Syracuse Game Thread

mattc

Well-known member
2023 $upporter
Wanted to get this going. I want this game so bad. As many of you know and for those that don't, I went to Syracuse.

As for the matchup, I think the keys will be on defense. I'd like to see Lavin put Pointer on Michael-Carter Williams and Sampson on CJ Fair. I think those matchups are crucial. Play a lineup of Greene, Harrison, Pointer, Sampson, Obekpa as the starting five. Without Branch, we need Greene on the floor as much as possible because Harrrison can't be the main ballhandler going up against the Cuse zone. Hope Bourgault gets some major minutes to extend the defense, but I don't think pairing Bourgault and Harrison in the backcourt together will be a good idea against Cuse.

Cuse has only 7 scholarship players. They love to run but I think we can run with them. Cuse only has one big - Rakeem Christmas, and I think that Obekpa can take care of him. Cuse doesn't have great bigs this year.

If we want this win we need everyone to bring their A-game. I don't think Harrison needs to go off, but he needs to get at least 15 points and play an overall solid game.

LETS GO REDMEN!!!!
 
All great points.

Pointer's defense is going to be huge, but he needs to play smart. The Dome will be crowded (although potentially less than normal based on NEMO) and making lots of noise. If he gets over aggressive the refs will feed off the energy and call him for some silly / unnecessary fouls. I'm specifically talking about when MCW is 40 feet from the hoop. Gotta play smart Dom.

Let's go Redmen.
 
Mother nature may curtail my trip this weekend to Syracuse, was hoping to make the game but not looking so good now. Wow, 2 straight Redmen references, lets keep it going.

LETS GO REDMEN
WE ARE...ST. JOHN'S
 
Wanted to get this going. I want this game so bad. As many of you know and for those that don't, I went to Syracuse.

As for the matchup, I think the keys will be on defense. I'd like to see Lavin put Pointer on Michael-Carter Williams and Sampson on CJ Fair. I think those matchups are crucial. Play a lineup of Greene, Harrison, Pointer, Sampson, Obekpa as the starting five. Without Branch, we need Greene on the floor as much as possible because Harrrison can't be the main ballhandler going up against the Cuse zone. Hope Bourgault gets some major minutes to extend the defense, but I don't think pairing Bourgault and Harrison in the backcourt together will be a good idea against Cuse.

Cuse has only 7 scholarship players. They love to run but I think we can run with them. Cuse only has one big - Rakeem Christmas, and I think that Obekpa can take care of him. Cuse doesn't have great bigs this year.

If we want this win we need everyone to bring their A-game. I don't think Harrison needs to go off, but he needs to get at least 15 points and play an overall solid game.

LETS GO REDMEN!!!!

Bourgault should get some open looks from 3, has to knock them down.
 
Will be going to the game wearing red. Red blood in Orange country.

Sincerely St. John's Undergrad, Syracuse Grad Student

P.S. my place three minutes from campus has a St. John's flag hanging on one side of the house, and a St. John's towel hanging on the other in plain sight. Let me know if you see it:)
 
Will be going to the game wearing red. Red blood in Orange country.

Sincerely St. John's Undergrad, Syracuse Grad Student

P.S. my place three minutes from campus has a St. John's flag hanging on one side of the house, and a St. John's towel hanging on the other in plain sight. Let me know if you see it:)

You are a brave man! But you major karma from me.

How much crap do you take up there?
 
Will be going to the game wearing red. Red blood in Orange country.

Sincerely St. John's Undergrad, Syracuse Grad Student

P.S. my place three minutes from campus has a St. John's flag hanging on one side of the house, and a St. John's towel hanging on the other in plain sight. Let me know if you see it:)

Glad to hear I wont be alone
 
Will be going to the game wearing red. Red blood in Orange country.

Sincerely St. John's Undergrad, Syracuse Grad Student

P.S. my place three minutes from campus has a St. John's flag hanging on one side of the house, and a St. John's towel hanging on the other in plain sight. Let me know if you see it:)

You are a brave man! But you major karma from me.

How much crap do you take up there?

We have a few brave alums in the Syracuse area.
 
Bourgault could play a big role. The biggest difference might be allowing Harrison to get some space. It's very tough to keep tabs on two great shooters in the zone when they are running through the lane or baseline. I like what Dunlap did against the zone at times last year overloading one side with Harrison waiting with his feet set and Moe at the foul line extended, forcing the defense to choose. I'd like to see the same with Sampson and one of the shooters or perhaps even Bourgout and Harrison.

Pointer is built to stop a player exactly like MCW. Cooney could be the biggest thorn in our sides Sunday. I thin Rakeem Christmas is as overrated as they come. I also fully expect Southerland to be eligible by Sunday and that will be a game changer.
 
I'm hoping to see more Marc A. B IN THE LINEUP AGAINST THE CUSE.

A little surprised more posters didn't give him more props for his performance against UCONN. He contributed mightily to building that first half lead and I think surprised Ollie and most Uconn Players with how well he shot the ball.

I'd rather see him shoot than Greene.. And, way too much is made about his slowness and defensive liabilities in my opinion.He's not a statue actually.


Several of our players aren't much faster and our dfense can't get too much worse...His D liability is way overated and he makes up for it by his shooting.

Against the SU zONE he could be a factor in opening up the inside for us, otherwise the Orange will pack it in and we will have difficulty. I THINK HE'S EARNED MORE MINUTES and hope he can contribute.

And, our players need to get him the ball in a shooting position. And, I do believe they miss him a lot when he's open.
 
I have lived here since I graduated, and I give more crap to these Oranges than I get.......
 
Sampson, Obekpa and especially Pointer (à la Brownlee) need to crash the boards and get us running.

If we ignore the bounding we are toast.
 
Harrison should be completely focused on stopping Triche. Triche can overpower most guards and can catch fire from 3. Harrison is strong enough to not let that happen. Cuse only has 3 legit scorers in Fair, Triche and Williams. Shut them down and Obepka will swat anything Grant and Christmas throw at the rim.
 
If we can possibly beat the Cuse it will be our biggest win thus far. Can't allow Fair and Christmas to get easy putbacks. Must get back on defense after a missed shot; make them earn their points. Most teams that give Syracuse a tough time have their big man float behind their zone, a little penetration and handoff to Sampson will do. Going to miss Branch; let Harrison be the one since he passes well underneath. Not going to be easy up there but you never know.
 
Christmas is softer than dog sh*t. Unfortunately, STJ has let too many bigs have a career day. There is no reason Obekpa should let that happen.

Garrett needs big minutes. You need to make them pay for the zone by crashing the weakside glass. That is the weaskest part of the zone, and Garrett is the best we have on the offensive glass. They will counter by getting the ball and going.
 
Any word on the team's travel plans for this game? This storm is supposed to cripple the upstate New York area. The further north you go, the worse the snow.

Ideally, us and the officials make it up there, but the snow cripples the area so much, that most folks stay home, turning the normally loud Carrier Dome into an atmosphere that sounds more like one of our home games. I understand this has little to no chance of happening, but what a shame that would be, huh (and by calling it a shame, I mean it would be a very, very good thing)?
 
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