[Jayvegas420]

I can't believe I'm gonna be cheering for 'Cuse.
This is gonna be great.

I want to see Buddy dismantle that crazy Syracuse zone.

GL

[Grivas_Digeni]

Totally fair point. Cuse does give up a lot of offensive rebounds due to the zone. Boeheim has a week to tweak his zone specifically for the Tar Heels. If Syracuse can limit these, and manage to get the majority of the 50/50 plays to go in their favor, I really like their chances on the moneyline.

I keep hearing about how many 'great bigs' UNC has. Is their size advantage really significant?

Assuming 'depth issue' becomes overwhelming - which I don't think it will - and both teams shoot under 25% on jump shots (see NCAA Championship game 2011 which was played in this same gym)... would you be worried about UNC size advantage playing a key role in completely shutting down any scoring Syracuse was planning to do? I understand that in a home game Syracuse would mostly score over the top of UNC defenders, but what if that's not an option? Isn't there a decent chance this game ends up 75-59 with UNC out rebounding them badly?

I keep hearing about how good Syracuse is at pressing the ball. Who has better roster to combat selective press by Syracuse - Virginia or North Carolina?

Once Syracuse falls behind (and even your bandwagon members should agree there's a high chance of that happening) and the decision is made to press the ball handlers, how do you see UNC handling it, better or worse than Virginia did last game? It was quite clear the Cavaliers were not prepared. But I'm not sure anything can prepare you to have to play a different game, or handle the ball better/make crispier passes all around the court.

[iloseagain]

I keep hearing about how many 'great bigs' UNC has. Is their size advantage really significant?

Assuming 'depth issue' becomes overwhelming - which I don't think it will - and both teams shoot under 25% on jump shots (see NCAA Championship game 2011 which was played in this same gym)... would you be worried about UNC size advantage playing a key role in completely shutting down any scoring Syracuse was planning to do? I understand that in a home game Syracuse would mostly score over the top of UNC defenders, but what if that's not an option? Isn't there a decent chance this game ends up 75-59 with UNC out rebounding them badly?

I keep hearing about how good Syracuse is at pressing the ball. Who has better roster to combat selective press by Syracuse - Virginia or North Carolina?

Once Syracuse falls behind (and even your bandwagon members should agree there's a high chance of that happening) and the decision is made to press the ball handlers, how do you see UNC handling it, better or worse than Virginia did last game? It was quite clear the Cavaliers were not prepared. But I'm not sure anything can prepare you to have to play a different game, or handle the ball better/make crispier passes all around the court.

so who covers? UNC or Cuse?

[POOLSIDE]

I keep hearing about how many 'great bigs' UNC has. Is their size advantage really significant?

Assuming 'depth issue' becomes overwhelming - which I don't think it will - and both teams shoot under 25% on jump shots (see NCAA Championship game 2011 which was played in this same gym)... would you be worried about UNC size advantage playing a key role in completely shutting down any scoring Syracuse was planning to do? I understand that in a home game Syracuse would mostly score over the top of UNC defenders, but what if that's not an option? Isn't there a decent chance this game ends up 75-59 with UNC out rebounding them badly?

I keep hearing about how good Syracuse is at pressing the ball. Who has better roster to combat selective press by Syracuse - Virginia or North Carolina?

Once Syracuse falls behind (and even your bandwagon members should agree there's a high chance of that happening) and the decision is made to press the ball handlers, how do you see UNC handling it, better or worse than Virginia did last game? It was quite clear the Cavaliers were not prepared. But I'm not sure anything can prepare you to have to play a different game, or handle the ball better/make crispier passes all around the court.

I can see Syracuse losing this game by thirty. I can also see them winning by double digits. I'll try to address everything you mentioned. I want to be clear that I'm basically playing devil's advocate with my following reply. I'm making the case for Syracuse. I can also make the case against Syracuse. If I was unable to make a case against Syracuse, I wouldn't be betting the game. We know by now how those games end up lol.

Size advantage. Unc is bigger in the middle and smaller on the outside. Syracuse doesn't have a player under 6'4", but they also don't have a player over 6'9". Gonzaga's best two players are 6'11" and 6'10". It's not like the Cuse has never seen tall guys before. That's the thing about the zone. It either works or it doesn't. If unc is gonna shoot their way out of it, hats off to them. But it's pretty much agreed upon at this point that the way to beat that zone is to get the ball inside and create space on the outside. If unc's bigs are gonna get the ball down low (which alone is more difficult than against man to man) and create their own shots without kicking the ball outside and they consistently score like that... again, bravo. Totally a possibility.

If Syracuse shoots 25% on jump shots, they've got a problem. I don't even care what unc is shooting at that point, Syracuse has a problem. With that said, Syracuse is very athletic and very talented. I'm not saying they'll consistently score at the rack, but it would not shock me. They have a couple guys that can create their own shot in traffic, and if the Tar Heels collapse on them, they've got guys who can knock down jump shots. They're also able to get to the line, which could be a huge factor in this game. I'll be honest, I'd be a lot more worried about a poor shooting performance as a Tar Heel backer than as a Syracuse backer.

