Scenes from the University: 2 hours to tip
58 degrees. Sunny.
If you own a Marathon Men T-shirt, you wore it today. Second option is anything orange. Everyone is talking, thinking about the game. Everyone is optimistic. We think we're going to win. (We don't expect to win. I won't go that far. We just think we'll win.)
At a lecture from a visiting professor who happened to graduate from Georgetown: he's introduced by Professor Sharp, a 43-year vet at SU, who mocks him for Georgetown's poor season. Later, Professor Ketcham (Class of '66) starts a conversation about the game.
How did we get here? We've come full circle from our last trip to Memphis, when we won convincingly without Devo. With Ricky taking The Waffle's spot in the starting lineup. We didn't know then if Devo would be back, but we did know we'd be OK.
Set out runnin but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.
Alpha Chi Rho is blasting their music for all to enjoy. Beer pong on the porch. Some kind of hoop game being played in the yard. Barbecue ready to light. Girls in orange shirts showing up for a few drinks before the game.
Blake Griffin. Everyone in Syracuse is afraid of him. "That guy...that big guy on Oklahoma," Casual Fan asks me, "he's pretty good, right?"
He's freakin' great. 30ppg, 14rbg. Four 20-rebound games this year. Yikes!
But... I'll take Jonny and Devo over Willie Warren and Austin Johnson. I'll take our role players over theirs. Can A-O and Ricky play as well defensively as they did against Harangody earlier this year? Griffin is much better than Harangody.
More pre-game parties off Euclid. People spilling out of a house onto a porch, enjoying the weather. Girls in orange T-shirts smoking and drinking before tip-off. Three guys barbecuing in their driveway. More girls in orange on a roof. Still time to enjoy the weather before the game starts. Two parallel beer pong tables outside a house with more music playing.
You may be right, I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light, don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know, but you may be right
"Syracuse by 12," predicts the UNC fan from Chicago who goes to Newhouse and does the sports report on the local afternoon sports talk radio show. "And I'm cheering for SU on Sunday, by the way."
"I think we'll win, but more like 5 or 6 margin of victory," says the Axeman.
Prediction: CBS shows the graphic, "Syracuse won the 2003 championship as a 3-seed."
Yes, but this isn't 2003. This year is top heavy, that year was wide open. This team doesn't have a Carmelo Anthony, or a Hak Warrick, or even a Gerry McNamara.
Imagined graphic: "In 2003, Syracuse was named the Big 12 champs despite not being a member of the Big 12."
In 2003, we knew Syracuse could win it all if it played well. In 2009 we thought Syracuse could make a run if they stayed hot. There's a difference.
But...
Even the girls in their brand new Marathon Men T-shirts know, if Syracuse stays hot, they win this game.
If you own a Marathon Men T-shirt, you wore it today. Second option is anything orange. Everyone is talking, thinking about the game. Everyone is optimistic. We think we're going to win. (We don't expect to win. I won't go that far. We just think we'll win.)
At a lecture from a visiting professor who happened to graduate from Georgetown: he's introduced by Professor Sharp, a 43-year vet at SU, who mocks him for Georgetown's poor season. Later, Professor Ketcham (Class of '66) starts a conversation about the game.
How did we get here? We've come full circle from our last trip to Memphis, when we won convincingly without Devo. With Ricky taking The Waffle's spot in the starting lineup. We didn't know then if Devo would be back, but we did know we'd be OK.
Set out runnin but I take my time
A friend of the devil is a friend of mine
If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.
Alpha Chi Rho is blasting their music for all to enjoy. Beer pong on the porch. Some kind of hoop game being played in the yard. Barbecue ready to light. Girls in orange shirts showing up for a few drinks before the game.
Blake Griffin. Everyone in Syracuse is afraid of him. "That guy...that big guy on Oklahoma," Casual Fan asks me, "he's pretty good, right?"
He's freakin' great. 30ppg, 14rbg. Four 20-rebound games this year. Yikes!
But... I'll take Jonny and Devo over Willie Warren and Austin Johnson. I'll take our role players over theirs. Can A-O and Ricky play as well defensively as they did against Harangody earlier this year? Griffin is much better than Harangody.
More pre-game parties off Euclid. People spilling out of a house onto a porch, enjoying the weather. Girls in orange T-shirts smoking and drinking before tip-off. Three guys barbecuing in their driveway. More girls in orange on a roof. Still time to enjoy the weather before the game starts. Two parallel beer pong tables outside a house with more music playing.
You may be right, I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light, don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know, but you may be right
"Syracuse by 12," predicts the UNC fan from Chicago who goes to Newhouse and does the sports report on the local afternoon sports talk radio show. "And I'm cheering for SU on Sunday, by the way."
"I think we'll win, but more like 5 or 6 margin of victory," says the Axeman.
Prediction: CBS shows the graphic, "Syracuse won the 2003 championship as a 3-seed."
Yes, but this isn't 2003. This year is top heavy, that year was wide open. This team doesn't have a Carmelo Anthony, or a Hak Warrick, or even a Gerry McNamara.
Imagined graphic: "In 2003, Syracuse was named the Big 12 champs despite not being a member of the Big 12."
In 2003, we knew Syracuse could win it all if it played well. In 2009 we thought Syracuse could make a run if they stayed hot. There's a difference.
But...
Even the girls in their brand new Marathon Men T-shirts know, if Syracuse stays hot, they win this game.
Labels: 2009 NCAA tournament, Oklahoma Sooners, Syracuse Orange basketball
posted by Prof. A at 5:08 PM
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