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Here we go.
The Syracuse Orange will play in the 2011 NCAA Tournament as a 3-seed in the East region. The Orange open in Cleveland against Indiana State on Friday. If they win, they get the winner of Xavier & Marquette.
Initial Thoughts:
East Region means Newark regional. That's a huge win.
Cleveland Opening Round means No D.C. Which isn't that great. Furthermore, we open against a team from Indiana and if we win we'll play a team from Ohio or a team from Wisconsin. Great (read: not great).
Seriously, sending us to Cleveland with the potential to play lower-seed Xavier? WTF?
Seth Davis immediately called Indiana State over Syracuse. Seth, go f*** yourself.
As of this moment, you hate Larry Bird. At least until Saturday.
Is it me or are we in for a tough region? Xavier/Marquette in 2nd round. North Carolina or Isiah Thomas & Washington looming in Sweet Sixteen. Ohio State & Kentucky way ahead in the Elite 8. Gonna be a slugfest.
The NCAA committe's solution for so many Big East teams seems to be to let them knock each other out in the 2nd round. I know its hard to avoid those match-ups once in a while, but they seem to have gone out of their way to make those things possible. Seems...slightly shady.