Syracuse and Kansas met in the 2003 national championship game and even had a rematch this year which the Orange won. Both teams reached the sweet 16 in this year's tournament and both teams would be title contenders next year provided their key players returned to school. Yet this is where the fortunes of these two basketball powers take a divering course.
Johnny Flynn, the high-flying, iron-man, do-everything point guard for Syracuse is reportedly waiting by his mailbox for paperwork to sign with agent Leon Rose according to the Syracuse Post-Standard. Rose represents some guy named LeBron James so I guess he comes with a smidge of credibility. Once Flynn scribbles his name proper on the line his college eligibilty will be up in smoke. Initially first thought to be testing the NBA waters at the pre-draft camps, somebody must have gotten hold on young Johnny's ear and filled with stories of lottery picks and samsonite's full of cash. Having LeBron's agent offer his services is enough for any young man to take the leap. While I am sure our Syracuse alum Concierge wishes Flynn well, but this drops the Orange out of their Final Four hopes for next year. Just how far they fall will be determined what other pieces will fall. Paul Harris was thought to be testing the waters but is no saying that he had not had the intentions of leaving. Devendorf, while he may not be a high first-rounder would be a huge loss to Syracuses backcourt and their trash-talking ability. They do have Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson along with Onuaku and Jackson in the frontcourt and Rautins coming back from the perimeter, but without the dynamic point play of Flynn, Syracuse will definitely have a tougher time next year. [Syracuse Post-Standard]
While things may be gloomy (and probably cold) in Syracuse, the situation is a lot brighter in Lawrence with the news that Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich will be returning to Kansas next year. Collins averaged just under 19 points a game and 5 assists as the Jayhawks' point guard while Aldrich was a force down low all year and recorded a triple double in the NCAA tournament. Bill Self won the title a year ago and won AP coach of the year this year after going 27-8 and getting endged by Michigan State in the tourney. Aldrich has just as much cause to go to the NBA as anyone as his father has been out of work for awhile, but he stated that it was the passion of the fans and the encouragement of his parents that made his decision. With KU also in the running for recruits Xavier Henry and Lance Stephenson, Kansas is going to be heavily favored to cut the nets down in Indy next year. [CBSSports]
Tuesday, April 14
Cuse Is Out Like Flynn While KU Is Rich In Gifts
Friday, March 13
A Word on Cuse/Conn Sextuple Overtime
127-117 in 6 Overtimes. Before the Orange and the Huskies squared off last night in the Big East quarterfinals, my good friend The Concierge and I had a phone conversation. We said we just wanted a good game. Our conversations have toned down since high school when we were at each other's throats everytime these two teams took the court. Concierge has been a Syracuse fan since forever and eventually attended the school, while I had a devotion to UCONN since it was the place of my birth. Even though I ended up going to the U, I never stopped pulling for the Huskies and thankfully the Canes moved to the ACC. I am not a supporter of having more than one team in a sport, but I very well could not drop my childhood team as I began rooting for Miami.
Both of us have had some memorable victories in the rivalry and have celebrated when the teams won national championships, but last night was something completely new to college basketball alltogether. I know the teams did not set a record for most overtimes which is 7, but I can honestly say I have never seen a game go on that long in my life. Concierge and I texted during the game, but it was after the first overtime that he called me to talk about how crazy this was. At the end of the brief call he said, "I'll call you at the end." That soon turned into "I'll call you at the third overtime....call you at the fourth" and so on. By the end it was past 1:00 am and Connecticut lost and I was not looking forward to work today.
The game was an epic, but not an all-time in terms of greatness. Both teams made mistakes that prevented them from ending the game early. Not to say it was not great, but the length and marathon style is what made it unbelievable. In regulation, UCONN had 22 turnovers, shot 44% from the free-throw line, and shot 3-13 from the 3 point line. I thought that had bought them a ticket home after regulation, but Syracuse left the door open. In overtime it was UCONN's turn to keep the Orange in the game, as the Orange did not lead the game until the 6th OT. The UCONN led the game by as much as 6 in the extra sessions but could not close the deal. 24-42 free-throws overall is not the way to get it done if you are Connecticut. The Orange almost won the game in regulation but Eric Devendorf's shot was just after the buzzer. On the replay, the game clock started late after Gavin Edwards tipped the ball and it fell to Devendorf. If the shot had counted with the clock starting late I would have been upset, but then again they could have counted it and spared us all the overtime sessions. By the 6th overtime, both teams had lost critical players to fouls, but it was one of the Cuse staples that sustained them to the victory. As the players grew more exhausted and Thabeet left the game, Johnny Flynn overcame his heavy legs and worked his way to the basket as Andy Rautins hit the deep balls. The famous 2-3 zone became the difference. Connecticut perhaps should have switched to a zone themselves as they started playing seldom used players off their bench. Paul Harris and company took over against the bench players since they had the man-to-man advantaged. Once Syracuse went up by 7 A.J. Price took his last foul and headed for the bench.
