#14 Indiana State vs #3 Syracuse

[Bluejay09Bear06]

Not a good matchup, at all. Recall that UNI, at full strength, got blown out by Syracuse by 22 points. At this point, I'd settle for a respectable loss but am bracing for a rout. My heart hopes the Trees prove us wrong and pull off the upset, but my mind is not being so optimistic.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Syracuse 10.5 point favorite

Wowzer. Vegas giving money away these days.

[dgreenwell3]

Not a good matchup, at all. Recall that UNI, at full strength, got blown out by Syracuse by 22 points. At this point, I'd settle for a respectable loss but am bracing for a rout. My heart hopes the Trees prove us wrong and pull off the upset, but my mind is not being so optimistic.

Not to give the trees some sort of rebuttle but ISU did crush that very same UNI team by 25 points. just sayin'

[Bluejay09Bear06]

Not to give the trees some sort of rebuttle but ISU did crush that very same UNI team by 25 points. just sayin'

You're right, and that's a fair point. UNI did have some uncharacteristically off night (getting blown out @ INSU and losing @ SIU), and hopefully Syracuse was one of them. Not enough to make me excited about this matchup, though.

[valleychamp]

Not a good matchup, at all. Recall that UNI, at full strength, got blown out by Syracuse by 22 points. At this point, I'd settle for a respectable loss but am bracing for a rout. My heart hopes the Trees prove us wrong and pull off the upset, but my mind is not being so optimistic.

A) it was at Syracuse
B) it was the first game of the year
C) ISU beat UNI twice

[dgreenwell3]

Good point Valley Champ...I think this will be alot more competitve than everyone seems to think because you have to take into account how much better we have played the last part of the season...we won our last six...I think our backcourt matches up really well against the cuse...their zone is crazy good but we dont need to rain the three we need to get to that high elbow like we did this with regularity...

[PowderBlue]

I think it is games like this that'll make CBS regret how they are now spreading games out across four networks. In a normal year this would be the sort of game that would only be appearing in Indiana and upstate New York after about the under 12 media timeout in the first half when the Cuse have amassed an insurmountable lead. I say Cuse by 20 or so, I think that they could well win by a lot more if Boeheim keeps his foot on the pedal though, but he won't. It'll be an embarassing moment for the Valley, but hopefully those Valley teams still alive in the other three tourneys can do their part to make the league look good.

I'm trying to wrap my head around this post. How will this game being on TruTV make CBS regret how they're spreading things around? Also, I have a feeling that all the channels will give notice when games are ending so that people can change stations as they see fit. Aside from the obvious bitter dig at another Valley team...which is pretty silly at this point, you just dig yourself a bigger hole later. People with basketball knowledge already know the Valley is down this year. How is losing to Syracuse by 20 or so any more embarrassing for the league than when UNI lost to them by that much earlier this season? I honestly think it will be closer to the 12-14 point range when it's all said and done, but my fan-dom won't let me give up hope for an upset.

I also enjoy the part where you talk about the Valley teams still alive in the other three tourneys doing their part to make the league look good. YOU GOT BEAT TWICE BY THE TEAM THAT'S IN THE TOURNAMENT. Half of your own fan base (and others in the Valley) don't think the NIT/CBI/CIT matter in any way in terms of respect for a team or conference. I don't personally agree with them, but obviously I'm in the minority.

I'm hopeful that you'll get over the fact that ISU beat MSU. I'm hopeful that you'll realize that we do have a good team this year, even if we lose to Syracuse on Friday. I think my hope is misguided, but I have it nonetheless.

I hope you all pummel Murray State and meet Wichita in MSG.

[Wizkid]

I'll be pulling for the Trees come Friday. Hope they just keep it close. Thats all you can hope for from a 14 seed, pulling off the win would just be gravy. IDK how any other fan base can bang on the trees if they lose by 10 or 15 though. A. The trees probably are going to fair as well as any of the other teams in the valley would against the orangemen. They are a very good team! B. If people are so embrassed by the trees then their team shouldnt of lost to them in the tournament.

I predict about a 12-15 point loss and im ok with that. This is a very down year in the valley and the trees have to play a very good team in the first round. Wont make me think any less of them come next year and it wont take anything away from what they have already done this season.

[BirdmanBB]

I'll be rooting for the trees as well, but I should also say that I have Syracuse going to the elite 8.

[SycamorePsycho]

I agree with the majority of the folks on here in the fact that it is going to be a very, very tough game for the Trees. My heart wants to see a win but in reality I just hope they keep it close.....just remember folks it is March and ANYTHING can happen! Go Sycamores!!!