As I promised, here’s my chat with Brian from Orange:44 following Villanova’s victory over the Orange last Sunday. Brian was kind enough to answer my questions this time. I know it will pain you, but we want Syracuse to win out until the BET. Not only will it help our SOS, but if they can score a victory over Marquette, that will help our push for a Top 4 seed.
Chris (I Bleed Blue and White): Well, it appears Andy Rautins is over the injury bug. He was scorching the nets. Syracuse as a team attempted 39 3-pointers Sunday, while Arinze Onuaku, Rick Jackson and Kristof Ongenaet combined to attempt just 6 shots. Obviously I haven’t watched a ton of ‘Cuse this year, but is this how they typically play, or was this a strategy for the ‘Nova game only?
Brian (Orange::44): Yeah this is not normal. They practically shot almost 50% more three point shots this game then they average. It did not seem too strategic, but I suppose if Andy Rautins is feeling good and getting open shots, why not take that many? Only one of his shots was bad. Similarly, Eric Devendorf had a few bad shots, but most of them he was open so I can understand why he would want to take it. Plus, I think this was a flow of the game adjustment as well. It seemed like Syracuse was having trouble, save Paul Harris, driving on this Villanova defense, therefore they felt like shooting a lot and it worked for a while.
Chris (IBBW): What player (players?) need to pick up their game down the stretch for Syracuse?
Brian (O::44): Clearly Arinze Onuaku needs to get back in this game. I realize he is battling some knee problems, but he looked fine the last game, and then with Villanova he basically phoned it in, did not have his hands up on defense and was certainily not hungry enough to rebound. He will be a key factor in playing any future teams with decent big men. Similarly, Rick Jackson will have to do a better job of filling Onuaku’s shoes when he is on the floor. Our entire low post presence in this game was practically non-existent, and that is a problem in the future if it’s not fixed.
Chris (IBBW): What was up with Jonny Flynn? I heard some rumors about him having the flu, but he didn’t seem like himself. I know how he feels about ‘Nova and expected more from him, but he seemed to shy away from the spotlight all game. Off-day or were other factors present?
Brian (O::44): Yes, I think it was a combination of feeling under the weather and just having an off day. You could visibly see a difference with him in the second half. I think he overcame the sickness mentally and started playing like vintage Flynn, cutting to the hoop and breaking defender’s ankles. But the first half was definitely not his best work by far. Flynn definitely does not have these kinds of games often so he gets a pass from me on this one. However, he definitely needs to show up from here on out. Get this kid some Vitamin C.
Chris (IBBW): Without getting too ahead of ourselves, do you think either Flynn or Harris leaves school early for the NBA? To me, both could clearly use more seasoning in college, but after reading that SI article last week, I got the feeling that harris wasn’t totally happy at Syracuse.
Brian (O::44): Be under no illusion that Jim Boeheim is not the hardest on Paul Harris. He is always yelling at him. For good reason though. Paul Harris has had the most epic of mental lapses in his Syracuse career over anyone else currently in the program, and if you may recall it cost Syracuse a victory over Pittsburgh at home last year, and possibly an NCAA berth. However, I think everyone knows that Harris is not ready for the NBA (if he ever will be) and will most likely stay around another year. I think if Syracuse does not get that far in the NCAA Tournament Flynn will be back for sure. Frankly, I think he will be back either way. Flynn play with Harris in high school in Niagara Falls and was basically the reason Flynn came to Syracuse. He will most likely stay until Harris graduates anyway. But you never know.
Chris (IBBW): At 7-7 in a brutal conference, with a few quality OOC wins and a favorable schedule down the stretch, how do you see ‘Cuse finishing in conference and where are they going to be seeded in the NCAA Tournament (I don’t care what the “experts” say, ‘Cuse has done enough to get in)?
Brian (O::44): I think Syracase will definitely finish in 6th or 7th in the conference. Syracuse has a rather soft schedule coming down the stretch, with the only possible stumbles coming from Cincinnati and Marquette in my opinion. Now the Cincinnati game is at home so I am not that worried, but they are playing Marquette on the road, and frankly we would need a miracle to win that probably. Either way, they are looking no better than a 6 at this point. Similarly, pending a good run in the Big East Tournament against some really elite teams, I think Syracuse will be a 6 or 7 seed in the big dance as well. I think right now Syracuse has done enough to get in, with marquee wins against Memphis, Florida and Kansas. So at the very least, the mission of Boeheim and his team to get back to the NCAAs should come true, pending a horrific, horrific collaspe.
Thanks to Brian for doing this. We had fun this season. Good luck the rest of the way and hopefully we won’t see you again in the BET because it’s tough enough beating the same team twice in a season, let alone 3 times. Make sure you check out Orange::44, he does great work over there.
12:00 p.m. ET – PROVIDENCE -8.5 DePaul
2:00 p.m. ET – MARQUETTE – 7 St. John’s
7:00 p.m. ET – WEST VIRGINIA – 4.5 Notre Dame
9:00 p.m. ET – SYRACUSE -6.5 Seton Hall
