6 North Carolina @ Syracuse
Syracuse Orange
C DaJuan Coleman: 6
F Tyler Roberson: 7
F Malachi
Richardson: 7
G Trevor Cooney: 9.3
G Michael Gbinije:
4.5
F Tyler Lydon: 5.7
G Franklin Howard:
N/A
Did
not play enough minutes to qualify.
Team Rating: 6.68
North Carolina Tarheels
F Joel James: 6.5
F Brice Johnson: 9
F Justin Jackson: 8
G Marcus Paige: 4
G Joel Berry II: 8
F Kennedy Meeks: 6.5
F Isaiah Hicks: 9.5
F Theo Pinson:4
G Nate Britt: 4
Team Rating: 6.83
Syracuse Orange 61 @ Pittsburgh Panthers 72
Syracuse
C DaJuan Coleman: 2
Coming
into this game, Coleman had enjoyed his two highest scoring
performances of the year (13 and 14 point efforts), while shooting a
combined 9-10 from the field. Unfortunately, he had a dreadful game
against Pittsburgh. Coleman struggled to stay on the court. He was
constantly in foul trouble, and was dismissed from the game with five
fouls with more than six minutes remaining. He scored just two
points, but most egregiously he had only one rebound, while playing
seventeen minutes. Pittsburgh went on to out-rebound Syracuse 43:25,
and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds. This has been a struggle for
Syracuse all season. Coleman is a big bodied center who should be
capable of defending the defensive glass better, but he was beaten by
Pittsburgh's frontcourt numbers, the athleticism of Pittsburgh
forwards (Young and Artis), and did not get enough help from
teammates. Syracuse is going to need to find a way to improve in the
rebounding department. Coleman also scored just two points this game.
F Tyler Roberson:
7.5
If
there was a highlight for Syracuse this game, it was provided by
Tyler Roberson. Roberson scored 15 points, shooting 7-12 from the
field. Roberson did not take many jump shots this game, but did very
well off the dribble—the best I've seen him off the dribble. There
was one moment where he beat Jamel Artis off the dribble from the
high post, and spinning in the paint that looked sensational. Artis
is a tough defensive matchup, if Roberson can beat him off the
dribble, then I think Roberson should be given more scoring
opportunities. Roberson also had three blocks. On the negative side,
Roberson averages 8.1 rebounds per game, and fell short of his
average this game (he had seven), and four of his rebounds were on
the offensive end. Normally, I'd applaud the offensive rebounds, but
it just shows that he was ineffective helping Syracuse manage
Pittsburgh's own offensive rebounds.
F Malachi
Richardson: 5
On
the bright side, Richardson shot 4-7, a nice clip, scoring ten
points. He also looked good with the ball in his hands, and made a
really pretty assist off the dribble. However, he doesn't have the
same swagger he had when the season began. He does not seem as
confident on offense, and is far less assertive. He shot only 1-4
from 3pt range, and he is shooting just 26% from beyond the arc on
the season. He also managed just one rebound, and he is a big
rebounding liability when on the floor. Hopkins often opted to play
Coleman-Lydon-Roberson together when he could this game; luckily for
Richardson, he didn't often get the chance due to foul trouble from
Coleman and Lydon. Richardson is a big x-factor for the Orange moving
forward. He could give them another great shooter, with high energy,
and versatility. Or, he could continue to be a streaky shooter, with
fading confidence, who plays average at best defense, with little to
no rebounding ability.
G Trevor Cooney: 6.5
First
and foremost, the thing I love most about Cooney following this game
is how waits to run up the floor in transition until he knows the
ball is secure. Pittsburgh was killing Syracuse on the offensive
boards, so Cooney, after each Panthers shot, moved to the top of the
key to wait for a potential long rebound. Cooney ended up with five
defensive rebounds (six overall)--which were more defensive
rebounds than any other Syracuse player. Cooney was only 3-8 from
the field, but all of his made shots came from 3pt range, and he made
six of eight free throws. He scored 15 total points, which was a team
high along with Roberson.
G Michael Gbinije: 4
Gbinije's
decision making at the end of the game was terrible. He took shots
way too early in the shot clock. Richardson made a three with about
three minutes to go to bring Syracuse to within one point. Syracuse
then proceeded to turn the ball over four times in the final three
minutes; Gbinije himself turned the ball over twice. Syracuse was 0-2
in that span. They ended up losing by eleven points, despite being
down by only one with three minutes to go. So, somehow Syracuse only
got two shots off in the final three minutes, and turned the ball
over four times. I'm pointing my finger on the man with the ball,
Gbinije. The senior shot just 4-12 from the field, 1-4 from 3pt
range, and just 5-10 from the free throw line. He also grabbed just
three rebounds, and turned the ball over four times, again, twice in
the final three minutes. Sure, he had seven assists. Congrats. But,
none of those came when the game was on the line.
F Tyler Lydon: 4
Yes,
Lydon is as much responsible for Syracuse's inability to grab
defensive rebounds as Coleman, or anyone else, maybe even more so
because he played 30 minutes. However, what struck me most about
Lydon's performance was the number of shots he passed up. Some of
those led to assists of which he had three. But, it really bothered
me that he refused to be a more active shooter in this game. Lydon
attempted just three shots, and made one. He missed his only 3pt
attempt. Lydon hasn't been a high volume shooter, but he should be
taking more than just one shot for every ten minutes he spends on the
court. Lydon had four fouls in this game. Hopkins wanted to play
bigger against Pittsburgh, but was only able to for a couple of
minutes due to fouls. It would have been interesting to see if that
strategy could have paned out for the Orange, and if he turns to it
again next game.
