Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Defense allows season-low points
By John Clayton
Posted: 1/31/08, 1:50 AM EST Section: Sports
By then, a stagnant SU offense had managed to produce enough key baskets to take a five-point lead, and DePaul's best efforts in the waning minutes weren't enough to make up for its struggles in the earlier minutes.
The stats were telling of SU's defensive effort. After starting the game 12-of-22, the Blue Demons shot 12-of-47 for the rest of the game - a dismal 25.5 percent.
"We were just assertive," guard Jonny Flynn said. "It felt good to be that team that could come up with big stops. It felt good to be that team that could rely on the offense and when the offense isn't clicking well, fall back on defense and know you can get a stop. So, we've shown flashes of what we can do."
The defensive effort against DePaul was indicative of an SU defense that has improved since the start of the season. After giving 76.4 points per game in non-conference play, the Orange has allowed 69.4 points per game in the Big East.
It's a new look for a Syracuse team that for the first half of the season had relied so much on a high-powered offense to win games.
"We've gotten better as the season's gone along defensively," Boeheim said. "I think that's a big reason why we've played better. Early in the year, we were much better on offense, and we weren't playing much defense."
The stats were telling of SU's defensive effort. After starting the game 12-of-22, the Blue Demons shot 12-of-47 for the rest of the game - a dismal 25.5 percent.
"We were just assertive," guard Jonny Flynn said. "It felt good to be that team that could come up with big stops. It felt good to be that team that could rely on the offense and when the offense isn't clicking well, fall back on defense and know you can get a stop. So, we've shown flashes of what we can do."
The defensive effort against DePaul was indicative of an SU defense that has improved since the start of the season. After giving 76.4 points per game in non-conference play, the Orange has allowed 69.4 points per game in the Big East.
It's a new look for a Syracuse team that for the first half of the season had relied so much on a high-powered offense to win games.
"We've gotten better as the season's gone along defensively," Boeheim said. "I think that's a big reason why we've played better. Early in the year, we were much better on offense, and we weren't playing much defense."
Be the first to comment on this story