Big East Preview
Syracuse enters the Big East doing everything fantastically...except
rebounding (The Orange are 104 in the nation). It's not if but when that
deficiency will catch up to them in conference play. Let's take a look
at every game on the slate from now until Louisville closes out the
season in the dome on March 3.
Dec 28 - vs. Seton Hall: The Jeremy Hazell Can't Hurt Us Anymore Game (Note: I wrote this before tonight's game. Any accuracy is purely a reflection of my brilliance.)
Rebounding problem? - Nah. Syracuse just needs to keep the rebounding battle close. Their turnover margin can more than make up for a small rebounding deficit. In this game, I think the Pirates out-rebound the Orange by 2.
Opponent to watch - Aaron Cosby. You'd think I'd say Herb Pope, but I see the Orange dominating underneath. Something like...15 blocks. Give Melo, um, 10 of those. As long as Cosby stays cool from outside, the Orange will be fine. 2 for 7 from three or something like that should do it.
Prediction - WIN
Jan 1 - @ DePaul: The Road Warm-Up
Rebounding problem? - No chance. (215th in the nation)
Opponents to watch - Sophomores Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young. Averaging 18.5 and 17.4 ppg, respectively, these guys might actually make DePaul a challenge if they get any talent around them.
Prediction - WIN
Jan 4 - @ Providence: The Trap Game
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (31st)
Opponent to watch - LaDontae Henton. "ME LADONTAE! ME LIKE REBOUND!" Some guys are just born to grab missed shots. The Freshman is bringing down 8.8 rpg.
Prediction - WIN. Providence breezed through an easy non-conference schedule. They lost to St. John's tonight and will lose at Georgetown again before the likely-#1 Orange come to town. Better to give this young team its lumps early in the season and avoid them late; they might be rounding into form by conference tournament time.
Jan 7 - vs. Marquette: The Revenge game
Rebounding problem? - Oh yeah! (78th)
Opponent to watch - Jae Crowder. He's baaa-ack! That dreadlocked dude who put up 16 & 7 against the Orange off the bench in the tourney last year is now starting for a fantastic Marquette team. DJO (Darius Johnson-Odom) is still there too. I recommend watching them in non-SU games when you can appreciate their hustle and game against someone else.
Prediction - WIN. Scoop doesn't forget. He and fellow senior KJ take care of the Golden Eagles this time.
Jan 11 - @ Villanova: The You Used to Be So Tough Game.
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (21st)
Opponent to watch - Maalik Wayns. The familiar faces are gone. Junior guard Wayns leads the team in scoring (17.4) and assists (5.2).
Prediction - WIN. Like the Providence game, I was tempted to go the other way in this one, but also like the Providence game, I think this team will improve as the year unfolds.
Jan 14 - vs. Providence: The Flat Home Game
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (31st)
Opponent to watch - Bryce Cotton this time. He's shooting 43% from three point range. If he gets hot under the dome, there could be trouble.
Prediction - WIN. The students won't be back yet. This Saturday evening game will see a decent crowd, but it will be one expecting an easy win. It will get restless when its not, but will lift the Orange late.
Jan 16 - vs. Pittsburgh: The We Never Beat Pitt Game
Rebounding problem? - Big time. (25th)
Opponent to watch - Travon Woodall. Pitt slipped up against Wagner without the Junior point guard. He's back from injury now, leading an offense that collects 17.4 assists per game (13th in the nation).
Prediction - LOSS. This seems about right. Pitt is stumbling at the moment, but Jamie Dixon will right the ship by the time the Panthers visit Syracuse. This Monday night game will be tough and close, a classic Big East game (soon to be classic ACC game). And low scoring...a classic Pitt game. Scoop will make a horrible error down the stretch. Melo will foul out. And the Orange will finally fall.
Jan 21 - @ Notre Dame: The Never Scary Irish Game
Rebounding problem? - Not at all! (227th)
Opponent to watch - Eric Atkins. With Tim Abromaitis done for the season (ACL), the sophomore guard Atkins is picking up the scoring slack.
