Word is that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow. That suggests an earlier end to winter, and opens a day of big opportunity in Orange sports. Men's basketball, ranked #17, looks to snap a four-game losing streak at #6 Connecticut and Doug Marrone and his staff bring in an exciting crop of recruits.

Other than the coaches, few of us can speak with any real credibility on the potential impact of these newcomers. So I won't try. 

It's clear, though, that the program is better positioned to haul in prime recruits than it has been in any time in recent memory. Life (not just college) plans tailored for each student-athlete, actively improving facilities, bowl win momentum and enticing future schedules have armed a staff capable of using those weapons.

Stars and rankings are arbitrary at best. The most encouraging signs are that the Orange are able to identify and land players that fit their definition of the proper Syracuse University football player and alum. Landing top players out of the City (New York offensive player-of-the-year Brandon Reddish and others), filling specific needs from nine other states (for instance, top Colorado running back Adonis Ameen-Moore) and winning recruits with interest from other Big East schools and regional rivals bodes well for continuing to win on the field.

Thanks for the questions, Seery. First the facts. This is the fourth four-game losing streak in Jim Boeheim's head coaching tenure. The others:

1/16-29/06      #3 UConn, @ #8 Nova, @ #12 Pitt, Hall      
                         Came after 12-game winning streak
2/24-3/6/02     G'town, @ Nova, BC, BET-Nova                    
                         Team started 16-2/5-0
2/11-23/92      @ #25 Hall, ND, @ St. John's, G'town         
                          Dropped the Orange from 10 to 22 in polls

We sometimes forget Syracuse Basketball did exist before James Arthur Boeheim. It just wasn't always distinguished by excellence. SU most recently lost five straight, actually six, as January 1969 turned into February. That was Roy Danforth's first season. Boeheim was then assisting the SU coaching staff while enjoying his most prolific winter as a player, pouring in 23.4 points a game for Scranton of the Eastern League.

The Orange once held the record for longest losing streak in major college basketball with 27 straight at the end of '60-61 and most of the '61-62 season, the end of the Marc Guley era.

With the importance the program holds in the community comes the hobby of stabbing at explanations for its recent skid. Tools available now – blogs and social media – allow those to be more creative and widespread in 2011 than they were in '06, '02 or '92. The guesses range from innocuous to sinister.

It's not as eye-catching to Tweet “They simply didn't play their best against two Top 7 opponents, laid an egg against hot Seton Hall and allowed three clutch 3s at Marquette.” BTW, that's 140 characters, LOL.

Can you imagine what VicHansonWasAnAbsoluteWizard.com would have written when the boys were 0-22 in '62?

I'm fortunate to be around the team more than most media members and all fans. The guys handle themselves and get along just as any other group of 10-15 college guys that practice and play under pressure, live, travel and eat together would. 

This is not, as they say in baseball, “25 players. 25 cabs.” The composition of personalities on the team now is the same as when it started the season 18-0.

In Case You Missed It: The annual Hardwood Club banquet, raising funds for the Conrad McRae Memorial Scholarship, will be Sunday, March 6 at OnCenter. Former all-Big East and NBA guard Jason Hart will be honored. Tables are available through the Orange Club, 443-1419.

Road Restaurant Report: In Milwaukee, Matt Roe and I crushed the Calderone Club. This was a suggestion from alum John Dever, but we quickly realized we'd actually eaten there before on a previous trip to play Marquette. Outstanding pizza, pasta and service. Walking distance from the team hotel. No more needs to be said.

This Weekend's Broadcasts:
Tonight/5:30 p.m.    TK99/ESPN 97.7    #17 MBB at #6 Connecticut
Tonight/6:15 p.m.    SNY                           Segment on Loudmouths
Tom./8:45 a.m.         TK99                         Free Parking with Gomez & Dave
Tom./5:00 p.m.         ESPN97.7                Guest spot on Disturbing the Peace
Tom./7:00 p.m.         TK99/ESPN97.7     AmeriCU Jim Boeheim Show
Sat./12:30 p.m.         TK99/ESPN97.7     MBB at South Florida

I'd be happy to field your questions on anything regarding the Orange. Shoot me an email to the Radio Mailbox.