After looking at a few things, I have to say yes and it may not even be as close as some think.

For one, their 2-3 zone is unlike any other. Their players are long, athletic, and quick. They also rotate very well and extend the pressure from the zone defense.

Offensively, they have 5 guys who average double digits in points, including Wesley Johnson who is a straight up beast. They have good PG play in Andy Rautins, and they also have 2 other guys who average around 8 PPG, including Scoop Jardine, who is no slouch himself.

They're 7-0 against top 25 teams, which includes back-to-back beatings of THEN #12 California (95-73) and #4 UNC (87-71).. Not to mention their recent crushing victories over Georgetown and Villanova...

27-2 and 14-2 in what many consider the best conference in America.. The thing that most impresses me though? 9-0 on the road.

And last, but not least, they have a GREAT head coach in Jim Boeheim...

Honestly, I feel like the 'Cuse have been flying under the radar for most of the season and people are now just noticing what they have done.

The easy pick may be Kansas (me personally, I've not been on that bandwagon this season) but to me, Syracuse could be the real deal..

All told, sadly, I'm not having this discussion regarding UNC But I do respect Syracuse and Jim Boeheim, especially the way he goes about his business.

I think they are. Then again, I'm a little biased being an Orange(men) fan. But, I've seen highly-seeded 'Cuse teams falter in the past (Richmond, Vermont, etc.) so I know it can all go down the drain quick in the tourney although I think this team is a little different. Great leadership in Rautins, no big egos and then as you said....the 2-3 is as good as it's ever been due to their length, athletiticism and how active they are in it. But they take their foot off the gas at times and they just can't afford to do that in the NCAA's. As good as they are.....they're beatable. Just gotta keep the intensity up for the whole game and not look past anybody. Having players like Kris and Scoop off the bench is a huge plus though. Triche is my biggest concern but Jardine was brilliant when relieving him the other night and has shown the ability to do that several times this season.

If they stay focused, hungry and humble......I have little doubt in my
mind they'll be in Indy that first weekend in April. And I can see them cutting down the nets although I think Kansas is very capable of beating Syracuse if they met in the title game.

I've seen them off and on a few times this year. Just looking at their resume, yes they are the best team in the country. But they also pass the eye test. They have good guard play and good bigs. They have a great coach and a decent bench. As most would agree, I think Cuse, Kansas and UK are the 3 elite teams, and then there is a significant dropoff after them.

I'm sure most other teams all want to be in the bracket of that 4th #1 seed as I think they will be the most "beatable" whether it's Duke, Villanova or Kansas State.

Currently, yes they are. But, very beatable as is anyone this year. As i have stated before, there is no UNC of last year in this years tournament. I believe its as wide open as it has been in a long while.

polls think so!

I think they are. They are made to succeed in the tourney because teams get one day to prepare for that zone they Syracuse runs so effectively. Also their undoing could be lack of depth they only play 7 guys. If Jackson or Onuaku get into foul trouble that could be a huge problem for the Cuse.

Possibly. I think they lose at Louisville. Looking at their schedule, they havent had many nail-biters. But, when they had the close calls with Marquette and Depaul earilier in the year, I doubted them. March Madness can be won by a bunch of different teams. No one is really head and shoulders better then anyone.

Rebel-Agree that they're not deep but the two bench players they do play are damn good. Jardine and Joseph can be their best players on a given night and that's saying something with the likes of Rautins and Johnson on the team. They do pick up some cheap ones and Onuaku and Jackson on the bench would be a big blow to the Orange. As long as Andy stays out of foul trouble I think they've got a shot. He's the glue.

Another thing worth mentioning is if Wes Johnson's right hand gets back to 100% or close to it......they'll be even better. That nasty fall in the first game against Providence really jacked up his shooting hand and he hasn't been the same since.

I have no clue who the best team is. I can see just about anybody winning it this year. I'm going to have the dogs make my picks for me. If I had the choose, I'd still take Kansas over the Cuse. Kansas would be able to match them on defense and I'd have to give the edge because of Collins quickness.

I'd feel very comfortable playing Syracuse, as a KU fan. Why? Sherron Collins eats alive zones.

I personally think at this moment in the season, Syracuse IS the best team in the country, but in the tourney you need that go to guy and I just don't know if Syracuse has it. Collins has been there in the spotlight in the Elite 8 and on...who has for Syracuse? It's a different game in April then it is early March, so we'll wait and see on Syracuse.

