The brutal loss to Louisville has Syracuse dangerously slipping during the final stretch of the regular season. The Orange falls into a three-way third place tie in the conference standings and now should shift its focus to tournament play. With two regular season games left (including a chance to return the favor against Georgetown on the road), the Orange could desperately use a pair of wins to gain some momentum. SU’s offense has been pitiful especially late in games. This team is still searching for its identity and go-to player or players in crucial moments.
Jim Boeheim’s squad is still in a position to land a three seed in the NCAA tournament. That’s not the end of the world, but the recent slide brings frustration. Rick Pitino and his Cardinals avenged¬†the loss to the Orange from earlier this season. Here‚Äôs The Fizz Five takeaways from Syracuse‚Äôs ugly loss to Slick Rick:
- Boeheim: ‚ÄúI still like our team.”¬†
After hammering how unproductive the bigs have been and acknowledging Brandon Triche’s struggles (see below), Jim Boeheim still went on to say he likes this squad. Remember way back when Georgetown scored just 37 points in a game and fell out of the rankings. Also Louisville lost three straight earlier this year, and its right back in the mix. Syracuse is hitting a rough patch but has been in every game over the last three. Maybe Boeheim understands that, sees the bigger picture and is trying to calm down the hysteria surrounding this team.
Georgetown at home in front of 35,012 was ugly, but Marquette on the road and a streaking Louisville team looking to avenge an early season loss to SU are no easy tasks. So it’s possible The Per’fesser has more perspective than the rest of us thinking SU will have a short stay in the tourney. It’s also possible he’s whistling past the graveyard. He might know this team just “doesn’t have it,” and is merely trying to put lipstick on a pig, building up what little confidence they might have so the Orange doesn’t totally lie down the final few games. It would be an even greater travesty if SU was blown out by 30 at Georgetown. Boeheim could be trying to prop up his team at a very difficult time.
- The bigs remain ineffective around the rim
Heading into this season, most SU fans were probably content with the depth of SU’s frontline. Between DaJuan Coleman, Rakeem Christmas, and Baye Keita, the Orange had what it thought were three productive frontcourt players. Turns out this season has been the exact opposite.
Coleman has a pass in some regards because of the knee injury that kept him out four weeks. Let‚Äôs remember, too, Boeheim barely gives Coleman enough minutes at the start of the game to get into any type of rhythm. As for Rak Christmas, it’s crazy some are still projecting him as an NBA Draft prospect. That’s laughable at this point. Saturday he had just one defensive rebound in 23 minutes. He looks lost on the offensive end, posting up waving his hand without moving at all. Even his teammates can‚Äôt trust him so Christmas never gets many touches. He does make an impact on the defensive end, but Rak still depends on his leaping ability to rebound rather than positioning. At this point,¬†SU is getting nothing productive from its big men, particularly on offense.
- What the heck’s wrong with Brandon Triche?
The senior dropped 29 points on Seton Hall a few weeks back. It looked to be the turning point for Triche in his up-and-down season, but the offensive woes just keep coming. Triche was a dismal 2 of 11 from the field, and had an ugly seven turnovers in the game. He’s clearly in a funk, but who thought it would get this bad. Boeheim said postgame SU can’t afford Triche to be this bad.
“We can’t have him (Triche) play this way. He works his tail off. He’s a good teammate. He wants to win, but I don’t like the way he’s playing right now. I don’t like the way we’re playing. We need to get something offensively.”
If he‚Äôs not catching the ball, he’s mishandling the dribble. Luckily Senior Day is Wednesday so perhaps Triche can turn in a solid performance against DePaul before Georgetown.
- What was MCW thinking on the pull-up three?
What‚Äôs Michael Carter-Williams‚Äô deal at the end? SU trailing 51-48 in the final 40 seconds and five seconds into the shot clock MCW pulls up for three off a high screen. What’s the logic? MCW has been projected to be a lottery pick in June, but how ready is he for the next level? Ball movement and patience are not his strong suits. At the 5:37 marker in the second half, SU went on an 8-0 run thanks to alley-oops and sharing the rock. All of a sudden, everything changes in the final minute or two. Why? It continues to be a troubling question.
- Plus side: SU battled in the 2nd half unlike G’Town and Marquette games
The fight and desire to win showed in the second half unlike games earlier in the week. SU shot 48% from the field and got shots to fall in the second half. We have to credit Louisville for coming into the Dome, and beating Syracuse. There were 12 lead changes in the game. James Southerland hit a huge three, but Luke Hancock came down and buried one of his onwn to answer. That seemed to happen often against the Cards. SU is still a front-running team, but the L’Ville game shows the Orange can respond to criticism and play well in the second half. Now the next step is to finish games and execute offensively late.