Prediction - WIN. This feels like an NIT team.
Jan 23 - @ Cincinnati: The Glad You're Not Xavier Game
Rebounding problem? - A chance. (129th)
Opponent to watch - Yancy Gates. If I learned anything from Antonio Gates's college basketball career, its to always be afraid of big guys from Ohio named Gates.
Prediction -WIN. And enter the gauntlet.
---BEGIN GAUNTLET: 2012---
Jan 28 - vs. West Virginia: The Bobby Huggins Always Forgets to Prepare for the 2-3 Zone Game
Rebounding problem? - Definitely. (34th)
Opponent to watch - Darryl Bryant and Kevin Jones. The seniors have never beaten Syracuse in four tries. The forward Jones leads the Wildcats with 21 ppg, but it will be the guard Bryant who could really hurt the Orange.
Prediction - WIN. It's Bobby Huggins! He'll forget SU plays a zone, as always!
Feb 4 - @ St. John's: The Battle for MSG
Rebounding problem? - No. (172nd)
Opponent to watch - Moe Harkless. The Freshman swingman put up 32 points in his Big East debut.
Prediction - LOSS. SU will probably be the 9th ranked team the Johnnies face this season. Maybe the 2nd #1 team and 3rd or 4th top-5 team. St. John's will pull off one of those games. I think it's the Orange.
Feb 8 - vs. Georgetown: The Hoyas in the Dome
Rebounding problem? - Perhaps. (96th)
Opponent to watch - Jason Clark. The Senior guard is hitting 39% of his threes this season.
Prediction - WIN. This Orange team won't lose two games in a row all season.
Feb 11 - vs. UConn: The Rivalry Game
Rebounding problem? - Massive. (19th)
Opponent to watch - Jeremy Lamb. Perhaps the one player in the conference who will DEFINITELY be the best player on the court even when he shares it with the Orange.
Prediction - LOSS. With Alex Oriakhi and Andre Drummond, the Huskies can match SU's height. Calhoun and company spoil Saturday afternoon in the Dome.
Feb 13 - @ Louisville: The Kyle Kuric Kills the Orange Game
Rebounding problem? - Big time. (9th)
Opponent to watch - Kyle Kuric. In my nightmares, Kyle Kuric is always dunking on the 2010 Syracuse Orange in their first game as the #1 ranked team. He just keeps dunking and dunking. And then I wake up. And it turns out it was real.
Prediction - WIN. Kyle Kuric finishes with zero dunks as the Cardinals fail to keep up with the Orange offense.
---END GAUNTLET: 2012---
Feb 19 - @ Rutgers: The Last Easy Road Game
Rebounding problem? - No. (103rd)
Opponent to watch - Eli Carter. The Freshman guard is second on the team in scoring.
Prediction - WIN.
Feb 22 - vs. South Florida: The Last Easy Game
Rebounding problem? - No. (Didn't bother to look up their NCAA rank)
Opponent to watch - None. Just skip this game and go spend some time with your family.
Prediction - WIN.
Feb 25 - @ UConn: The Rivalry Game
Rebounding problem? - Rut roh. (19th)
Opponent to watch - Shabazz Napier. The other UConn sophomore can also put up points quickly.
Prediction - WIN. Road team takes it in this year's series.
March 3 - vs. Louisville: The Kyle Kuric Kills the Orange Game
Rebounding problem? - Yikes. (9th)
Opponent to watch - Peyton Siva. The Junior point guard isn't a scorer, but he is the quarterback of the team.
Prediction - WIN. Out of the ranked Big East teams, I think Louisville is the most overrated. They lack the 1-3 super-talented players the other great Big East teams have.
So there you have it. SU goes 15-3.
On second thought ...
Boy, 15-3 seems high, doesn't it? Actually, maybe 13-5 is a closer guess, and still good enough for best in the Big East. Give them one loss to Louisville and one more upset somewhere along the way.
