February 15, 2006
big week for the big dance
With a 5-5 conference record and six games to play before the Big East Tournament, this week looks to be the most important two-game stretch of the season for the Orange. Suddenly, these home games against Cincinnati and Louisville have been elevated right to the edge of "must win" status for Syracuse if they're going to keep themselves in position to make the NCAA Tournament.
SU will face three Top-20 opponents during these last half dozen games, and all three contests figure to add another tally to the Orange loss column. Regardless of what just transpired in New York, (a huge win, with McNamara shaking off the injuries and an MVP double-double from Mookie) Syracuse still isn't good enough to beat #11 West Virginia (too skilled), #17 Georgetown (too physical), or the Husky-slayin' Villanova Wildcats (too Final Four). It would be an incredible finish to Gerry's career and a true exclamation point on his jersey retirement resume if Syracuse is able to upset Jay Wright's Cats on March 5th, but it at this point it seems more likely that the 33,000-plus people will be settling for a losing effort to go with the new record.
After accounting for those three losses, Syracuse must beat Cincy (2/15), Louisville (2/18), and DePaul (3/2) to finish with that ever-important 8-8 conference record. If they can get to .500, I believe they'll finish tied with Marquette for 7th place and earn the 8th seed for the Big East Tournament (according to the Big East's rules for tie-breaking, Marquette would get the 7th seed since they beat UConn earlier in the season). Syracuse's NCAA status will be in good shape by that point, as it looks like Notre Dame (2-8) should win five of their last six to earn the 9th spot and the right to play the 8th-seeded Orange in the first round. If this dream comes true, SU will beat the Irish (again) for their 21st win, thus solidifying a 9 or 10 seed in the NCAA Tourney.
It is very possible for Syracuse to make it to The Dance - even with a 2-25 record against the RPI Top-50 and a few of the worst performances this side of Savannah State - but I really think they'll need the 8-8 record to do it. Of the remaining games, this week offers the best chance for back-to-back wins, so the Cuse must capitalize. Hopefully by winning a few games in succession they'll regain a little rhythm on offense and prepare for the stretch run. If they end up slipping to 7-9, they'll be forced to upset a better team in the postseason to make the NCAAs - something they've proven themselves to be incapable of accomplishing so far.
Right now we as fans may want to consider setting that new record on Wednesday or Saturday, because it looks like these two games could decide whether we'll be watching the Cuse as they shoot for the RCA Dome on CBS or while they limp towards Madison Square Garden again on ESPN2.
SU will face three Top-20 opponents during these last half dozen games, and all three contests figure to add another tally to the Orange loss column. Regardless of what just transpired in New York, (a huge win, with McNamara shaking off the injuries and an MVP double-double from Mookie) Syracuse still isn't good enough to beat #11 West Virginia (too skilled), #17 Georgetown (too physical), or the Husky-slayin' Villanova Wildcats (too Final Four). It would be an incredible finish to Gerry's career and a true exclamation point on his jersey retirement resume if Syracuse is able to upset Jay Wright's Cats on March 5th, but it at this point it seems more likely that the 33,000-plus people will be settling for a losing effort to go with the new record.
After accounting for those three losses, Syracuse must beat Cincy (2/15), Louisville (2/18), and DePaul (3/2) to finish with that ever-important 8-8 conference record. If they can get to .500, I believe they'll finish tied with Marquette for 7th place and earn the 8th seed for the Big East Tournament (according to the Big East's rules for tie-breaking, Marquette would get the 7th seed since they beat UConn earlier in the season). Syracuse's NCAA status will be in good shape by that point, as it looks like Notre Dame (2-8) should win five of their last six to earn the 9th spot and the right to play the 8th-seeded Orange in the first round. If this dream comes true, SU will beat the Irish (again) for their 21st win, thus solidifying a 9 or 10 seed in the NCAA Tourney.
It is very possible for Syracuse to make it to The Dance - even with a 2-25 record against the RPI Top-50 and a few of the worst performances this side of Savannah State - but I really think they'll need the 8-8 record to do it. Of the remaining games, this week offers the best chance for back-to-back wins, so the Cuse must capitalize. Hopefully by winning a few games in succession they'll regain a little rhythm on offense and prepare for the stretch run. If they end up slipping to 7-9, they'll be forced to upset a better team in the postseason to make the NCAAs - something they've proven themselves to be incapable of accomplishing so far.
Right now we as fans may want to consider setting that new record on Wednesday or Saturday, because it looks like these two games could decide whether we'll be watching the Cuse as they shoot for the RCA Dome on CBS or while they limp towards Madison Square Garden again on ESPN2.
