Is it possible to have no expectations?
There's no mission statement. No obligation to restore status. There's certainly no dynasty talk.
Syracuse players and fans appear strangely calm at the dawn of a new season. And it seems a bit out of character.
Both sides are tip-toeing their way around the last two years and around talk of the NCAA Tournament. There's a subtle confidence in the locker room, but it's no more than a wink compared to the brazen talk that routinely came from Donte Greene's mouth.
There's optimism about another strong freshmen class and about the return of a healthy Andy Rautins and near-healthy Eric Devendorf.
But the talk of a comeback, of returning to the Big Dance after a two-year drought, is completely absent. Last preseason, the talk was about revenge. There was fire in the eyes of Paul Harris when he talked about watching the NCAA Tournament from home. There was anger. The returning players weren't going to let history repeat itself.
But repeat it did.
And now, players and fans alike are afraid to raise expectations for a new season when they know first-hand the pain of failure.
It's as if both sides believe that if they close their eyes long enough, they'll wake up and Syracuse will be in the NCAA Tournament.
I suppose it's better than staying awake and waiting for the inevitable collapse to happen.
Syracuse fans have been conditioned to expect the worst.
First, it was the football team's plunge into inferiority. Then, it was the basketball team's postseason letdowns - two straight first-round exits followed by two straight trips to the NIT.
I don't blame the fans for being timid. It's a natural reaction at this point.
I believe famed dodgeball enthusiast Peter La Fleur said it best: “I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed.#”
Keep those eyes closed 'Cuse fans.
The two exhibition games weren't exactly enthusiasm-boosters either. Syracuse failed to dominate either game, despite the Division II competition.
Devendorf looks a bit gimpy. Jonny Flynn looks like he's trying to do too much. The defense looks weak and the free-throw shooting, well, don't look directly at it because it may cause retina damage.
But believe me, there are more positives than negatives.
Take Flynn for instance. As a sophomore, the Niagara Falls native will be the best point guard in the Big East and one of the best in the country - maybe just behind Ty Lawson and Darren Collison.
And while he isn't fully healed, a 50 percent Devendorf can still knock down the 3 and break down a defender off the dribble.
Add Rautins to the mix and Syracuse has five legitimate 3-point threats - Devendorf, Rautins, Flynn, Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph.
It certainly makes the loss of Greene a lot easier to take.
“(Greene's) main value last year was his 3-point shooting,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “We didn't have to do anything but get two guys back and healthy to improve our 3-point shooting. That part should take care of itself.”
The Orange also have less space on the bench, which is certainly a good thing. Playing last season with a seven-man rotation, players like Flynn and Arinze Onuaku were worn out by March.
But this year, Boeheim has a bench stacked with two talented freshmen (Jones, Joseph), an improved big man (Rick Jackson) and one of the best outside shooters in the country (Rautins).
Mix in the defense-minded Kristof Onenaet, who is likely to start some games at the four, and Syracuse has a list of nine suitable players for Boeheim to choose from.
Baring injuries - you can stop holding your breath now - the Orange will be improved and should return to the NCAA Tournament.
An NCAA title, and for that matter a Big East championship, are unlikely, but any improvement would be a welcome change.
Baby steps, folks. This team will get there.
Season predictions:
Record: 24-11 (11-7 Big East)
Postseason: Second round of NCAA Tournament
Leading scorer: Jonny Flynn
Breakout player: Rick Jackson
Best newcomer: Kris Joseph
Team MVP: Arinze Onuaku
Syracuse players and fans appear strangely calm at the dawn of a new season. And it seems a bit out of character.
Both sides are tip-toeing their way around the last two years and around talk of the NCAA Tournament. There's a subtle confidence in the locker room, but it's no more than a wink compared to the brazen talk that routinely came from Donte Greene's mouth.
There's optimism about another strong freshmen class and about the return of a healthy Andy Rautins and near-healthy Eric Devendorf.
