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The Daily OrangeMBB | Syracuse's freshmen face biggest test yet vs. Ohio State
By John Clayton
Posted: 11/20/07, 9:32 PM EST Section: Sports
The Syracuse freshmen have been an integral part of Syracuse's success the first week of the season. Forward Donte Greene and guard Jonny Flynn have started all three games for Syracuse, with Greene the team's leading scorer at 19 points per game. Flynn, meanwhile, scored a freshman-debut record 28 points in his first game and hit a game-winning 3-pointer against St. Joseph's to book the Orange's Wednesday date at the Garden.
The result of the contributions of Flynn, Greene and fellow freshmen Rick Jackson and Scoop Jardine is a team in what Boeheim called "the best possible position" after three satisfying wins.
"Absolutely," Greene responded when asked if Syracuse had been tested this season. "The analyst on ESPN said it. There's a thin line between high D-I and mid-majors. It's so small because everybody's so talented and you have to be prepared to come out and play hard every game."
That confidence doesn't mean the Orange is a polished product quite yet. Boeheim has stressed in press conferences all week the areas his team needs to improve, most specifically consistency on defense. Wednesday night's showdown should provide a better measure of just how far along the young Syracuse team is.
The values of testing a team early in the season are not lost on Matta. Last year, Ohio State lost two early-season contests against top programs North Carolina and eventual national champion Florida, the latter a 26-point defeat.
Still, Matta found both games to be valuable experiences.
"Last year, going to Carolina without Oden and building decent-size lead and then squandering the lead, it's a great teaching tool," Matta said. "One of the great things for us last year was going to Florida and getting beaten the way we did.
"You learn different scenarios. You're thrust in there, playing the best players in the country. It's nothing but helps you in conference plays. You take the team and see, 'this is what we have to do differently.'"
Matta once again is relying on two freshmen starters, center Kofous, who is averaging 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Ohio State, and guard Jon Diebler. Matta went as far as to call the youthful Syracuse side "a lot like us."
It's a game that should provide the best glimpse into just how ready either side is for prime time.
"I wouldn't necessarily say (we have to) take it to a higher level, you just have to be smarter," Greene said. "Certain things you can't get away with playing a high major team … Little things on defense here and there. Offensively, it's going well though."
The result of the contributions of Flynn, Greene and fellow freshmen Rick Jackson and Scoop Jardine is a team in what Boeheim called "the best possible position" after three satisfying wins.
"Absolutely," Greene responded when asked if Syracuse had been tested this season. "The analyst on ESPN said it. There's a thin line between high D-I and mid-majors. It's so small because everybody's so talented and you have to be prepared to come out and play hard every game."
That confidence doesn't mean the Orange is a polished product quite yet. Boeheim has stressed in press conferences all week the areas his team needs to improve, most specifically consistency on defense. Wednesday night's showdown should provide a better measure of just how far along the young Syracuse team is.
The values of testing a team early in the season are not lost on Matta. Last year, Ohio State lost two early-season contests against top programs North Carolina and eventual national champion Florida, the latter a 26-point defeat.
Still, Matta found both games to be valuable experiences.
"Last year, going to Carolina without Oden and building decent-size lead and then squandering the lead, it's a great teaching tool," Matta said. "One of the great things for us last year was going to Florida and getting beaten the way we did.
"You learn different scenarios. You're thrust in there, playing the best players in the country. It's nothing but helps you in conference plays. You take the team and see, 'this is what we have to do differently.'"
Matta once again is relying on two freshmen starters, center Kofous, who is averaging 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Ohio State, and guard Jon Diebler. Matta went as far as to call the youthful Syracuse side "a lot like us."
It's a game that should provide the best glimpse into just how ready either side is for prime time.
"I wouldn't necessarily say (we have to) take it to a higher level, you just have to be smarter," Greene said. "Certain things you can't get away with playing a high major team … Little things on defense here and there. Offensively, it's going well though."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Nick
posted 11/21/07 @ 5:47 AM EST
Nice article... the Flynn/Greene combo is instantly the bread-and-butter for this team if they want to be "elite" and stay ranked for the entire season. (Continued…)
Marc LeVine
posted 11/21/07 @ 10:18 AM EST
This IS the first real test for the 'Cuse, though I must admit that Siena's nice upset of #20 Stanford brings a little added credibility to their current 3-0 record. (Continued…)
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