Cuse Beats #11 Florida, 85-73

In their closest game so far this season -- a game they ended up winning by a dozen, the 6th ranked Syracuse Orange beat its third ranked opponent this season to move to 9-0 and stamp themselves as serious, legitimate national title contenders this year.  No one thought it in the preseason.  Definitely no one thought it after the exhibition "loss" to LeMoyne.  But no one is doubting it now.  They are one of the best defensive teams in the country, clearly the best their zone has played since the '02-03 title team, and their offense is so well-balanced and potent, other teams are finding it impossible to stop them.  And when their defense turns to offense and the fast breaks start rolling, the points add up in a hurry.  And the wins keep coming.  Syracuse plays three somewhat lesser opponents before opening Big East play on Dec. 29th at Seton Hall (I will be there!) and right now they are firing on all cylinders.  It's a wonderful thing to experience.

Syracuse led for most of the game -- with a 10 point lead both at 32-22 and in the second half, but Florida kept making 3-point bombs -- I mean, absolute five-steps-behind-the-3-point line bombs -- to close the lead, and the Orange's  perennial Achilles heel (free throw shooting) hurt them, as the Gators charged back to take a 59-57 lead with about 9 minutes left in the game.  But Andy Rautins walked right down the court and banged home a three with a defender in his face, and Wes Johnson did the same -- with the shot clock winding down -- on the next possession to give the Orange a 63-59, and Florida wouldn't get closer than that again.  They kept launching the deep threes which finally stopped falling and the rest was history.  Syracuse was a little sloppy with the ball, especially in the 2nd half, they couldn't hit free throws to save their life, and they only made three 3-pointers in the game, but they won going away.  That's fucking impressive.  Rick Jackson was the surprise star of the 1st half, absolutely dominating an outsized Florida front line down low, but Wes Johnson and Rautins took over in the second half to help them to the victory -- along with a lot of timely fast breaks and some solid defense down the stretch.  Boeheim shrunk his bench, as he always does in the big games, as only 7 players played, but with Arinze Onuaku mostly ineffective (his knee seemed to be acting up, he had no lift at all), it was 7th man Kris Joseph who played almost the entire game in his stead and except for a very costly missed layup, he did a wonderful job.  Just a great effort all around.

Here's Florida coach Billy Donovan on the Cuse:

"I haven't seen everybody play, but I would be hard pressed to say that there's three or four teams better than them. I think they have everything. They've got a low post presence. They rebound. They shoot the 3. They're an unselfish team. They can turn you over. They can beat you in a lot of different ways."

3 more games and then the Big East begins.  No need to get ahead of ourselves, but this team looks really, really good.

PS - Are you happy Lenny, I posted something other than music this week!

Comments

[LegFuJohnson]

We're all happy.

Happy Chanukah, Vague Space.

[Switsky]

wow a syracuse post how original

[Straw]

There have been about 15+ Syracuse posts since the last actual readable post on VS. I went back and read a classic VS 'scenario' from winter 2005 with everyone going to F&H and watching the games. it was hilarious.

but I guess those funny, witty, "readable" posts are a thing of the past for VS. can't wait for Tuesday and some new mp3's that nobody has ever heard of!!!!!

[Bill]

there will be a classic (but new) VS scenario in the coming weeks. it's already in progress.