Busting Brackets
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Syracuse Basketball: Takeaways from emphatic win over Seattle

By Rudi Richards

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: General view of the seat reserved for head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 23: General view of the seat reserved for head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils at the Carrier Dome on February 23, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 06: Joe Girard III #11 of the Syracuse Orange drives to the basket against the defense of Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at the Carrier Dome on November 6, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia defeated Syracuse 48-34. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – NOVEMBER 06: Joe Girard III #11 of the Syracuse Orange drives to the basket against the defense of Kihei Clark #0 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at the Carrier Dome on November 6, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia defeated Syracuse 48-34. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

1. Joseph Girard III is an absolute stud

Four-star recruit Joseph Girard III was always going to have pretty big expectations over his shoulders. Mr. New York is a title that is going to bring a lot of pressure to a guy who’s making the jump from high school to college basketball, especially when it’s in-state. Girard III had offers from plenty of big schools but ultimately decided to stay in New York and join the Orange.

This freshmen class is a solid one, for sure. It’s going to take some time to see how good they’re all going to be as college players, but it’s definitely a promising group. Losing out on projected lottery pick Isaiah Stewart to Washington was a big loss in terms of Syracuse’s ceiling this season. But what ‘Cuse does have is a bunch of capable players who’ll be able to give this side a competitive edge over the next few years.

Girard III played a total of 41 minutes over ‘Cuse’s first two games of the season. He shot 3-12 from the field. Not a fantastic start, scoring-wise – what he’s known for. But it was his game off the ball and his shown potential of being a playmaker from the point guard spot which stood out for me. He showed he’s got that basketball IQ you need at the one spot, and he looked very confident leading the front of the 2-3 zone on the other end.

Against Seattle, Girard III made his mark on the college scene. The freshman made his first start, as Jim Boeheim was eager to get him in the game from the off, and it proved to be a great decision. Girard III led the Orange to their second win of the year as he scored 24 points in 31 minutes, missing just two shots on the night – a three-point attempt and a free throw. Going 7-8 from the field, Girard III showed efficiency and patience in his shot, which is exactly what this team needs from their point guard.

He led the Orange defense to another impressive performance as he recorded two steals, and set the tone on both ends for the Orange to steamroll ahead and never look back. Along with Elijah Hughes, Girard III is going to be very key to how this season turns out, and how this program goes on to do over the next number of seasons.

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