B10-ACC Challenge: Beilein vs Boeheim, Round 2 Comment Count

Brian

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Yes, yes, it's actually like round 15 or something, but round two with Beilein at Michigan.

Your random ACC opponent for this year's challenge: Syracuse and their 2-3 zone and long people everywhere. Michigan gets 'em at home. 'Cuse was undefeated for a big chunk of this year until their good fortune ran out and they started dropping close games against teams both good and bad; they were busted out of the tournament in the second round by Dayton, finishing 28-6.

While Michigan has been more battered by graduation and attrition, Syracuse also took some major hits. Leading scorer CJ Fair graduates; phenom point guard Tyler Ennis and SF Jerami Grant both entered the NBA draft.

Those guys represent a lot of Syracuse's offense; guys left over include three-point specialist Trevor Cooney and post Rakeem Christmas, plus DaJuan Coleman if Coleman can ever get healthy. Syracuse fans seem to think they're in for a "serious rebuilding year," FWIW.

The Orange do bring in a couple of touted recruits. Composite five star PF Chris McCullough is already 19 and should be ready to bang anyone Michigan can muster on the interior, and PG Kaleb Joseph will try to fill the gap left by Ennis. Even so, this is a much more manageable task than travelling to Cameron last year.

Comments

bronxblue

May 1st, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

The sad thing is that in that picture, only Levert is still on the team.  Crazy how things have changed.

Like the matchup.  The 2-3 zone would normally terrify teams, but Beilein should be able to counter pretty well, especially with the expected leaps from guys like Levert, Walton, and Irvin.

MGoChippewa

May 1st, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^

might not be as big of a concern as he seems at first glance.  Syracuse brings a top-50 big man in with damn near every class and they almost never reach their expectations.  Especially on offense. See: Fab Melo, DaJuan Coleman, Rakeem Christmas, DaShonte Riley, Daryl Watkins, etc.  Last one that really worked out for them was Rick Jackson.  Yes, Fab Melo was a top-20 pick in the NBA Draft.  However, he was drafted purely off potential and is a crappy D-League player now.

UMFan1780

May 1st, 2014 at 3:05 PM ^

But isn't this the third game between Beilein and Boeheim with Beilein at Michigan?  I seem to remember a preseason tournament game in Atlantic City a few years ago.

Evil Empire

May 1st, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^

We lost to them in Atlantic City in 2010.  Syracuse was 18-0 that season, then lost 6 of 8 and finished tied for third in the Big East, going 1-1 in both their conference tournament and the NCAA tournmament.

Mike60586

May 1st, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^

It was after the tournament game when I changed my signature.  I remember that the announcers were going on and on about how long and tall they were.

But, in the end, subs prevailed.

Wing t

May 3rd, 2014 at 9:48 PM ^

Big fan of both teams. Cuse is losing a lot and they do seam to reload. Michigan will hit a lot of 3s in this one and should pull it out.