Here's the bad news from Syracuse's game on Saturday against the Pirates. Syracuse shot 19-of-43 (44%) from the field. They shot 17-of-36 (47%) from the free-throw line. They got out-rebounded 44-32 and actually got out-rebounded by two player alone. They committed fifteen turnovers. Take away Brandon Triche and the rest of the team was 2-of-12 from three-point range. And they played a sluggish, ugly, boring game only slightly resembling basketball.
Here's the good news. They won. And if we've learned anything in our time as Syracuse fans, it's to never poo-poo a Big East road* win.
The ugly scrum between Syracuse and Seton Hall consisted of so many airballs and bricks that Dr. James Naismith himself surely would have turned the channel. In the first half alone, Syracuse and Seton Hall combined to make just one out of 25 shots from 3-point range.
Syracuse survived the exercise in offensive futility with a 61-56 victory over the Pirates on Saturday, but the Orange’s offensive performance brought back scary memories of Syracuse’s early season struggles.
"We played like this early in the season,’’ Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "We struggled on offense and we struggled in those games. We were able to overcome it, but sooner or later, you’re not going to be able to overcome it. Bottom-line, we’ve got to play better than this.’’
If you need a frame of reference for how bad the Orange played, allow Kris Joseph to make it clear.
"We had some pretty bad non-conference games,’’ SU junior Kris Joseph said, "but this is the worst we’ve played in a long time.’’
Two big things that worked in Syracuse's favor? First, Seton Hall put on a miserable three-point shooting performance for the ages. They missed all of their 17 shots from 3-point range in the first-half. Hall wound up 3-for-26 from beyond the arc.
Second? It was Brandon Triche's turn to have a great game and save everyone else. Well, technically he didn't have a great game, he just had a great half. He scored all his points in the second half, including 4 three-pointers in the span of six minutes.
"I just said to myself ‘I’m going to shoot’," Triche said. "In the first half, I shot one shot. In the second half, I figured even if I’m not open I’m going to look at the basket. The first shot I put up went in."
Kris Joseph also scored 15 points but he should have had 24. Thanks to nine (NINE!) missed free-throws, he did not. Arinze Onuaku even found that kind of free-throw shooting performance abysmal.
Kris, I demand an explanation!
"No explanation."
Fair enough.
As you might assume, James Arthur Boeheim was displeased.
"We played like this early in the season,’’ Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "We struggled on offense and we struggled in those games. We were able to overcome it, but sooner or later, you’re not going to be able to overcome it. Bottom-line, we’ve got to play better than this.’’
It was one of those kinds of days for the Syracuse basketball team . . . but, hey, the Orange did win...Bud Poliquin
Orange offense struggles against ever-changing Seton Hall defense...Daily Orange
Jackson, Syracuse beat up, outrebounded by physical SHU defense...Daily Orange
SECOND-HALF KID: Triche ignites offense after half, SU squeaks by Seton Hall to stay perfect...Daily Orange
Seton Hall finding silver lining and renewed focus after close loss to No. 4 Syracuse...Star-Ledger
No. 4 Syracuse Holds Off Seton Hall Highlights...ESPN
Triche Sparks Orange in Win at Seton Hall...SUAthletics.com
SU-Seton Hall Recap: The Sunny Side...Brent Axe
SU-Seton Hall Recap: The Dark Side...Brent Axe
SU-Seton Hall Recap: This, That, and the Other Thing...Brent Axe
Seton Hall, without Jeremy Hazell, misses a big chance against No. 4 Syracuse in 61-56 Big East loss..NY Daily News
Seton Hall - Syracuse Recap OR I Nodded & Drooled...Orange44
All I wish to say about the Seton Hall game...Cuse Country
Typical weaknesses resurface...The Juice Online
Syracuse - Seton Hall - Six Observations...Three Idiots on Sports