Author: Liam Griffin
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The Sweet 16 Run in 2021 May Have Been a Net Negative
The old saying “defense wins championships” is a popular one, and it’s something Syracuse Men’s Basketball held dear on its run to the Sweet Sixteen two years ago. Jim Boeheim’s famed 2-3 zone left San Diego State and West Virginia flustered, and it was the talk of the town among the national media. Fast forward…
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Don’t Give Up on Boogie Fland
Before Syracuse blew it against North Carolina a month ago, reports were floating that Adam Weitsman was bringing two high-profile recruits to the game. Moore showed up and committed to Syracuse the following weekend. However, Fland’s case was a different story. We know what you’re thinking. “Sound the alarms, another recruiting failure, why can’t this…
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Syracuse Has Officially Hit Rock Bottom
If you walked around SU’s campus on Saturday afternoon, there was a palpable buzz in the atmosphere. The Orange were on a three-game win streak, coming off their first ranked victory of the season, and about to face a Duke team that had played below its potential all season. There was a strong belief that…
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What Does Elijah Moore’s Commitment Mean for the Future of Weitsman’s $?
In the wake of Jim Boeheim’s interview a week and a half ago, it’s hard to not have a semblance of a smile while writing this. Nonetheless, Elijah Moore became the first of hopefully many commits to pledge to Syracuse while benefitting from an NIL deal with Adam Weitsman. Now that there’s one player in…
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Fizz Instant Reactions: Syracuse 75, No. 23 NC State 72
Win of the year? Liam Griffin and Cameron Ezeir recap a wild game inside the Dome on Tuesday night.
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Fizz Report Card: Syracuse Sneaks Past No. 23 NC State 75-72
When Jesse Edwards of all people hit a three-pointer, you thought to yourself “there is no possible way Syracuse will lose this game”. At that point, the Dome was perhaps the loudest it has been all season. And on Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s Arrow struck the Orange faithful in the form of a thrilling 75-72 victory…
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Would An NIT Berth Be A “Successful” Season?
After the worst season in the Jim Boeheim era last year, expectations among fans and media members weren’t nearly as high as they typically are for Syracuse. In a conference like the ACC, it’s a fairly large ask to go from a sub-.500 season to the NCAA Tournament. And lo and behold, in the middle…
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What’s a Realistic Expectation for the 2023 Season?
Yes, the opener is seven months away. Yes, there are still many unanswered questions about the roster (transfer portal among other things). But as the offseason chugs along, it’s never too early to break down what the fall might look like. First and foremost, you have to remember that the coaching staff has an entirely…
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Fizz Five 2/8: FSU Preview, Football Coaching Carousel, and Men’s Lacrosse Update
Francesco Simone and Liam Griffin hop on the mic to talk about the plethora of headlines in the SU Athletics realm over the past week. FSU Preview (1:09-7:45)Jim Boeheim’s Interview with Pete Thamel (7:45-14:53)Football Coaching Carousel (14:53-22:00)Men’s Lacrosse Update (22:00-28:11)Judah Mintz NBA Bound? (28:11-Close)
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Is Judah Mintz NBA Ready?
With Syracuse’s current lack of recruits in the Class of 2023 in addition to the uncertainty of the transfer portal, we can’t help but wonder what is in store for Judah Mintz’s future. The freshman point guard has dazzled with his athleticism and explosive first step this season, so much so that he is on…
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Why Jalik Dunkley-Distant Should Be SU’s Next Big Pursuit
Now that Elijah Moore has committed, we can all take one big sigh of relief together. The state of Syracuse recruiting was one of darkness and despair, but that is no more for now. That said, it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to uncover that one recruit in the Class of 2024 (and maybe even earlier)…
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More Than “Just” A Quad 1 Win is On The Line Tonight
There’s plenty of hype surrounding tonight’s matchup between Syracuse and #7 Virginia. There aren’t many arguments to be made that the Orange will face a better team inside the Dome this season, and it would undeniably be a massive win for SU. But there would be a lot more to it than a season-defining Quad…
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The Most Heartbreaking Losses of the Last Two Seasons
Last year and through the first 21 games of this season, Cardiac ‘Cuse has come out often, just not in the way we want it. Time and time again, the Orange have put themselves in a position to pull off season-changing wins, but self-inflicted wounds have doomed Syracuse. There are plenty to choose from but…
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The Next Three Games Will Make or Break Syracuse’s Season
It’s been a very weird year for Syracuse Men’s Basketball so far. The 13-7 record including a 6-3 mark in conference play look solid, but then you remember losses to Colgate and Bryant and you start to cringe. Those two defeats among others are the primary reasons why Jim Boeheim’s bunch is currently on the…
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Why Isn’t Quadir Copeland Playing More?
