How does Syracuse basketball stand with NCAA Tournament hopes?

Virginia vs. Syracuse Men"s Basketball Highlights (2016-17)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- After two wins over then-top-10 teams at home and two dramatic victories on the ACC road, the logical question surfaces about Syracuse"s basketball team:

Has it fully entered the NCAA Tournament picture?

"I have them right now in the field and almost escaping (the play-in games in) Dayton. If you stack up the 36 at-large teams, they would be team 33," said Patrick Stevens, a respected bracketologist who does work forthe Washington Post. "What that goes to show you is you play well for three weeks, you might be in good shape, because the edge of the field is not remarkable in any way."

Syracuse, 16-9 overall and 8-4 in the ACC, has won five straight games, including victories over Virginia and Florida State. Both of those wins came at home. SU, winless on the road until Feb. 1, has claimed two straight victories away from the Carrier Dome.

And while North Carolina State and Clemson are not, at this point, predicted to be in the NCAA Tournament field (Clemson is one of those teams on the edge), Syracuse needed to collect any sort of road victory.

"At least they"ve won away from home," Stevens said. "They"ll still be well-served to beat somebody else on the road. But now, they"re in almost preservation mode."

Stevens looked at the Orange"s remaining games: at Pittsburgh, home against Duke and home and away games with Louisville and Georgia Tech. Sweeping Georgia Tech and winning on the road against Pittsburgh, at this point, are victories the metrics might predict.

"You get three of those wins and then you pick somebody else off and they look like they"re in solid shape," Stevens said. "If you"re them, you gotta feel pretty good about how things are turning around. Having Virginia and Florida State in the bank already helps them significantly."

Right now, SU ranks 36 in Jeff Sagarin, 48 inKen Pomeroy and 64 in the RPI. The NCAA Committee will still heavily weigh the RPI, a measure it has used for years, though the committee met with advanced metrics gurus last month to discuss implementing different analytics in the future.

The bracket matrix, which considers a collection of bracketologists, has not been updated today. In its last incarnation, last night at 7:26, Syracuse was the top team in the "first four out" category. That was before the Orange beat Clemson on the road. Clemson had been one of the last teams in the NCAA Tournament field.

syracuse basketball keeps finding ways to win with season on the line

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2017/02/how_does_syracuse_basketball_stand_with_ncaa_tournament_hopes.html

Continue Reading ..

Marcus Paige"s 3-pointer was dagger that finally ended Syracuse basketball"s run

UNC Men"s Basketball: Syracuse Postgame PC - Final Four

Houston Syracuse felt it again. The will and belief that will forever be the hallmark of the 2016 Syracuse basketball team roared to life midway through the second half against North Carolina.

&raquo Box score | SU schedule | NCAA Tournament bracket

The Orange, which trailed by as many as 17 points, pulled within seven. Its press, so effective against Virginia, forced multiple turnovers. Its offense, stagnant for much of the night, ignited briefly.

And when Syracuse fans at NRG Stadium roared until Roy Williams called a timeout it all felt so familiar. And then it all ended just as quickly.

North Carolina point guard Marcus Paige calmly pulled up from behind the 3-point line and launched the effort that ended Syracuse"s season, providing the first opponent in the NCAA Tournament that could match the Orange"s willpower.

It was the first shot the Tar Heels made from behind the 3-point line after 12 consecutive misses to start the game, and it ensured that seven points was as close as the Orange would come late in an 83-66 season-ending loss to North Carolina

"At this point of the year it"s now or never, and when you hit shots like that, those are definitely daggers," Syracuse freshman Frank Howard said. "He"s a big-shot maker and he hit a big shot and that killed us."

Syracuse had fallen behind 57-40 with just 12 minutes and 28 seconds left in its season, the type of deficit that has marked the end for most teams facing top-seeded North Carolina. The Orange, as it has throughout the postseason, mounted one final push.

Trevor Cooney hit a 3-pointer, then stole the ball at the top of the 2-3 zone and finished a breakaway dunk. The Orange forced another turnover, Tyler Lydon blocked a shot and Malachi Richardson scored five straight points, capping a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer.

North Carolina had missed every shot it had taken from behind the arc, excelling by pounding the ball into the post. But 22 seconds after Richardson whipped Syracuse into a frenzy, with 9:26 remaining in Syracuse"s season, Paige pulled up in front of the 2-3 zone and fired the shot that would finally prove too much for the Orange to overcome.

"Every time we thought we were going to go on a little run they had an answer for it," Syracuse freshman Tyler Lydon said. "It was just that type of night."

Against a Syracuse team that has overcome so much this season, it was fitting that it met its match in Paige. The leading 3-point shooter in UNC history, Paige likely could have gone pro as a sophomore, but returned to school and watched his draft stock drop.

He hasn"t shot the ball well this year and, despite being revered, he hadn"t guided the powerhouse Tar Heels past the Sweet 16 until this season.

"You know, at that moment, I wanted somebody in a North Carolina uniform to make it," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "If I (take) time to reflect, it couldn"t be more appropriate that it was Marcus Paige that did that because he"s just been sensational all year long."

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2016/04/syracuse_basketball_vs_north_carolina_final_four_sidebar_3.html

Continue Reading ..

Syracuse basketball vs. North Carolina: Live updates, fan chat with Brent Axe (Final Four)

UNC Men"s Basketball: Team Returns to Hotel After Syracuse Win at Final Four in Houston

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

2016 Syracuse Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Syracuse Media Group.

Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Contact interactivity management.

Ad Choices

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2016/04/syracuse_basketball_vs_north_carolina_live_updates_fan_chat_with_brent_axe_final.html

Continue Reading ..

