DUKE VS CUSE

ITS GAME DAY!

The Orange are set to take on the Duke Blue devils at 6pm/ET today. The orange are coming into this game 16-8 on the season and 7-4 in ACC conference play. This will be a true test for the orange as they will have to beat a tough and physical Duke team that has multiple offensive weapons such as top NBA prospect Jahlil Okafor along side Justice Winslow and Quinn Cook. These players can score when ever and how ever they want, which will be the oranges biggest challenge for this game. Defensive stops for the orange will be crucial as the orange only average 70 points per game compared to Duke's 80 points per game. All starters for the orange will have to step up because there is no one to turn to on the Syracuse bench. We will just have to see what happens during this infamous rivalry

IT'S THE HOME STRETCH ....

The Syracuse Orange are headed into their last 10 game stretch of the regular season before ACC tournament play begins. The Orange had a rough first half of the season as they sit currently at 14-7. Hopeing that there next 10 games will be the best stretch they have had the entire season. The only problem is these are the best teams the orange will play the entire season. The orange better lace of their sneakers because it is going to be a long race until the finish line.

The orange are at the 1/3 mark on the season

As the Holiday break approaches it could come at no better time for the orange. They struggled at the start of the season but to my surprise have been able to show some glimpses of hope.  Offensively this team has struggled, and has not looked like a top team that could compete in the NCAA tournament. The orange would shock the country as they would put up a 15 point lead on a number seven ranked Villanova team in the first half of play. Its not that I doubt the ability of the orange. Seeing them compete at a high level during this game showed me this team is still salvageable and isn't all garbage. To credit their defense, they  have consistently been able to hold teams to a decent percentage on offense. But as said a few weeks ago the problem i have with this team is not the defense its their offense. Trevor Cooney over the past few games has brought his field goal percentage up from 22 percent to 40 percent, which shows this team is finally hitting their stride finally. This should be a very exciting time for orange fans. Coming out of the holiday break the orange have a few easy games against long beach, Cornell, and Georgia tech. With the earlier loses in the season the orange have to make up toward the middle of the season and have to win out against un ranked opponents. This should be fairly easy but as we all know the orange lost the game for themselves against Villanova. As much as the refs were calling "baloney" calls at the end of the day it was their job to win the game. You don't let them out score you by 15 to send the game into over time especially because your team was getting called for the ridiculous fouls early. That was more on the coaches than it was on the players.

Are the orange really in trouble ....?

What is to say 8 games into the season? Is this orange  team similar to teams in past years or is this a year where the talent has dried up? Will Duke beat the Orange? The frustration in the mind of every orange fan is running high at this point. Will the offense ever show up to the game or better yet do the orange have offense? These are valid questions that need to be answered for every orange fan. Coach Boeheim is a hall a fame coach, and this will be his toughest task to date. This team to this point is broken. The way that the orange played against St Johns sunday was embarassing. The orange had no response to St.Johns ability to shoot excellent from the three point line. Along with this in the mix the orange shot terribly from the free throw line roughly shooting around 60% on the season. This will not get it done against opponents. Whats next for the orange.... I guess its time to just sit back and watch and see what Coach Boeheim can orchastrate on offense for the orange.

What the Orange need to do going into Madison Square Garden....

Yes, the Orange face their next opponent this Thursday.......... and boy will this be a tough one.


Why am I saying the Orange are facing a"tough" opponent so early. Here's the reason, following the game against Hampton, and the Orange only scoring 65 points that is definite reason for concern.
Rakheem Christmas would score 15 of those points.

The Orange will head into Madison Square Garden Thursday 2-0 on the season. Against the teams' previous opponent the Orange struggled a offensively. It was clear this team didn't know what they were doing. Kaleb Joseph played 34 minutes and only put 5 points going 1/2. That will not get it done against a Cal team who is averaging 92 points  a game. In another relation Trevor Cooney was also ineffective going 3/9 . For a guard who specializes in the three point shot it looked as if he was shooting anything but "down town". All in all Trevor Cooney is going to have to be a leader of this team. As a upper class man it is his job to teach the  younger guys in this team such as Kaleb Joseph.

On defense the teams was solid excuting the 2-3 zone very effectively. Rakheem Christmas lead those efforts having 16 boards and following behind him would be Trevor Cooney. As Rakheem Christmas lead on the boards he also lead in every aspect of the teams game. With his leadership the team will need key players such as Trevor Cooney and various other upper class man to step up. This can not be a one man show, he is going to need help. This will be very key in the teams game against Cal. What player will step up and assist Rakheem Christmas on both sides of the ball? I guess we will see Thursday.

What does it take........to win on opening night

If tonight hasn't proven that the orange are the team to beat in the ACC I don't know what will. The orange season began tonight strong and commanding as they would go on to beat Kennesaw State 89-42 .  Rakheem Christmas in this game stepped up as a leader in the teams season opener. This is his team and his time to shine.  The senior captain and only senior starter new that it was his time to step up. And he stepped up in a big way, crashing through the Owl defense and dominating the boards. This team would also show its future as well with some young talent stepping up in a big way. Chris McCollugh would also dominate the boards finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds. In order for this team to beat a team such as a Louisville or Duke , freshman Chris McCullough and Kaleb Joseph are going to have to constantly put points on the board on a nightly bases. Rakheem Christmas has lost alot of help on offense with the lost of Tyler Ennis, C.J. Fair, and Jermani Grant, it is a understatement that the team is in a definite rebuilding phase. He can't carry this team the entire season by him self.  With the freshman stepping up in the teams' season opener, looks as if the future for this team is very bright.

Season is underway

Yes, believe it or not the Orange have already played their first exhibition game and it was a good one. They opened up their preseason/exhibition season against Carleton University, going on to beat the ravens 76-68. This is just the beginning for the orange as predicted they will be a top contender, in a ever getting competitive ACC conference. The ACC is the basketball conference of the NCAA and seems as if that wont be changing in the neat future. The SEC would argue that point as they do have the Kentucky Wildcats. This should make for a interesting season. ! Stay tuned !