Coming into the season, Jim Boeheim lauded Syracuse’s six-man recruiting class of 2022 as “the best he’s ever had”. One of them, Peter Carey, is out for season after a knee injury. The other four, for better or for worse, have been consistent figures in Boeheim’s rotation over the past few games. The sixth member…
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Fizz Instant Reactions: Miami 82, Syracuse 78
Liam Griffin laments Syracuse’s missed opportunity for an upset in an 82-78 heartbreaker against Miami.
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Rocked Like a Hurricane: Syracuse Collapses Against Miami (Again) 82-78
The. Same. Stinking. Game. Really, it almost felt like we were watching a carbon copy of both of Syracuse’s battles with Miami last season. The Orange held a double-digit lead in the second half thanks to a combination of hot shooting and energy. The shooting spark went away, but that’s ok as long as the…
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Is Tonight The Most Important Game Left on the Schedule?
Yes. You would not be able to find a more significant win on the remainder of Syracuse’s schedule than tonight’s showdown in Coral Gables against 17th-ranked Miami. The implications it has on this team’s postseason chances, player development, and future are gigantic. First and foremost, this is a road contest. This will sound obvious, but…
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Fizz Instant Reactions: Syracuse 78, Notre Dame 73
Liam Griffin dissects Syracuse’s 78-73 win over Notre Dame Saturday night.
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The Bell Has Been Rung: Syracuse Takes Down Notre Dame 78-73
Let’s take you down the timeline that wasn’t first. Last season, Syracuse beat Florida State on the road in its first conference game in early December. A month and a half later, the weekend leading into MLK Day, the Seminoles upended the Orange inside the Dome. It looked for a moment like we might get…
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Three Keys to a Victory over Virginia Tech
Earlier today, we wrote about how Syracuse’s opportunities for victories are running out due to the tough nature of the schedule. One of those winnable games was Virginia Tech. We’re inching closer to tipoff between the Orange and Hokies, so let’s take a look at how SU emerges from that game victorious. Before we do…
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This is Syracuse’s Biggest Problem
We know what you’re thinking. How can there possibly be one that trumps the rest? Syracuse is flawed on both the offensive and defensive ends, and Virginia exposed that on Saturday. But if one particular problem is solved, it would go a long way towards resolving the issues on both sides of the ball. So,…
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Fizz Five 1/6: Louisville Recap, Joe Girard’s Hot Streak, and the Best Team in the ACC
Ian Unsworth and Liam Griffin join forces to talk about what has been a wild stretch in the SU hoops landscape. 1. Louisville Recap: (1:13-15:02)2. Virginia Preview: (15:02-23:14)3. Do We Owe Joe Girard An Apology?: (23:14-28:04)4. Who is the best team in the ACC?: (28:04-36:06)5. Women’s Hoops Update: (36:06-Close)
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Realistic Expectations for the Final Record
Tut tut tut. After a mediocre (at best) performance at the KFC Yum! Center last night, Syracuse is 10-5 and 3-1 in conference play. Sure, the record is solid and the Orange have won seven of their last eight, but the eye test says the most about this team’s merit, or lack thereof. The forwards…
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New Year’s Resolutions for SU Men’s Basketball
Happy New Year Fizz Nation! In the light of auld acquaintances being forgot and drinking a cup of kindness yet, let’s dissect some New Year’s Resolutions for Jim Boeheim’s bunch. We touched on it in the latest edition of Fizz Five, but here’s some more food for thought. 1. Give Chris Bell a Rebounding Ultimatum…
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Syracuse vs. Minnesota: Pinstripe Bowl Crystal Ball Predictions
