Dion Waiters described his attempt to miss a FT at the end of the Cincinnati game as “awkward.” The idea was that SU could tip in the rebound and tie the game. But awkward could really apply to the entire night. There are so many odd moments it‚Äôs tough to figure where to begin, but the only place to start is the start.
- Cincy’s Red Hot Start
Cincinnati came out on fire. The Bearcats couldn’t have started hotter in large part because the Orange challenged shots like it was still warmups. SU seemed content running back to the layup line, unfortunately the game had started. That was enough to get UC on a roll. If this was NBA Jam, the “on fire” meter was already full. Eight three-pointers later, the Orange was down 17. It was the biggest defecit of the season. Yet, just like all year, SU was far from dead.
- Syracuse Pushed, but the Bearcats Answered
About 10 minutes into the first half, Jim Boeheim called his 2nd timeout and everything changed. There was a new sense of urgency led by Brandon Triche (who along with Dion Waiters played at a high level all night). Unfortunately, every time SU was ready to make its run, Cincinnati answered with a big shot to keep its cushion. The Orange pushed but the Bearcats answered. Syracuse needed to make a huge stop. It never did and the normally steady Triche clanged two huge free throws late.
- The Per’fesser’s Faith in Scoop Burns Him
In a season where Jim Boeheim has been marvelous, he questionably subbed in Scoop Jardine with 5 minutes to play when Syracuse had the momentum. The senior PG immediately turned it over, and UC was able to hold off SU a little big longer. Jardine eventually rewarded his coach’s decision with a big three-pointer, but 5 turnovers from the floor general is simply unacceptable. No one needed to tell Scoop that. He knew. He just couldn’t stop it. Neither could Kris Joseph who had an equally dreadful night (outside of a big trey late).
- So Close, Yet So Far
Despite a combined 9 turnovers from the seniors, SU was just shot or two from pulling it out. If James Southerland goes 2-7 instead of 1-7, it may have been a different outcome. If the refs didn’t miss roughly four goaltending calls. If Scoop and Kris had been just a hair better. Like any close game, there are a million of them. But these if‚Äôs blatantly hit you in the face.
Afterward the Orange kept things in focus. Boeheim and the players said winning this tournament was never the goal. Waiters said “winning the Big East don’t mean nothing at all. We’re trying to win the NCAA Tournament. That’s the main focus.”
Now, it’s the only focus left.
Posted: Craig Hoffman
7 responses to “Fizz 4: The Takeaways From Syracuse’s Big East Tournament Exit”
O, Fitzy-
Where are you? I can’t barely hear you…
You still take Cuse 5 over UNC 5? TODAY.
If you said Boeheim over Williams, SU bench over UNC bench, that be one thing.
Luckily for you, as Boeheim once told me,
if you aren’t learning you are dying.
So Smarten up son. You hopefully still have lots of time left and as you’ve already shown, you have lots of room for improvement.
Watch the game with pure vision. Take off those orange colored glasses. I know it’s hard to do. But you can do it!
With those glasses on you chose Cuse starting 5 with 1 lottery pick over Carolina 5 with 4/5 lotery picks.
O, Fitzy!
No worries brother. Drop me an email anytime. Be more than happy to explain the game to you.
fab,kjo,cj an deion will be 1st rd picks. Ill take our 5 over ur 5 any day. Plus we have the better coach. I hope we get to run a train on unc just like we did in 09. If not 1more yr to we get to beat that ass twice a yr.
*cough* nice 4 losses *cough*
August West,
call me when your Tarheels are not getting beat by 30 points. Henson, Barnes are over-rated and will be another under achieving Antwon Jamieson in the NBA. UNC is the only team that stayed in the top 10 because of their legacy. What a joke.
Losing to Cincy was an eye opener!!! Mid level team too!! Heart break city again this year. JB can do that to us!!!
hearne,You should be sure to soemmites also comment on kind, compimenting, good words posts, not just the mean SCREAMING ones . I make an effort to be sure to say kind/good (Yin the yang) things here too (maybe under various names)(gotta keep up my Johnny Bad mage) but you only ever seem to notice/respond to posts which are well . not so nice.I am here to make it better, really.Lets see if we really convinced your buddy glazer to write some articles which dont mention himself or his club or some other fking self promoting BS . and lest see if maybe your sports guy will expand what he consdiers worthy to be told . and it seems we all are excited for mermaid’s next offering ..hearne keep expanding the more the merrier .
Superb post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Bless you!