Update: Syracuse 58 - UConn 55.

Great game. That is normal when these two teams are playing against each other, and today was no different. UConn has to be proud of its effort, while Syracuse has to be holding its head high about the comeback.  They both showed heart and effort until the final buzzer.

The disappearance on offense was concerning for UConn, but it shows how hard it is to continually break the best and most famous zone defense in the country.  Syracuse got huge contributions from Dion Waiters and James Southerland off the bench, as they scored nearly half of Syracuse's points.  More importantly were the shots Southerland hit in the second half.  Without his two threes and clutch free throws, Syracuse loses this game.  His 10 points don't look flashy in a box score, but they were huge in this game.

Overall, I would guess UConn gets a 9 or 10 seed.  If they are a 9, I can't imagine any 1 seed wanting to see them in their bracket. Despite their underachieving and lack of cohesion for most of the season, these last two games have shown that they have the potential to live up to some of the expectations prematurely put on them in the preseason. As for Syracuse, anything less than a Final Four is a failure. Losing one game in the Big East all season, especially given that Fab Melo didn't even play in that particular loss, is nothing short of spectacular.  Interested to see if they go into the tournament without another loss.

Note:
Really intriguing side story was the raw skill sets but endless potential of both Fab Melo and Andre Drummond.  Drummond's Dunk. Wow. There are seriously points where you wonder how any college freshman is that athletic, strong, and tall. Some of his rebounds looked effortless due to his wingspan. Even in glimpses, you can see why he has been pegged for going in the top 2 in the NBA Draft.  As for Fab Melo, watching him battle inside with Drummond made you realize why he was a 5 * recruit out of college.  Honestly, they both showed flashes of briliance and I loved Fab Melo getting in his teammates faces about yelling at him. Awful shot, but let the coaches handle that. As a player, he is the one battling for rebounds and second chance points for his team, so it had to be frustrating to be yelled at by his own teammates.

UConn vs. Syracuse: New Classic?

My WiFi could not have been fixed at a better time.

Big East Tournament: UConn vs. Syracuse. A classic that will never happen after this season, thanks to Syracuse's departure to the ACC for the 2012 season. So glad I can get to watch the last one.

Overall Observations: 


UConn:

1. I really liked how Jeremy Lamb has started this game. He is playing with energy (even though he never looks like it), is all over the glass, and his second three came at a key moment for UConn.
2. Tyler Olander: Doing some very key things for the Huskies. Dana O'Neill is right, he must continue to take his time with that high post shot and make it. That opens up the entire perimeter and gives them a great chance to score more effectively.
3. Energy. You can feel it. Even on turnovers, like Ryan Boatright's baseline drive, they are attacking the zone and taking chances. To beat a consensus top 2 team like Syracuse, you must keep doing that.
4. My only criticism of UConn was, during a 5 minute stretch in the middle of the half, UConn fell outside of their comfort zone, taking quick and bad shots and letting Syracuse almost get away.

Syracuse:

1. They looked great when they Dion Waiters and Fab Melo were in together.  When Waiters comes back off the bench, you have to assume that UConn will need to adjust their gameplan to better defend Waiters.
2. Even though they are not playing that well they are still beating an energized UConn team.  That says a lot about how balanced and talented this team is. They will be no-less than an elite 8 team with a fair draw in the NCAA tournament.

Prediction: UConn wants this slightly more. OT win: 65-62.