Another Big Road Win
I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t see this coming. A week ago, driving into Syracuse for the Rutgers game, I was expecting the season to end 2 and 2, and thought it would have given the Orange a nice late-season boost to steal one of the road games. But two big road wins, both against ranked teams? No way.
How mercurial has this team been all season? I don’t need to revisit the early season doldrums, when Boeheim christened them the most overrated team he had ever coached. Nor the mid-season swoon that seemed destined to leave the Cuse with their first five-game losing streak in Boeheim’s long career. The real question, from now until sometime in March, is what team will come to play in the two tournaments? Will it be the guys who won six conference road games, against the likes of UConn, Nova and Georgetown? Or the guys who surrendered ninety points to Seton Hall? The team that seemed to sleepwalk through many home games? Or the one that played great defense on the road?
Some interesting stats from today’s outing: Cuse was outrebounded by Georgetown, yet still managed to put up more shots. In part that was thanks to the turnovers. The Orange, uncharacteristically, protected the ball well, committing only 9 turnovers, at the same time they forced 16 from the Hoyas. That number included nine steals; plus, they had five blocks. It really was a defensive win. And if they’re to have any success in the post-season, it will have to come from the D. The offense remains too inconsistent.
The best news from today’s win, as far as I’m concerned, was the reemergence of James Southerland. Somehow, Southerland got in Boeheim’s doghouse, and has hardly played over the past month. Today, he keyed that run late in the first half that gave the Orange enough of a cushion to protect against the run Georgetown had coming out of halftime. He even looked pretty active in the zone, coming up with a couple steals and one nice block. With Southerland in the rotation, the Orange have seven players aside from the two freshmen centers. And with Southerland on the floor, they have another threat from the outside, and you know they’ll need that in March, as teams pack their defense in the lane to prevent Jackson from getting easy buckets.
Well, they have a week off before Depaul, and then another four days or so before Big East tournament play will start for them. So barring some catastrophe, and we know all about those, they should be healthy and rested for the post-season. Go Orange.
posted by pops | 5:34 PM
4 Comments:
Berg,
Hitting the nail on the head. This is a post any observant Cuse fan would have to agree with. I had them penciled as going 2-2 as well.
The conclusion I want to make from this outcome is they are a team mostly of freshman and sophomores. They had to learn how to play BE basketball the upper class men were not good enough to do it on their own. Boeheim has now found the offensive and defensive combination towards consistency. I should be wary of this bold prediction as we both know of the 2010-2011 roller-coaster. Having said that I like the team and predict a 3 or 4 seed.
Go Cuse,
G-man
G, Assuming there is no disaster between now and selection Sunday, I think you’re number is accurate.
They ought to beat Depaul (famous last words), and if they go deep into the Big East tourney, I think they may end up a 3, but if they lose early, I still think they’ve secured a 4. Either way it’s a big improvement over a few weeks ago.
Check out tonight’s posting about Clynelish.
Berg,
Short addition to your comment now that the polls have been posted today (Monday).
Currently Cuse #12 in both polls.
Lanardi has them as 3 Seed (probably last #3). The point is they are currently lowest 3 or highest 4.
If they beat DePaul and the game after the first round bye (I don't think they will get the double bye) in the BE Tournament they will be a 3. A much more favorable position then a 4 seed.
Now to the newest posting.
G-man
G,
My latest comment, in response to your Clynelish comment, just repeats your observation. That’s because I read your comments in reverse order.
Anyway, I agree. If they beat Depaul and win one in NY, they’ll get that 3 seed, and yes, it’s a better draw than a four.
Still, no matter what, they’ll have a very tough time getting by the sweet sixteen. And they’ll have to play well at both ends just to make the round of 16. But it’s a lot better than I expect a month ago.
Berg
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