Predaction: West Virginia and Notre Dame
I apologize for any typos. I'm still a little shaky after West Virgina's 3-point barrage, and the Scoop-KJ chokes at the line. Geheyeheyeheyehey! (grabbing collar)
Continuing my thoughts from the Rutgers game on Wes... at this point, who would you rather have with the ball on the perimeter, being guarded one-on-one with the rest of the Orange clearing out: Wes or KJ? Now, I know Wes had the flu today. And he did have the play of the game when he finished his little hook shot in the lane and got fouled late. But Kris is better off the dribble right now. So it's close between the pair, but I'd take KJ.
I'm sure you noticed, but Bob Huggins once again forgot that the Orange plays zone. West Virginia shot only 39%, even with all those crazy shots down the stretch. Besides their 10 threes, the only reason the Mountaineers kept is close was their excellent defense. It was interesting that out of the two SU PGs, it was Triche who figured out West Virginia was trying to draw charges every time the ball entered the lane. In the second half, he slowed his drives down just enough to find the seam, or shoot a floater. Rautins was brilliant, but Triche was the key player.
Now SU heads to Notre Dame for a Monday night meeting. After winning 3 games against the Orange in his first two seasons, Harangody lost 93-74 in the Dome last year despite putting up 25-16. He was brilliant on offense in that game, despite some excellent defense from the Bigs. But the dirty little secret of his game - his shoddy defense - was revealed when A-O and Ricky torched him for 33 combined.
This year, the great shooter Kyle McAlarnery is gone. Tim Abromaitas and Ben "My Brother Plays in the NBA" Hansbrough will jack up threes, but neither is McAlarney-esque, or even Colin Falls-esque. The SU zone can slow them down. Overall, despite Big Luke, the Irish just aren't as good as they have been in recent years. OK, they're 14-3 with a win over West Virginia, but look how their regular season schedule ends: @ Louisville, Pitt, @ Georgetown, UConn, @ Marquette. Translation: NIT is their fate. This game is no problem for the Orange.
Syracuse rolls, 85-70. Big game from Uncle* Aku
*Onu means uncle in Estonian. It's true!
Continuing my thoughts from the Rutgers game on Wes... at this point, who would you rather have with the ball on the perimeter, being guarded one-on-one with the rest of the Orange clearing out: Wes or KJ? Now, I know Wes had the flu today. And he did have the play of the game when he finished his little hook shot in the lane and got fouled late. But Kris is better off the dribble right now. So it's close between the pair, but I'd take KJ.
I'm sure you noticed, but Bob Huggins once again forgot that the Orange plays zone. West Virginia shot only 39%, even with all those crazy shots down the stretch. Besides their 10 threes, the only reason the Mountaineers kept is close was their excellent defense. It was interesting that out of the two SU PGs, it was Triche who figured out West Virginia was trying to draw charges every time the ball entered the lane. In the second half, he slowed his drives down just enough to find the seam, or shoot a floater. Rautins was brilliant, but Triche was the key player.
Now SU heads to Notre Dame for a Monday night meeting. After winning 3 games against the Orange in his first two seasons, Harangody lost 93-74 in the Dome last year despite putting up 25-16. He was brilliant on offense in that game, despite some excellent defense from the Bigs. But the dirty little secret of his game - his shoddy defense - was revealed when A-O and Ricky torched him for 33 combined.
This year, the great shooter Kyle McAlarnery is gone. Tim Abromaitas and Ben "My Brother Plays in the NBA" Hansbrough will jack up threes, but neither is McAlarney-esque, or even Colin Falls-esque. The SU zone can slow them down. Overall, despite Big Luke, the Irish just aren't as good as they have been in recent years. OK, they're 14-3 with a win over West Virginia, but look how their regular season schedule ends: @ Louisville, Pitt, @ Georgetown, UConn, @ Marquette. Translation: NIT is their fate. This game is no problem for the Orange.
Syracuse rolls, 85-70. Big game from Uncle* Aku
*Onu means uncle in Estonian. It's true!
posted by Prof. A at 4:06 PM
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