News and Notes: Syracuse's Continued BE Struggles, UConn and Creighton Emerging, Early Impacts from Souley Boum and Tristen Newton, Most Efficient Scorers in the Big East, and more
1. With a 76-69 overtime loss to St. John’s at the Empire Classic on Wednesday night, Syracuse dropped to 4-9 against the Big East since the league realigned in 2013. The Orange (who finished 16-17 last season) have now lost four straight to the Johnnies, while two of their four wins against the Big East have come against struggling Georgetown in recent years.
Syracuse has certainly had NCAA Tournament success since its break from the Big East, reaching the second weekend three times and the Final Four in 2016.
The regular season hasn’t been as kind to them. Syracuse was a top four seed in the NCAA Tournament in every season from 2009-2014, but in their four tournament appearances since 2016 their seeds have been: 10, 11, 8, and 11. They are two games over .500 in ACC play since going 14-4 in their first year in the league in 2014.
Sunday morning update: After publication of this article, the Orange fell to Bryant, 73-72, on a last-second floater by Sherif Gross-Bullock. The game included the ejections of Syracuse’s Judah Mintz and Bryant’s Doug Edert (plus a host of assistant coaches) after the two exchanged slaps in the first half.
Jim Boeheim was not happy with Bryant coach Jared Grasso following the game:
2. It could be a lot worse, of course. Boston College hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2009, and have finished above .500 overall just twice since firing Al Skinner in 2010. One of those years came in Steve Donahue’s first season (with Skinner’s players), while the closest they have come to finishing .500 in league play came during 7-11 campaigns in 2013 and 2018.
The Eagles are 4-2 this season, with losses to Maine and Tarleton State.
3. Pittsburgh reached the NCAA Tournament in eleven of its final twelve seasons in the Big East. They were ranked in the AP Top 10 in eleven of those seasons.
Jamie Dixon led them to two NCAA Tournaments in his three years in the ACC, before moving on to TCU.
Since then, the Panthers are 25-85 in ACC play, including an 0-18 mark in 2018.