Syracuse vs. Pitt: Streaks, Records & Bad Juju
by Sean Keeley on Jan 16, 2012 12:40 PM EST
in Syracuse Basketball
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PrintA lot of folks are probably looking at the Big East standings and assuming that the No. 1 Syracuse Orange will have no problem with the Pittsburgh Panthers tonight in the Dome.
Of course, we Syracuse fans know better than to think such things. In fact, you could say there is a similarity to the different ways folks walk into this game and the way they perceive our national ranking.
The people you hear saying Syracuse shouldn't be No. 1 are the ones that look at paper and stats. The people you hear saying Syracuse is clearly No. 1 are the ones who have actually watched the games.
And it's the same thing for game like this. On paper, Syracuse should mop the floor with the 11-7 (0-5). But anyone who knows their Syracuse - Pitt history would tell you that records don't matter.
As you've probably heard (and are well aware), no active player on the Syracuse roster has ever beaten Pitt. The last time a Syracuse basketball team beat a Pitt basketball team was 2006 and the last time we beat them during the regular season was 2004. That's all kinds of insane.
And then there's this. If they win tonight, it will be for all kinds of milestones. The 20-0 start would be the best in school history. The win would be the 876th of Jim Boeheim's career, pushing him into a tie with Adolph Rupp for fourth place all-time in Division 1. Syracuse it would be the 34th time in Boeheim’s 36-year coaching career that his SU team won 20 games in a season, a record he already owns. And of course, before they even play the game, Syracuse will have tied its longest reign as the No. 1 team in the nation with a six-week run.
That's a lot of stuff going into a game against DePaul, let alone a game against Pitt. The same school that ended our 18-game start last year and the same team that has had our number so often it seems unbelievable.
That's why you won't hear Syracuse fans going too crazy today before the big game. There's a lot riding on it. A lot of streaks, a lot of records and a lot of bad juju that needed to be excised. In a way, I suppose it's perfect that our opponent here is Pitt.
We're Syracuse fans. We expect to win, but..
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Tonight, i'm looking forward to southerland getting his three point shot back.
The whole team seems to be off from three since the first providence game. Pitt only has two legit scoring threats this year, robinson(who usually kills us on the boards) and gibbs who seems to take more shots than kobe this season per game. Pitt shoots 35% from 3 so i expect them to do their usual Ft line to baseline passes all night, or until fab gets in foul trouble. Look for triche to be aggressive tonight vs the smaller pitt guards.
You keep chanting one more year, I thought college was four years
by PointBlankPeriodPeriod on Jan 16, 2012 12:53 PM EST reply actions
Freaking out.
Voteprime is right about this season. I keep expecting the other shoe to drop…not letting myself get caught up in all the “we’re #1” excitment. Yes, it’s cool…but all it really means is that hurts more when your ride finally ends. Every game is dangerous.
"That's no moon..."
"Now you will wittness the fire-power of this fully armed and operational Death Orange..."
Me too
I couldn’t have said it better myself. As I was reading my copy of “How to Grow an Orange” to my 6 month old unborn child (trying to let the first read through soak in) I was trying to explain this Pitt dilemma to it. I will have to print this out and discuss with my wife’s belly before 7:30 tonight. Is that weird?… we’ll find out tonight I guess, g’orange.
"Is that weird?"
Only if your wife’s belly starts talking back.
GET OUT QUICKLY
If it starts talking back.
http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/
by Lots of Pulp on Jan 16, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
A lot to be worried about
There are 4 teams in the Big East, I dont care what their records are. They could be 0-15 – I would still be nervous about them beating us.
Pitt, Louisville, UConn and GTown. And Pitt is the #1 offender. They are the only team that has our number worse than LVille.
Exactly
This game scares me. Syracuse could be up 30 with 5 seconds left and I won’t feel safe until the clock reads zero. I’m sure Jaime Dixon has a 31 point play somewhere up his sleeve.
We will not rest until we see these capitalist octopuses annihilated.
-Che Marrone
Here's what scares the piss out of me . . .
When Pitt Has the Ball
UP Offensive Rebounding Percentage: 45.6 (1)
SU Offensive Rebounding Percentage: 36.7 (306)
Syracuse needs to keep Robinson, Zanna, and Taylor off of the glass. Melo/Keita, Fair, Joseph, and Southerland need to hit the defensive glass hard or I might burn down most of Awesomestoria.
I probably should have illustrated that better.
That’s Pitt’s offensive offensive rebounding percentage. That’s SU’s defensive offensive rebounding percentage (the offensive rebounds it yields). Anyway, that probably didn’t help.
Anyone have any drugs?
A couple of things about SU and rebounding
IMO, Syracuse bails on a lot of offensive boards because they’re getting the 2-3 zone down the court and in position. Plus there aren’t as many OffReb chances, because they’re shooting damn near 50% as a team.
As far as defensive boards go, again, it’s the zone. The guards are all facing out on the perimeter and collapsing on shooters – inside it becomes a numbers game. Fab could be 10 ft tall and there will still be 3-4 opposing players clogging the lane. If they all stood stock still and didn’t jump or move for rebounds, the opposing team would still rebound more because they had more guys in the area where rebounds occur.
I don’t know. I don’t worry so much about rebounding because the zone isn’t designed for it. In exchange for rebounds, Syracuse gets a lot of turnovers & steals and forces a lower FG%.
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.
No but I know a guy that knows a guy that was in jail with a guy that pulled a phone number off a payphone in '92....
and I hear HE knows a guy that might help.
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
I guess I made a twitter, follow @StealthTurkey
by StealthTurkey on Jan 16, 2012 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
A word on rebounding
I know Syracuse’s rebounding numbers on the season aren’t great, but lately they’ve been better particularly Fab. He used to roam the whole lane, swatting everything in sight but when he didn’t get the block he was badly out of position for rebounding purposes. Lately he’s been doing him best Craig Forth impression, just standing in the lane with his hands straight up. He’s been in better position to rebound and is still blocking/altering shots like the eraser he is. The team, and Fab in particular, aren’t as good on the boards as they could/should be. But they’re getting better. They’ll need to be at their best vs. Pitt.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Jan 16, 2012 5:48 PM EST up reply actions
I have a ticket. (or should have it soon)
So I’m going provided that neither weather nor insane amounts of work interfere.
'Cuse 2010, Michigan 2012
Of course since you're going, it no longer counts as an SU road game
Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a Q-tip
I don't like this game
For a few reasons. For one, it’s Pitt. Yeah, they’re nor performing nearly as well as they’re used to, but they always seem to have Syracuse’s number. Along the same lines, Jaime Dixon is still a hell of a coach. It’s not like they have McDonald’s All-Americans lining up at the door, and the one they did have jumped ship for Vegas. The Panthers consistently get more that what they should out of the talent they have. Dixon just needs to figure his team out and it very well could happen tonight. And last, mathematically speaking, I don’t buy the idea of Pitt losing 6 conference games in a row. Something’s got to give. I just hope it isn’t the Orange
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
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