That's The Thing About Making Predictions...

by Sean Keeley on Jan 9, 2012 11:00 AM EST in Syracuse Basketball

I know a lot of Syracuse Orange fans are over the whole complaining about ESPN & Others' opinions about SU, but this was just too much fun to pass up.

ESPN Writer roundtable: December 13, 2011.

1. Syracuse is the latest new No. 1. Name the date of the Orange's first loss:

Eamonn Brennan: I'll go with Jan. 7 at home versus Marquette.

Andy Katz: My prediction is the Orange don't lose until Marquette visits the Carrier Dome on Jan. 7.

Jason King: I'll go with a Jan. 7 home game against Marquette.

Myron Medcalf: I'll go with Jan. 7, when the Orange face Marquette at home.

Dana O'Neil: Dec. 17 at NC State.

Try again, folks.

The only ESPN expert who didn't think Syracuse was going to lose already is Diamond Leung, though he's got some fairly scary reasoning for thinking the Orange could get snake-bitten soon.

Jan. 11 at Villanova. I think Syracuse comes off the high of beating Marquette and then gets surprised by the Wildcats, who aren't having their best season thus far but should be improved by then. It happens.

The good news? Villanova are most certainly not improved by now. Though, the theory remains...

Credit where credit is due to Andy Karz who is now a true believer.

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Comments

Has anybody

seen Villanova’s athletics front page?

http://www.villanova.com/

Bro, that was 6 years ago. And your record for 2011-2012, well…

by amanda.c.dudley on Jan 9, 2012 11:23 AM EST reply actions

The difference

Is that Waiters comes off the bench right behind Scoop. I don’t see him in that collage.

by 5YearPlan on Jan 9, 2012 11:39 AM EST up reply actions

So if it's at the Wells Fargo Center

This is a neutral court, right?

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 9, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

HAHAHAHA

Great video. All I have to say to that is …

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/2012/01/photo-recap-of-villanovas-2011-2012.html

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by Lots of Pulp on Jan 9, 2012 12:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Speaking of predictions....

Would it be bad luck to buy Final Four tickets at this stage????

by ex-Townie on Jan 9, 2012 11:23 AM EST reply actions

Yes

by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Jan 9, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

I was wondering that as well.

I figure if the ‘Cuse doesn’t make it you could re-sell them for a ridiculous price.

If you're going to be stupid, you're going to have to be tough

by FatK44 on Jan 9, 2012 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

My Uncle buys them every year... Can get them at face if you purchase when they go on sale through lottery just after previous years Final Four

He’s got hotels booked in NOLA already too.

Hotels he can cancel up to day of with no charge and if Cuse don’t make it he puts them on Stub Hub and makes a crazy profit. He’s been doing it for 4 or 5 years now and after his initial investment the profit has payed for the following years tickets. So basically if Cuse makes it to NOLA then his trip is free from past final four ticket sales

by MarshallSt on Jan 9, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I said something about the prediction in jest....

I’d do it more because of what you said….I can book everything now IN CASE it happens, and can sell them like Uncle Marshall does….They’re expensive as hell even at face value, though….Decent seats (mid court, upper/mid level) = $755 each, and includes both semi and final games…..And I can drive from ATL to NO in ~6 hours, so I don’t have to worry about flights…..

by ex-Townie on Jan 9, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

$755 sounds like alot to put up but expect $1500+ as a return in late March

by MarshallSt on Jan 9, 2012 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

Aw, man

I was ready to remind everyone of that article and look all smart after we beat Nova. Beat me to it.

I guess that’s why you’re the blogger, and I’m the blog-reader.

by Orange&P on Jan 9, 2012 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Suck up

I like it Andy. I like it.

by dennymike on Jan 9, 2012 11:38 AM EST reply actions

To be fair

I think at least a couple of those experts revised their opinions between that article and the Marquette game. I have no links, but I’ve heard “Likely undefeated until February” bandied about a bit. I believe our newest probable loss is at home against Georgetown.

