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I'm not too confident in Syracuse's ability to make it to the Big Dance this year. I'm stating the obvious but the lack of depth is just killing them. Rautins blowing out his knee before the season even starts, Devendorf blowing out his knee against East Tennessee State, Josh Wright leaving the team, and Jardine missing a few games due to "team violations" has come back to haunt them. How could it not? When you are running seven guys out there every game sooner or later they are going to get worn down, even if they are a bunch of teenagers.

 

Jonny Flynn has played great for a freshman and I see good things for him. However the other super-frosh, Donte Greene, is beginning to disturb me. After starting the year well he has actually regressed as the season has gone on. His outside shooting is abominable right now. His lack of a conscience is starting to become a liability. There comes a time when having confidence in your shot becomes you just being a gunner. Greene has hit that point. Too often he is shooting before letting the offense try and set something up. His 3-point shots are missing (badly at times) at an alarming rate. He is down to 33.5% behind the arc, including a horrific 1 for 10 performance vs. Louisville and 1 for 8 against UConn. Even in ‘Cuse victories he has practically shot them to a loss, 4 for 16 vs. Georgetown and 5 for 13 vs. Providence are the games I am talking about.

Also, his defense is atrocious. He was posterized against Louisville which highlights his complete inability to play any form of physical game. For a guy his size (6' 11") he has no post game to speak of and is quite easy to push around. I understand he is skinny but it is obvious that he is unable to play the game in any form of rough and tumble, Big East-style manner. It is all finesse and outside shots. When those shots don't fall, as is the case lately, his lack of all around game is magnified. I actually like Greene but he has not been the stud he was predicted to be and there are some reasons for that which are not his fault. The point of this blog is not to slam Greene so I'll move on.

Paul Harris has improved a lot this year but he still comes up short on the mental side of the game at times. Poor fouls and poor passes plague him at bad times. He is actually a damn good passer for the type of player he is but for every great pass or shot he makes (where have some of those 3-pointers come from?!) it seems within the next two possessions he does something that makes you want to pull your hair out. That has always been his story at the ‘Cuse. He and Greene are two of the biggest recruits to come along since ‘Melo but they have not quite lived up to the hype that surrounded them. Remember Harris was going to be a one and done player? Same with Greene. I think they will both benefit by sticking around and improving their games year by year.

Arinze Onuaku has been a pleasant surprise for the Orange this season. Coming into the season off a knee injury he has been the lone physical presence in the Syracuse lineup. He kills me with some misses close in but you can't argue with his shooting percentage overall. He takes care of business as best he can.

Overall, the lack of depth and experience is hurting the ‘Cuse as the season comes to the end. You have two freshman carrying the team and two other players in Onuaku and the very average JUCO transfer Kris Ongenaet playing for the first time. The team is just too young, inexperienced, and injury riddled to be a major player this year. They may still be on the bubble but I think this last week will be the death knell to their Tourney chances.

However, if they get by Pitt tomorrow and Seton Hall on Wednesday a lot of pressure will be on them for the Marquette season finale. If they can pull that game off they are right back in the picture. But do we really want that this year? I mean I'll take it but how confident can you be about any form of success in the Big Dance. This team looks like it can be a force next year with a fully healthy squad. This season seems to me about just getting these players some Big East experience and learning how to play an effective 2-3 zone. Who knows though, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. Go ‘Cuse!!!