SportsAndLady wrote: I'd feel very comfortable playing Syracuse, as a KU fan. Why? Sherron Collins eats alive zones.

I personally think at this moment in the season, Syracuse IS the best team in the country, but in the tourney you need that go to guy and I just don't know if Syracuse has it. Collins has been there in the spotlight in the Elite 8 and on...who has for Syracuse? It's a different game in April then it is early March, so we'll wait and see on Syracuse.

Collins is a helluva player.....but I don't think he's seen a zone quite like Syracuse's yet. Villanova's smaller lineup and Scottie Reynolds were touted as "zone killers" too.

Andy Rautins knows all about pressure. He hit several big shots in last year's 6 overtime Big East tournament win over Uconn. Now, it wasn't April....but it was mid-March in the Garden. That's quite a spotlight. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Kansas beat the Orange if they meet up......but I wanted to bring a different perspective to the discussion.

killer_ewok wrote: Collins is a helluva player.....but I don't think he's seen a zone quite like Syracuse's yet.

Maybe, maybe not.

I derived my comment based on a few years ago in the Final Game against a very good North Carolina team and the Championship game against Memphis, where both teams tried to run zone on KU, which worked for a few series before Bill Self put Collins into the game to get to the middle of the zone and he did so with ease...Both those teams are just as athletic as this Syracuse team, and Collins was the key factor in both those games.

SportsAndLady wrote:

Maybe, maybe not.

I derived my comment based on a few years ago in the Final Game against a very good North Carolina team and the Championship game against Memphis, where both teams tried to run zone on KU, which worked for a few series before Bill Self put Collins into the game to get to the middle of the zone and he did so with ease...Both those teams are just as athletic as this Syracuse team, and Collins was the key factor in both those games.

He may kill the zone, but no one will ever convince me that a player or team is prepared for Syracuse's zone (aside from teams who have played it and proven to be able to handle it....ie BE teams).

The thing about Syracuse is that they recruit for the zone and play the zone the whole game. It isnt your typical zone where the cracks are there every possession. The Cuse will go several possessions in a row where the team doesnt ever get the ball off the perimiter and forces a shit shot with like 3 seconds left. They are so good and know where to be at every moment that it is rare you can get the ball in an advantageous position vs them (ie, the middle or the short corner).

Teams playing against a zone either need to get great penetration or hot from the outside. Collins get get penetration, but it's tough to stay hot in any particular game. Kansas' would have to dominate the offensive glass against the zone, but I think it'd be a good game.

SportsAndLady wrote:

killer_ewok wrote: Collins is a helluva player.....but I don't think he's seen a zone quite like Syracuse's yet.

Maybe, maybe not.

I derived my comment based on a few years ago in the Final Game against a very good North Carolina team and the Championship game against Memphis, where both teams tried to run zone on KU, which worked for a few series before Bill Self put Collins into the game to get to the middle of the zone and he did so with ease...Both those teams are just as athletic as this Syracuse team, and Collins was the key factor in both those games.

Well, Bobby Knight called this Syracuse zone the best zone he's seen in all his years as a part of and watching college basketball. And Laley made great points as well. I'll also add that while those teams may have been as athletic as this Orange team......their zones weren't as active if I recall correctly. It would be a heckuva game IMO and I hope it happens.

Kansas and any team outside of the Big East hasn't seen a zone the way Syracuse plays it.

I think it'd be a GREAT game...I like Kansas,but wouldn't mind seeing them lose so S&L could have another meltdown--what a dbag lunatic!!!

Laley23 wrote:

SportsAndLady wrote:

Maybe, maybe not.

I derived my comment based on a few years ago in the Final Game against a very good North Carolina team and the Championship game against Memphis, where both teams tried to run zone on KU, which worked for a few series before Bill Self put Collins into the game to get to the middle of the zone and he did so with ease...Both those teams are just as athletic as this Syracuse team, and Collins was the key factor in both those games.

He may kill the zone, but no one will ever convince me that a player or team is prepared for Syracuse's zone (aside from teams who have played it and proven to be able to handle it....ie BE teams).

The thing about Syracuse is that they recruit for the zone and play the zone the whole game. It isnt your typical zone where the cracks are there every possession. The Cuse will go several possessions in a row where the team doesnt ever get the ball off the perimiter and forces a shit shot with like 3 seconds left. They are so good and know where to be at every moment that it is rare you can get the ball in an advantageous position vs them (ie, the middle or the short corner).

