Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Syracuse's man defense shines in 2nd half, shuts down Spiders
By Jared Diamond
Posted: 11/19/08, 1:31 AM EST Section: Sports
That's why at halftime the Orange vowed to clamp down, especially on Gonzalvez.
"He's a great player, but it's not too many times you can sit out there from 30 feet and keep hitting them all game," Flynn said. "Sooner or later, you have to cool down. We just tried to locate where he was at."
In the second half, the Orange had a man on Gonzalvez virtually at all times. Flynn and Devendorf alternated for much of the period playing him the full length of the court, trying to prevent Gonzalvez from ever touching the ball.
The strategy could not have worked better. In the game's final 20 minutes, Gonzalvez scored four points on 2-of-5 shooting for a total of 18. He took two more 3-pointers and missed both. Anderson scored six more points, finishing up with 15.
As the defensive pressure intensified, Gonzalvez became visibly frustrated, especially as Syracuse battled back into the game and started to extend its lead. Both of Gonzalvez's 3-point attempts were from several feet behind the line and heavily contested. When he penetrated, he looked to the officials for foul calls that never came.
Finally, with five minutes left and Syracuse up nine, he threw his elbow out and knocked Flynn to the floor for an offensive foul. Gonzalvez started to open his mouth to protest, then put his head down and trudged to the other end of the court.
"We got up on him and made him take tough shots," Devendorf said. "All the shots he had in the first half were uncontested. When you get a hand in the face, he couldn't get shots off."
Heading into the game, Devendorf said Syracuse had prepped for Richmond's tendency to use backdoor cuts to score easy layups. When Gonzalvez and Anderson got hot, SU had to change its defensive attack.
By shutting down Gonzalvez in the second half, the Orange showed an important characteristic that could prove valuable as the season continues: the ability to adjust on defense.
"We contested shots, got hands up in the face of the shooter and made it tough for them to make them," Devendorf said. "…It was good man-to-man pressure in the second half."
jediamon@syr.edu
"He's a great player, but it's not too many times you can sit out there from 30 feet and keep hitting them all game," Flynn said. "Sooner or later, you have to cool down. We just tried to locate where he was at."
In the second half, the Orange had a man on Gonzalvez virtually at all times. Flynn and Devendorf alternated for much of the period playing him the full length of the court, trying to prevent Gonzalvez from ever touching the ball.
The strategy could not have worked better. In the game's final 20 minutes, Gonzalvez scored four points on 2-of-5 shooting for a total of 18. He took two more 3-pointers and missed both. Anderson scored six more points, finishing up with 15.
As the defensive pressure intensified, Gonzalvez became visibly frustrated, especially as Syracuse battled back into the game and started to extend its lead. Both of Gonzalvez's 3-point attempts were from several feet behind the line and heavily contested. When he penetrated, he looked to the officials for foul calls that never came.
Finally, with five minutes left and Syracuse up nine, he threw his elbow out and knocked Flynn to the floor for an offensive foul. Gonzalvez started to open his mouth to protest, then put his head down and trudged to the other end of the court.
"We got up on him and made him take tough shots," Devendorf said. "All the shots he had in the first half were uncontested. When you get a hand in the face, he couldn't get shots off."
Heading into the game, Devendorf said Syracuse had prepped for Richmond's tendency to use backdoor cuts to score easy layups. When Gonzalvez and Anderson got hot, SU had to change its defensive attack.
By shutting down Gonzalvez in the second half, the Orange showed an important characteristic that could prove valuable as the season continues: the ability to adjust on defense.
"We contested shots, got hands up in the face of the shooter and made it tough for them to make them," Devendorf said. "…It was good man-to-man pressure in the second half."
jediamon@syr.edu
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