Colgate Recap / Arkansas Preview

I apologize in advance for not having time to complete a full blown recap of the Colgate game and preview of the Arkansas game.  I know you've all been hanging on the edge of your seats all week wondering where it was.

As a mea culpa, I offer an abbreviated recap and a top five list of ways ESPN will avoid giving Syracuse credit for playing a true non-conference road game.

MVP:  Michael Carter-Williams

James Southerland had another great game, but this was MCW's day.  He controlled the game from the opening tip, and did it without looking for his own shot for the majority of the day.  Carter-Williams finished in sight of a top three all-time assist day for Syracuse, and did so despite his teammates blowing a few lay-ups and open jump shots and only getting 28 minutes due to the game getting out of hand.  Carter-Williams even managed to avoid getting a SC(OOPS) for the first time this year! I'm excited to see how well it carries over to the next game, with some better competition and a more hostile road environment.

LVP:  Pat Moore

The Raiders guard came into this game having made an astonishing 14 of 17 three pointers in the last 2 games.  That's good for 82%, eighty fricking two percent.  No matter how you write it, it's pretty damn impressive.

What was not impressive was his 2-8 shooting in this game and fouling out with 5 minutes to go.  Colgate needed another 7-8 shooting night from this kid to have any chance of even hanging close with the Orange, and he didn't deliver.

Play of the Game:

Nothing stuck out to me in this game, so I'm going to kind of cop out on this one and go with Michael Carter-Williams finding DaJaun Colemand in the corner 8 seconds into the game for an open jumper.  Pretty non-descript play, but it was the beginning to a very impressive day.

(SC)OOPS of the Game:

With Michael Carter-Williams staying pretty much in control all game, we've got to turn our sights elsewhere.  And mind land squarely on the Colgate Red Raiders outside shots, and I'm pretty sure specifically Murphy Burnatowski.  They banked in not one, but two three-pointers this game.  Call me crazy, but if you bank in a three-pointer there should be some sort of penalty.  Maybe you don't lose points for it, but you only get two instead of three.  Something needs to be done.

Top Five Reasons that tonight's game against Arkansas isn't a true road game for Syracuse:

5)  The Razorbacks are planning a "white-out".  Syracuse is in Upstate New York near Lake Ontario.  Lake Ontario often has lake-effect storms that create white-out conditions.  Advantage Syracuse.  HOME GAME

Side note: What is the point of a White-out anyway?  Are the home players inspired when they see a bunch of free-trade cotton in the crowd?  Does the student section cheer louder when they are color coordinated?  

(Courtesy of Dan Theal)

4)  Arkansas plays in the SEC.  Florida State and Clemson want to play in the SEC.  Florida State and Clemson do play in the ACC.  Syracuse will play in the ACC next year.  HOME GAME

3)  Arkansas's campus is in Fayetteville.  There is a Fayetteville on the east side of Syracuse.  Syracuse players have probably driven through there before.  HOME GAME.

2)  Arkansas has the words Kansas within their name.  Syracuse beat Kansas for their only national title ever.  HOME GAME.

1)  Arkansas's mascot is the Razorback.  The Razorback is a type of pig.  Hot Dogs can be made from pigs.  Syracuse is famous for Hoffman's Hot Dogs.  HOME GAME.