The Orange Apologist: Finding the Silver Lining

There are two types of people in the world, both of which are portrayed brilliantly in the most dynamic character in film history, Johnny in Tommy Wiseau's The Room.

The first type of person is the kind of guy who, when confronted with one of those times in life when terrible circumstances snowball, lashes out in anger, screaming, "You're tearing me apart!" The second type of person, in a similar circumstance, laughs it off, chuckling, "Don't worry about it!" Again, the character Johnny captures both types of people, encapsulating all of the human experience in a 99 minute film. Another thing that is great about the film is its portrayal of a bunch of dudes in tuxedos tossing a football around. But, anyway...

Sports fans experience these types of swings all the time, from game to game. Is it worse for Syracuse basketball fans? Well, the winters put us all on edge, but I'd guess SU's ups and downs are closer to par for the fan course than it sometimes feels.* Certainly this latest blow was pretty devastating. The Orange have lost the Big East defensive player of the year, the heart of their fantastic zone defense, and a center who can probably hang with every other big man in the bracket.

Things look pretty bleak. And now you're asking, can the Orange salvage anything from this year's tournament? Well, you've come to the right place. My glasses are as Orange-tinted as anyone's. Here are eight thoughts that might make Orange fans feel a little better about the Melo debacle.

1. We probably weren't going to win the title anyway. As 31-2 1-seeds go, this was a pretty flawed bunch. With or without Melo, if this Syracuse team wins the next six games, it would be the strangest roster to take the title in my memory. There just isn't a dominant player on the team - no single guy who can take the tournament by storm. Sure, with Melo the defense was superb. But in my memory I can't think of a title winner without one clear stud.
2. The bar for SU's 2012 tournament to be considered successful has been lowered. With Melo still on the team, if SU doesn't make the Final Four, it's a failed season. Now Syracuse fans feel the season is lost, but if SU fights gamely to the Elite Eight most will agree the Orange did all right.
3. The media has to toss their expectations for SU out the window. Along the same lines, the media storyline will now be, "SU isn't playing at full strength." Every win will get the "backs to the wall" positive spin, no matter how tough it is for the Orange.
4. The mood in town has bottomed out. I dropped by campus this afternoon, and I wasn't there 30 seconds before I overheard a woman exclaim, "Well, the basketball season is over!" Most years the day after SU's last game in the tournament is the worst day of the year. This year, the worst day of the year was today. (Well, unless SU loses Thursday, which I think could only happen if the refs call the game extremely tight, sending UNC-Asheville to the line where their excellent shooting percentage will help them and their lack of a player over 6'5" won't hurt them.)
5. There aren't many dominant centers in the East Region. The 1-seed helps. SU could survive their corner of the bracket with a small lineup. Florida St wins with defense and guard play. Wisconsin wins with a slow-down style and efficient but not explosive offense from their guards and forwards. Vanderbilt's John Jenkins averages almost 20 ppg because he hits almost 4 threes per game. Okay, there is 6'9" Jared Sullinger, Ohio State's All-American. I had been thinking Ohio State was vulnerable to the SU zone, but losing Melo changes that. SU will just have to root for an upset on the other side of the bracket. There's also Cincinnati, and Yancey Gates, but they beat SU with Melo in the lineup anyway.
6. Rakeem Christmas isn't awful. And Baye Keita, even though it feels like he hasn't make an inch of progress this season, is a smart defender who plays with a ton of energy. The Orange have two other guys who can play the position. Plus, this could be a great opportunity for Christmas to take a big step forward.
7. SU will still be favored  until the second weekend, at least. UNC-Asheville will come in with plenty of belief, but it will still take a miracle for them to win. Kansas State can take advantage of SU's weakness on the boards, but the Wildcats will struggle to shoot against the zone. Southern Miss, 297th in the nation in assists, doesn't pass well enough to beat the SU defense. By the second weekend, those centers could start to build some momentum.
8. The 2011-12 Syracuse Orange have had a bunker in, head down, one game at a time mentality all year long. From Bernie Fine, to the Melo prequel, to the drug violations story, there have been endless distractions swirling around this season. But the Orange have just kept winning. Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph, Brandon Triche...these are upperclassmen who are usually pretty unflappable. I'm sure they still believe the Orange can make a run. In both of the losses the Orange faced massive deficits, only to make the game close down the stretch. They won't give up.

Don't give up. Failure is likely, but that's the stuff of all great stories.


*Spoiled Yankee fans excluded.