March 4, 2010 –
by Brendon
If you can remember back to the middle of October, you probably recall that the Big East preseason projections, courtesy of the coaches’ expectations, show only a faint resemblance to the standings on this day. Most notably, three teams — Syracuse, Marquette and Pittsburgh — have far outperformed their respective sixth-, ninth- and 12th-place projections.
It’s hard to blame the coaches for placing each team where they did. In fact, I even thought Syracuse was picked too high (not a shining moment for me). All three teams lost at least four key pieces from top-20 teams. The Orange lost its top three players in terms of minutes and usage — Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris — plus rotation big Kris Ongenaet. Pittsburgh lost its top three players in terms of minutes and usage — Sam Young, DeJuan Blair and Levance Fields — plus another starting forward, Tyrell Biggs. Marquette lost three of its top four players in terms of minutes and usage — Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews and Dominic James — plus its tallest player and sixth-highest minutes man, Dwight Burke.
There are several ways a team can rebuild from that, but these three went beyond rebuilding. Despite the personnel losses, Syracuse is the best team in the conference a year after slotting in somewhere in the fifth to seventh range. Pittsburgh has merely slipped from the league’s best team — according to efficiency margin in conference last season — to its fourth or fifth. Marquette has gone from the same fifth-to-seventh mire that the Orange found itself in last year to fourth or fifth with the Panthers. And this is in a league that is probably better top to bottom than it was last season. Read More »
Posted in Big East
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Tagged Andy Rautins, Ashton Gibbs, Big East, Brad Wanamaker, Brandon Triche, Buzz Williams, Darius Johnson-Odom, David Cubillan, DeJuan Blair, Dominic James, Dwight Burke, Dwight Buycks, Eric Devendorf, Gary McGhee, Gilbert Brown, Jamie Dixon, Jerel McNeal, Jermaine Dixon, Jimmy Butler, Jonny Flynn, Junior Cadougan, Kris Joseph, Kris Ongenaet, Lazar Hayward, Levance Fields, Marquette, Maurice Acker, Paul Harris, Pittsburgh, Sam Young, Scoop Jardine, Syracuse, Tyrell Biggs, Wesley Johnson, Wesley Matthews
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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
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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
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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
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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
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February 14, 2009 –
by Brendon
In another terrific chapter in the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry tome that’s being written, the Hoyas will find no solace in the excitement their 98-94, overtime loss brought college basketball fans.
Anyone who watched the game couldn’t avoid Len Elmore mentioning how crucial the game was for Georgetown, who entered the game at 4-7 in the Big East. The Hoyas’ schedule strength means that they would be hard to keep out if they could just break even in conference play, and a win at Syracuse would have been a big step in that direction. But, in the wake of a loss, the Hoyas have to stretch their neck to see the path to the NCAAs. Read More »
