November 23, 2009 –
by Brendon
After perusing all of the scores from this weekend, I count 36 that were particularly meaningful, and I’m probably underselling others. While the opening weekend of the college basketball was exciting because it was new, we definitely learned a lot more over the last three days simply because there were games that could go either way. We saw the Big East get its first loss — four of them, in fact. We saw Big Ten teams place seventh and eighth in eight-team tournaments. And at Madison Square Garden on Friday, we saw Syracuse complete the most impressive two-game stretch of the season.
Most of the interesting games were on Friday, so, it’s Friday’s games that account for most of my words on this Monday. I’ll be looking at Saturday and Sunday in subsequent posts.
Friday
Syracuse’s 87-71 win over North Carolina headlined the night’s action and rightfully so. Syracuse is a team that lost Jonny Flynn and two other key players from last year’s Sweet 16 team, and prior to last season, Syracuse had narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament twice in a row, so the Orange no longer give off the scent of a program that can simply reload.
Enter Wesley Johnson. Well acknowledging that his length and diverse skillset would be a huge asset for a team lacking both, I was very cautious about those who saw Johnson as an immediate star and potential Big East Player of the Year in his first season at Syracuse after transferring from Iowa State. Johnson had 25 points and eight rebounds on Friday, and that doesn’t convey the length he adds to Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone.
|
Poss |
PPP |
eFG |
Turn |
Reb |
FTR |
| North Carolina |
76 |
0.93 |
0.413 |
0.250 |
0.432 |
0.302 |
| Syracuse |
76 |
1.14 |
0.610 |
0.210 |
0.343 |
0.059 |
When you look at Syracuse’s figures above, notice that this one game is a replica of the Orange’s season thus far. Syracuse’s offense has been exceptional at hitting shots, especially 2-pointers — the Orange hit an incredible 59.6 against that imposing UNC frontcourt. The rest of the offensive for Syracuse, however, has been nothing special. Syracuse continues to turn the ball over too much, has not been great on the offensive glass and has not gotten to the line. It’s important to remember, though, that shooting is the overriding factor in an offense’s success and that the type of 2-pointers Syracuse has been making are not as beholden to fate as the 3-point shot. Read More »
Posted in Reviews/Previews
|
Tagged Alabama, Andy Kennedy, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Atlantic-10, Auburn, Big East, Big Ten, Boston College, Boston University, Brown, California, Central Florida, Chris Warren, Chris Wright, Cornell, Davidson, Dayton, DePaul, Drexel, George Mason, Indiana, Iowa State, JaMychal Green, Jeff Lebo, Jim Boeheim, Joe Trapani, Jonny Flynn, Kansas State, La Salle, Mac Koshwal, Mikhail Torrance, Mississippi, Missouri Valley, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Penn State, Providence, Rakim Sanders, Reggie Jackson, Rutgers, SEC, Seton Hall, South Carolina, St. John's, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, Syracuse, Talor Battle, Tennessee, Terrico White, Tulane, USF, Vanderbilt, Villanova, Wesley Johnson
|
March 15, 2009 –
by Brendon
NEW YORK — In any other Big East Tournament, the story on Saturday night would have been the coronation. The Big East regular-season champion came to New York and took home the tournament championship, winning all three games by double-digits and capping each of the last two games with emphatic second halves.
But, despite Louisville’s 76-66 win over Syracuse on Saturday night, one in which the Cardinals overcame a 38-30 halftime deficit, everyone who watched this event will come away remembering Syracuse. Read More »
Posted in Big East, Game of the Night
|
Tagged Andre McGee, Andy Rautins, Big East, Big East Tournament, Earl Clark, Eric Devendorf, Jim Boeheim, Jonny Flynn, Louisville, Rick Pitino, Samardo Samuels, Syracuse, Terrence Williams
|
March 14, 2009 –
by Brendon
NEW YORK — It didn’t seem possible that Syracuse could win again after playing 70 minutes of basketball against a top-five team less than 24 hours earlier. It didn’t seem possible that Jonny Flynn’s legs would hold up for another 40 minutes against another tough Big East opponent. But there are times when what’s impossible and what’s possible blur, and it usually involves Syracuse at the Big East Tournament.
Three years ago, Gerry McNamara put on a show on one good leg to lead Syracuse from a No. 9 seed all the way to a Big East championship. Now, Flynn — on legs that have to feel like a worn-out pitcher’s arm on his 130th delivery on an August afternoon — is making McNamara’s accomplishment appear far less challenging.
Flynn played all 45 minutes in another overtime thriller for Syracuse at the Garden on Friday night, as Syracuse defeated West Virginia, 74-69. His shot wasn’t falling with the same consistency — 4-for-13 — but, thanks primarily to nine assists, Flynn led the offense to 1.14 points per possession despite aching legs for him and his teammates. Read More »
Posted in Big East, Reviews/Previews
|
Tagged Andy Rautins, Big East, Big East Tournament, Bob Huggins, Eric Devendorf, Jim Boeheim, Jonny Flynn, Kris Ongenaet, Louisville, Rick Jackson, Rick Pitino, Syracuse, West Virginia
|
March 13, 2009 –
by Brendon
“I can’t feel my legs.”
There is no way to take a six-overtime Big East Tournament game between two top-20 rivals and capture it in a sentence, but Jonny Flynn did a pretty good job. The Syracuse sophomore guard was also the standout performer of Syracuse’s 127-117 win against Connecticut, one that will never be forgotten by those in Madison Square Garden or anyone who wishes he had been on Thursday night.
“I’ve got no words to even try to describe it,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “I’ve never been prouder of any team I’ve ever coached. We lost our guys [to fouls] — big guys first — and somehow we survived.”
Survive and advance. Isn’t that the motto of teams in one-and-done tournaments? It took on a more physical meaning on Thursday night with 10 players playing more than 40 minutes and three — Flynn, A.J. Price and Eric Devendorf — playing more than 60. Read More »
March 12, 2009 –
by Brendon
NEW YORK — In three of the last four Big East Tournaments, Syracuse has sent Connecticut home. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, the Huskies were left wanting in the face of one of their arch rivals. And, in what should be one of the hottest Big East quarterfinals tickets ever, Syracuse and Connecticut go at it again on Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
UConn gets to the quarterfinals without having to play a game by virtue of that 15-3 Big East record, which secured the No. 3 seed and the coveted double-bye for Jim Calhoun’s team. Syracuse, on the other hand, had to literally fight its way to Thursday night, pulling away from a tough Seton Hall team after a couple of second-half fracases. Read More »
Posted in Big East, Reviews/Previews
|
Tagged A.J. Price, Big East, Big East Tournament, Bobby Gonzalez, Brandon Walters, Connecticut, Jim Boeheim, John Garcia, Jonny Flynn, Kemba Walker, Kris Ongenaet, Paul Gause, Seton Hall, Syracuse
|
