Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Height advantage leads to 3 Syracuse double-doubles
By John Clayton
Posted: 3/6/08, 12:59 AM EST Section: Sports
Just four days earlier, Pittsburgh's 12 offensive rebounds had played a role in allowing the Panthers to keep it close in the first half.
There were no such problems Wednesday. Syracuse had more rebounds by halftime (32) than it did the entire game against the Panthers. It also allowed just seven offensive boards and seven second-chance points to the Pirates.
And if at any point his players forgot to crash the boards, Boehiem was quick to offer a reminder.
He substituted out Onuaku less than three minutes into the game, incensed that the SU center hadn't battled hard enough for a potential rebound.
"He had 14 rebounds. He's got to do that," Boeheim said. "If he's content with getting four rebounds, we can't win that way. He's gotta be more aggressive and he was, maybe I should have taken him out more."
That aggressiveness translated to the offensive end as well for Onuaku, who all night was featured prominently in the Syracuse offense. He added 17 points going against an overmatched Garcia, SU's second-highest point total behind only Greene, who added 19.
Garcia, meanwhile, had just four points on 2-of-3 from the field to go along with a team-high nine rebounds.
The night resulted in perhaps the SU frontcourt's best all-around effort of the season. It was no doubt the performance Boeheim and his staff expected going against such a smaller opponent.
"That's what happens when you play a smaller team," Onuaku said. "Coach just told us '(Go) to the boards.' So me, Donte and Kris just tried to go up and get every rebound."
jsclayto@syr.edu
There were no such problems Wednesday. Syracuse had more rebounds by halftime (32) than it did the entire game against the Panthers. It also allowed just seven offensive boards and seven second-chance points to the Pirates.
And if at any point his players forgot to crash the boards, Boehiem was quick to offer a reminder.
He substituted out Onuaku less than three minutes into the game, incensed that the SU center hadn't battled hard enough for a potential rebound.
"He had 14 rebounds. He's got to do that," Boeheim said. "If he's content with getting four rebounds, we can't win that way. He's gotta be more aggressive and he was, maybe I should have taken him out more."
That aggressiveness translated to the offensive end as well for Onuaku, who all night was featured prominently in the Syracuse offense. He added 17 points going against an overmatched Garcia, SU's second-highest point total behind only Greene, who added 19.
Garcia, meanwhile, had just four points on 2-of-3 from the field to go along with a team-high nine rebounds.
The night resulted in perhaps the SU frontcourt's best all-around effort of the season. It was no doubt the performance Boeheim and his staff expected going against such a smaller opponent.
"That's what happens when you play a smaller team," Onuaku said. "Coach just told us '(Go) to the boards.' So me, Donte and Kris just tried to go up and get every rebound."
jsclayto@syr.edu
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