Nothing like a little road trip to gain some exposure on the national scene, eh?
The Big East scheduling this year has allowed Jim Boeheim, Mike Hopkins, and Rob Murphy to get near a few recruiting hotbeds in mere a five day stretch.
SU’s trip from Rutgers, to West Virginia, and now Notre Dame has seen the team make stops at two of its more active recruiting grounds, and a shot at forging a new path.
The New Jersey/ New York Metropolitan area has been a target for as long as Syracuse has been playing basketball. Playing at the RAC gives prep kids in the area a chance to see in person the Orange that they glimpse on SNY and Sportscenter.
It’s never a bad thing to make the rounds at a place you know is going to get you signings; especially when the coach at the school you’re playing¬†may be slipping, as¬†The Fizz pointed out last week.
West Virginia isn’t the gold mine that New Jersey is; simple fact is there aren’t many Jerry West’s in them thar hills.
However, jaunts south and east yield Maryland and Virginia, which of course, lead to the fertile DC area. Carmelo Anthony, Donte Greene, the current Josh Selby anyone?
Playing Notre Dame in South Bend hasn’t been kind to the ‘Cuse (it hasn’t won at the Joyce center since 2006) but always nice to poke your head in the area, especially with the way high school basketball is in Indiana.
SU has never done too well in this state, but the potential is right there: Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Josh McRoberts all hale from the region. And coach Rob Murphy’s connections in that area (western Great Lakes) could be tapped, despite it’s traditional stance as a Big 10 hot bed.
But if the conference’s expansion talks heat up, it’s nice to be locked and loaded, instead of a complete stranger.
For now, though? A sweep on the road would suffice.
