Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Thabeet's 7 blocks stifle Syracuse's inside game
By Matt Gelb
Posted: 2/7/08, 12:39 AM EST Section: Sports
The sheets of paper were taped to every Syracuse player's locker. A scouting report on Connecticut's players, written by guard Jake Presutti. In some cases, there were portions bolded in the two-line briefs on each opponent.
For Hasheem Thabeet, "Great shot blocker" was not bolded. Maybe that's because Syracuse didn't need to be told that.
"Yeah, it's right there," guard Paul Harris said, shaking his head with a smirk.
Everyone in the Syracuse locker room said they knew what was in store from Thabeet. ("I thought Thabeet was going to be a monster," Donte Greene said. "I saw the same thing you all saw, he was blocking shots," Arinze Onuaku mumbled.)
Thabeet was a dominating force in UConn's 63-61 victory over the Orange Wednesday night. In the second half, the 7-foot-3 sophomore center blocked five Syracuse shots and had six rebounds.
And his presence down low caused Syracuse to be too tentative driving to the hoop.
"We didn't take the ball to the rim enough and allowed the shot blocker to have an opportunity to do what he does," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "He's a tremendous shot blocker, and we just didn't react to that well."
Thabeet finished with seven blocks, eight rebounds and six points.
In 30 minutes, Onuaku had six points and six rebounds. Rick Jackson played 13 minutes without a point or a rebound. The Huskies' big forward Jeff Adrien registered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, playing one of the best games of his career, UConn head coach Jim Calhoun said.
But Thabeet stuck out.
"He's such a difference maker," Calhoun added.
In actuality, it was Calhoun's mastermind plan that contributed to the sparkling effort by Thabeet against the Syracuse scorers. Playing primarily only five players, Calhoun said his team played more zone than he remembers any of his teams playing in the last four years.
Calhoun praised the defensive effort, but Harris thinks the change in defensive schemes was merely a trap.
For Hasheem Thabeet, "Great shot blocker" was not bolded. Maybe that's because Syracuse didn't need to be told that.
"Yeah, it's right there," guard Paul Harris said, shaking his head with a smirk.
Everyone in the Syracuse locker room said they knew what was in store from Thabeet. ("I thought Thabeet was going to be a monster," Donte Greene said. "I saw the same thing you all saw, he was blocking shots," Arinze Onuaku mumbled.)
Thabeet was a dominating force in UConn's 63-61 victory over the Orange Wednesday night. In the second half, the 7-foot-3 sophomore center blocked five Syracuse shots and had six rebounds.
And his presence down low caused Syracuse to be too tentative driving to the hoop.
"We didn't take the ball to the rim enough and allowed the shot blocker to have an opportunity to do what he does," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "He's a tremendous shot blocker, and we just didn't react to that well."
Thabeet finished with seven blocks, eight rebounds and six points.
In 30 minutes, Onuaku had six points and six rebounds. Rick Jackson played 13 minutes without a point or a rebound. The Huskies' big forward Jeff Adrien registered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, playing one of the best games of his career, UConn head coach Jim Calhoun said.
But Thabeet stuck out.
"He's such a difference maker," Calhoun added.
In actuality, it was Calhoun's mastermind plan that contributed to the sparkling effort by Thabeet against the Syracuse scorers. Playing primarily only five players, Calhoun said his team played more zone than he remembers any of his teams playing in the last four years.
Calhoun praised the defensive effort, but Harris thinks the change in defensive schemes was merely a trap.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Marc LeVine
posted 2/07/08 @ 4:21 PM EST
Arinze got schooled by Thabeet this time around. Thabeet is a very good 7'3" defensive center. Onuaka, hopefully, learned something from the encounter. (Continued…)
Marc LeVine
posted 2/07/08 @ 4:22 PM EST
Arinze got schooled by Thabeet this time around. Thabeet is a very good 7'3" defensive center. Onuaka, hopefully, learned something from the encounter. (Continued…)
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