some rest, hopefully a beneficial draw in the tourney, and unleash Drummond on some of these teams that have not seen a player with his athletic ability. I see utilizing Drummond's athleticism as the key to a deep run in the tourney. I just hope we don't run into Cuse again.

I think if Syracuse wins the BE tourney, it is a very bad thing for them and their NCAA tourney prospects. You don't want to go into the tourney with a single loss (and that loss being without Melo). After a season like they've had, I think it's better for them to lose a game in the BE tourney to splash some water in the players' faces to refocus them on winning the next six games in the NCAA tourney.

Has anyone beaten uconn four times in one season?

 

[ZenConn]

This is Cuse's best team EVER. They held us off 3 times, fair dues, they're really good, and really experienced. I still wouldn't be surprised if we are playing later than them in the tourney, that's just what we do.

This year's Cuse team is very good, but I'd have to say that the team with Coleman, Seikaly, Douglas, Billy Owens and Stephen Thompson was their best team ever ....

 

[Ricky1Moore]

This year's Cuse team is very good, but I'd have to say that the team with Coleman, Seikaly, Douglas, Billy Owens and Stephen Thompson was their best team ever ....

Ok fair dues, I was pretty young then and only vaguely remember that team...

 

[bobbygt]

This year's Cuse team is very good, but I'd have to say that the team with Coleman, Seikaly, Douglas, Billy Owens and Stephen Thompson was their best team ever ....

Was that the team that lost to the Flyin' Illini? That was a great game.

 

[Deadrody]

Gimmicky defense? That gimmicky defense just got us 30 wins this season.

Indeed. And it got a very solid team BLOWN OUT by Alabama in 2004. If SU faces a team that gets hot from outside the arc, they're done. Its that simple.

I am really impressed with the talent SU has. The first half at Gampel was like a freakin' highlight reel. But the fact remains, the 2-3 Zone is exceptionally vulnerable to a hot shooting perimeter team.

 

[Deadrody]

That makes sense. Syracuse is the ONLY team in the country with Fab Melo.

DING DING DING. Glad I waited to read the whole thread before posting the same thing!!!!

 

[BuffOrange]

Indeed. And it got a very solid team BLOWN OUT by Alabama in 2004. If SU faces a team that gets hot from outside the arc, they're done. Its that simple.

Duh obviously, 5seeded M2M teams never don't get at least to the Elite 8.