As we ring in 2015, let’s take a look back through the Fizz lens at 2014. There were plenty of ups and downs, but at the end of the year, the Orange finished the year the same way it began with a win on the basketball court.
The Good:
Tyler Ennis’ Buzzer Beater
The Orange was in Pittsburgh, trying to extend a program long winning streak and the best start the team has ever had. Syracuse trailed by 1 after Talib Zanna hit a pair of free throws. With 4 seconds left the Orange inbounded…. And the rest is history.
SU-Duke Part I
In what turned out to be an instant classic, SU beat Duke in the Dome. In what felt like one of the most hyped up games in recent memory, the Orange and the Blue Devils went into overtime. Jabari Parker fouled out, and the Orange was able to take the first of two meetings on the year.
The Bad:
McDonald out, Lester in
Of course this move could still work out, but for the time being it looks like a panic move. Also, it could still cause George McDonald to leave SU. Tim Lester’s offense didn’t look all too different than the offense McDonald had implemented. Lester even admitted that he hadn’t had the time to implement his offense. If Lester can improve the offense next season, it may work out. But the Orange could lose recruits if McDonald decides to leave the program.
The End of the Basketball Season
The Orange started on a 25 game win streak, but then lost six of nine to end the year. It was not a good look for a team that just a month before the end of the season was ranked #1 in the country. A couple of the losses were to better teams, like Duke or Virginia, but other than that, the Orange lost to inferior competition.
The Ugly:
Syracuse Football Season
It started bad with a double overtime win against Villanova. It got worse when the Orange gained nearly 600 yards on offense and lost by two touchdowns to Maryland. Then SU forced 5 turnovers and lost a game it could have won against Notre Dame at the Meadowlands. From there it was all downhill for the Orange. Including the losses to Maryland and Notre Dame, Syracuse lost nine of its last ten games and finished the year 3-9.
Posted: Seth Goldberg