The lasting image I will take from the game was after Devendorf fouled out and was replaced by Justin Thomas who had not even played 30 minutes all season. As UCONN brought the ball up the Orange players sat dead tired in the zone, but Thomas who had just come in was jumping around and waving his arms, the lone source of energy on a court of drained players. After the game Jim Calhoun was his usual salty self saying that he will look back on the game this summer, but for now it is a loss. Jim Boeheim could not have been prouder of his team.
This was a game no one will ever forget, but now UCONN has to drag itself into the tournament. They will likely get a number one seed since Oklahoma, Kansas and Pittsburgh also lost yesterday but the Huskies have never advance to the final four without winning the Big East tournament so it does not bode well they will not get to Detroit if they shoot under 60 percent from the foul line and turn the ball over more than 20 times. The Orange will face West Virginia tonight and without a deep bench, I cannot see how they can play at a high level. No doubt Bobby Huggins will be turning up the pressure on the leg-weary Orange. West Virginia will be playing their third game in as many days so that goes in Syracuse's favor. If the Cuse find someway to win tonight they will have to play tomorrow night against Louisville or Villanova and if they go on to win this tourney it will be one of the greatest team accomplishments in the history of college basketball.
As I went to bed or rather tried to, I was still worked up from the game, I simply texted the Concierge, "Grats sir." There was nothing else to say after a game for the ages and everyone, not just the players and coaches, was wiped out.
Wednesday, February 11
The ASD Universe Explodes Tonight
The slate is extremely busy for ASD and friends this evening.
First off, we have our weekly trivia contest a the local pub. After winning 4 weeks in a row we hit a 3 week losing streak but got back on track last week. Luckily, I will not be alone this week as Catfish and Xtra Medium will run the Triangle Offense of useless knowledge. A win means 25 bucks off our tab, a loss means humiliation and degredation in the form of free pizza or a bucket.
The Buffalo Sabres are 8 games over .500 and in 7th place in the Eastern Conference but just 3 points out of 4th. They square off against the Senators at the HSBC tonight.
In the NBA, Catfish is riding high after the Bobcats snapped their 5 game losing streak Monday. Their last game before the all-star break is tonight at home against Washington. The days off will certainly help get everyone healthy, especially Gerald Wallace. The Wizards have lost 8 of their last 10 and the Cats can not afford to drop this one going into the break because with the Bucks most likely out of the playoff picture now with their injuries, Charlotte is very much in the playoff race.
Before the main course of UNC-Duke, my favorite (tied with the CANES) team UCONN hosts Syracuse (ESPN 7 PM) which is the alma mater of our friend the Concierge. Going back to our high school days games between these two have been heated and wagers were made and hillarity ensued. The Orange need to get back on track but will have a tough test tonight in Gampel.
Then of course we have the game of the night and I'm willing to bet Catfish will be lacing the air with some profanities. I cannot see Carolina losing this game but if Duke is going to stay in this they have to shoot more than 34 percent from three and get one or more of the key Tar Heel players in foul trouble. Oh my the officiating should be fun in this one.
The countdown on the clock at the office has already begun...almost gametime.
Tuesday, November 25
The 'Fullet' Headlines 2003 Championship Game Rematch
Syracuse guard Andy Rautins is sporting a, shall we say unique hairstyle this season. While watching part of the Orange's 89-83 win over #17 Florida in the CBE Classic last night, XM and I noticed the new look. I'm not sure if the above pictures do it justice but it appears to be a fauxhawk on top with the characteristics of a mullet down the back. XM then dubbed it the "Fullet". Rautins had 5 three-pointers in the first half and finished with those 15 points. The win was a big one for the Orange who have taken heat in the past for not leaving the state of New York early in the season and playing a soft pre-conference schedule. It is a stigma that has left them out of the last two NCAA tournaments. Tonight they face #22 Kansas who won the other semi-final over Washington in Kansas City on ESPN2 at 10:00.
