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Orange Basketball 2014-15

Centerfield Nov 03 2014 10:58 AM

The season kicked off Sunday with a comeback exhibition win against Carleton. Looks like Christmas will be a bigger part of the offense this year. Joseph and McCullough both looked good, according to reports. Clouding this season will be the NCAA investigation. Hearings wrapped up last week, verdict will be issued within 30-60 days. You'd have to think this impacts recruiting.

Ceetar Nov 03 2014 11:23 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

do leagues play with non-orange basketballs? I'm confused.

Centerfield Nov 03 2014 11:56 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Gwreck Nov 03 2014 12:10 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Centerfield wrote: Clouding this season will be the NCAA investigation. Not much of a "cloud" unless they actually put in some meaningful penalties. (This of course goes for more than just Syracuse). At this point, one wonders why these restrictions don't have real teeth, regardless of whether they involve "current" or "former" players. Put in some real incentives for players to sign with clean programs, and so forth.

Centerfield Nov 17 2014 01:27 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I caught the second half of the Hampton game yesterday. A few early thoughts (keeping in mind I have only watched that one half): 1. Defense: They're going to need work. They are not anywhere near as sharp as they have been the last few years. Roberson, in particular, looks lost out there. 2. Point Guard: We have been spoiled. Kaleb Joseph looks like a freshman. And he has neither Ennis's poise, or MCW's athleticism. He didn't do much Sunday, so I have yet to see what he can do, but it looks like we are going to take a step back here. 3. Rakeem Christmas: Looks like a different player. He is more aggressive, makes strong moves to the basket. He's just better. I remember thinking Rick Jackson made this type of jump his senior year. It will be fun if he can keep this up. 4. McCullough: He was in foul trouble so I didn't really get a chance to see what he can do. Looks long and athletic though. 5. Shooting: A year later, and still no one can fucking shoot. Cooney is not doing a good job of filling the "white guard who knocks down threes" role. Thinking of taking the family to MSG this Friday.

soupcan Nov 19 2014 11:23 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Going to MSG tomorrow night to see the Orange play Cal. Also traveling to Ann Arbor to see them take on the Wolverines on 12/2. New season, new players, hyped frosh. Low expectaions usually equal a very enjoyable season. Loved what I saw from Christmas against Hampton the other night. Would be nice to have a good big man again to feed the ball to. In regard to the NCAA investigation, 'I know a guy who knows a guy...' and I'm told that the outcome will be a 'slap on the wrist'.

soupcan Nov 23 2014 07:41 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Better showing on Friday than Thursday. They're a young team. Gotta give them another 5-7 games I think to see what they can be. I'm good with that. Bothe Joseph & McCullough looked more settled in on Friday so maybe Thursday was just jitters.

soupcan Nov 25 2014 12:42 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

On YES tonight at 7:00 versus Loyola.

Elster88 Nov 30 2014 09:30 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

UConn home vs Texas today. I'm cautiously optimistic because a) it's a home game b) the ESPN preview says a couple key Texas players are injured c) Rick Barnes is an absolutely atrocious game coach So far the Huskies haven't looked good, no back-to-back titles for this team.

soupcan Nov 30 2014 12:45 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Elster88 wrote: c) Rick Barnes is an absolutely atrocious game coach Truer words were never spoken.

Centerfield Dec 01 2014 07:27 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Michigan tomorrow night. I cringe at the thought of the poor shooting Orange going up against a ranked opponent. This may get ugly. Kaleb Joseph may be a good kid, but seems to have no discernible skills on the basketball court.

soupcan Dec 01 2014 02:20 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Centerfield wrote: Kaleb Joseph may be a good kid, but seems to have no discernible skills on the basketball court. I don't know man, he seems pretty capable around the hoop.

Centerfield Dec 14 2014 07:33 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Nice game winner for Rakeem Christmas today. It makes up for another lackluster game from the Orange. Let's face it. They are just not going to do much this year. Nice game for Cooney, and Roberson looks so much better than he did just a few games ago. The point guard is still clueless though. 8 turnovers and several other bad plays. I can't remember the last time Syracuse had a point guard this bad.

Centerfield Dec 17 2014 10:12 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Boeheim on Kaleb Joseph: "He's just not a point guard yet." Ouch.

