Ridiculous

Wow.

Sure the game shouldn't have been that close. Sure if the Orange make half of their wide open point blank range lay ups the game isn't that close. Sure if Arinze Onuaku, arguably once of the best centers in the Big East doesn't get outrebounded the game is not a nailbiter.

But it is what it is...

You gotta give credit to CSU for capitalizing on Syracuse mistakes, hitting the boards hard, and at winning with style.  Here are some thoughts from this nonsense:

1) Rautins was about as cold as cold gets. 1 point. 0-3 shooting, with all of them from long range. Not really sure what was going on there. He didn't shoot a lot and when he did he wasn't close. Which confuses me because he took the three for the win. Not saying that I don't want him shooting that, but if he has the confidence there why isn't he shooting more throughout?

2) REBOUNDING. Easily the most frustrating aspect of this game. Cleveland State had fifteen offensive rebounds. FIFTEEN. Come on now. It's not like Cleveland State is a dominating inside force.

3) Here is another stat. SIXTEEN turnovers. Yikes...

4) I guess I was wrong about Bullock. 18 and 5. Not bad at all. I think it was put brilliantly when it came to the interior defense. Tuned in to 96.7 FM (or whatever it is since it changes every year) I heard this remark: "Onuaku is playing defense like he is in foul trouble. But he's not. He only has two fouls." And it wasn't just him. The defense inside was rough throughout.

Obviously, I think it's safe to say that this game was lost on the offensive side of the ball. Eric Devendorf did have one hell of a game though, with 5 threes and 17 points. Johnny Flynn as usual played well also. Onuako had 11, but he missed wiiiide open looks twice in the first two minutes of the game. It was a let down for the big fella last night I think.

Overall what is done is done. Any non conference loss hurts in 'Cuse Country given recent years, but I think in the long run we'll be alright. Gottleib will find a way to say Syracuse sucks because of this game, but hopefully we can right the ship tomorrow. 

More to come later...

-KShaw