I think we’ll win the Georgetown game. But my gut says the game at Notre Dame won’t be fun at all.

by Mike I. on Jan 9, 2012 11:43 AM EST reply actions

it's just fun

To look at our schedule right now. Even if we lose to EVERY currently-ranked team that we will play, AND say we drop one to an unranked team as well, we’d be 25-6, 12-6 heading into the BET.

Our nightmare scenario right now is like a #4 seed. Not a bad position to be in January.

by Orange&P on Jan 9, 2012 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

Usually

It’s followed by … “because their schedule sets up so nicely” instead of, because they’re really, really good.

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by Lots of Pulp on Jan 9, 2012 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

To be fair,

their schedule is ridiculously back-loaded. As if that were Syracuse’s fault or something.

It's the most bullshit thing I've seen in thirty years.

by Girardi Party on Jan 9, 2012 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

I just love the fact

that we go into every game this year expected to win. Honestly, barring collapse, the only games this season we won’t be favored in are possibly @ UConn and @ Lllllvllllll.

It's the most bullshit thing I've seen in thirty years.

by Girardi Party on Jan 9, 2012 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

Eh, this time last month I was on the same boat

I had a feeling Marquette would be our first loss as well around a month ago. Considering how it’s next to impossible to go undefeated in college hoops, it’s all about limiting them and getting the best seed possible IMO

It must be said, however, LOL Dana O’Neil with the NC State prediction, which is not aging well at all

Twitter: RyanMcD29

by RyanMcD29 on Jan 9, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

I seem to work myself up for every opponent we play, then when we win I say that didnt seem so tough of a game.

I watched the nova/marquette game and nova really has a limited attack on offense(compared to the corey stokes, corey fisher days) its basically cheek and wayns with a bunch of scrubs that wold never sniff the cuse linep.

What worries me about nova though is their players are fearless to launch threes, maybe because they know jay wright doesnt have anyone to replace them with, but they are so small overall that i dont see cuse giving up long rebounds like they did in the marquette game which majority of the time led to FTs or anither decent look.

We can afford to give up 17 a piece to wayns and cheek, because honestly, nobody else on that team has the confidence to take the amount of shots they do. Fab melo needs to own yarou on the glass, otherwise this could turn into the game last year when they had the inside/outside game all day and destroyed us at home.

You keep chanting one more year, I thought college was four years

by PointBlankPeriodPeriod on Jan 9, 2012 12:11 PM EST reply actions

Oh Boy

If Nova still has tickets available against the Number 1 team in all the land, they have bigger problems than this game!

by Joe Doherty on Jan 9, 2012 12:24 PM EST reply actions

Theres tix available.

And below list price tix are available on Stubhub. Just bought some tix for the game. Can’t wait.

Go Cuse!

by nymetsfan1226 on Jan 9, 2012 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Go to the Wells Fargo Center website

I cancelled my Stubhub order and got way better seats for a little more direct for the source.

See you on Wednesday, Go Cuse & Shut it Down!

by the Cobras on Jan 9, 2012 1:37 PM EST reply actions

http://www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com/tickets.aspx

by the Cobras on Jan 9, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

On SH, I got 4 2nd deck tix, row 1 for $19 each + fees and ticket pickup fee. (Why almost none of the tix are available for instant download makes no sense)

Came out to $25 each. I’m content with that

Go Cuse!

by nymetsfan1226 on Jan 9, 2012 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Do you know if anyone has asked Boeheim if he voted us as #1 in the coaches poll?

I would imagine that he would either a) vaporize the journalist who asked the question, or b) respectfully decline to answer because he doesn’t know how the information director voted.

Its not a huge deal, but I’m just curious.

I don’t get the “being humble” justification for a coach not voting his team #1, and I’m guessing Jim doesn’t buy that either.

Lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief

by Rocket Ship Science on Jan 9, 2012 1:39 PM EST reply actions