November 12, 2006
getting back in the groove
Welcome back to A Sporting Word - it's been far too long since my last post, a problem which I will remedy as the basketball season continues to progress.
Unfortunately I've been unable to watch the team play very much thus far, only catching the first exhibition against Bryant of Division II. Initially I wasn't encouraged at all by the team's first effort, as they were perpetually out-muscled and out-rebounded by a much smaller (and inferior) squad throughout the entire game, just managing to squeak out a 6-point victory. The only significant thought I could take home from that game was the fact that Paul Harris is way shorter than his bigger-than-basketball reputation would lead you to believe. He only looks about 6'3" to me, but that really just makes his abilities that much more impressive: he's definitely a gamer who can play the defense Jimmy B. loves so much, and he's bound to have an immediate impact on Syracuse basketball this year. Watch for him to live up to (or surpass) the hype - it won't show in his nightly scoring average, but you'll notice how much better the team seems to be when he's on the floor, especially as he's out-jumping 6'7" forwards in the paint. That first exhibition was ugly, but I do believe the Orange will have a shot at reaching the top of the Big East standings this year, perhaps using a #1 or #2 seed to get into the Big East Championship game for the third time straight.
Like I said, I haven't been able to watch anything but Joe Burns and Bryant University so far, leaving me to get most of my information from Fast Eddie, who's been lucky enough to attend each game and also seems to think the Orange could be very dangerous this year. The box scores indicate that they're spreading the ball around, finding spots for everyone to get their shots and making sure that the FNNP (Freshmen Not Named Paul) put in enough minutes to get that ever-important pre-conference experience (Jones looks like he can play while Brennan-McBride is a project, just as the scouting reports first indicated). Of course J-Wright still needs some work at the point - it's not a track meet, #30 - but Boeheim has enough ballhandlers to provide some classtime on the bench when necessary. Overall, it looks like this team's depth will allow it to do very well this year as long as the Big Three can hold their own during crunchtime - the go-to guy has left the country, and it will be up to Roberts, Nichols, and Watkins to figure out what to do next.
As for the tonight's game versus the Miners of Glory Road, I will be working too late to get through the turnstiles in time, missing what could be a quality contest for the Orangemen. Fortunately, there's always 95X, and I'll be listening while the rest of you watch Devo drop 25 and Stormin' Gorman (which is suddenly in use on the Carrier Dome scoreboard) pick up another 4 blocks. Enjoy the game this evening, and the OrangeJuice will be back much sooner this time.
