boeheim and southerland marquette.jpg
Jim Boeheim talks to James Southerland during a timeout at the Syracuse-Marquette game on Monday night.
(Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard, 2013)
Syracuse basketball fans are stirred up today after a second straight loss by the Orange, this time a 74-71 defeat to Marquette on Monday night.
While Syracuse played better against Marquette than they did against Georgetown, the physical play of the Golden Eagles and some key mistakes late in the game cost Syracuse a chance to win.
Here is a little of what you are saying about the game.
Mr.Hoops: "JB's response after the game about why CJ didn't get any touches in the last 12 minutes of the game. "Its hard to find one guy against a zone"
Well JB, please tell that to G'Town's Porter and now add Marquette's Gardner.
Were they real hard to find against a zone???"
rkwebster: "You know, Coach Boeheim does not have any answers. When he refuses to answer questions by threatening the local reporters that dare ask him a tough question that centers on his coaching strategies. Though to say that the team and the Coach do not want to win is nonsense. I am sure they care as much as the fans do. Though it is just so frustrating as a fan to watch a team that never seems to get better.
We see the same things on the court, a 2/3 zone, no man to man defense, when desperate a full court press, poor foul shooting, if they can get to the foul line and opposing teams game after game just out hustling Cuse. As a fan it is just hard to understand why Coach Boeheim is not willing to make in game changes? I have been watching for over thirty years and I have asked myself that questions many, many times and I would guess as long as the HOF coach is running the show, I will be asking that question many time more."
CoolP: "No disrespect to MCW, but he can't do it on his own. He's not quick, doesn't have a great cross over, and he's an average shooter. Why didn't CJ touch the ball for almost 10 minutes? MCW needs to be held accountable. He needs to run the team, not chuck up 14 shots. I know Triche only shot 4-10, but I give him credit for realizing his shot was a little off. He played hard and had 8 assists. Why did Cuse beat L'ville, ND and Providence…Triche played a bigger role running the team.
I'm a big JB supporter, but he has to take some of the blame for not reigning in MCW. JB has always had his seniors lead and this should be Brandon's team, but MCW has other ideas. His ego appears to be getting in the way. Regardless, maybe we've all lost sight of the fact that we lost 4 solid players from last year, and I'm sure JB didn't plan on losing both Dion and Fab. The bottom line is maybe this is just a rebuilding year. Reality is starting to sink in, but they're still 22-6, and you never know"
SU Alum in Hong Kong: "The idea that the two best defensive players were in the game may, or may not be correct. I don't know the stats that could (possibly), support that claim, BUT JB, isn't it entirely possible that perhaps DC might have been a better matchup for THAT particular game and THAT particular opponent (Gardner), EVEN if DC is not our 'best' defender? Isn't it plausible that perhaps by even simply providing a larger physical presence that it could have altered Gardner's game? Now…I can understand if DC was held out purely out of caution pertaining to his knee, but to keep him on the bench to play Christmas and Keita against a guy that they clearly can't standup against, is just not a smart move. I mean, DC at least wanted to TRY. He had the damned willing heart to at least go to battle with their big."
Yes, I know, JB has his 900+ wins and we all have zero NCAA wins, but come on now…when will there be more coaching based on the individual parameters of a game?
84Orange: "So, we've become a 3-point shooting team. Too bad we aren't a 3-point making team. And even worse, the competition has figured it out. Combined with a total lack of inside presence, our offense consists of a couple of forwards (CJ, who gives 100% all the time, and 50% of Grant, who is a frosh and gets limited minutes, and Southerland, who, if he doesn't catch and shoot without needing to dribble, has nothing else, apparently). 2 on 5 is not a recipe for success, especially in Feb-March."
Orangebull: "It could be a slap in the face, and maybe wake them up....it's happened before, and many teams that looked like they were stinking it up, made some good runs....
You never know, but following this team closely, it's hard to believe, but it'll come down to "we have nothing left to lose", and maybe it'll make them better.....doubt it though!!"
CuseColt: "SU is a Top 20 team, not Top 10, which in today's game means you might not play past the first weekend of the NCAAs. Enjoy the games, that's what they're for."
IceWest: "The backcourt lost this game. They simply fell apart at crunchtime. MCW 2 critical TO's and Triche with one huge turnover. You learn in 4th grade not to jump with the ball before you know where you're going with it. MCW does this at least 1-2 times every game. NBA, really? Marquette is a very good team but SU had this game and just gave it away. Again, no crunch time, go to scorer..and don't tell me JS..he missed about 20 shots before he finally made one."
Drop below in the comments section or send me an email and let me know what you think.
Brent Axe
baxe@syracuse.com
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