Syracuse Game Thread

I was shocked and delighted that they didn't pressure us until the end.  So stupid.  You have to wonder how much film they watched.  Terrible job by their staff.  Great job by ours.  Who saw this coming after the STAC game?  Just unbelievable.  So far, I am enjoying this preseason more then any other in recent memory.  Hopefully we get to see ML make his debut on Friday.  This is awesome.

Condolences Dave.    Remember going to game right after losing my grandmother and St. John's beat Russia (1977) back when US v USSR was biggest rivalry in the world.

I was shocked and delighted that they didn't pressure us until the end.  So stupid.  You have to wonder how much film they watched.  Terrible job by their staff.  Great job by ours.  Who saw this coming after the STAC game?  Just unbelievable.  So far, I am enjoying this preseason more then any other in recent memory.  Hopefully we get to see ML make his debut on Friday.  This is awesome.

While I agree with the pressure strategy against us, Excuse would not be able to execute as they are 5/6 man team and would have been gassed.  Also they always sit back in their zone and say OK try and beat this--which we did.  If they pressured, the fouls would have been equalized and then who would have played for them?  Walk ons.

Quote from: WillieG on December 13, 2015, 06:46:29 PM

I was shocked and delighted that they didn't pressure us until the end.  So stupid.  You have to wonder how much film they watched.  Terrible job by their staff.  Great job by ours.  Who saw this coming after the STAC game?  Just unbelievable.  So far, I am enjoying this preseason more then any other in recent memory.  Hopefully we get to see ML make his debut on Friday.  This is awesome.

While I agree with the pressure strategy against us, Excuse would not be able to execute as they are 5/6 man team and would have been gassed.  Also they always sit back in their zone and say OK try and beat this--which we did.  If they pressured, the fouls would have been equalized and then who would have played for them?  Walk ons.

They tried it twice early in the second half.  We beat it easily both times (with the ball never touching the ground, BTW).  One resulted in a Yakwe layup, the other in 2 made FTs by Amar.

While I agree with the pressure strategy against us, Excuse would not be able to execute as they are 5/6 man team and would have been gassed.  Also they always sit back in their zone and say OK try and beat this--which we did.  If they pressured, the fouls would have been equalized and then who would have played for them?  Walk ons.

Good point.

No, seriously. I was wondering why they didn't press. No depth, duh.

I was shocked and delighted that they didn't pressure us until the end.  So stupid.  You have to wonder how much film they watched.  Terrible job by their staff.  Great job by ours.  Who saw this coming after the STAC game?  Just unbelievable.  So far, I am enjoying this preseason more then any other in recent memory.  Hopefully we get to see ML make his debut on Friday.  This is awesome.

I was too. Even if you only have walk ons left, we've shown that we can lose to anyone if you press us, but this is a new coach, (hopefully the guy they do end up hiring) and he was probably scared to do anything that went against the typical SU gameplan.

An extremely satisfying win, to say the least, and even more so because of our expectations this year.  Look, this doesn't change my view on the season.  It will still be a struggle, and absent Lovett becoming eligible (fingers crossed), we are going to struggle mightily versus teams that press us and play aggressive man defense. 

I loved how the kids got after it on the boards - they were not afraid to make plays once a few shots started falling and not afraid to battle, though I've believed all year that this undermanned group always plays hard.  When you shoot as well as we did from 3, it makes everything look good.  Props to the coaching staff for the game plan on how to attack the zone, and for running the offense through Yawke for stretches (who saw that coming?).  Cuse usually doesn't press, so that was no surprise.  They play their zone, and have been incredibly successful doing it.  When a team has a great day shooting the ball, as we did, Cuse gets in trouble, especially when they aren't as effective on the offensive side as normal.

Contrary to some other opinions stated here, I think Cuse is a very good team.  They didn't play great today, and we did.  And our presence on the glass and the passing against the zone was more than I would have ever expected.

Wasn't able to watch as I went to the Jet game today. But I hate cuse more than any team in college basketball. Great win!

Wow 2 in a row against Syracuse!  I thought it was a good matchup for us because of the zone and lack of press.  Happy for Amar....who played out of his mind.  Great win!

Over the years we have had many great wins, maybe not so many in the past twenty years.  While none of us knows how the team will fare for the rest of the season, today was one of those very special victories.

We were significant underdogs, playing in our home arena that sounded, initially, more like the Carrier Dome South.

Coach had the nerve to invite some of the best 2017+ players in the area for what could have been a demolition of our squad.