But the talk of a comeback, of returning to the Big Dance after a two-year drought, is completely absent. Last preseason, the talk was about revenge. There was fire in the eyes of Paul Harris when he talked about watching the NCAA Tournament from home. There was anger. The returning players weren't going to let history repeat itself.
But repeat it did.
And now, players and fans alike are afraid to raise expectations for a new season when they know first-hand the pain of failure.
It's as if both sides believe that if they close their eyes long enough, they'll wake up and Syracuse will be in the NCAA Tournament.
I suppose it's better than staying awake and waiting for the inevitable collapse to happen.
Syracuse fans have been conditioned to expect the worst.
First, it was the football team's plunge into inferiority. Then, it was the basketball team's postseason letdowns - two straight first-round exits followed by two straight trips to the NIT.
I don't blame the fans for being timid. It's a natural reaction at this point.
I believe famed dodgeball enthusiast Peter La Fleur said it best: “I found that if you have a goal, that you might not reach it. But if you don't have one, then you are never disappointed.#”
Keep those eyes closed 'Cuse fans.
The two exhibition games weren't exactly enthusiasm-boosters either. Syracuse failed to dominate either game, despite the Division II competition.
Devendorf looks a bit gimpy. Jonny Flynn looks like he's trying to do too much. The defense looks weak and the free-throw shooting, well, don't look directly at it because it may cause retina damage.
But believe me, there are more positives than negatives.
Take Flynn for instance. As a sophomore, the Niagara Falls native will be the best point guard in the Big East and one of the best in the country - maybe just behind Ty Lawson and Darren Collison.
And while he isn't fully healed, a 50 percent Devendorf can still knock down the 3 and break down a defender off the dribble.
Add Rautins to the mix and Syracuse has five legitimate 3-point threats - Devendorf, Rautins, Flynn, Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph.
It certainly makes the loss of Greene a lot easier to take.
“(Greene's) main value last year was his 3-point shooting,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “We didn't have to do anything but get two guys back and healthy to improve our 3-point shooting. That part should take care of itself.”
The Orange also have less space on the bench, which is certainly a good thing. Playing last season with a seven-man rotation, players like Flynn and Arinze Onuaku were worn out by March.
But this year, Boeheim has a bench stacked with two talented freshmen (Jones, Joseph), an improved big man (Rick Jackson) and one of the best outside shooters in the country (Rautins).
Mix in the defense-minded Kristof Onenaet, who is likely to start some games at the four, and Syracuse has a list of nine suitable players for Boeheim to choose from.
Baring injuries - you can stop holding your breath now - the Orange will be improved and should return to the NCAA Tournament.
An NCAA title, and for that matter a Big East championship, are unlikely, but any improvement would be a welcome change.
Baby steps, folks. This team will get there.
Season predictions:
Record: 24-11 (11-7 Big East)
Postseason: Second round of NCAA Tournament
Leading scorer: Jonny Flynn
Breakout player: Rick Jackson
Best newcomer: Kris Joseph
Team MVP: Arinze Onuaku
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Orange Slices wrote on Nov 12, 2008 9:53 PM:
And you're right, there's not a player in the Big East that can match up with Harris man-to-man, but he hasn't proven to me yet that he can be a zone buster. He's improved with the jumper, but I still feel a bit nauseous every time he rises and fires.
Harris' best asset is his ability to get to the stripe -- he's the best in the Big East.
But with so many options, I don't see Harris' numbers improving drastically. Something like 13 and 7 sounds about right to me.
There will be games when he carries the team -- such as Villanvoa last year, Notre Dame two seasons ago -- but he's more of a cleanup guy that provides muscle. And that's fine, that's what Syracuse needs.
I wouldn't be surprised if Harris is the most consistent player on SU this season, even though I doubt he'll ever get the credit he deserves.
Also, I agree about Paulus. Syracuse was extraordinarily lucky that he chose to attend Duke. The last thing the Orange need is a slow guy that can't defend. Really lucked out on that one.
- Ryan Day "
dynasty11 wrote on Nov 12, 2008 8:19 PM: