this team?

These are the types of wins that every NCAA committee member wished Syracuse had over the last two years. Now we have it…and now we are 1/4 of the way to 20 wins. This team would have lost this game last year, but they find a way to win. What a difference.

And Boeheim needs to think about using man-to-man a little more to change things up. If a team doesn’t know what type of defensive look they will get from Syracuse…they can’t game plan well enough…which gives us the advantage.

As annoying as Vitale is, it was kind of fun, and a little unsettling actually, to hear him gush about our team. The way he talked about AO you’d think he was Shaq in his prime years. And did was anyone else surprised to hear that Harris should play in the NFL? Dicky V only mentioned it 456 times over the last two nights, you’d think he’d talk about it more.

This team has me thinking differently. When Florida kept it close two days ago, I did not worry. Last year I would have been a mess. Something about them had me relatively confident. Last night frustrated the hell out of me, but they proved that my confidence the night before was not in vain. These two games have been huge. And I am very pleased to see that Harris and AO are posting double-doubles in big games. That’s a good sign.
If Devo settles down and just plays his game, he will become that catalyst he wants to be. He can get to the hoop like always, he can still hit that three. Let’s hope he steps back, realizes Flynn is our leader and then does his thing. If that happens, he will become a deadly weapon.

Lastly, man-to-man. We have to use it more. We are simply more suited to it this year. Obviously we keep that zone around, but man should be a go-to defense for us. It isn’t 2003 or 2004. We just do not have the kind of length to pull the zone off all the time.

Pomeroy rankings show Syracuse as #24.

Rating is fifth best in the conference. However, Pomeroy’s ratings are obviously fluid at this point (it’s built on the pythagorean (expected winning percentage)); the sample size is just too small at this juncture. The best illustration of this is St. John’s chiming in at number 35.

The data, at least initially, does look good, though. The adjusted offensive efficiency numbers — despite the number of bonehead turnovers — is right around the top 20. Even the adjusted defensive efficiency data isn’t all that terrible (78th nationally). The big question is whether Syracuse’s consistency value is going to fluctuate — if it doesn’t, this could be a maddening defensive season.

If Devo settles down and just plays his game, he will become that catalyst he wants to be. He can get to the hoop like always, he can still hit that three. Let’s hope he steps back, realizes Flynn is our leader and then does his thing. If that happens, he will become a deadly weapon.

Agreed. Devo really can be a key part to this team without being the floor leader and slashing to the hoop to save the day. I think Jimmy B and the coaches just need to convince Devo of this.

I’m not getting too excited yet (that’s a lie, I’m excited, but I’m not telling you that), but man, it felt good to hop around, quietly screaming as Syracuse sports (that isn’t lacrosse) did something good again.

I think the most annoying part about Vitale is how he showers praise almost entirely on the team that’s winning. Kansas is up by 10 and Vitale talks as if they’re on the road to repeating as National Champs, and no one’s giving them enough credit. Then Syracuse starts coming back and suddenly AO is the next Shaq (that he wants to make out with).

Also, does anyone feel like AO kind of figured things out last night? He’s always been a presence, but he’s also always been hesitant. And very early last night I saw even more of that against the 6’11" Aldrich. But as the game went on, AO seemed much more comfortable, challenged Aldrich on both sides, and found his way to the hoop much more easily.

Doesn’t it sort of feel like Kansas played a game last night that Syracuse might have played last year? Young, with loads of talent, so they rush out to a big lead. But then they make silly mistakes, turn the ball over, miss some key shots, and suddenly they’ve lost.

Reading a recap of the game, I was reminded how young this Kansas team is, and how that was basically us last year. It’s amazing what one year of experience (and 2 restored ACLs) can do for a team.

Great game. Really solid early season test for the team.

BTW: is anyone else REALLY fired up for the ND game? Did you guys see what Harangody did last night? 29 pts and 10 boards. I cannot F*ing wait for AO and this fatass tubby bitch to battle in the low post

His willingness to accept that he’s a role player on this team and no better than the third or fourth scoring option is crucial to our success this season.