The Confidential

The ACC Sports Blog

Archive for the tag “Syracuse”

16 Mar 2014

Dr. Syracuse and Mr. Orange

What is Syracuse?  Who knows anymore.  This is a team that was 25-0 and the #1 team in the country without much debate.  In February.  It had a senior in CJ Fair who was great against Duke in the Carrier Dome and against Pittsburgh down the stretch.  It had a sophomore duo in Jerami Grant and Trevor Cooney that were offensive threats.  It had a freshman in Tyler Ennis that seemed to be more Benjamin Button than a teenager.  Dr. Syracuse looked like a national championship contender capable of beating anyone and everyone.  And then it turned into Mr. Orange–a team capable of losing to anyone and then proving it by losing at home to Boston College and Georgia Tech.  These losses–rather than the other three–are what will keep Syracuse from being a #1 seed.  The bigger question for Syracuse fans is not #1 seed, but whether it will win one game in the Big Dance.

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

Syracuse Basketball: Grading the Orange

The Syracuse Orange closed out the regular season on Sunday with 74-58 win over the Florida State Seminoles.  The win earned the Orange a 27-4 mark for the regular season, a record that, any other year, would have SU fans jumping for joy.  This season, though, the fact that Jim Boeheim’s squad went only 2-4 over their last six has many of the Orange faithful’s panic-o-meter cranked up to 44.

Relax.

Yes, the Orange had their seasonal slide a bit later than usual.  True, that slide included a couple of really bad losses to Boston College and Georgia Tech.  And, of course, one fairly dominant win over the ‘Noles doesn’t erase the flaws shown by Syracuse late in the season.  So, let’s take a moment to take the long view and grade the Orange as they prepare for the post season.

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Posted by cuseorangeblood in ACC only, Basketball, Syracuse correspondent and tagged , , , , , , ,
10 Mar 2014

ACC Seeding Polls: Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, UNC

Here are four polls… where do you think each of Duke, Virginia, Syracuse, and UNC should be seeded?  In other words… where do the teams really and truly deserve to be seeded as of right now.  Base it on the work done as of today!  Not what you think happens later this week.  Don’t forget to scroll down and vote relative to all four schools.

Virginia

 

Syracuse

 

Duke

 

North Carolina

 

If you think you know basketball, and as a fan of the ACC you SHOULD know basketball, let’s see how well you can do against other fans of ACC schools.  Go here:

 

 

 

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Basketball, Bracket Contest, Opinion, Poll, Predictions and tagged , , , ,
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 , , , , , , , , ,
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 , ,
19 Feb 2014
6 Comments

ACC School Mount Rushmores: Syracuse’s Most Hated!

Once upon a time, we had some fun with Syracuse’s Mount Rushmore (as we did with all the school Mount Rushmores).  The final Syracuse Mount Rushmore: Jim Boeheim, Jim Brown, Ben Schwartzwalder, and Ernie Davis.  You can go there to read the reasons why those four were chosen.  But if Syracuse was to create a “most-hated” Mount Rushmore, who would be on it?

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Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Mount Rushmore, Opinion, Poll and tagged , , , , , , ,
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 , ,

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