At best it seems like the pundits are picking Syracuse to be a fringe Top-25 team this season. Most put the Orange outside the list. Of course, if we know anything by now, it's that experts/pundits don't know anything you don't and are just guessing (look at NCAA football preseason polls if you have any doubt).
If you ask me though, I think this SU team is going to be MUCH better than people think. Yes, I'm maddeningly biased. But still... People are giving Donte Greene way too much credit and not giving Devo and Rautins enough. Jonny Flynn is at worst the 4th or 5th best point guard in the nation. Arinze is only gonna get better underneath. You're gonna look around one day in January, see that Paul Harris is averaging 15/10 and wonder how the hell that happened. And say nothing of the bench depth available (whether or not Boeheim uses it, at least it's there).
Mark my words, dammit. However it is that one does that.
On the eve of Big East Media Day, the Big East Writers made their picks for how the teams will stack up this season. They seem to agree that the Orange will be good...just not the best:
1. Connecticut 27 (8)
2. Louisville 40 (5)
3. Pittsburgh 46 (2)
4. Notre Dame 55 (1)
5. Marquette 101
6. Syracuse 102
7. Villanova 108
8. Georgetown 111
9. West Virginia 138
10. Providence 162
11. Cincinnati 172
12. Rutgers 201
13. Seton Hall 206
14. DePaul 217
15. St. John's 226
16. South Florida 250
I'm assuming that's a typo for Marquette, otherwise I'm not quite sure how their ahead of us with one less vote. The Writers also voted on the All-Big East Teams and there's one familiar name on there:
First-team All-Big East
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (unanimous)
Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Earl Clark, Louisville*
A.J. Price, Connecticut*
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse *
* denotes a tie in the voting
Second-team All-Big East
Scottie "Orange Crusher" Reynolds, Villanova
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Dominic James, Marquette
Jerel McNeal, Marquette*
Terrence Williams, Louisville*
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut*
*tie
Is it possible for one team to hold all of those spot at the end of the season? I'm fairly certain Syracuse can do it.
If you ask me though, I think this SU team is going to be MUCH better than people think. Yes, I'm maddeningly biased. But still... People are giving Donte Greene way too much credit and not giving Devo and Rautins enough. Jonny Flynn is at worst the 4th or 5th best point guard in the nation. Arinze is only gonna get better underneath. You're gonna look around one day in January, see that Paul Harris is averaging 15/10 and wonder how the hell that happened. And say nothing of the bench depth available (whether or not Boeheim uses it, at least it's there).
Mark my words, dammit. However it is that one does that. On the eve of Big East Media Day, the Big East Writers made their picks for how the teams will stack up this season. They seem to agree that the Orange will be good...just not the best:
1. Connecticut 27 (8)
2. Louisville 40 (5)
3. Pittsburgh 46 (2)
4. Notre Dame 55 (1)
5. Marquette 101
6. Syracuse 102
7. Villanova 108
8. Georgetown 111
9. West Virginia 138
10. Providence 162
11. Cincinnati 172
12. Rutgers 201
13. Seton Hall 206
14. DePaul 217
15. St. John's 226
16. South Florida 250
I'm assuming that's a typo for Marquette, otherwise I'm not quite sure how their ahead of us with one less vote. The Writers also voted on the All-Big East Teams and there's one familiar name on there:
First-team All-Big East
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (unanimous)
Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Earl Clark, Louisville*
A.J. Price, Connecticut*
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse *
* denotes a tie in the voting
Second-team All-Big East
Scottie "Orange Crusher" Reynolds, Villanova
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Dominic James, Marquette
Jerel McNeal, Marquette*
Terrence Williams, Louisville*
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut*
*tie
Is it possible for one team to hold all of those spot at the end of the season? I'm fairly certain Syracuse can do it.