The First Poll of the Hoops Season is Out!

You know we are getting closer to tip-off of the 2010/2011 Syracuse Men's Basketball season when the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll comes out. Syracuse pulled lucky number 13 in the rankings. This is a very respectable ranking to start the season, especially considering Syracuse lost three key components from last season's Sweet 16 squad. Also, with the lack of depth and experience at the center position it is a fair estimate of our preseason potential.

Although Syracuse should be pleased with their preseason spot in the poll, some of the teams ahead of the cuse are real head scratchers. Gonzaga #12? The team Syracuse beat soundly in the NCAA tournament's 2nd round. North Carolina #9? The very same team that missed the NCAA tournament last season and went 20-17. Ok, thats fair. They did real well with their preseason rank last season (4th). Florida is #11. We saw how Florida responded last season with a high early season ranking.

There are three other Big East teams in the preseason poll, Pittsburgh (4), Villanova (6) and Georgetown (21). Additionally, December 7th opponent in the Jimmy V Classic in New York City Michigan State is currently ranked #2 in the nation. That's a great opportunity for the Orangemen to splash onto the scene, just like they did last season when Syracuse beat then #4 UNC in the Garden to kick start their season.

Once again, the Big East Conference doesn't get the respect it deserves around the nation. This time by someone named Andy Glockner who works for Sports Illustrated. He ranks the Conferences: 1. Big Ten, 2. Big 12, and 3rd The Big East. Top to bottom there is no better conference than the Big East. Some of these Big 12 schools would never survive the 18 game conference schedule the Big East boasts.

You can count the "good" teams on one hand for the Big 10 and Big 12, you might need to start counting toes when looking at the Big East! When will the rest of the country just admit that there is no better basketball conference than the Big East? At least Glockner didn't say the ACC was better than the Big East because if he did I think my monitor would have exploded.

In other hoops news, tonight is the big MIDNIGHT MADNESS party in the Carrier Dome. Of course it's not at midnight. It will start at a much more socially acceptable time, 7:30PM. College kids don't stay up past midnight! Tickets to this event which will feature Naughty By Nature and the Harlem Wizards have sold out. However, since the tickets are free you might find some people with extras outside the Dome.

photo courtesy of syracuse.com

It's Midnight Madness!!

It's that time of year again. Time to kick off the Syracuse Basketball season in style! Midnight Madness has been scheduled for October 22nd at the Carrier Dome. The events of Midnight Madness kick off in true Syracuse style at 7:30PM, a more politically correct time, rather than at midnight. Maybe we can think of a different name? The Syracuse Atheltic's Department have already lined up great entertainment from the mid-1990s!

Performing live in the Carrier Dome for no reason I can comprehend will be Naughty by Nature! The group will start the evening with a performance before the assembled basketball fans, and there will also be an appearance by someone named Marcus Canty. He is allegedly a singer who has performed at Showtime at the Apollo. No word on how many appearances he has made. I can confirm at least one visit in 2006.

That's quite the superstar lineup. But wait. There's more! The Harlem Wizards, not the Globetrotters, will be in the Dome as well along with their "Trick Hoopz and Alley Oops."

After these world class entertainers leave the court, fans will finally get to see the first glimpse of the 2010/2011 Men's and Woman's Basketball teams. Both squads will participate in scrimmages, a dunk contest, and a DANCE contest! Look for James Southerland to absolutely dominate the dance contest (53 second mark). I'm calling it now.

Tickets are free and can be picked up at the Carrier Dome box office, Schine Student Center, and various AmeriCU branches around the Syracuse area starting Wednesday October 13th. Read the official press release for details of those locations here. There is a four ticket limit per person.

In other Syracuse Basketball news, individual tickets went on sale today at 10:00AM. Go purchase them now online or by calling the Carrier Dome box office.

photo courtesy of syracuse.com