The Orange can still make a run in the Big East tournament and the NCAA tourney but have to get it together offensively, and fast.
Posted: Brendan Glasheen
17 responses to “Fizz Five: Is Jim Boeheim Lying When He Says He Likes This SU Team?”
“He might know this team just ‚Äúdoesn‚Äôt have it,‚Äù and is merely trying to put lipstick on a pig…”
Seriously, I think this is exactly the case.
Gtown,Marquette and Louisville is known for slowing down the game by holding onto the damn ball for the full 35 seconds before taking a shot. All three of those teams took Syracuse out of their game.
Syracuse knows who the key players are on the opposing teams and makes no efforts to shut them down. Defensively,they’re not moving well,they look flat footed in the zone. Late in the game with Syracuse in the lead they tend to get into a half court set and hold the ball and slow the game down themselves. I just don’t get it!!! After they played Arkansas I thought them to be the world champions. It’s amazing to me on just how fast things can change.
Oh sure its Coleman’s “minutes ” that keeps him from being effective. The fact that when he is on the floor,he does nothing to earn more minutes, has nothing to do with reality.Coleman is the biggest failure to hit the program. He came in with the highest ranking since Carmelo Anthony in terms of the star rankings are concerned.Hisknee injury is for his game.
I think coleman before the injury was coming along nicely. I don’t feel that JB is lying this team has played like shit and has been in every one of these past games right down till the final buzzer. Win the next two games go to the BE tourney make a run and get rdy for the dance.
@Chris- I think Green and Flynn both ranked higher then colemen.
@Fizz- How about some bball recruiting news for 14? Think whitehead, Goodluck Okonoboh, Stanley Johnson and Kaleb Joseph are target.
How can Coleman be a disappointment it’s his first year and hello fab melo? Number 2 player the country in 2010. Just for the guy his due time and he will be a great player.
This team is really underrated!! They are scoring like a top level high school team. Rebounding stinks. MCW is not “NBA” material!! JB just seems lost on what to do with them. Fortunately like in the recent past his team won’t break our hearts this year. They are not really that good!! Hurray up SUFB spring/fall ball. You know with all the negative issues the SUFB had in the recent years at least you saw them fight for every yard. This SUBB team is a circus!! But Ron is right hold on the ball for as long as you can, because no one on SU can score regularly!!
Meant overrated!! sorry!!
@Carlton;
Got this information from Ryan Murray’s web site. Cuseconfidential.com
6’10” 220 lb. 5* PF Chris McCullough has committed to play for the orange in 2014.
YES. He is lying. JB said that after losing four guys from last year’s team he is “thrilled” to have 22 wins. Look, we were a preseason top ten team. We obviously have allot of talent returning. Would you expect a top ten team to get 22 wins? YES. We are being poorly coached. With the talent we have, we should be at the top of the Big East. Instead of jacking up 25 3’s a game, we should penetrate with our guards and try to get the opposing team in foul trouble.
@Terry:
We both agree that Syracuse has some problems this year and both agree that they won’t go far in either the Big East or the NCAA Tournaments.
I love all Syracuse Athletics,basketball,football all of them. I really like the coaching staff that we have for the teams. Most of all I love the fact that we have Coach Boeheim here because of what he’s accomplished as a coach at Syracuse University and as a person done(accomplished)in the fight against cancer.
@Terry;
I apologize,I hit the wrong button and didn’t finish my last post.
I’m just wondering if the game has passed him by and it’s time for him to retire. I can’t believe that I’m even making a statement like that. But we don’t need another person like JoPa here at Syracuse University. It’s time that the torch gets passed onto the young guns on staff to carry the tradition of Syracuse Basketball forwards.
I want to ask everyone out there,when was the last time the fans wanted to talk Syracuse Football during the basketball season? For a very long time we would always talk and look forward to basketball during the football season. MY HOW QUICKLY THINGS CHANGE.
In the end Terry we both have the same points of view on a wide range of topics. I wish to use constructive criticism in making my points.
dxSsCT Valium
dont go from one extreme to aohnter WTF now you are going to go and change up? Look, you happen to be a major douche nozzle with an over inflated ego. Up until now you embraced that shit, wallowed in it like a hog in shit. If you are going to go all nondefensive and reasonable, Im gonna have to find aohnter comment section to troll. Hearne makes a good point, you probably shouldnt name names when you threaten readers. But If you are gonna start acting like a mature sensible non ballistic rational human being, I’m done reading your tripe.c’mon, tell me to meet you in jardines parking lot, where you will set upon me and beat me about the head and neck. We’ll all feel better.ps harley. stop sweet talking chuck.
I see, I suppose that would have to be the case.
I have been so bewildered in the past but now it all makes sense!
I read your posting and was jealous
This forum needed shaking up and you’ve just done that. Great post!