Mick Cronin to ESPN postgame on the magic of the Big East Tournament. “It’s amazing. I don’t know why anyone would want to leave this league.”
Oh, so that’s how it’s gonna be? One¬†run in the Big East Tourney and you’re all of a sudden Mick’s a big shot.¬†Forget the fact Cincinnati has been calling the Big 12 drunk at 2:30a, leaving voice mails like John Favreau in Swingers. Of course the coach of the Bearcats couldn’t imagine leaving the Big East. They won the league twice in football and sold approximately 150 tickets per game. UC just graduated from the middle school of the A-10 six years ago.¬†Conferences aren’t banging down the door to invite a basketball program best known for player arrests, Bob Huggins’ DUI, and a vicious brawl. ¬†
Of course, we’re all going to miss what the BET has meant. Does Syracuse only have one more MSG run left? (Sniff). Either way, I have no problem Syracuse losing tonight. Once SU beat UConn it had locked¬†up the 1-seed (it may have even been a one without a win in NYC). Did the Orange really need a late-night Saturday night tilt against Notre Dame or Louisville heading into the Big Dance?
Had SU played the Cardinals, specifically, it would have been another up-and-down, run n’ gun game that likely would have come down to the final minutes (and maybe overtime). Beating the Huskies, showing resilience again tonight, avoiding a meaningless emotional title game is fine by me.
While the Orange barely looked awake for the first half, how dazzling was Dion Waiters? The super soph might be padding his NBA Draft capsule with this March run, but after 7 threes and 28 points in the semi-final loss, what is his NCAA potential? And if he leads SU to New Orleans with electrifying efforts like tonight’s, Orage Nation will wave goodbye fondly. Scoop and K-Jo were all too quiet tonight. Triche was once again scattershot. SU needed Dion to step up, and he did. Guess here is that the seniors will be much better when it matters most over the next few weeks.
The most concerning part of this loss is that the Bearcats got only 4 points off the bench. So it was a red-hot shooting starting 5 that ripped the Orange early, and then held on late. SU will run into much deeper teams in the tourney. But Syracuse did what it had to do: get one win in Manhattan (and downed nemesis UConn¬†in the¬†process). Plus, we were delivered a nice little¬†media lecture from Boeheim. Felt just like ol’ times.¬†Job well done, boys. Let’s get ready for the real stuff.
Posted: D.A.
10 responses to “Syracuse Loses to Cincy: NCAA Blessing in Disguise, Cronin Sounds Like a Clown”
They came into the BET with really nothing to play for, their #1 seed was already wrapped up, and it showed in the first 15 minutes of the game as they expelled no energy at either end of the court. Hopefully, Scoop and Kris got the bad play out of their systems as neither played well in either game. Dion was the only one who bothered to show tonight. Without his effort, they would’ve loss by 20.
Thought the same thing, although I never like watching them lose.
They barely beat a tired Uconn team that had no legs. Players quoted that they want to win the BET . They didn’t get it done. Their weaknesses have really been exposed and any coach heading to the dance will be ready for them. weak rebounding poor 3 point shooting, coach reluctant to switch to man to man means early exit
bill needs his diaper chaged.
*changed
What I do not understand is this: With Trische and scoop struggling…Why is MCW..not playing more?..He has earned to be in the regular rotation now…..JB, has to let these kids play……..I would have loved to see MCW…and Dion in the back court……..maybe the jolt..out more experienced guards need…MCW..can play…..he is the best point guard on the team….pure point guard. In the MCAA tournament….have to take one game t a time…..we have great depth…I hope coach doesn’t get scared to use it!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was kind of wishing that Syracuse would go out as the Big East regular season and tournament champions. It didn’t happen,doI feel bad? NO.
Syracuse really needed to get brought down to earth by losing a game before the NCAA tournament.
No one should be complaining about Syracuse heading into the tournament 31-2 and feeling that they don’t have a chance.
In 2003 their record was 30-5 and ended up as national champions.
GO CUSE.
Yeah to me the BET was just icing on the regular season cake. It was an extension of the reg season. But it has no bearing on whether this team is remembered as living up to its potential or not. I honestly don’t mind not playing another emotional game that had no effect on the seeding.
obviously syracuse should have won this game, but lost opportunity’s cost em.. i hope they go in the ncaa tournament with a chip on there shoulder. its anybodys game now..
Bill- look at the stats from the game before u rant. ‘cuse shot the 3 45%+ an out rebounded cincy by 1. This could have been more if the refs didnt let gates send kjo,fair an southerland flyin into the 1st row of the stands everytime a 3pt shot went up an was missed. They shot the 3 better then cincy did for the game as well. If anythin the 15 to’s they had costed them the game. Alot of that had to do /w the fact that everytime we went to drive the ref’s allowed them to hack the shit outta us or if by some chance they got to the rim they wouldnt get a call an ended flat on their backs. Im just glad no1 got hurt do to this poor ass refing job. I guess no blood no foul huh?