North Carolina might be the single most equipped team to handle the press. Boeheim will know this. Do not expect to see the same press (which was insanely ballsy if you didn't watch the game) they used against Virginia. They'll have to alter it somewhat. To answer your question about unc handling the press better or worse than Virginia, I will lightheartedly ask you if that was a joke question. How could they possibly handle it worse?

[thedirk]

Good luck POOLSIDE! Whether it wins or it loses, keep sharing your thoughts and plays, love your insights.

[POOLSIDE]

Good luck POOLSIDE! Whether it wins or it loses, keep sharing your thoughts and plays, love your insights.

Appreciated! Great choice of name/pic!

[Grivas_Digeni]

Much appreciated! I understand the tension my questions/opinion probably created after you've made your pick - and some people probably tailed. I'm pretty sure anyone who hasn't tailed yet, should be inclined even more to do that now. Again, thank you.


----------
The question - of course - was as if we were to handicap two different games:
A) Virginia vs Syracuse (with that lead, Virginia would be better off fielding 5 guards after HT; anything would work better!)
B) UNC vs Syracuse

If I understand correctly, the answer I was looking for is this:
North Carolina might be the single most equipped team to handle the press.

[POOLSIDE]

Much appreciated! I understand the tension my questions/opinion probably created after you've made your pick - and some people probably tailed. I'm pretty sure anyone who hasn't tailed yet, should be inclined even more to do that now. Again, thank you.


----------
The question - of course - was as if we were to handicap two different games:
A) Virginia vs Syracuse (with that lead, Virginia would be better off fielding 5 guards after HT; anything would work better!)
B) UNC vs Syracuse

If I understand correctly, the answer I was looking for is this:
North Carolina might be the single most equipped team to handle the press.

No tension at all! I like talking about sports. Besides, the bets are already in. Nothing we say can change that now lolol.

But yes, if North Carolina is up fourteen points with nine minutes left, Syracuse probably isn't winning the game. However, covering +9.5 at this point isn't hopeless by any stretch of the imagination.

[Grivas_Digeni]

Sent you 10 points.

As in, PLUS TEN.

[POOLSIDE]

Bet #10

Syracuse Orange +9.5 (-105)
$2000 to win $1904.76

Syracuse Orange +10 (-105)
$2000 to win $1904.76

[POOLSIDE]

Line changed at Heritage. Was able to get another bet in.

[Conqueror]

Rooting for ya!

[pacman100]

I'm taking UNC to win by 6-10 for +325 odds. Good luck to all

[newjack]

Good luck mate guys, hopefully we TID!

[The Giant]

Amazing thread.

Great run.

Good luck tonight.

[POOLSIDE]

Amazing thread.

Great run.

Good luck tonight.

Thanks! And welcome back!

[mikeak]

Bet #10

Syracuse Orange +9.5 (-105)
$2000 to win $1904.76

Syracuse Orange +10 (-105)
$2000 to win $1904.76

Good luck dude! Rooting for you with heart and wallet

[WildCelticsFan]

I'm on you with this! But only like betting 12% of what you are. BOL man. Hope we hit it! This team so hot how could you not bet them.

[SpreadSniper]

APR 2 7:35 PM Basketball - Pending

402.50 to win 350.00

1. Basketball - North Carolina - spread -9½ (-115)
for the entire game held on Apr 02 at 7:45pm [Pending]

hedge time for me...... I know this won't make sense, but LET'S GO CUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[captrobey]

2 of their last 13 unreal

[MexicanStallion]

So what's the feeling on the first half?

[POOLSIDE]

So what's the feeling on the first half?

Syracuse is 3/10 from the free throw line ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[newjack]

Is it worth taking +13,5 on sy since i missed the bet before? I guess according to the bet it is but given the game flow and all

[POOLSIDE]

Is it worth taking +13,5 on sy since i missed the bet before? I guess according to the bet it is but given the game flow and all

Tough to say. Syracuse has to be more aggressive on offense, and they've gotta make their free throws.

[The Giant]

Is it worth taking +13,5 on sy since i missed the bet before? I guess according to the bet it is but given the game flow and all

Looks like you can get +14.5. The second half line appears to me +3.5.

I'm worried they might get blown out, it's tough to say. Hopefully they have some magic left in them from the Virginia game.

[frugalgambler]

Bah. Not a cool 1H by 'cuse. The mojo might be running out.

[Slipknot26]

Cuse has won and made their name in the 2nd half.
Let it play out fellas

[drfunkmaster]

Cuse needs to make their FT... but I think they they are done running on fumes..

[Slipknot26]

We said that the last 2 as well haha
No way anyone on the planet thought they would come back , down 15 with 9 to go vs the #2 defense in the country either.
Boeheim, halftime adjustments, he's pretty good at it .
Let's go Cuse , get the MOJO going guys.
Let's see how it plays out
Hell, we just need under 9 anyway not a Win .

[captrobey]

Gbiniji keeps penetrating slipping that is like the 3rd time he did that .

[TheChamp1]

The infamous Syracuse zone is getting dominated

[WalkingLuckCharm]

[POOLSIDE]

We need a run here. Have to have it.

[MexicanStallion]

Last 5 minutes to make something happen.

*Missed 3 shots promptly

[The Giant]

I've never seen a game when the referees don't make any calls, on either team, ever.