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The Daily OrangeMBB | Calhoun's gameplan holds Greene to season-low points
By John Clayton and Matt Gelb
Posted: 2/7/08, 12:40 AM EST Section: Sports
Donte Greene wasn't going to beat Connecticut on Wednesday. Jim Calhoun was going to make sure of that.
No matter which players he put on the floor, the Connecticut head coach went to extra lengths to make sure they kept a watchful eye on SU's top scorer.
"I think the reason Greene had a bad game, if you want to call it that, is because he has played very well." Calhoun said. "We knew where he was. If anyone got subbed who didn't know where he was, we would get everybody's attention that you will not play unless you know where Greene is."
Calhoun's strategy worked, and Greene produced his worst offensive outing in a Syracuse uniform. The freshman's eight points were a career low, and came on just 2-of-15 shooting. In the second half, Greene was 0-for-8 from the floor.
That drought couldn't have come at a worst time for a Syracuse offense that desperately needed a lift in the second half. Yet Greene was unable to find openings, anywhere on the court, whether from beyond the 3-point line or inside the paint.
"It's definitely hard," Greene said. "Having someone in your face all night…not being able to do anything because you have someone on you. It's difficult. It's frustrating."
Wednesday's outing was the culmination of what has been an inconsistent stretch for Greene. He's eclipsed the 20-point mark just once in the last eight games and has shot less than 30 percent in four of those games. This after he registered seven games of 20-plus points in non-conference play.
Greene maintains that he's getting good looks, it's just the same shots that went in earlier in the year aren't going in now.
"They just weren't falling," Greene said. "A lot of shots in and out. I don't know what it was."
Harris is comfortable
Two games with more than 20 points will do plenty for Paul Harris's confidence. In fact, he's declared himself a better player at the guard position he's occupied the past four games.
No matter which players he put on the floor, the Connecticut head coach went to extra lengths to make sure they kept a watchful eye on SU's top scorer.
"I think the reason Greene had a bad game, if you want to call it that, is because he has played very well." Calhoun said. "We knew where he was. If anyone got subbed who didn't know where he was, we would get everybody's attention that you will not play unless you know where Greene is."
Calhoun's strategy worked, and Greene produced his worst offensive outing in a Syracuse uniform. The freshman's eight points were a career low, and came on just 2-of-15 shooting. In the second half, Greene was 0-for-8 from the floor.
That drought couldn't have come at a worst time for a Syracuse offense that desperately needed a lift in the second half. Yet Greene was unable to find openings, anywhere on the court, whether from beyond the 3-point line or inside the paint.
"It's definitely hard," Greene said. "Having someone in your face all night…not being able to do anything because you have someone on you. It's difficult. It's frustrating."
Wednesday's outing was the culmination of what has been an inconsistent stretch for Greene. He's eclipsed the 20-point mark just once in the last eight games and has shot less than 30 percent in four of those games. This after he registered seven games of 20-plus points in non-conference play.
Greene maintains that he's getting good looks, it's just the same shots that went in earlier in the year aren't going in now.
"They just weren't falling," Greene said. "A lot of shots in and out. I don't know what it was."
Two games with more than 20 points will do plenty for Paul Harris's confidence. In fact, he's declared himself a better player at the guard position he's occupied the past four games.
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