#16 R.P.I. Syracuse @ #77 R.P.I. Virginia Tech
If there is such a thing as a thin looking and even a bit hobbled #2 team in the land, this contemporary Syracuse team is surely it. 14 up and zero down is pretty dang tight; some would say perfect. I would say that the 5th best team in Turnover Margin (+6.5 tpg) is a tough match-up and I would have said a match-up that is easily outta our reach.
And yes, being the 13th ranked team in team defense in ppg allowed (59.8 ppg allowed), and likewise being the 9th best team in terms of steals per contest (9.7 swipes/game) would seem to agree. However, and as odd as this sounds, Syracuse did not look (quite) like a true #2 team on the way to being anointed a #1 seed come March Madness.
At least not to me, and at least not on paper; as this is one paper thin ‘Cuse rotation sans the services of DaJuan Coleman (no relation) baller (ankle) up-front who is said to be “QUESTIONABLE” for this one. And you have to wonder if coach Boeheim will wanna risk him vs. seemingly lowly Virginia Tech? That all conspires to tell me that Virginia Tech and coach J’s are catching the second-ranked men’s basketball team in the land at precisely the right time on Tuesday night down in the New River Valley. Is that code for just the right time to get blown out; or just the right time to hang around and make a game out of it? Read on to find out…
Syracuse Backcourt: (returning starters=0)
- Tyler Ennis: coming into this year Ennis was said to be an excellent play-making floor general and likewise floor-leader; that needed to work on his J from the outside. Ennis is an Ontario imported Labatt’s flavored baller, with 11.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg and the team lead in dimes (assists, 5.5) and in steals at 2.7. That’s a very decent sized stat-sheet for any rookie year player who is still adjusting to the full-fledged N.A.F.T.A. brand of ball. 39% from 3-point land and the second most FTA’s (72) on the squad tell you a bit about this 18 year olds temperament, which is mature and daring alike. As Syracuse sure looks set as backcourt starters go for the next three years (see: below).
- Trevor Cooney: Cooney is the second leading Orangeman scorer at a nifty 14.1 ppg and a downright marksman like 46% from downtown and 88% from the charity stripe. Yes, every Syracuse team has a shooter and Mister Cooney is it for this seasons club. Cooney has basically slide over from his Pt.Guard home to make room for Mr. Ennis above. Cooney has found his stroke from the outside after a bit of a disappointing beginning to his Cuse occupation from range. Cooney was quite the scorer in high school up in Delaware, so that does seem to posit that better things are yet to come; ditto his whopping 414% improvement in scoring over the past campaign!
Syracuse Frontcourt: (starters back=2)
Jerami Grant, ‘notehr over-sized Three who provides match-up problems on the wing. Jerami struggled with his shot all year last season; however he is now up to a rather smart looking 51.4% from the floor on 12.3 ppg and a team leading 5.8 rebounds and a second best .8 blocks. I’d call that a tasty holiday recipe for most improved if I were you. Not half bad for a kid who’s hooping career has been artificially dogged via mononucleosis in the past. Yes, his father was indeed Harvey Grant of Washington Bullet fame, and yes he has an overseas professional brother (Harvey II); so you just know that basketball is in his blood. And a 315% increase in scoring from last year to this does not suck either.
Rakeem Christmas, Christmas (merry thereof) is the strongman down low for the Cuse at 6’9’’ and a bulky looking 252 lbs. that puts the power in P/F. The Philly native nets you 5.9 ppg, grabs 3.9 rpg and does lead Boeheim’s team in blocks with 1.3 swats per contest. Rakeem is known for his “defensive heft” and he draws the toughest defensive frontcourt match-u p night in and night out. Rakeem has competed overseas in Estonia, so he is a well seasoned baller; even if he is a limited to basically put-backs as an offensive baller goes itself. Good, willing, able bodied guy to have around. Every team needs a Rakeem, though he sure strikes me as more parts substitute and less parts starter.
Carl Keith Fair (pic), one could say that any Syracuse leading scorer (17.2 ppg) and silver medalist in board-work (5.6 rpg) does indeed have a fair to middling game. And if Mr. Fair only had better handles (3.3 turnovers/game) he would be more of an all-conference caliber threat. Ditto if he had just a scosche more game from the outside, as the book on him suggests sagging off of him from range. That said, he appears recovered from the Canadian Exhibition leg injury and he truly is a player who can help you at both ends of the court while being a true overload as a nearly 6’9’’ S/F on the wing.
Orangeman Bench: (depth=1, and 1 for spot minutes)
- Baye Moussa Keita: you just knew that the ‘Cuse would field an imported (Senegalese) legitimate big-man refugee Big East style of play Center; and they do. 6’10’’ 220 muscular Mr. Keita says so! Mr. Keita is from St.Louis Senegal (yah; who knew) and he is basically a final year defensive specialist. B.M.K. manufactures rebounds (3) a block and just over 2 points –although he is a lane clogger and that’s the key to his underdeveloped offensive game.
- Michael Gbinije: Richmond native by way of Duke now transferred to Syracuse. Stud athlete and defensive stopper who is a perfect fit in the signature Jim Boeheim Zone defense due to his long-frame up top; bench-pressed 265 pounds, squatted 345, had a vertical leap of 29’’, such does not hurt defensive capabilities either. 3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg and he does have some range at 46% from beyond the arc.
Loading ...Illation, conclusion(s) and OPT digits:
Virginia Tech and Syracuse both average 74 ppg on offense; Virginia Tech actually defends better at 38% allowed compared to 41% allowed for the Orangemen and slightly out-rebounds the Cuse per contest (+2 rpg). And yet nothing and I do mean nothing would hasten or bid any sane person to pick Virginia Tech in the upset in this one.
***
As Syracuse is the 12 point A.c.c. visitor for a reason(s); though I’m still having a tougher than expected time determining exactly what that reason or reasons should be. The Cuse has beaten two ranted teams coming into this one (#18 Baylor) and #8 ‘Nova). And yet this incarnation of Orangemen does not quite appear as Tangy as I had expected when I saw this line open last night. This looks more like a #3 or maybe even a highly ranked #4 tourney seed to me. In fact, if Smitty was healthy, and if Barksdale’s ankle could somehow unroll itself I would say we are catching the ‘Cuse in the perfect look-ahead trap with an epic national TV game vs. UNC on tap and up next. Under those circumstances, Virginia Tech would indeed have a chance to hang around and possibly steal one vs. a forward facing Syracuse at home on Tuesday night. However, that is circumstantial evidence at best, as Virginia Tech is just too lame, reportedly too sick (influenza), too dysfunctional and too short on backcourt ball handlers to handle #2 Syracuse, no matter how much Syracuse may already be playing UNC in reality.
Virginia Tech=58, Syracuse=77
“LETS GO!”
“Hokies!”
bourbonstreet**