Pearl Washington "quite emotional" watching Syracuse basketball reach Final Four

Highlights | Syracuse vs. Virginia | Midwest Regional Final

Syracuse, N.Y. Pearl Washington watched Syracuse defeat Virginia Sunday night from the comfort of his East Harlem apartment. After the Orange won, after SU had snatched victory from what appeared to be certain defeat, the most electrifying player in Orange basketball history reacted to what he"d seen.

"Last night, he was quite emotional," his friend, Mark Finney, said. "When they won, he had some tears."

Washington watched with family Sunday as his Orange reached the Final Four. He continues to battle a brain tumor diagnosed last summer. His condition requires an aide to assist him and his fiance on an around-the-clock basis.

Former Syracuse players Eric Devendorf and Pearl Washington chat after a halftime ceremony during the Syracuse-Cornell game that honored former Syracuse players at the Carrier Dome, Dec. 19, 2015. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDennis Nett

"He"s resting comfortably and he"s just enjoying each day," Finney said.

Syracuse players continue to wear their orange warm-up tops with the white Pearl script splashed across their chests. Nike has supplied all its teams with "Always Reppin"" long-sleeved shirts to wear during the NCAA Tournament. But Orange players, some more than others, have defied the vanilla feel of those "Reppin"" shirts and opted, instead, for their personalized Pearl shirts. Those Pearl jerseys were also made by Nike.

Finney said Washington sees players wearing the shirts bearing his name during televised games and from photos others have sent him.

"He"s very, very overwhelmed," Finney said. "The entire family is just so appreciative of the support from the university, the coaches, the current players, the former players and fans across the country."

To help defray costs for Washington"s care, a Go Fund Me campaign has been rejuvenated, said Matt Rose, spokesman for Brandon Steiner, who initiated the Go Fund Me idea. Washington needs nursing care, Rose said. Because of his fragile immune system, Rose said, his home requires constant cleaning.

The Go Fund Me campaign has raised $56,677, "100 percent of which is going toward Pearl"s care," Rose said. Steiner Sports is also auctioning off items to help defray costs. That auction, Rose said, will close Saturday night.

Rose said Steiner visited with Washington recently.

"He"s accepting visitors," Rose said. "People are surrounding him with positive energy."

Best and worst from Syracuse basketball"s win vs. Virginia (Elite Eight)

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2016/03/pearl_washington_was_quite_emotional_while_watching_syracuse_reach_final_four.html

Continue Reading ..

2016 NCAA Tournament: Syracuse basketball defeats Dayton 70-51 (Brent Axe recap)

Virginia Tech vs. Syracuse Basketball Highlights (2015-16)

"If I had anyone else, he wouldn"t play a minute." That was Jim Boeheim describing Tyler Robersonnearly a month ago. It"s a good thing Boeheim couldn"t go out and sign a free agent, because Roberson made the most of every minute when it counted the most.

"Plugged-in Robie" was present in St.Louis as Roberson dominated the Flyers with 10 points and 18 rebounds. 8 of those 18 boards were on the offensive glass.

"When he plays like that, he can"t be stopped," Syracuse center Dajuan Coleman said after the game. "He had a good couple finishes around the rim, some nice dunks. And he did a good job on defense and rebounding the ball. We need him."

Syracuse does need him, especially on days like Friday when seniors Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney have average days at the office.

Timing is everything in life. Perhaps Roberson is sending a signal he"s ready for this to be his team next season by helping Syracuse go as far as it can in this one.

Photo: Stephen D. Cannerelli

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/index.ssf/2016/03/2016_ncaa_tournament_syracuse_basketball_defeats_dayton_70-51_brent_axe_recap.html

Continue Reading ..

How will scholarship reductions impact Syracuse basketball's pursuit of big ...

Syracuse, N.Y. The NCAA's decision to dock the Syracuse basketball team three scholarships a year for the next four years will have a major impact on the program.

The scholarship reductions were just one part of the NCAA's sanctions against the Syracuse basketball program for a variety of violations, including academic improprieties and violations of the school's drug policy. The NCAA handed down its decision on Friday.

The NCAA limits schools to just 13 men's basketball scholarships per year. The NCAA's penalties would force Syracuse to keep its number of scholarship players to 10 starting with the 2015-16 season and the next three years after that.

In its decision, the NCAA did indicate that Syracuse can put off the scholarship reductions by a year in the case of any student-athletes that have a financial agreement with the university. That would include Syracuse's four recruits in the class of 2015. All four Malachi Richardson, Tyler Lydon, Moustapha Diagne and Frank Howard have signed letters of intent with Syracuse.

As it now stands, Syracuse is at the 13-scholarship limit for next year.

That means Syracuse's recruitment of Thomas Bryant, a highly-regarded player in the 2015 class, is all but over. Bryant, a 6-9 center from Rochester, has yet to make his decision. Syracuse would not be able to get a waiver of the scholarship reduction to bring him in. As a result, Syracuse would need four players to leave in order to sign Bryant.

Therefore, Syracuse's four-year period of scholarship reductions will begin with the 2016-17.

If no current or incoming players leave the SU program, the NCAA's scholarship reduction would leave Syracuse with 11 scholarship players in 2016-17 season. Syracuse already has a verbal commitment from Matthew Moyer, a 6-7 forward from Ohio, in the 2016 class, but Moyer is unsigned. The scholarship reductions probably mean Syracuse's pursuit of 2016 recruit Tyus Battle is over.

After the 2016-17 season, Syracuse will lose current players Dajuan Coleman, Tyler Roberson, Ron Patterson, B.J. Johnson and Chinonso Obokoh. Syracuse's next big recruiting year could be the 2017 class.

Source: http://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/how_will_scholarship_reductions_impact_syracuse_basketballs_pursuit_of_high-impa.html

Continue Reading ..