Dec 28 - vs. Seton Hall: The Jeremy Hazell Can't Hurt Us Anymore Game (Note: I wrote this before tonight's game. Any accuracy is purely a reflection of my brilliance.)
Rebounding problem? - Nah. Syracuse just needs to keep the rebounding battle close. Their turnover margin can more than make up for a small rebounding deficit. In this game, I think the Pirates out-rebound the Orange by 2.
Opponent to watch - Aaron Cosby. You'd think I'd say Herb Pope, but I see the Orange dominating underneath. Something like...15 blocks. Give Melo, um, 10 of those. As long as Cosby stays cool from outside, the Orange will be fine. 2 for 7 from three or something like that should do it.
Prediction - WIN
Jan 1 - @ DePaul: The Road Warm-Up
Rebounding problem? - No chance. (215th in the nation)
Opponents to watch - Sophomores Cleveland Melvin and Brandon Young. Averaging 18.5 and 17.4 ppg, respectively, these guys might actually make DePaul a challenge if they get any talent around them.
Prediction - WIN
Jan 4 - @ Providence: The Trap Game
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (31st)
Opponent to watch - LaDontae Henton. "ME LADONTAE! ME LIKE REBOUND!" Some guys are just born to grab missed shots. The Freshman is bringing down 8.8 rpg.
Prediction - WIN. Providence breezed through an easy non-conference schedule. They lost to St. John's tonight and will lose at Georgetown again before the likely-#1 Orange come to town. Better to give this young team its lumps early in the season and avoid them late; they might be rounding into form by conference tournament time.
Jan 7 - vs. Marquette: The Revenge game
Rebounding problem? - Oh yeah! (78th)
Opponent to watch - Jae Crowder. He's baaa-ack! That dreadlocked dude who put up 16 & 7 against the Orange off the bench in the tourney last year is now starting for a fantastic Marquette team. DJO (Darius Johnson-Odom) is still there too. I recommend watching them in non-SU games when you can appreciate their hustle and game against someone else.
Prediction - WIN. Scoop doesn't forget. He and fellow senior KJ take care of the Golden Eagles this time.
Jan 11 - @ Villanova: The You Used to Be So Tough Game.
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (21st)
Opponent to watch - Maalik Wayns. The familiar faces are gone. Junior guard Wayns leads the team in scoring (17.4) and assists (5.2).
Prediction - WIN. Like the Providence game, I was tempted to go the other way in this one, but also like the Providence game, I think this team will improve as the year unfolds.
Jan 14 - vs. Providence: The Flat Home Game
Rebounding problem? - Yes. (31st)
Opponent to watch - Bryce Cotton this time. He's shooting 43% from three point range. If he gets hot under the dome, there could be trouble.
Prediction - WIN. The students won't be back yet. This Saturday evening game will see a decent crowd, but it will be one expecting an easy win. It will get restless when its not, but will lift the Orange late.
Jan 16 - vs. Pittsburgh: The We Never Beat Pitt Game
Rebounding problem? - Big time. (25th)
Opponent to watch - Travon Woodall. Pitt slipped up against Wagner without the Junior point guard. He's back from injury now, leading an offense that collects 17.4 assists per game (13th in the nation).
Prediction - LOSS. This seems about right. Pitt is stumbling at the moment, but Jamie Dixon will right the ship by the time the Panthers visit Syracuse. This Monday night game will be tough and close, a classic Big East game (soon to be classic ACC game). And low scoring...a classic Pitt game. Scoop will make a horrible error down the stretch. Melo will foul out. And the Orange will finally fall.
Jan 21 - @ Notre Dame: The Never Scary Irish Game
Rebounding problem? - Not at all! (227th)
Opponent to watch - Eric Atkins. With Tim Abromaitis done for the season (ACL), the sophomore guard Atkins is picking up the scoring slack.
