Tha-Beat

Hasheem Thabeet, he sounds like Mutombo and last night he played like him

Syracuse fell to UConn last night 63-61 and chances are if you read this blog you already knew that. Syracuse was done in by 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet and his shot blocking prowess, combined with a newly installed zone that gave the Orange a taste of their own medicine.

For a full recap of the game, you can check out the Post Standard, Orange 44, Cuse Country, the Axeman and by the end of the day - most of the blogs on the column over on the right. I certainly don't have a full recap in me today, but if you read all of the above and still want more, here is my contribution - Peter King style.

Observations

* The lightbulb has been turned on for Paul Harris on the offensive end of the floor. It's easy to take for granted his rebounding and hustle (I do from time to time) but sometimes we forget that coming out of high school this guy was one of the premier players in the country, because of his play on BOTH ends of the floor. The last two games he's been aggressive, yet under control on offense, yesterday was his best game yet. He's hitting the mid range jumper and his confidence is on the rise.

* Rough night for Donte Greene - there's not much more you can say about it. Like all of SU's big guys, he struggled with UConn's size. In the high post the 15 footer was wide open, but he passed on a few of them and chose to challege Thabeet - and lost. It just wasn't his night.

* Jonny Flynn is only 19, but even at 19 years old - damn, he's got to be tired.

* Jeff Adrian and AJ Price were huge tonight - I know the box score says they missed shots, but I don't remeber either of them missing - especially in the 12-15 foot range.

* You can't coach size - so when you are replaying this game in your head and wondering why Syracuse gave Sean Williams a scholarship - they did it because in a few years they are hoping he turns into Hasheem Thabeet - a guy who can control certain games without scoring. It doesn't hurt to take flyers on guys like that.

* Boeheim has done a very good job this year - no doubt about it, but I hope he starts working Scoop back in for a few more minutes every night, the starters need a blow.

* The Big East is giving Rick Jackson fits - better days are ahead for him - those better days are not now.

* That was a tough, tough loss at home. In a year or two they don't lose this game, but like most SU fans, for the past few years we've been waiting for next year (in football and basketball) and the wait is starting to kill me - waiting sucks.