Kansas and Syracuse squared off in the 2003 Championship game with the Orange winning 81-78. Gerry McNamara had 6 three-pointers in the first half and Melo of course won the MOP with his 20 in the game. Hakim Warrick had the big block on Michael Lee with the time winding down as Jim Boeheim finally cut down the nets. That was also the last Kansas game for Roy Williams who had an interesting interview with Bonnie Bernstein after the game. Thankfully this match-up provides an opportunity to once again show said interview. Go B-squared, twist that knife, no mercy!
Monday, November 17
The Greg Robinson Era Mercifully Comes to an End
Yesterday it was announced that Syracuse University fired head football Greg Robinson. Today we have reaction and commentary from one of the 'Cuse's finest. In ASD's first ever guest post we present The Concierge, a Syracuse alum, product of the prestegious S.I. Newhouse School of Communication, and current member of the media. We now present his take on the move that was long over due:
If you’ve watched the Syracuse University football team any time in the last four years, you’ve undoubtedly seen one of the worst, if not the worst, college football teams in the country. It’s a disgrace, especially for a college that ranks among the top 15 winningest college football programs in the country.
In Syracuse football’s nearly 120 year history, greats like Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka and Donovan McNabb have helped build what was once one of the most prestigious programs in college football. Over 12 decades, Syracuse won a National Championship (1959), 12 out of 21 bowl games and had a Heisman Trophy winner (Davis). In all, SU has won 672 games.
But only nine of those wins have come in the last four years, just three in the Big East Conference. Under Head Coach Greg Robinson, SU football has become nothing more than a joke. Games have been unbearable to watch.
SU Athletic Director Darryl Gross says he’s now ready to change that. A day after Connecticut routed Syracuse 39-14, Gross announced the inevitable – Robinson is out at the end of this year.
“I have made the decision to move our football program in a new direction,” Gross said.
Nice choice of words by Gross, considering there is no other direction for the program to go. At 2-8, Syracuse is ranked 113 in the country according to Jeff Sagarin’s football ratings. SU is at the bottom of the pile.
Robinson’s firing was long-overdue. Although blame for the program’s failure doesn’t fall squarely on his shoulders, Robinson is a big part of SU’s fall from grace. For whatever reason, Gross decided to hire the former University of Texas defensive coordinator after firing longtime SU coach Paul Pasqualoni. It’s somewhat understandable to see Syracuse’s offense struggling under Robinson, but that shouldn’t be the case for its defense year after year. In 2008, the defense has allowed 33.9 points/game (ranked 113 in team defense).
So who will save Syracuse football? Fans can only hope it’s not another “defensive genius” who on the other side of the ball believes in the West Coast offense. Due to location and recent history, Syracuse just can’t recruit players good enough to handle the West Coast offense. If Syracuse is going to return to relevance, the new coach will have to make do with the talent he has. Like Nebraska, Syracuse used to be known for option football. That has to return.
Syracuse’s next coach can’t be an untested assistant somewhere. He has to be someone who has proven himself. He has to be someone with real ties to Syracuse; a former player who knows the true meaning of SU’s football tradition. Who that is, I don’t know. Some say UConn head coach Randy Edsall (a former SU player and assistant coach) should be the man.
The good news? A change is coming. Things can only get better at this point. It may take some time to recover from the Greg Robinson hangover, but at least there’s basketball. Syracuse is 1-0. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, September 29
Extra Year for Syracuse Guard Eric Devendorf
This story may not be typical of what we cover, but the fairness of redshirts is something we've broached before.
What a difference a game makes. Just over a month after Pitt's Mike Cook was denied a 6th year of eligibility, Syracuse's Eric Devendorf has been granted an extra year. Last season, Mike Cook played in 11 games, Devendorf played in 10. Both rulings are correct based on the NCAA's rule, but the luck (if there is such a thing when discussing ACL tears) of Devendorf's occurring five days and one game earlier may represent substantial gains for the Orange. Devendorf averaged seventeen points per game last season for the Cuse, second only to new Sacramento King Donte Green. By getting the extra year of eligibility Devendorf will be listed as a junior this season. The benefits for the Orange faithful may not be apparent until the 2009-10 year, when Coach Jim Boeheim will feature a talented veteran team (thie 08-09 team has 3 seniors, but only one who has seen significant action). If Jonny Flynn does not jump for the NBA, the return of guard Andy Rautins and with the addition of incoming freshman wingman Mookie Jones, the Cuse should be poised to once again become a power player.