Centerfield Jan 08 2015 11:18 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I wonder when SU and GT will play the second half.

Edgy MD Jan 08 2015 12:26 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Good to see Soup is still posting somewhere.

soupcan Jan 13 2015 08:24 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Edgy MD wrote: Good to see Soup is still posting somewhere. Ouch. Freshman 'sensation' McCullough is OUT for the season with a torn ACL, so the season that was going nowhere anyway is going to get there a bit faster. Tonight against Wake Forest at the Dome on ESPN3. Line is Syracuse by 10 I think.

soupcan Jan 22 2015 08:30 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Beat Wake, lost to Clemson at Clemson then beat BC at home. 14-5 / 5-1. Miami on Saturday afternoon at the Dome. Roberson - McCullough's replacement - came in last year touted as more of an offensive player than a defensive one (IIRC), however he has been less than thrilling offensively and a rebounding beast on the other end. I guess one is as good as the other though. With the injuries and less than stellar performances from guys that were supposed to be stellar (McCullough, Joseph), there is a lot of playing time being spread around. In addition to Roberson - Patterson, Johnson & Obokoh are getting quality minutes. Can only bode well for next year. Should this team lose only Christmas going into 2015-16, they will be one of the top 5 teams in the country.

cooby Jan 22 2015 05:58 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

They have a player named Christmas? What a cool name...

Fman99 Jan 22 2015 08:19 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I am guessing you'd also approve of his uniform number choice then. He's drastically better than he was last year. He also carries this team, as was evident when he fouled out against BC and they got right back into it. He's a presence in the middle that other D1 schools have not had an answer for of late.\ They are fun to watch and when Gibinije and Cooney are hitting from the outside, look like the 10 seed that no one will want to play in the opening weekend. Best case scenario. Soup if you're coming to town to see a game ping me, we'd love to have you over for a meal or something.

cooby Jan 23 2015 08:21 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Yes I do! Syracuse should change their colors to red and green though :)

soupcan Jan 26 2015 06:53 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Fman99 wrote: Soup if you're coming to town to see a game ping me, we'd love to have you over for a meal or something. Thank you Fman - I always want to take you up on that but when I'm up there its usually with old fraternity bros and I get so blotto that I can barely find my way from my hotel to the Dome. However I too would enjoy dining and drinking with you and yours so I will try to make a better effort when I'm up there from now on. The best case scenario would be to coordinate a 5K or some other run up there with a hoops game. As to our boys in Orange - A loss to Miami on Saturday. Can't say it was surprising. Miami was killing it from 3 and SU really didn't get rolling in that area until late in the 2nd half. Oh well. As I keep saying - wait til next year. I'll be spending the rest of this year enjoying Christmas, watching Roberson get better, hoping more minutes for Obokoh translate into a solid back-up center next year and dreaming of a healthy McCullough, Coleman front court next year.

Fman99 Jan 27 2015 10:17 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

soupcan wrote: The best case scenario would be to coordinate a 5K or some other run up there with a hoops game. Now you're talking...

Ashie62 Feb 04 2015 03:40 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Syracuse suspends itself from 2015 Postseason hoops for some sort of cheating.

Centerfield Feb 05 2015 07:42 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I guess it ended up not being a slap on the wrist. Still don't know if the NCAA will impose more sanctions since this is "self-imposed". Jay Bilas seems to think that this is part of a deal that the school has worked out. You'd have to think so. It sucks for Rakeem Christmas, but if there were serious infractions and this ends up being the only punishment, you'd have to think Syracuse dodged a bullet here.

Rockin' Doc Feb 05 2015 11:08 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I commend Syracuse for admitting mistakes were made and being willing to accept responsibility by and sanctioning themselves. Though, they may have thrown themselves on the sword unneccesarily. UNC has been found guilty of widespread academic fraud over a 18 year (1993-2011) period encompassing 3 NCAA Basketball Championships. So far, the scandal has cost several instructors, administrators, and one time football coach, Butch Davis their jobs, but no NCAA sanctions appear to be on the horizon. Of course, most UNC fans I know (and that is a majority of the population in the state) explain it away as "everybody does it, UNC just happened to get caught". Now two former student athletes are suing the University of North Carolina and the NCAA for negligence in using them to drive their money making athletic programs while failing to provide them a meaningful education. Personally, I believe that academic fraud existed at UNC (not just among athletes, but among the student body in general) and that the NCAA has been incapable of (or unwiling to) sanction UNC despite mounting evidence of academic fraud. However, unless the former student athletes can show they were coerced into taking the bogus classes and accepting grades for work they did not do, then I don't see how they can blame the university for their failure to obtain a quality education. If they wanted a real education, they didn't have to take fake or non-existent courses and accept grades for work they never did. They certainly could have enrolled in legitimate courses and earned their grades.

