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The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team stayed unbeaten (2-0) in their Italy tour, dismantling what looked to be a bunch of intramural players in Venice on Wednesday. The Orange were led by just about everybody, but Buddy Boeheim was the high point man with 22 points on five made 3s.
Jalen Carey, Howard Washington, Quincy Guerrier and Bourama Sidibe all finished with double-figures, while walk-ons Brendan Paul and Shaun Belbey scored in the final minutes. Bourama Sidibe posted a double-double while Robert Braswell finished just shy of that mark with 9 points and 8 boards.
With that, we have six takeaways from yesterday’s game.
Syracuse fans are ubiquitous and ridiculous
‘Cuse fans, man. They’re everywhere.
This serious Syracuse fan is outside the arena. He’s a flight attendant from Oswego. And he cannot be readier for this game. pic.twitter.com/85MGQNYCoo
— Donna Ditota (@DonnaDitota1) August 14, 2019
Blue jerseys
While they’re practice jerseys to be sure, Syracuse basketball played in blue jerseys for I believe the first time since 2008 (against Notre Dame). I know I’m in the minority here, but I for one am a fan of the blue jerseys.
Guards
All the Syracuse guards played pretty well in this one. Carey got the chance to push the pace in spots, while Buddy hit four 3s in a row in the second half. Goodine was the first guard off the bench and finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists while Girard knocked down three 3s himself.
Washington looks to be the fifth guard in the rotation right now, but he knocked down a couple of 3s and looked much better on Wednesday than on Monday.
The guard rotation is one of the most interesting topics right now because all five of these guys look like they’re capable of playing. Still, we know Jim Boeheim will only play three, or at max four of them.
311 Heaven
Let’s not get too Jalen carried away here. The competition yesterday wasn’t anywhere near what Syracuse will see in the ACC in 2019-20. But the Orange took 43 (!) 3s yesterday and knocked down 16 of them as a team.
All five scholarship guards made at least one 3 while Boeheim, Girard, Goodine and Washington knocked down multiple.
If any of that translates to the season ahead, it could be a fun time for the Carrier Dome folks that sit in 311.
From DEEP!!@Cuse_MBB is cruising!
— FloHoops (@FloHoops) August 14, 2019
Balanced attack
Syracuse was able to score 103 points in this game while Elijah Hughes scored just seven of those. Again, Oxygen Bassano isn’t exactly a world-beater, but for the Orange to reach that mark without needing Hughes to do some heavy lifting is at least noteworthy.
In total, 12 Syracuse players scored in this game. Maybe this isn’t one of the most talented Syracuse squads ever, but perhaps it’s a deep team that can come together nicely on the offensive end. It’s too early to tell right now, but hope springs eternal.
Brilliant Bourama
Bourama Sidibe continues to impress in Italy as he finished with a double-double. The junior big man scored 10 points and grabbed 15 boards. He looks to be healthy and mobile in the middle, which is a great sign for Syracuse.
He did foul five times for the second straight game, but if he can give Boeheim some solid minutes in the middle this season that could go a long way.
For Syracuse basketball stories and updates, follow James on twitter @JamesSzuba