And the results were awesome. Not only did we put a beating on the Orange, but we did something we rarely have done over the past few years, played a steady game from beginning to the end.

The recruits had to be impressed with not just the win, but the excitement and Coach's in-game strategy.  This was a fun outing.

And it comes at a great time with a certain swing man recruit coming by in a few days to catch a few games.

You know what really got to me was our Italian PG/SG stating in a post game interview that it was the best game he ever played in. He was so excited. 

Yes, one game does not make a season, but this game had many ramifications, on a number of levels, and they all were very positive.

Thank you Coach and Team!

And Paultzman, you were right. I did see three Magi heading east through desert here, heading to NY.  They stopped for some water from my well. The first one was bringing a gift of  a win over Syracuse. The second Magi is bringing good news regarding a certain freshman PG becoming eligible.   The third Magi was wearing a STJ tee shirt over a Hutchinson shirt.

Boy, what a game!

Over the years we have had many great wins, maybe not so many in the past twenty years.  While none of us knows how the team will fare for the rest of the season, today was one of those very special victories.

We were significant underdogs, playing in our home arena that sounded, initially, more like the Carrier Dome South.

Coach had the nerve to invite some of the best 2017+ players in the area for what could have been a demolition of our squad.

And the results were awesome. Not only did we put a beating on the Orange, but we did something we rarely have done over the past few years, played a steady game from beginning to the end.

The recruits had to be impressed with not just the win, but the excitement and Coach's in-game strategy.  This was a fun outing.

And it comes at a great time with a certain swing man recruit coming by in a few days to catch a few games.

You know what really got to me was our Italian PG/SG stating in a post game interview that it was the best game he ever played in. He was so excited. 

Yes, one game does not make a season, but this game had many ramifications, on a number of levels, and they all were very positive.

Thank you Coach and Team!

And Paultzman, you were right. I did see three Magi heading east through desert here, heading to NY.  They stopped for some water from my well. The first one was bringing a gift of  a win over Syracuse. The second Magi is bringing good news regarding a certain freshman PG becoming eligible.   The third Magi was wearing a STJ tee shirt over a Hutchinson shirt.

Boy, what a game!

Do the Magi like German food?

I think it would have been fitting to celebrate this victory at legendary NYC staple Dinosaur BBQ founded of course, in Harlem, NY

Paultz, the German on board? i know Matty A is on way to Germany

I'm very sorry Dave.

Can't believe we have not one but two players with 3'lo range.  Both Italians no less.

That Yakwe block was awesome. 

Can't believe I missed it.  It must have been a ton of fun.

What percentage red to orange in the crowd?

Quote from: redslope on December 13, 2015, 07:50:18 PM

While I agree with the pressure strategy against us, Excuse would not be able to execute as they are 5/6 man team and would have been gassed.  Also they always sit back in their zone and say OK try and beat this--which we did.  If they pressured, the fouls would have been equalized and then who would have played for them?  Walk ons.

Good point.

No, seriously. I was wondering why they didn't press. No depth, duh.

First of all, if you watch the presser, Hop said he wished he went to pressure with 7 minutes left, because it worked for them.  He was right it did. Secondly they have a lot more kids on that bench then walk ons, they just don't play very much.  But they're not walk ons. And if you only play three more minutes of pressure, you won't be gassed, and you won't be in foul trouble.  They should have tried it earlier, and the coach even admitted it.  Of course, I was delighted they didn't.  That's what got them down to 7, with two minutes to go. 

Can't believe we have not one but two players with 3'lo range.  Both Italians no less.

That Yakwe block was awesome. 

Can't believe I missed it.  It must have been a ton of fun.

What percentage red to orange in the crowd

65-35 orange

Dave, so sorry for your loss.  May he R I P.

Our guys will be happy to see a zone (long time since we could say that).  They need to watch out for the traps, but they should get some looks.  Cuse does a good job of extending the zone to primary shooters, so Johnson and M'Vouika need to hit shots.  Durand will have the corner three all-night...especially when he's on Mussini's side.

Good call big dog.

Quote from: Marillac on December 10, 2015, 07:01:55 PM

Our guys will be happy to see a zone (long time since we could say that).  They need to watch out for the traps, but they should get some looks.  Cuse does a good job of extending the zone to primary shooters, so Johnson and M'Vouika need to hit shots.  Durand will have the corner three all-night...especially when he's on Mussini's side.

Good call big dog.

 Well, it's a good thing Yakwe isn't redshirting.  Love the lefty!  Feel like he can be a cross between Hakeem Warrick and Walter Berry!