soupcan Feb 06 2015 07:30 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

All things considered - it really could end up being a slap on the wrist. If the NCAA decides that the self-imposed post season ban for this year is enough then I'd consider it a minor penalty. At best they were going to be an NIT team. This article - WHAT WILL SYRACUSE BASKETBALL LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR AND GOING FORWARD? theorizes that whatever may come down the pike, including possible loss of scholarships, will have minor effects on the program. So for the Orange hoops fan its not devastating news. However this is a big black eye for the program and the coach. This is the second time during Boeheim's tenure that the program will miss the post-season because of violations and while the past 6 years or so have been incredible in terms of on-court success, each year there's been an eligibility issue in some form or another. I'm not calling for Boeheim's head - yet, but something should be done. Nobody likes rooting for a program that is constantly being questioned about its integrity.

Frayed Knot Feb 25 2015 07:47 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

So apparently they don't teach spelling up at that University.

d'Kong76 Mar 06 2015 11:24 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Whoa... http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... /24497089/

Ashie62 Mar 06 2015 06:10 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

It was not a slap on the wrist but hey, that didn't stop PSU I think RU just picked up a few wins aganst the orange.. Yeah.

Ashie62 Mar 06 2015 06:14 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

From the Orange to the Orange sinsemillia Golf club school anyway.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 07 2015 12:42 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Before the NCAA sanctions, before the University's self-imposed penalties, before injuries hit some of the squad's key players, before the ACC season even began, I decided to myself that this year's team was dreadfully unwatchable. I don't think I saw more than 10 minutes of SU basketball all season. I couldn't care less even when they were playing Duke or the Tar Heels. The next shoe that could drop might be when some of SU's coveted recruits for next year bail out of their commitments. SU's incoming class is regarded as one of the nation's top five. The new sanctions would allow the new recruits to back out. So far, word is that the recruits intend to honor their commitments, but only time will put the truth or lie to that one. SU's fortunate that the NCAA didn't ban the school from tournament play, because that's the stuff that'll really make it hard to recruit top tier talent. Bad times for SU. Their move to the ACC ensured the total annihilation of The Big East, college basketball's best conference. SU is, more or less, an outsider in the ACC, a conference with its own rich heritage, none of it involving SU. Its fans struggle just to memorize the names of all the other ACC schools. And on top of that, they kinda suck right now even without the sanctions, and might fall out of the top 20 for years to come. Let's see how well they recruit going forward, especially when their competition gets to drill it into the incoming high school players, just how screwed SU is gonna be. This article - WHAT WILL SYRACUSE BASKETBALL LOOK LIKE NEXT YEAR AND GOING FORWARD? theorizes that whatever may come down the pike, including possible loss of scholarships, will have minor effects on the program.. Not true. The impact is being felt immediately. For example, SU was the front runner to land Thomas Bryant, a McDonald's All-Star, so heavenly good, that John Calipari is hot on his ass. Bryant's a five-star 6'11" forward who can dribble: he's University of Kentucky good. But the scholarship hit all but eliminates SU from now landing Bryant. There ain't no room on the squad for Bryant any more. ____________ The Fab Melo part of the NCAA's report: Syracuse basketball NCAA investigation: How far did the school go to keep Fab Melo eligible? By Chris Carlson | ccarlson@syracuse.com on March 07, 2015 at 9:00 AM, updated March 07, 2015 at 11:35 AM [fimg=433]http://imgick.syracuse.com/home/syr-media/width620/img/orangesports_impact/photo/17195034-mmmain.jpg[/fimg] Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse prioritized winning a second national championship over academics, breaking rules and protocol in order to keep Fab Melo on the floor for a potential Final Four run, according to the NCAA's investigation. In the most vivid section of the 94-page report released Friday, the NCAA detailed a lack of institution control that included members of the basketball staff doing work for players, athletic department officials crossing boundaries into academics and the attempted destruction of evidence. "In order to keep one of their best players eligible the institution simply did not take 'no' from the NCAA for an answer," the NCAA report said. Melo's case, and the day-by-day timeline, highlight the decisions of an institution that valued athletics over academics playing out in real time. On Jan. 15, 2012, Syracuse sat atop the country with a No. 1 ranking and a 20-0 record, beating opponents by an average of 19.6 points per game with Dion Waiters, the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, coming