No. 1 Syracuse 80 - Bucknell 61: Christmas On Hanukkah
by Sean Keeley on Dec 20, 2011 10:42 PM EST
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PrintKris Joseph scored 17 points and Scoop Jardine added 14, as top-ranked Syracuse cruised past Bucknell, 80-61, at the Carrier Dome.
Rakeem Christmas had his best game since joining SU with10 point, five rebounds and two blocks in 14 minutes of action.
Fab Melo posted eight points and nine rebounds for the well-balanced Orange, who improved to 12-0 for the third straight season and saw 10 players score in the rout.
The Orange got off to a quick start, opening an 11-4 edge on Dion Waiters' jumper 6 and a half minutes in. Four straight from James Southerland, the last three on a straight-on trey pushed the home team's advantage to double digits at 19-8.
Speaking of Dion, Mr. Sixth Starter played only ten minutes. Cause for concern? Hardly.
"No he's fine," Boeheim said about D.W. "We wanted to give Michael some opportunity. It was a good opportunity for Michael to get some time.
— Jared E. Smith (@JaredSmithCNY) December 21, 2011
Speaking of MCW, he played 22 minutes and garnered six points, four assists and three turnovers. Four of those six points came from the free thrown line.
Pretty much everyone played...except Mookie Jones. It's the second time Mookie has been passed over for the walk-ons and I'm not sure if Boeheim is trying to send a message there or not.
Boeheim was really happy with Rak's performance, though he'd like to see a little more physicality out of the freshman:
Boeheim also said that Rakeem Christmas needs to be tougher like he was 2nite. Said, Xmas is a nice kid, but more of an edge on the court.
— Jared E. Smith (@JaredSmithCNY) December 21, 2011
Syracuse made 52.8 percent of its shots, including eight treys, and held Bucknell to a 37.3 field goal percentage.
For the final word on the game, we turn to James Arthur:
"We’re a pretty good offensive team. I think people are worried about that and I’m not sure why. We’re a pretty good offensive team. We made some shots the other night, we made some shots tonight, and I think we can make more shots. It was good to get Michael in there and it was good for Rakeem Christmas too. Rakeem got off to a great start and I thought he was very good and very productive. He’s learning, but I thought tonight he did some really good things. I thought Fab Melo rebounded well.
"Again, everyone is not going to play well every night. James Southerland had a couple of looks he missed. C.J. Fair had a couple opportunities that he didn’t convert, but he made a couple good plays. Everyone is not going to play well every night. The one guy we need to have out there every night is Kris Joseph. I think Scoop Jardine is another guy we need to have there, but when someone is off, someone else can pick it up. I thought Fab was very good tonight. Again, they have a good team. Their big guy is good."
Up next for the Orange are the Tulane Green Wave, who come to town on Thursday for the final non-con game of the year. Fingers crossed for Mookie, hope he gets a few minutes.
For more on this game, check out the SB Nation NY wrap, Syracuse.com recap and Daily Orange report.
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Figured Waiters & Triche...
Sat to give MCW minutes. After Thursday, he probably won’t see as much time as he has the past few games. Boeheim has sat all 3 veteran guards for long portions so far this year. Wasn’t too worried about it, but the game lacks a certain excitement without a Waiters steal and dunk. Tonight was shaky (for a few minutes anyway), but I think you have the time of year (holidays, finals, no students, etc) catching up a bit. Hopefully they can bring it against Tulane and they go to BE play with a perfect mark.
Mookie
According to Matt Park on the radio before the game, Mookie was not going to be in attendance to deal with a personal matter.
He was definitely there on the bench tonight
I believe I read (after he didn’t get in the last game) that he and Boeheim agreed that it wasn’t “proper” to put a scholarship guy in with all the walk-ons. I don’t know how much of that is true ‘agreement’ vs how much is Mookie ‘toeing the company line’ but I hope it’s more the former. I am not sure where I fall in this argument — is it more insulting for an upperclass scholarship player to only play alongside walk-ons, or to not play at all? Whatever the situation, Mookie at least seems to be enjoying himself at the games, he is very supportive of his teammates.
http://cusecountry.com
Personally
I’d much rather play then not play. I’m sure this is something that Mookie and Boehiem agreed on or at least talked about. I couldnt imagine getting passed over by walk-ons over and over and not have a conversation with the coach
by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Dec 21, 2011 9:15 AM EST up reply actions
I dunno
I mean, Mookie has never, and will never, play a meaningful minute of basketball sicne he got to Syracuse. He prolly holds the career record for DNP-Coach’s Decision for a scholarship player. If not playing bothered him, he would have transferred long ago.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Dec 21, 2011 9:52 AM EST up reply actions
Well
thats why I said “personally”. I’d never have a chance to understand what goes on in the complex mind of the Mook
by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Dec 21, 2011 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Nah, he got some run on the team two years ago interestingly
I remember the game at Rutgers he got a lot of run with the team of Wes, Andy, Arinze, etc.
http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/
Just looked up the stats
22 minutes, 11 points.
