Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Syracuse's man defense limits Colgate to 13 points in 1st half
By Kyle Austin
Posted: 12/2/08, 3:43 AM EST Section: Sports
Before tip-off of Monday night's game, Syracuse guards Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf joked about trying to limit Colgate to 10 first-half points or fewer.
The funny part? They almost did. The Raiders didn't crack double-digits until there were six minutes left in the first half, and finished the half with only 13 points. By then, the No. 16 Orange was already up by 30, en route to an easy 86-51 win.
The Orange came out in the man-to-man defense and saw immediate results. After Flynn canned a 3 on the Orange's first possession, he pick-pocketed Colgate's Trevaron Vinson for an easy layup to put Syracuse up five just 36 seconds into the game.
It would be a recurring theme. Flynn recorded three steals in the first six minutes that led to three points. No. 16 Syracuse recorded nine first-half steals during a half of shutdown defense that disrupted any form of Colgate attack and never allowed the Raiders (2-3) to challenge.
"He was so all over the ball, they couldn't get into their offense," SU forward Paul Harris said of Flynn. "That led to so many transition baskets and dunks. It was a fun night for the team."
The Orange forced 15 first-half turnovers, and scored 13 points off of them, often having two players jet out on a fast break for an easy transition bucket. The Raiders, meanwhile, often couldn't get the ball past their perimeter players, and lost the points-in-the paint battle, 34-2.
"We were focused as well as we could be," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "I thought we were just sharp coming off of the games we had to play."
Colgate ended the first half on pace to score the fewest points ever by an SU opponent - 31 by Penn State in 1958 - after making only 5-of-29 field goals. But a quick start to the second half, 10 points in three minutes, prevented Colgate from earning that dubious distinction.
SU's defense relaxed after the break, as the Raiders would shoot 42 percent from the field, mostly against the Orange's second line.
The funny part? They almost did. The Raiders didn't crack double-digits until there were six minutes left in the first half, and finished the half with only 13 points. By then, the No. 16 Orange was already up by 30, en route to an easy 86-51 win.
The Orange came out in the man-to-man defense and saw immediate results. After Flynn canned a 3 on the Orange's first possession, he pick-pocketed Colgate's Trevaron Vinson for an easy layup to put Syracuse up five just 36 seconds into the game.
It would be a recurring theme. Flynn recorded three steals in the first six minutes that led to three points. No. 16 Syracuse recorded nine first-half steals during a half of shutdown defense that disrupted any form of Colgate attack and never allowed the Raiders (2-3) to challenge.
"He was so all over the ball, they couldn't get into their offense," SU forward Paul Harris said of Flynn. "That led to so many transition baskets and dunks. It was a fun night for the team."
The Orange forced 15 first-half turnovers, and scored 13 points off of them, often having two players jet out on a fast break for an easy transition bucket. The Raiders, meanwhile, often couldn't get the ball past their perimeter players, and lost the points-in-the paint battle, 34-2.
"We were focused as well as we could be," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. "I thought we were just sharp coming off of the games we had to play."
Colgate ended the first half on pace to score the fewest points ever by an SU opponent - 31 by Penn State in 1958 - after making only 5-of-29 field goals. But a quick start to the second half, 10 points in three minutes, prevented Colgate from earning that dubious distinction.
SU's defense relaxed after the break, as the Raiders would shoot 42 percent from the field, mostly against the Orange's second line.
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