Syracuse Game Thread

In addition, Alibegovic is excellent running the court, even with the ball in his hand at his size.  I really think he can be a solid cog for us.  He will have some big games as well like this one.

Mussini has a ridiculously fast release on his outside shot.  It almost seems like it's haphazard at times but it's not.  Kid can really stroke it and will only be better with a guy like Lovett at PG.

It's obvious that we are recruiting outside shooters at
Almost all positions.  With Ponds already in the fold and adding Ahmed and hopefully Freudenberg, we add another three outside shooters.  The skills department, our team will be tough to match.

ESPN Andy Katz calls St. John's win monumental wp.me/p197Z5-2XT

ESPN Andy Katz calls St. John's win monumental wp.me/p197Z5-2XT

He's right. The worm has turned.

I agree with Katz that the W is one of the more high-profile ones we were going to get this year, simply because Cuse is Cuse, and because it was at MSG.  I still expect the season to transpire largely the same and the W doesn't really change my expectations.  But for purposes of recruiting NY/NJ, and gaining some national attention, a W in this game was one of the best we could get this year.  More people will notice that we beat Cuse in front of a packed MSG than upsetting a Butler, Xavier or even Gtown.

I agree with Katz that the W is one of the more high-profile ones we were going to get this year, simply because Cuse is Cuse, and because it was at MSG.  I still expect the season to transpire largely the same and the W doesn't really change my expectations.  But for purposes of recruiting NY/NJ, and gaining some national attention, a W in this game was one of the best we could get this year.  More people will notice that we beat Cuse in front of a packed MSG than upsetting a Butler, Xavier or even Gtown.

Just as an aside, the Xavier game is at CA on 1/6.  Assuming they arrive very highly ranked, when was the last time that happened at CA?  Perhaps I have forgotten one.

I agree with Katz that the W is one of the more high-profile ones we were going to get this year, simply because Cuse is Cuse, and because it was at MSG.  I still expect the season to transpire largely the same and the W doesn't really change my expectations.  But for purposes of recruiting NY/NJ, and gaining some national attention, a W in this game was one of the best we could get this year.  More people will notice that we beat Cuse in front of a packed MSG than upsetting a Butler, Xavier or even Gtown.

The Syracuse win is more important than any conference game. This was the nobody comes into our house and pushes around game. It's bragging rights at a key time for our program, and for Syracuse's, too. After Sunday, it looks like Mike Hopkins is the second coming of Norm Roberts.

In terms of having low expectations, why should we? Our guys just shocked the world. Why can't they build on this? This is the attitude that I really think needs to stop. You're playing to win. If they get LoVett in time for BE play, there's no reason why they shouldn't expect to win games.

Of course, Poison.  No doubt these kids believe they will win games, and no doubt the staff is telling them that with hard work, preparation and focusing on details (Mullin's mantra), they will do so.  I was simply commenting from my perspective as a die hard fan.  Yes, I think they will win some games, especially if Lovett gets cleared, because it addresses in my view our biggest weakness.  But I'm also not being blind to reality, with this being an undermanned squad, cobbled together at the last minute, with lots of inexperience (both on the court and playing as a whole).

Two straight against 'Cuse feels so sweet. When was the last time we beat them twice in a row?

Two straight against 'Cuse feels so sweet. When was the last time we beat them twice in a row?

22 years ago

Quote from: redstorm212 on December 15, 2015, 10:05:10 PM

Two straight against 'Cuse feels so sweet. When was the last time we beat them twice in a row?

22 years ago

Correct. In Brian Mahoney's first season we beat them twice.

Of course, Poison.  No doubt these kids believe they will win games, and no doubt the staff is telling them that with hard work, preparation and focusing on details (Mullin's mantra), they will do so.  I was simply commenting from my perspective as a die hard fan.  Yes, I think they will win some games, especially if Lovett gets cleared, because it addresses in my view our biggest weakness.  But I'm also not being blind to reality, with this being an undermanned squad, cobbled together at the last minute, with lots of inexperience (both on the court and playing as a whole).