off the bench. Melo was the centerpiece on defense, altering shots on his way to the Big East's Defensive Player of the Year Award. When the second semester began, Melo had failed to make enough progress toward his degree. The issue would make him ineligible. Melo tried to get a waiver, arguing he had medical and personal issues. It included a personal statement. In the end, it would turn out, the statement wasn't particularly personal. The waiver was denied Jan. 16 and, five days later, Melo was out of the starting lineup for the first time all season. Syracuse lost its first game without him, falling on the road by nine points to a Notre Dame team led by Ben Hansborough. Four days later, athletic director Daryl Gross called a meeting with at least seven other members of the Syracuse athletic department, the NCAA reported. It was an effort to brainstorm how to keep Melo in uniform. And to keep the Orange's national championship hopes alive. "As the institution acknowledged at the hearing, a meeting like this, aimed at an individual student-athlete's eligibility options, had previously never occurred at the institution," the report said. The Brazilian center "needed basketball," Gross said, according to the report. Without it, Melo would have been on a plane home "the next day," Boeheim said in the report. Boeheim wanted "the best defensive player in the country to play" but hoped Melo's return would be within the rules, the report said. For the meeting, Gross called in director of basketball operations Stan Kissel, an assistant provost, the school's faculty-athletics representative, the director of compliance, the director of student-athletic services and both his deputy directors of athletics, members of his so-called "Dream Team." The group scanned Melo's transcript and debated three academic alternatives, eventually culminating in an effort to obtain a grade change from a class he'd taken the previous year. It was Jan. 25. "There was a sense of urgency," the report said, "as the institution's next scheduled basketball game was only three days away." The next morning Melo and a former professor agreed he could submit a paper to raise his old grade. Starting at 11:19 a.m. the paper, which was based heavily on Melo's personal statement to the NCAA that had been saved on Kissel's computer, was revised seven times in 27 hours. Each of the revisions was made by either Kissel or Debora Belanger, a basketball receptionist. The pair exchanged seven e-mails and three phone calls during that time. By the next morning, Melo had turned in four or five pages The professor ruled it "inadequate" because it did not include citations. Those changes were made by the afternoon. "Unfortunately, the director of basketball operations and the basketball facility receptionist, not (Melo), completed and submitted the assignment," the report said. "Word circulated and eventually multiple athletics and academic personnel involved themselves in ensuring that the grade change occurred as soon as possible and before institutional offices closed for the weekend," the report read. "With time of the essence, the director of compliance (Erlease Wagner), the director of student-athlete support services (Kevin Wall) and the deputy director of athletics, as well as the professor, went to the registrar's office to ensure that the grade change form was processed 'appropriately.'" Melo was not cleared by the next game and, over the weekend, Wagner, the university official in charge of enforcing rules, emailed the executive vice president/chief financial (Lou Marcocia). She noted that vice chancellor Eric Spina would be "very disappointed" if the request were not approved. Representatives from the College of Arts & Sciences, Melo's home school, questioned the grade change Jan. 30. Two days later, though, he was cleared, back in action for a game against St. John's. "No, I was never nervous," Melo told reporters at the time. "I knew at some point I would play. I wasn't nervous about it." The Orange were back at full strength, beating St. John's by 25 points, No. 12 Georgetown in overtime and running off nine straight wins before a Big East Tournament loss. "The last three games, you didn't see us get as many transition points and as many bench points," Brandon Triche said at the time. "Everything seemed interrupted, but now that Fab's back everything is normal again." Syracuse earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and was one of the favorites. Behind the scenes, however, the NCAA began questioning how Melo had regained eligibility so quickly. Syracuse investigated and uncovered the unauthorized assistance. When an investigator went to meet with Melo, they discovered someone had tried to delete the paper from Kissel's computer a day earlier. Melo ultimately earned an "F" on the paper and was suspended for academics March 14, taking him out of the NCAA tournament. Belanger was fired. Kissel resigned. Wall was reassigned. Nearly everyone else remained, as Syracuse lost 77-70 to Ohio State in the Elite Eight. Said the NCAA: "The academic leaders (including the faculty athletics representative and associate provost) were convened by the director of athletics, developed a game plan going forward and then left it to the director of basketball operations to get the job done." http://www.syracuse.com/orangesports/in ... gible.html