With all due respect, the Cuse have lost this year and they've lost multiple games throughout the years. So yes, some teams are prepared for their zone and can beat it. The Cuse will go as far as their perimeter shooting will take them. I think they lose in the tourney when somebody has the energy and bigs down low to stop those easy buckets.

jpake1 wrote:

Laley23 wrote:

SportsAndLady wrote:

Maybe, maybe not.

I derived my comment based on a few years ago in the Final Game against a very good North Carolina team and the Championship game against Memphis, where both teams tried to run zone on KU, which worked for a few series before Bill Self put Collins into the game to get to the middle of the zone and he did so with ease...Both those teams are just as athletic as this Syracuse team, and Collins was the key factor in both those games.

He may kill the zone, but no one will ever convince me that a player or team is prepared for Syracuse's zone (aside from teams who have played it and proven to be able to handle it....ie BE teams).

The thing about Syracuse is that they recruit for the zone and play the zone the whole game. It isnt your typical zone where the cracks are there every possession. The Cuse will go several possessions in a row where the team doesnt ever get the ball off the perimiter and forces a shit shot with like 3 seconds left. They are so good and know where to be at every moment that it is rare you can get the ball in an advantageous position vs them (ie, the middle or the short corner).

With all due respect, the Cuse have lost this year and they've lost multiple games throughout the years. So yes, some teams are prepared for their zone and can beat it. The Cuse will go as far as their perimeter shooting will take them. I think they lose in the tourney when somebody has the energy and bigs down low to stop those easy buckets.

Of course they can be beaten. All of the teams can. I don't see anyone arguing otherwise. It's just that the zone can be a tough matchup in a tourney when Syracuse has the pieces in place to maximize it's effectiveness and that seems to be the case this year.

I disagree about the Orange's perimeter shooting as well. Syracuse's defensive intensity is the key. I don't think there's a team in the country that's better in transition than Syracuse and they'll kill you with it if they're getting stops and steals. And assuming that Jackson and Onuaku stay out of foul trouble....it's going to be very difficult for any team to stop the Orange in the post. Don't get me wrong....they're beatable. I just happen to like their chances.....a lot.

Well Kansas' man to man defense must be better than Syracuse's zone because KU gives up less points per game than Syracuse by 2 points.

As good as syracuse's zone is, it's not unstoppable.

No clear cut favorite this year. Ohio State has as good of a chance as anyone.

SportsAndLady wrote: Well Kansas' man to man defense must be better than Syracuse's zone because KU gives up less points per game than Syracuse by 2 points.

As good as syracuse's zone is, it's not unstoppable.

Nobody said it was. It's just a very tough matchup in a tournament setting against a team who has played that as their base defense for decades and they have the players in place to maximize it's effectiveness.

I don't see the big thing about the Cuse zone to be honest. I've seen teams year in and year out take it to that zone. I've seen teams play man and be very good at defense. I just think this is a more talented roster than some past years. They're better in all aspects, not just their zone.

killer_ewok wrote:

SportsAndLady wrote: Well Kansas' man to man defense must be better than Syracuse's zone because KU gives up less points per game than Syracuse by 2 points.

As good as syracuse's zone is, it's not unstoppable.

Nobody said it was. It's just a very tough matchup in a tournament setting against a team who has played that as their base defense for decades and they have the players in place to maximize it's effectiveness.

The #1 team in the nation is a tough matchup? nooooo way

Just messin with ya, ewok.

I understand what you are saying, the 'cuse zone will be as tough a defensive assignment as it gets in the Tourney this year...I just happen to think Kansas wouldn't have a problem with it, I guess we can agree to disagree on that.

SportsAndLady wrote:

killer_ewok wrote:

SportsAndLady wrote: Well Kansas' man to man defense must be better than Syracuse's zone because KU gives up less points per game than Syracuse by 2 points.

As good as syracuse's zone is, it's not unstoppable.

Nobody said it was. It's just a very tough matchup in a tournament setting against a team who has played that as their base defense for decades and they have the players in place to maximize it's effectiveness.

The #1 team in the nation is a tough matchup? nooooo way

Just messin with ya, ewok.

I understand what you are saying, the 'cuse zone will be as tough a defensive assignment as it gets in the Tourney this year...I just happen to think Kansas wouldn't have a problem with it, I guess we can agree to disagree on that.

Fair enough. It was fun bantering with ya'.