Yet, that was Rutgers. Anything is possible against them.
http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/
The general practice is to ask the scholarship players who haven’t gotten in if they want some run before the walk-ons go out. I think Mookie is just content letting the walk-ons get minutes in those situations.
by Dan Lyons on Dec 21, 2011 1:33 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Felt like there was more to it with Waiters
He seemed pretty pissed when he got benched in the 2nd half and it appeared some words may have been exchanged? It at least seemed that way on TV.
Man, I hope that wasn't the case
If he was pissed he didn’t show it on Twitter:
@dionwaiters3
Great win fellas… It was good to see my Lil bro mike out there hoopin.. Nd the whole team on to the next I’m happy for @R_Xmas25 #salute
It's the most bullshit thing I've seen in thirty years.
by Girardi Party on Dec 20, 2011 11:35 PM EST up reply actions
Thought the same thing in the Florida game
But, figured part was Scoop taking over. But, Dion has had that ‘look’ a few times and he reminds me a lot of Paul Harris. Well, reminds me of Harris in just that one thing. Hard to say with Waiters.
by orangetundra on Dec 20, 2011 11:39 PM EST up reply actions
Waiters wasnt having a great night
MIN REB (O/D) AST FG-A FT-A 3P-A PF ST TO BLK PTS
Waiters 10 2 (1/1) 0 2-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 4
Thats ok, he is still getting there, having those explosive nights then getting quiet for a couple games.
Twitter:
Someone asked if he was injured and he said Yea nothin serious
Born in '87, Orange fan since '86
I guess I made a twitter, follow @StealthTurkey
by StealthTurkey on Dec 21, 2011 12:43 PM EST up reply actions
Tomaszewski hit another three!
5/5 from long range on the season, I believe. The starters went nuts on the bench when that happened, even more so than a typical walk-on bucket.
It's the most bullshit thing I've seen in thirty years.
Id love to see what he could do with a little more time on the court
Its a shame, he really seems to be able to sink them pretty well.
Eh
He’s a walk on for a reason. I recall this coming up in another thread awhile ago. Yeah, he can shoot the lights out. But so can Southie, who also has a 36 in vertical leap.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Dec 21, 2011 10:01 AM EST up reply actions
True
yeah like I said its a shame, maybe hes pretty one dimensional, but Id love to see him drop 3s in one game when no one else is hot from beyond the arc. Mookie never seems to be able to connect when given the chance.
Mookie
Has been off this season, but even with his current slump (.214 3pt%) he’s shot .360 for his career, good for top 10 all time in SU history (the SU athletics is out of date since Mookie only reached the minumum number of qualifying attemts this season. He currently has 101 attempts for his career). .360 is better than and Andy and G-Mac. G-Mac isn’t even in the top 10 for 3pt%.
Of course, this doesn’t matter at. But one good thing I’ve always thought and said about Mookie is that, of the Orange are down 3 with 2 seconds left, I’d absolutely support Mookie being in the game for the final play. He has no conscience. He doesn’t see misses. We makes jokes about it, but its true. And the numbers show that he’s a very good 3pt shooter. So, I wouldn’t say that he doesn’t connect when given the chance, though this season that’s been true. He just hasn’t earned many chances.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Dec 21, 2011 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
Only if he
misses his next 35 in a row will he have Ovcina’s awesome 12% shooting pecentage!!!!
The Hoyas shuffled off with their twin cocktails of discontent - Dana O'neil 2/18/10
Get used to it
If there’s one thing that Syracuse fans are going to need to get used to this season, it’s that there are going to be many players having ups-and-down games. And, that’s only because this team is so deep.
I forgot to put this in my postgame recap, but Boeheim mentioned that the only two players that really need to stay consistent on a game-to-game basis is Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine. The rest will be up-and-down because Boeheim is going to play the hot hand.
If Triche is struggling then Waiters and MCW will see more time. James Southerland relies on his 3-point shot, so if that’s off he won’t play at all. Fight now, C.J. Fair will contribute but not as much as last year if Joseph continues to play the way he has been.
It’s a give and take, and a outstanding issue to have. So, unless somebody is really off for a slew of games. I wouldn’t worry about how JB sees them or if they’re no longer good.
P.S., I’d like to pass along a thanks to Sean for posting my SB Nation NY stuff on Troy Nunes. Thanks to him and the rest of you guys our coverage has come a long ways in just a year. Without the support of the SB Nation family, I wouldn’t get free pregame meals or get to stare into Jimmy B’s dreamy eyes during the postgame. So, thanks again! Oh, and please follow along at @JaredSmithCNY or @SBNationNY. Feel free to ask me questions or yell at me.
— Jared
Get busy living or get busy dying.
by Jared E. Smith on Dec 21, 2011 8:34 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
What are they serving pre-game?
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
If you've got time, buy my book "How To Grow An Orange", visit SeanKeeley.com and follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
Used to get the pre-game meals
When I was at Newhouse. I took a class where we broadcast local sports live online. Not SU games, but local HS sectionals, stuff like that. The catering at the Dome leaves much to be desired.
"If I ain't gonna be part of the greatest, I gotta be the greatest myself." Busta Rhymes
by FeloniousPhunk on Dec 22, 2011 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
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