Syracuse Basketball: Key takeaways from imposing win over Pittsburgh
2. Getting going offensively right from the off
The big worry for Syracuse coming into the season was the offense. That side of the ball is the weakest is no surprise these days to this program, but looking at the roster you could tell it might be a tough year scoring-wise. It started off like that, and the struggles that they faced on the defensive end, early on had this season going only one way – and it wasn’t to the dance.
The Orange’s winning streak has turned that around, and this is due to the offense finally beginning to click and being able to string together periods of heavy scoring. Today was no different, as the Orange came out of the gates firing their way to a 30-10 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.
The only cause for concern from an offensive standpoint was the three-point shooting. The Orange only knocked down five threes in the entire game going 5-21 from beyond the arc, what let that slide though was the Panthers doing the same thing and matching those exact numbers. It was an obscure game with just the ten three-point shots falling, but it didn’t stop from keeping the scoreboard rolling as the Orange went 19-34 from inside, adding 16 points from the charity strike. Both teams found getting to the line easier than usual in a game which included 35 total fouls.
On a day where leading scorer Elijah Hughes struggled, totaling just 10-points, it was important that Boeheim kept up his form – which he did getting 21 – and that consistent scoring come from elsewhere – which it did with Marek Dolezaj and Guerrier becoming menaces in the paint – the two of them combined for 27-points and took 11 free throws between them, as Dolezaj was a perfect 7-7 from the line.
For the Orange turning up in the first half has to become a habit. If they are to continue getting wins against more tough conference opposition then it needs to start from the tip-off. Whether it’s field goals or getting themselves to the line, points need to come at a regular pace and it needs to start early.