If they get LoVett, they'll have 9 guys who can all play. That's not bad. If Ellison returns, and he can come in off the bench and knock down a jump shot or two, who knows? I'm not expecting the NCAAs, but if we can strut 10 guys out there and one them
Is LoVett, maybe?

What it really comes down to is can our guys build off the confidence that they discovered in themselves on Sunday?

The win over 'Cuse was so exciting and galvanizing a victory largely because it was so totally unexpected, especially considering our lackluster performances against St. Francis and Niagara that preceded it.  As many have noted, Hopkins helped us by waiting so long to press, although our staff deserves credit for devising the perfect scheme to combat their zone.  I don't think that the rest of our opponents will be so accommodating, nor that we will shoot 50% from deep for the rest of the season.  It should be appreciated for what it is, a momentous win, but it's not realistic to think that this brand new team, still missing a point guard and without Ellison and Williams, has somehow turned a corner.  Expect that we will be up and down and inconsistent through most of this season. We're still very young, prone to turnovers, and reliant on freshmen and two guys returning from very long layoffs.  Yes, I love what Mussini, Yakwe, and Sima have shown us so far, and the improvement in the play of AliB, Jones, and Balamou.  If/when LoVett gets to play, it will be great to see what this team can do with a true PG, but he's still a freshman who'll be thrown into Big East play  and forced to adjust instantly.  I'd love to win every game we play, Coach Mullin's stated goal at his introductory press conference, but this is still a rebuilding year with an almost totally new roster.  Let's appreciate the great games when they come along, support the guys for their effort and character, and continue to recruit for the future to build a program that can expect games like the Syracuse game every time we take the court.

Consecutively beating them is the key, and we're finally doing it. In the years ahead Syracuse has to manage around scholarship restrictions and eventually Boeheim's retirement. Mullin's 2016 and 2017 classes should trump Boeheim's, and it looks as though the current freshman class is already more promising. After a long stretch, we may have taken back the momentum within this inner state war.

Very well said Lycidas.

I agree with Katz that the W is one of the more high-profile ones we were going to get this year, simply because Cuse is Cuse, and because it was at MSG.  I still expect the season to transpire largely the same and the W doesn't really change my expectations.  But for purposes of recruiting NY/NJ, and gaining some national attention, a W in this game was one of the best we could get this year.  More people will notice that we beat Cuse in front of a packed MSG than upsetting a Butler, Xavier or even Gtown.

Good possibility. point of reference is this year Texas upset  win over Oklahoma. Everyone got excited for Texas getting over the hump and it turned out to be an aberration. Not saying we can't be better than we all expected and that we shouldn't have hope that it will just that one game vs a big rival doesn't guarantee anything. Future play will as everyone knows.

Consecutively beating them is the key, and we're finally doing it. In the years ahead Syracuse has to manage around scholarship restrictions and eventually Boeheim's retirement. Mullin's 2016 and 2017 classes should trump Boeheim's, and it looks as though the current freshman class is already more promising. After a long stretch, we may have taken back the momentum within this inner state war.

We have definitely taken back our home court. That's what this game to our guys, and I think that's a great sign for them going forward. They played with confidence and they also played with pride.

I'm starting to agree with Poison here.  We should start, as a team to have expectations of winning, even if that's not the final result. 

One big takeaway I had from the Syracuse game is this.  I see a lot of trash talking on the Syracuse boards.  Almost none of it gives SJU any credit.  I just read thread after thread about how horrible we are.  Then I watched the game replay.  Fact is that it wasn't just our three point shooting that got hot and won us the game.  We beat them with 3 freshmen starting. More importantly though, our frontcourt was much more talented than theirs. 

We aren't as horrible of a team as all of them think and some of us think.  We are very young and a work in progress, but not untalented.  I'd take Sima and Yakwe alone over any of their frontcourt PF's or centers, and they're only freshmen.  I'd take Mussini over Trevor "0'fer" Cooney any day of the week.  Even our graduate transfers were more skilled then their upperclassmen.

