Spring Break
The Daily Orange4 things to keep in mind for SU
By Adam Kilgore
Posted: 12/5/03, 3:07 AM EST Section: Sports
Funny what a national championship can do for expectations.
Last year, Syracuse entered the season with little national hype (Imagine that: Carmelo Anthony, unknown) and no ranking. This season, Syracuse entered the season ranked No. 7 despite losing Anthony and senior leader Kueth Duany.
So far, the Orangemen haven't quite lived up to the hype. After losing their opener to Charlotte, they've allowed Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure to stick with them. How Syracuse, entering the meat of its non-conference schedule over Winter Break, performs over the next month will go a long way in proving how ready SU is to earn the preseason praise heaped on it.
"The key for us is these next three weeks," Boeheim said. "Last year, we were underrated. This year, we were overrated. I hope we can prove everybody right this year."
Here are four objectives for SU to accomplish in its nine games - all at the Carrier Dome - over Winter Break, beginning with Binghamton on Dec. 13 and concluding with Boston College on Jan. 10, if it wants to do so.
(BULLET) Beat the box-and-one: Last season, teams gladly gave Gerry McNamara, the an untested freshman, open looks at 3-pointers. This year, teams are gearing defenses to take them away.
Opponents have had success against SU's offense by slapping a box-and-one defense on McNamara. They can afford to sag four men in the lane - and, therefore, stick more men on Hakim Warrick in the post - because Josh Pace and Billy Edelin aren't threats shooting from outside.
Without forcing shots, Edelin and Pace could start attempting more outside jumpers, if for no other reason than to keep defenses honest.
Also, as time goes on, SU will adjust to the junk defenses.
"If you guard Gerry like everybody does, there are going to be some openings," Boeheim said.
(BULLET) Replace Kueth Duany: The talk surrounded replacing Anthony. But replacing last year's lone scholarship senior could be just as important.
Last year, Syracuse entered the season with little national hype (Imagine that: Carmelo Anthony, unknown) and no ranking. This season, Syracuse entered the season ranked No. 7 despite losing Anthony and senior leader Kueth Duany.
So far, the Orangemen haven't quite lived up to the hype. After losing their opener to Charlotte, they've allowed Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure to stick with them. How Syracuse, entering the meat of its non-conference schedule over Winter Break, performs over the next month will go a long way in proving how ready SU is to earn the preseason praise heaped on it.
"The key for us is these next three weeks," Boeheim said. "Last year, we were underrated. This year, we were overrated. I hope we can prove everybody right this year."
Here are four objectives for SU to accomplish in its nine games - all at the Carrier Dome - over Winter Break, beginning with Binghamton on Dec. 13 and concluding with Boston College on Jan. 10, if it wants to do so.
(BULLET) Beat the box-and-one: Last season, teams gladly gave Gerry McNamara, the an untested freshman, open looks at 3-pointers. This year, teams are gearing defenses to take them away.
Opponents have had success against SU's offense by slapping a box-and-one defense on McNamara. They can afford to sag four men in the lane - and, therefore, stick more men on Hakim Warrick in the post - because Josh Pace and Billy Edelin aren't threats shooting from outside.
Without forcing shots, Edelin and Pace could start attempting more outside jumpers, if for no other reason than to keep defenses honest.
Also, as time goes on, SU will adjust to the junk defenses.
"If you guard Gerry like everybody does, there are going to be some openings," Boeheim said.
(BULLET) Replace Kueth Duany: The talk surrounded replacing Anthony. But replacing last year's lone scholarship senior could be just as important.
