Big East Trend

by nymetsfan1226 on Jan 10, 2012 8:54 PM EST

There has been a recent trend in the Big East, one that I'm sure you all have noticed and I'm not sure if we should be concerned. I'm taking about the recent string of unranked teams beating ranked teams.

Since Janurary 1, there have been 7 games where an unranked team knocked off a (at the time) ranked team:

1/1 Cincy beats (22) Pitt 66-63

1/3 Seton Hall beats (8) UConn 75-63

1/7 Rutgers beats (8) UConn 67-60

1/7 West Virginia beats (9) Georgetown 74-62

1/7 Notre Dame beats (7) Louisville 67-65 (2OT)

1/9 Cincinnati beats (11) Georgetown 68-64

1/10 Providence beats (15) Louisville (PC is up 30 late as I write this)

Of all those unranked teams, only Seton Hall is currently ranked, albiet in 1 poll only. Should we have any concern about our game tomorrow with unranked Villanova?

Throw in Rutgers over (10) Florida on 12/29, Notre Dame over (22) Pitt on 12/27, Georgetown over (12) Alabama on 12/1, and Georgetown over (8) Memphis on 11/23, then 11 times an unranked Big East team won a game over an at the time ranked team. Just shows you how deep this conference is.

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Given the recent big wins

by Seton Hall (WVU, UConn), Providence (L’ville), and even DePaul (Pitt(!)), have we already beaten the good teams in the conference?

March 12-13, 2009. End of discussion.

by drhimes on Jan 10, 2012 10:17 PM EST reply actions

Don't forget we play Providence again on Saturday.

I’m now actually legitly scared for that game.

by adselver15 on Jan 11, 2012 8:02 AM EST up reply actions

It will be very interesting to see

How the teams have made their adjustments to each other, having played only 10 days ago (on game day). Last night’s result was especially interesting given that Gerard Coleman (39 mins, 17 pts, 6 rebounds against us) did not play. I still see the Orange having a big home game and winning by double digits again.

March 12-13, 2009. End of discussion.

by drhimes on Jan 11, 2012 9:39 AM EST up reply actions

Well as long as the same refs aren't working the game, Syracuse should be fine.

Those were some of the worst calls I’ve seen in some time – probably dating back to that Pitt game where Syracuse had like 35 fouls.

I've been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower. But you make more money as a leader.

by Fly Rodder on Jan 11, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions

I think its prudent

To always be concerened about conference opponentes. The level of concern may vary, but no team is a walkover. Syracuse, though, has yet to show a crack in the armor, so to speak. Sure, they’re been tested a few times, but that will happen to every team. But, even in the close games, I’ve yet to see a glaring weakness in Syracuse’s game. That’s not to say I expecte the Orange to go undefeated. That would be ludicrous. But think that the eventual loss will be due to some aberration (extremely poor shooting by ‘Cuse, extremely hot shooting by an opponent, a injury/foul trouble to multiple key players, etc.) rather than some fundamental flaw in Syracuse’s game. So until I see something from that can be systematically exploited by anyone, my Concern-O-Meter will remain relatively low.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Jan 11, 2012 9:59 AM EST reply actions

Villanova is a home game so its not such a big deal

I think this speaks more to the injuries at Louisville, the youth at UConn and Georgetown, and the dysfunction this year at Pitt

I think a few years ago SU would be a top team
Uconn, L’vile, GTown, and SH would all be in the 4-7 range – safe for the tourney but not considered top tier.
Then pretty much everybody but South Florida, Depaul, and Villanova would be in that sticky 8-10 range where they are between bubble team and talented enough to be a bubble team but too inconsistent.

That is a recipe for losses all around.

by Pubsky on Jan 11, 2012 10:07 AM EST reply actions

Actually

The game is @’Nova. I don’t think it’ll make that much of a difference, but still.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Jan 11, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

I think that's his point. Expecting a healthy orange contingent there, myself included.

Go Cuse!

by nymetsfan1226 on Jan 11, 2012 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

Ah

I misunderstood. My bad. I’d forgotten that any game played in the Western Hemisphere is a home game for Syracuse.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Jan 11, 2012 12:19 PM EST up reply actions

This

is the game I circled 3 weeks ago as Syracuse’s first loss. Has anyone looked at Villanova’s schedule? This is pretty much their entire season tonight. I don’t know how they’re going to even get 7 wins out of the conference schedule regardless of tonight.

Road game, opposing team’s biggest game of the season, a solid rebounding club, Jay Wright is 10-6 against Boeheim (granted with better players, but he still knows the zone). If Nova knocks down any 3s this has all the makings despite their awful start. Cuse is going to get everyone’s best shot from here on out. I would not be surprised in the least to see Nova pull this off tonight.

by krackatoan on Jan 11, 2012 12:21 PM EST reply actions

It's certainly a dangerous game

And the Orange might be in for a close one, but I’m not counting on an L. With ’Nova’s lack of a serious inside presence (no one even close to the likes Cunningham or Pena), I think that the front line needs to play well. I think anything less that a double double from Fab will be a disappointment.

The Wildcats have good guard play, but I think Syracuse’s is just as good if not better. I’ll agree that if ‘Nova goes off from 3, it’ll be a long night for the Orange, so crisp rotations will be key. But I really think that’s the only way ’Nova even keeps it close, much less steals a win; shooting a gang of 3s and making a very high percentage.

"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes

by FeloniousPhunk on Jan 11, 2012 12:49 PM EST up reply actions

Nova

for being small rebounds really well. I’m not sure if that’s cause they’re good rebounders or because they miss so many shots that there’s more of an opportunity. If Waiters plays well this team is going to win. I think that’s a given at this point. He’s the player that makes them dangerous.The good part is that even if Waiters doesn’t play well this team can still win with all the other weapons.

by krackatoan on Jan 11, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Any time you take a road game

For granted, you will not fare well. That doesn’t always mean a loss, but a tough win that can put a team in a funk confidence wise. There are no easy wins, especially on the road in the BE. I remember struggling on road games to DePaul and South Florida. You just never know.

I guess SU has a few things to help them guard against the “look past” syndrome. A coach who has a few years under his belt who understands a trap game and can try to shake his team loose early. Also, with so many guys fighting for floor time, players are going to focus just to get minutes.

But, look at Providence last time and things can start to mount against you. There are no easy wins no matter who you play.

by orangetundra on Jan 11, 2012 5:35 PM EST reply actions