Only guys that impressed me on their team were Lydon and Malachi Richardson who drove on us at will t didn't have a good shooting day.  While we didn't play the best Syracuse team ever, we beat them handily at home in a complete effort.  If we get Lovett, Ellison and maybe even Williams back, I can see the semblance of a pretty decent team overall.  It may not equate to a fantastic season but as of now we are 7-3 and coming off one of the most stunningly complete games I've seen a SJU team play. 

That's grounds for a lot of optimism moving forward, even if we are to take this team's record this season with a grain of salt.

Quote from: prjohnnies on December 15, 2015, 09:29:16 PM

Of course, Poison.  No doubt these kids believe they will win games, and no doubt the staff is telling them that with hard work, preparation and focusing on details (Mullin's mantra), they will do so.  I was simply commenting from my perspective as a die hard fan.  Yes, I think they will win some games, especially if Lovett gets cleared, because it addresses in my view our biggest weakness.  But I'm also not being blind to reality, with this being an undermanned squad, cobbled together at the last minute, with lots of inexperience (both on the court and playing as a whole).

If they get LoVett, they'll have 9 guys who can all play. That's not bad. If Ellison returns, and he can come in off the bench and knock down a jump shot or two, who knows? I'm not expecting the NCAAs, but if we can strut 10 guys out there and one them
Is LoVett, maybe?

What it really comes down to is can our guys build off the confidence that they discovered in themselves on Sunday?

Ellison is sloppy on offense and with his shooting at times, but if he's healthy he will give us another guy who can handle the ball well with both hands and slash in the open court.  Get Lovett and Ellison back and all those teams that have dreams of trapping us to turn us over will have to think again.

I'm starting to agree with Poison here.  We should start, as a team to have expectations of winning, even if that's not the final result. 

One big takeaway I had from the Syracuse game is this.  I see a lot of trash talking on the Syracuse boards.  Almost none of it gives SJU any credit.  I just read thread after thread about how horrible we are.  Then I watched the game replay.  Fact is that it wasn't just our three point shooting that got hot and won us the game.  We beat them with 3 freshmen starting. More importantly though, our frontcourt was much more talented than theirs. 

We aren't as horrible of a team as all of them think and some of us think.  We are very young and a work in progress, but not untalented.  I'd take Sima and Yakwe alone over any of their frontcourt PF's or centers, and they're only freshmen.  I'd take Mussini over Trevor "0'fer" Cooney any day of the week.  Even our graduate transfers were more skilled then their upperclassmen.

Only guys that impressed me on their team were Lydon and Malachi Richardson who drove on us at will t didn't have a good shooting day.  While we didn't play the best Syracuse team ever, we beat them handily at home in a complete effort.  If we get Lovett, Ellison and maybe even Williams back, I can see the semblance of a pretty decent team overall.  It may not equate to a fantastic season but as of now we are 7-3 and coming off one of the most stunningly complete games I've seen a SJU team play. 

That's grounds for a lot of optimism moving forward, even if we are to take this team's record this season with a grain of salt.

+2.  What most impressed me about the Cuse game after watching it a few times was how well our guys executed on offense. The shooting was huge, obviously, but the team's passing, movement away from the ball, aggressively driving toward the rim when the opportunity presented itself were all at a level that really surprised me.  I think CM and staff have done a brilliant job with these kids, and I, too, think it is reasonable to expect more performances like the Cuse game going forward.  As stated before, we need a point guard or else every team we play will or should kill us with the press, but so far, Coach has done a great job of masking that deficiency.

I don't think Mullin has done any kind of masking the fact that we can't handle pressure. Not blaming him either. That can't be masked. Hopkins was either foolish or stubborn .  Any team lays back, lets mussini dribble up the court by himself and let's us set our offense can be beat. Any team including incarnate wood that pressures us can beat us.