IAN (7-2) (EXEMPT FROM PREDICTION): Minnesota was probably the better team before opt-outs, portal departures and the like. After everything SU has lost, the Golden Gophers are definitely the better team. PJ Fleck is rolling with his backup quarterback, redshirt freshman Athan Kaliakmanis, instead of 6th-year senior Tanner Morgan, who suffered multiple injuries near the…
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Meet the Enemy: Minnesota’s Facts and Players to Know
For the first time since 2018, Syracuse Football will play in a bowl game tomorrow. SU is headed to Yankee Stadium to take on Minnesota in the Pinstripe Bowl. The last time the Orange and Golden Gophers clashed was also in a bowl game, back in the 2013 Texas Bowl. SU won that one 21-17.…
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It Might Just Be Now Or Never in the Class of ’23 for SU
JP Estrella. Papa Kante. Zion Cruz. Drew Fielder. Elijah Gertrude. The list of recruits in this year’s batch of high school seniors that Syracuse has swung and missed on is jarring, not in a good way. As the New Year approaches, SU has the same number of commits from the class of ’23 as cookies…
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Syracuse’s Class of 2023 Early Signing Day Offensive Commits
Christmas has come four days early for college football recruiting fanatics. Early signing day is upon us, and you can rest assured SU has already been busy. To help kickstart The Fizz’s coverage today, let’s take a look at the current state of things on the offensive side of the ball. RB IKE DANIELS Boy…
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Could New NCAA Leadership Open The Door for Adam Weitsman?
Last week, it was announced that outgoing Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is taking over for Mark Emmert as president of the NCAA on March 1. First of all, what a low bar Baker has to top. Secondly, it’s a very interesting choice, considering the extent of his experience in the collegiate sports landscape was playing…
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What Would Bringing In Elijah Moore Accomplish?
The obvious answer is that Syracuse would add a four-star guard from the class of 2024 that has also gotten offers from the likes of Arkansas, Illinois, St. John’s, and Xavier. That instantly says a lot about his prowess. But bringing in Moore sooner rather than later would put the program back on the map…
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Is a Starting Lineup Change Coming in the Not-to-Distant Future?
With players like John Bol Ajak and Justin Taylor not only seeing more minutes but playing effectively too, you have to wonder if a change is going to be made. Last week we wrote about how Benny Williams is running out of excuses/time to not live up to his billing (though he did have a…
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It’s Put Up or Shut Up Time for Benny Williams
Before the season, Jim Boeheim said that if Benny Williams averaged around 10-12 points and 5-6 rebounds per game, it would change this team’s outlook. We’re now nine games in and the sophomore has changed this team’s outlook, but has it been for the better? Sure, his 4.7 rebounds per game are near 5, but…
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The Future of This Program Will Be Determined by How SU Closes 2022
Well, you’re probably thinking “no duh” after reading the title. Obviously, Syracuse’s six games before the New Year will play a big role in determining how far this team goes. But we’re going past the end of the season with this. If the Orange do not win out the remainder of their schedule in 2022,…
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Fizz Instant Reactions: Syracuse Squeaks Past Notre Dame 62-61
Liam Griffin and Francesco Simone recap Syracuse’s 62-61 thriller over Notre Dame and look ahead to what’s next.
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Fizz Report Card: Syracuse Survives Notre Dame 62-61
Wow. Syracuse traveled into South Bend after getting embarrassed by No. 16 Illinois on Tuesday, but you couldn’t have predicted the chaos that would ensue. The Orange survived every shot Notre Dame fired en route to a one-point win. It was a breath of fresh air to see a Quad 1 victory after Jim Boeheim’s…
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