Listen to a Fresh FizzCast on SU Hoops and Delone:
With subzero temperatures outdoors, Team Fizz hunkered down inside its headquarters to discuss back-to-back losses for SU hoops and the surging draft stock of Delone Carter.
Dennis Nett, Post-Standard
Jim Boeheim’s bunch has stumbled after an 18-0 start. D.A. talks about why Saturday’s loss to Villanova was so disappointing for a jammed Carrier Dome.
“There was a build up for this game, because of Nova-geddon last year, because of the high rankings, because of the Big East rivalry, because Syracuse was on its way to being an elite team. It was fairly obvious watching yesterday’s game that Syracuse wasn’t at the level of Villanova and that the better team had won.”
Perhaps Syracuse’s impressive start to the season caused people to overrate the Orange.
“We might have been lulled into a false sense of confidence because of the ranking and the 18-0 start. The Big East is brutal, and I don’t know if Syracuse was ever deserving of being a top three team.”
As for why Syracuse has come back down to Earth over the last couple games, it’s a combination of poor defense and bad guard play on offense. I warn that Syracuse could continue to be an inconsistent team because it is so reliant on volatile Scoop Jardine.
“Kris Joseph leads the team in points, but it’s absolutely Scoop Jardine who makes things run. That’s a huge problem – if you’re trying to be a top 5 team in the country – to have Scoop Jardine running the show. He’s just too up-and-down.”
While all the Fizzsters agree that SU is currently not playing like an elite team, there was debate about whether Kris Joseph is truly a go-to scorer. Hoffman’s adamant that he is.
“He’s not a Wes Johnson, he’s not going to be the fourth overall pick in the NBA draft. But he’s definitely a guy Syracuse can go to, and you feel pretty good with the ball in his hands in an iso situation. There are not very many people in the country that can guard him one-on-one.”
In NFL draft news, Delone Carter sure is feeling good about his effort over the last several days. He had a phenomenal week of practice leading up to the East-West Shrine Bowl, and won MVP of the game. D.A. on Carter’s NFL hopes:
“I like Delone Carter a lot. Towards the end of the season, he was nothing short of vital for what SU needed to do offensively, knowing how limited they were through the air.  But I’m not sure that Delone Carter is anything more than a guy that maybe you would spend a fourth round pick on.”
That’s probably fair. I wouldn’t advise saying such a thing to Delone’s face though, just as I wouldn’t advise throwing any snowballs in his vicinity. Something for D.A. to remember when he cruises through Syracuse this March in his Volvo s60.
Posted: Andrew Kanell