Prediction - WIN. This feels like an NIT team.
Jan 23 - @ Cincinnati: The Glad You're Not Xavier Game
Rebounding problem? - A chance. (129th)
Opponent to watch - Yancy Gates. If I learned anything from Antonio Gates's college basketball career, its to always be afraid of big guys from Ohio named Gates.
Prediction -WIN. And enter the gauntlet.
---BEGIN GAUNTLET: 2012---
Jan 28 - vs. West Virginia: The Bobby Huggins Always Forgets to Prepare for the 2-3 Zone Game
Rebounding problem? - Definitely. (34th)
Opponent to watch - Darryl Bryant and Kevin Jones. The seniors have never beaten Syracuse in four tries. The forward Jones leads the Wildcats with 21 ppg, but it will be the guard Bryant who could really hurt the Orange.
Prediction - WIN. It's Bobby Huggins! He'll forget SU plays a zone, as always!
Feb 4 - @ St. John's: The Battle for MSG
Rebounding problem? - No. (172nd)
Opponent to watch - Moe Harkless. The Freshman swingman put up 32 points in his Big East debut.
Prediction - LOSS. SU will probably be the 9th ranked team the Johnnies face this season. Maybe the 2nd #1 team and 3rd or 4th top-5 team. St. John's will pull off one of those games. I think it's the Orange.
Feb 8 - vs. Georgetown: The Hoyas in the Dome
Rebounding problem? - Perhaps. (96th)
Opponent to watch - Jason Clark. The Senior guard is hitting 39% of his threes this season.
Prediction - WIN. This Orange team won't lose two games in a row all season.
Feb 11 - vs. UConn: The Rivalry Game
Rebounding problem? - Massive. (19th)
Opponent to watch - Jeremy Lamb. Perhaps the one player in the conference who will DEFINITELY be the best player on the court even when he shares it with the Orange.
Prediction - LOSS. With Alex Oriakhi and Andre Drummond, the Huskies can match SU's height. Calhoun and company spoil Saturday afternoon in the Dome.
Feb 13 - @ Louisville: The Kyle Kuric Kills the Orange Game
Rebounding problem? - Big time. (9th)
Opponent to watch - Kyle Kuric. In my nightmares, Kyle Kuric is always dunking on the 2010 Syracuse Orange in their first game as the #1 ranked team. He just keeps dunking and dunking. And then I wake up. And it turns out it was real.
Prediction - WIN. Kyle Kuric finishes with zero dunks as the Cardinals fail to keep up with the Orange offense.
---END GAUNTLET: 2012---
Feb 19 - @ Rutgers: The Last Easy Road Game
Rebounding problem? - No. (103rd)
Opponent to watch - Eli Carter. The Freshman guard is second on the team in scoring.
Prediction - WIN.
Feb 22 - vs. South Florida: The Last Easy Game
Rebounding problem? - No. (Didn't bother to look up their NCAA rank)
Opponent to watch - None. Just skip this game and go spend some time with your family.
Prediction - WIN.
Feb 25 - @ UConn: The Rivalry Game
Rebounding problem? - Rut roh. (19th)
Opponent to watch - Shabazz Napier. The other UConn sophomore can also put up points quickly.
Prediction - WIN. Road team takes it in this year's series.
March 3 - vs. Louisville: The Kyle Kuric Kills the Orange Game
Rebounding problem? - Yikes. (9th)
Opponent to watch - Peyton Siva. The Junior point guard isn't a scorer, but he is the quarterback of the team.
Prediction - WIN. Out of the ranked Big East teams, I think Louisville is the most overrated. They lack the 1-3 super-talented players the other great Big East teams have.
So there you have it. SU goes 15-3.
On second thought ...
Boy, 15-3 seems high, doesn't it? Actually, maybe 13-5 is a closer guess, and still good enough for best in the Big East. Give them one loss to Louisville and one more upset somewhere along the way.
posted by Prof. A at 11:46 PM
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