G Franklin Howard:
N/A
Team Rating: 5.15
Syracuse
probably played better than this rating—and the final
score—indicates, especially the first seventeen minutes of the
game. Gbinije, Lydon, and Coleman all received the lowest ratings I
have given them this season (through the ten games I've covered). I
could be hard on them all merely because of the bile like taste I
have in my mouth even a day after watching the ending of this game.
Pittsburgh
F Rafael Maia: 6
F Michael Young: 8
F Jamel Artis: 9
G Sterling Smith:
3.5
G James Robinson: 5
F Sheldon Jeter: 7.5
G Chris Jones: 7
F Alonzo
Nelson-Ododa: N/A
F Cameron Johnson:
N/A
G Damon Wilson: N/A
Team Rating: 6.78
SYRACUSE ORANGE
C DaJuan Coleman: 4
Coleman
only played 15 minutes. He got into foul trouble early, and
eventually fouled out. This game I had earmarked as a tough game for
Syracuse's interior defense due to the size and skill of Tonye
Jekiri, but Jekiri actually had a down game, taking only five shots.
Coleman was 2-4 for four points, and also had four rebounds.
F Tyler Roberson: 6
Roberson
had a really tough game shooting, as did the majority of players on
both teams. He shot just 2-9 from the field, scoring five points.
Roberson continues to struggle especially from mid range, and has
almost completely stopped taking shots away from the basket. The
junior doesn't need to be a great jump shooter, but it does add an
extra wrinkle to his game, and makes him a more versatile scoring
threat. Roberson led all players with eleven rebounds though. He had
five on the offensive end, and six defensive rebounds. Eleven rebound
for Roberson is pretty impressive playing against really good
rebounders Jekiri and Kamari Murphy.
F Malachi
Richardson: 9
Malachi
Richardson enjoyed his best game for Syracuse against Miami. I wrote
concerning Richardson during the Pittsburgh game that he was lacking
in confidence, and wasn't showing the same swagger he displayed at
the beginning of the season. He regained his confidence very early in
this game. Richardson shot 7-15, but FIVE for SIX from 3pt range. He
shot confidently at every opportunity, and for the first time I
viewed Richardson as a player that can lead a very good team.
Richardson also made an intentional effort to stay back, and grab
defensive rebounds (clearly, the coaching staff had made this a
priority for him—and others—between this game and the Pittsburgh
game). He finished the game with six. Richardson also did a nice job
while taking on more ball handling responsibility.
G Trevor Cooney: 5
Cooney
struggled shooting just 2-7, and 1-5 from beyond the arc. He scored
just five points. Cooney took less shots differing to the hot
Richardson. Cooney even spent a rare five minutes on the bench, and
sat while Syracuse played big, moving Richardson to shooting guard.
Personally, I think Cooney is a really good role player, but he has
been expected to be more than that, and thus, has been disappointing.
G Michael Gbinije: 3
Michael
Gbinije is the best thing going for Syracuse this season, and the
worst. He's been averaging 18 points per game, while shooting 45.6%
from the field, and 40.8% from three point range. He is also
averaging almost five assists per game. However, he has consistently
made a mess of running the offense when the game on the line. Against
Miami, Gbinije shot just 3-14, and was 0-7 from 3pt range. Sure, he
grabbed six rebounds, and had four assists. But he also turned the
ball over EIGHT times. EIGHT! Including three times in the final four
minutes. Sigh. Syracuse could really use a legit point guard. (which
they won't get next year since the rumors of Syracuse promising Tyus
Battle the point guard position persist).
F Tyler Lydon: 6.5
Lydon
hasn't taken many shots any game this year. But he now seems more
tentative than selective. He made two of four shots, and was one of
three from the 3pt line. He scored seven total points. Lydon also had
ten rebounds, and led all players with nine—of the all
important—defensive rebounds. Lydon also was not exposed
defensively by Jekiri, like I thought he would.
C Chinoso Obokoh:
5.5
Obokoh
played ten minutes this game because Coleman was constantly in foul
trouble, and Syracuse chose to play big. Obokoh played decent
defense. I still believe he is Syracuse's best rim protector. He had
two rebounds, both offensive, and did not attempt a shot.
G Kaleb Joseph: N/A
Team Rating: 5.68
MIAMI HURRICANES
C Tonye Jekiri: 3
F Kamari Murphy: 7
G Davon Reed: 3.5
G Sheldon McClellan:
8
G Angel Rodriguez: 3
F Ivan Cruz Uceda: 5
G Ja'Quan Newton: 9
G James Palmer: 5
F Anthony Lawrence:
N/A
Team Rating: 5.55
SYRACUSE ORANGE
C Dajuan Coleman:
3.5
F Tyler Roberson: 7
F Malachi
Richardson: 8
G Trevor Cooney: 6.5
G Michael Gbinije: 6
F Tyler Lydon: 5
Team Rating: 6.43
CLEMSON TIGERS
C Landry Nnoko: 9
F Jaron Blossomgame:
7.5
F Donte Gratham: 5
G Jordan Roper: 6
G Avry Holmes: 6.5
C Sidy Djitte: 6.5
G Gabe DeVoe: 8
G Ty Hudson: N/A
Team Rating: 6.88
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