Some Last Pitt Thoughts

Like KShaw mentioned, this obviously wasn't Syracuse's best effort.  Watching the game back at the snowy tundra of Ithaca, New York, it was disheartening to watch the Orange show up with such a terrible game coming off the ND victory.

Watching with my buddy Drew, a fellow Cuse diehard, he came up with the three main reasons the Cuse lost this one, and I thought they did a good job of summing up the game.  Here's what they were:

1. Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf simply didn't show up tonight.  Devendorf has what, 3 travel calls in the last 2 games? Inexcusable for a Division I basketball player.  He also hit another one of what I like to 2.5's, meaning his foot was on the line when scoring.  He did that twice in the Notre Dame game.  As for Jonny, as great as he is, just simply did not do anything last night.  He garbaged up and ended with 12 points, but he was only 3-14.  That isn't gonna get it done, especially when Mr. Flynn is the absolute key to our success. 
2. The foul situation that ended up plaguing Rick Jackson and Paul Harris.  The source of this foul trouble? Unnecessary technicals.  I'm with KShaw in believe Paul's T wasn't really warranted. I mean, you're telling me Pitt didn't say anything just as bad or worse than "Get that shit outta here?" Please. Dejuan Blair and Levance Fields said stuff like that the entire game.  However, the foul ended up giving Paul 3 relatively quick, and ultimately forced Boeheim to sit him down.  Now Rick Jackson, on the other hand, was far worse.  I understand you have adrenaline after dunking on Blair, and it was a big play to spark the team. However, pushing a player when every person in the gym is focused on you was an idiotic thing to do.  If you're gonna get physical, keep in down low in the paint during play.  And be more sneaky about it.  Having said that, I like the intensity Rick has shown recently.  Also, Blair will be accepting his Golden Globe acting award for his ensuing flop into the basket support after the season.
3. The 2-3 zone killed us.  KILLED US.  We started out in zone, then it got shredded. We switched to man, came back and tied the game, then switched back to zone.  WHY JIM?!  Pittsburgh was far too talented on the offensive glass to try to rebound with out of a zone, and as soon as we switched back to it, we once again fell behind.  This can't happen anymore if we want to finish this Big East season strong.  Stick with the defense that is dictated by the game, not what we classically play.

A lot of those points had to do with what KShaw already wrote, but I felt like these were huge keys to why Syracuse blew that game.  Pick it up, fellas.  We need every win that we can get in this conference.

Coming up tomorrow, the return of Syracuse Basketball Look-alikes, starring Mookie Jones!

- Jake the Snake