The Confidential

The ACC Sports Blog

Archive for the category “Basketball”

25 Feb 2014

Syracuse Back on Winning Track

One of the great things about all sports is that the result unfolds in front of you.  It is not an episode of… let’s just say… Law and Order… where there is an ending pre-written and you just wonder where someone has pre-ordained your emotions to go.  No, when it is 8:50 p.m. for a game that starts at 7:00 p.m., the ending remains unknown.  Unless, of course, one team has a lead that is insurmountable.  Even then, however, there is still the potential for a “moment.”  Each season will have some close games.  The 2013-2014 edition of Syracuse basketball is seemingly only close games.  Last night kept that streak of nailbiters, alive, with Syracuse returning to its winning ways, defeating Maryland 57-55.

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Posted by acaffrey in Basketball, Results and tagged , , , ,
23 Feb 2014

Syracuse: Deserving of its 25-2 Record

Last week at this time, this author wrote that Syracuse was a flawed team that is and deserves to be 25-0.  Part of the logic was that a team that captures victory from defeat is deserving of that–even if arguable luck and good calls play a role.  Syracuse haters cannot focus on one or two plays.  One week later, the only reasonable conclusion is that Syracuse deserves to be 25-2.  Again, this author is a diehard Syracuse fan that has been following basketball since, well, forever.  Rest assured, it was before the Carrier Dome was even conceived.  Much like Syracuse haters could not focus on one or two plays as demonstrative of luck or referees dictating the outcome, Syracuse fans cannot do the same here.  It is what it is.  The team is a fair and deserving 25-2.

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Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Opinion and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
21 Feb 2014

Power of the Beard

Following an overtime loss to Notre Dame last season Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino promised his players that he would get a tatoo if they didn’t lose another game. Soon after they won the national championship he got a tatoo on the back of his left shoulder to honor thier accomplishment. To inspire his team to finish strong this season the whole program has decided to stop shaving until they lose. The power of the beard has become a popular and successful practice in sports, mainly in baseball. Only a few games in and Pitino appeares to be sporting a 5 o’clock shadow. By the end of the year I am hopeing they are styleing beards more like ZZ Top than Duck Dynasty.
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Posted by lenvillecards in Basketball, Louisville Correspondent and tagged , , , ,
20 Feb 2014
9 Comments

Syracuse Loses to Boston College–Yikes!

The Confidential just spent 1,000 words explaining that Syracuse deserved to be 25-0.  They most certainly did–even with their flaws.  But those flaws came out in full force in a loss to Boston College last night.  And now Syracuse most certainly deserves to be 25-1.  Only the specifics of that “1” are such that there is significant cause for concern.  And perhaps even relief.  Here is why.

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Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Opinion, Results and tagged , ,
18 Feb 2014

Roy Williams Joins the 300 Club

If you ignore the absolutely embarrassing performance by the refs, and the reality of what last night’s loss means to Florida State (likely, no NCAA Tournament, barring a run in Greensboro), the end of the UNC-FSU game was a good thing for the ACC. Sure, the game was exciting, seeing the Seminoles lead 21-6 at one point before the Tar Heels stormed back, but that’s not why it will have a significant place in history. No, last night’s game was important because Roy Williams set a major conference record, joining the 300 Club of the ACC.

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Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, Conference News, Opinion, Results, UNC Correspondent
16 Feb 2014
4 Comments

Syracuse: A Flawed Team That Is And Deserves To Be 25-0

This author has been following basketball since well before Al Gore’s Internet became mainstream.  Well before.  Before cable TV even.  In fact, his first real memories of basketball just so happen to coincide with Jim Boeheim’s first season as coach.  Having watched 35+ seasons of Syracuse basketball, this author is nowhere near convinced that the current edition of Syracuse basketball is made of players that should be 25-0 at this point. Nah, this team is a team that should be a 22 or 23 win team right now… good enough to be a national title contender, but flawed enough to be vulnerable just about every night.  The sum of its parts, however, is that it is the first of those teams to go 25-0.  And it deserves to be 25-0.   Here is why.

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Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Opinion and tagged , , , , ,
15 Feb 2014
1 Comment

IMPORTANT GAME TIME CHANGE: #1 Syracuse vs. NC State

The game time has moved from 3pm to 7pm for weather-related reasons.  http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/preview?gameId=400502855

Note this for your TV viewing pleasure (or lack thereof).   For television options, check here: http://www.theacc.com/#!/GameCenter/52685b9be4b0f86829b3c7f1

 

 

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, News, Schedule and tagged , , , , , , ,
13 Feb 2014
4 Comments

Dear ACC: Get to Know Tyler Ennis (While You Still Can)

Syracuse has had many good freshman players.  Pearl Washington helped convert Syracuse from a regional power into a national power.  Derrick Coleman took Syracuse to the Championship Game.  Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara won a national title.  Make way Syracuse fans… Tyler Ennis is in that elite company now.  In fact, the ACC should be taking notice.

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Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball and tagged , ,
12 Feb 2014

UPDATE- UNC-Duke Game POSTPONED Until 2/20

The UNC-Duke game, originally scheduled for 9:10pm tonight on ESPN and the ACC Network, has been postponed. Just a few hours before tip-off, the word came out at 5:40pm that the bus that was supposed to pick up the Duke team to take them to the Chapel Hill campus was unable to make it as scheduled. And now, less than an hour after that, officials have announced that the game will be played a week from tomorrow, Thursday, February 20th. The time is still TBD.

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Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in ACC only, Basketball, Conference News, Schedule, UNC Correspondent
11 Feb 2014
2 Comments

Syracuse Orange: Team of Destiny?

With the Syracuse Orange having recently ascended to their third #1 ranking in five years, a lot of the talk has been if Jim Boeheim’s squad is the team to beat.  The notion has been phrased different ways; “the national title Syracuse’s to lose”, “The title is there for the taking”, but all boil down to the idea that Syracuse is really, really good and deserve their share of time at #1.  The fact that Syracuse’s selection was the first unanimous one since  Duke in the 2010-11 season lends weight to that argument and, of course, a 23-0 record doesn’t hurt either.

Yet, looking back at that Orange this season, another phrase comes to mind when I think of this particular squad: a team of destiny.

Now, what do I mean when I say that?  Do I mean that I literally believe some cosmic entity has preordained the Orange to win a national title? Well…no, of course not.  What I mean is that whatever it’s taken for Syracuse to win, that’s exactly what has happened.

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Posted by cuseorangeblood in Basketball, Syracuse correspondent and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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