Everyone is raving about the Syracuse Orange basketball team's bench scoring. But you and I know that's a bit of a misnomer. Hell, even Jim Boeheim knows it.
Here's the starting five for Syracuse every night: Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, Kris Joseph, Fab Melo & Rakeem Christmas.
Here's the five players who see the most court time on a nightly basis (in order): Kris Joseph, C.J. Fair, Fab Melo, Dion Waiters and Brandon Triche.
Starter Scoop Jardine is just on the cusp at No. 6 while starter Rak Christmas clocks in at No. 8 (slightly ahead of Baye if you can believe it).
So when folks rave about the Orange's bench scoring, I think we can all agree it's slightly misleading. Appreciated, but misleading.
And you know, this really begs the question...who would win, the Syracuse First Five or the Syracuse Second Five?
Scoop, Triche, KrisJo, Melo & Rak vs. Dion, C.J., James Southerland, Baye Moussa Keita and Michael Carter-Williams.
Honestly, it would depend. Like usual, it would depend on what kind of night folks like Scoop, Triche and Southerland were having.
My inclination is to take the Second Five due to the presence of Dion and C.J. but I think MCW is a big liability against Scoop/Triche up top. I think you have give the Starting Five their veteran due. Plus, I'd rather go it with a freshman big man rather than a freshman guard.
We might disagree on who would win the game but I think we can all agree that the game wouldn't be a true road game, and therefore, wouldn't count.