Gwreck Mar 07 2015 04:59 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

This sort of stuff makes a mockery of the NCAA. I fail to see how these sort of infractions don't warrant an entire year's suspension for the coach or more. I know there are lots of Syracuse fans here who it is not my intention to piss off, but I fail to see how a dirty program can be fun to root for. How could the university justify keeping this guy in charge of a bunch of cheaters?

Ashie62 Mar 07 2015 05:54 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

A lot of people root for dirty programs. Lotsa Penn State Ohio and Florida State fans out there just to name a few. Paterno's statue is even returning. A monument to child rape, great. God bless the NCAA.

d'Kong76 Mar 07 2015 06:18 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Likening this to Penn St twice in two days is stupid. Oh, forgot... rinse and repeat.

Ashie62 Mar 08 2015 10:44 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

d'Kong76 wrote: Likening this to Penn St twice in two days is stupid. Oh, forgot... rinse and repeat. What is the difference? I am only suggesting that many fans and the NCAA condone bad behavior. What is your argument other than "stupid". Thanks

cooby Mar 08 2015 10:52 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Ashie62 wrote: A lot of people root for dirty programs. Lotsa Penn State Ohio and Florida State fans out there just to name a few. Paterno's statue is even returning. A monument to child rape, great. God bless the NCAA. I live in "Happy Valley". We were all aghast that Paterno had any insight into this, believe me. Don't really know how I feel about the statue coming back. My take on the sanctions was that taking away the 409 victories was wrong; they were won by the team not the coach. I am glad they gave them back.

d'Kong76 Mar 08 2015 10:56 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 08 2015 11:30 AM

avi wuz here

d'Kong76 Mar 08 2015 11:30 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Ashie62 wrote: What is your argument other than "stupid". Thanks If you can't differentiate between what went on at Penn St and the bending and breaking recruiting/player rules, I can't help you here bro.

Edgy MD Mar 09 2015 07:26 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Tuned in to the MAAC finals. Manhattan and Iona. Surprised to hear Gary Cohen doing the call.

Edgy MD Mar 09 2015 09:08 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Jaspers within a few moments of an NCAA berth.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 09 2015 09:13 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

W&M lost the CAA final. No tournament berth, just a long line of US Presidents and Rhodes Scholars. Oh well...

Edgy MD Mar 09 2015 09:21 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Hey, well, Manhattan had a president. Well, we might have had a president, if Mayor Rudolf Giuliani hadn't lost to Congressman Ron Paul who lost to Governor Mike Huckabee who lost to Governor Mitt Romney who lost to Senator John McCain who lost to President Obama. I mean, that's... close.

Rockin' Doc Mar 13 2015 09:37 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Was Otto the Orange banned from the ACC Mascot Game? Who knew such a game existed? [url]http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12470775/syracuse-orange-otto-play-annual-acc-tournament-mascot-game

Ashie62 Mar 14 2015 06:45 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

Edgy MD wrote: Jaspers within a few moments of an NCAA berth. I didn't realize. Two in a row at that. Congratulations and enjoy!

MFS62 Mar 19 2015 01:32 PM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

If you're going to say stuff like that, keep saying them for the next three years: http://nypost.com/2015/03/19/jim-boehei ... e-presser/ Later

Centerfield Mar 20 2015 07:39 AM Re: Orange Basketball 2014-15

I'm still trying to digest all of these sanctions. My gut reaction is that they are unduly harsh, but I am having trouble separating this from emotion, so I can't really back this position. The one thing I can say definitively is this. It is fucking idiotic to commit academic fraud relating to a student that is already suspended during the middle of an NCAA investigation. This is akin to smoking a joint after the cop has already pulled you over.