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Superlatives
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adjusted beat writer predictions Andrew L. John
Team MVP
Projected record: 27-4 (14-4) Big East finish: 2nd NCAA finish: Final Four
This is a relatively easy one. Though Kris Joseph has been Syracuse’s leading scorer, and Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche have both pulled their own weight, Jackson has been nothing short of dominant. After seemingly every game, the one constant in Jim Boeheim’s press conference is that Jackson played well. The numbers back that up, too. He’s averaging a double-double (13.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game) and leads the Big East in field-goal percentage (58 percent).
Assuming Kris Joseph is healthy for the final stretch, the Orange should head into the postseason just as strong or stronger than the squad that made it to the Sweet 16 last year. With a solid, experienced core and an emerging group of youngsters, this group could be special.
Rick Jackson
Brett LoGiurato Projected record: 26-5 (13-5) Big East finish: 3rd NCAA finish: Elite Eight
danielle parhizkaran | asst. photo editor
On one hand, I could see Syracuse getting upset. On the other, I could see SU making a real run for the national title if the team keeps improving. And it likely will in a rugged Big East conference. For now, I’ll take the safe route, say the Orange gets a No. 2 or 3 seed in the NCAAs and falls in the Elite Eight to a No. 1 seed.
Most Improved James Southerland
Last season, Southerland played in just 13 games and didn’t receive significant minutes in any game that really mattered. This year, he’s playing meaningful minutes and making the most out of it. His numbers are up across the zach ornitz | staff photographer board, and perhaps more importantly, Jim Boeheim trusts him enough to let him on the court against the top teams SU has faced this season.
Tony Olivero Projected record: 28-3 (15-3) Big East finish: 2nd NCAA finish: National Runner-Up Preseason, I said this team would struggle early, and become a team equivalent - if not better - than the 2009-10 version, thanks to more overall depth and a more seasoned leading trio. That happened much faster than I anticipated. The Orange is one of the best three teams in the country, and its Big East tested complete package will take Syracuse to the final game. Pitt rematch, anyone?
Biggest Surprise Baye Moussa Keita
triche
After DaShonte Riley was lost for the season, it became evident Moussa Keita would provide minutes. What weren’t expected were 17.3 minutes per game and 1.2 blocks per game. The reason for Moussa Keita’s increased role: the inability of Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year Fab Melo to contribute a solid body in the middle of SU’s 2-3 zone. Moussa Keita has provided that in doses prior to the Pittsburgh game.
from page 20
danielle parhizkaran | asst. photo editor
Biggest Disappointment Fab Melo
Melo has been a bust through 19 games. It’s that simple. Even if the Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year accolade was a bit ambitious, an average of 11 minutes and two rebounds per game is indicative of bust status. Boeheim hasn’t minced words with Melo, even if he is careful, cautious and understanding of his progression. If Melo doesn’t provide a defensive presence, he won’t play. At all. See Pittsburgh.
— Compiled by Andrew L. John and Tony Olivero, The Daily Orange, aljohn@syr.edu , aolivero@syr.edu
health from page 20
Jackson healthy is not only a key. It is a must. If SU learned anything last year, it was that without one of its big three, a string of tournament wins isn’t likely. Last year, it was Arinze Onuaku who went down with an injury, leading to Syracuse’s earlier-than-anticipated exit in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The effect of Joseph’s injury was amplified by the crazed Oakland Zoo environment Monday. Sure, Syracuse showed mettle. Maybe the most mettle any college team has shown all year. But in those first eight minutes, sans Joseph, SU lacked the veteran will and mindset to
execute in hostile territory. After eight minutes, Jardine started SU’s run back into the game by undertaking that certain mindset, hitting a contested 3 and giving the Orange its first points of the game. But it is too much of a role for him and Jackson to undertake. Syracuse did come back to tie the game with 13 minutes to go. Confidence surfaced in the face of near impossibility. But the Orange couldn’t finish because it didn’t have the veteran scoring mindset to get off to a good start. And even though Boeheim said the obvious postgame on Monday, he would rather not have SU experience life without Joseph any longer. “You just have to play with what you have,” he said. “Nothing you can do about that.” aolivero@syr.edu
Jim Boeheim said. “He gets good shots, so he just has to relax, and he’ll make them.” Perhaps the most impressive part of Triche’s efficiency is that it is coming against some of the toughest teams on SU’s schedule — Big East teams. Syracuse may not have gotten past Seton Hall without Triche scoring 15 second-half points. He was equally important in a win over St. John’s four days later at Madison Square Garden. Freshman guard Dion Waiters was expected to push Triche for minutes in the backcourt once he got his feet wet and began to play up to his potential. Though Waiters is playing better, Triche isn’t seeing his minutes decrease in the slightest.
melo
from page 20
Melo and Moussa Keita need to start making plays, both in SU’s offensive sets and in its 2-3 zone, in order for SU to be successful come NCAA Tournament time. The play of recent NCAA championship big men displays the importance of contributions from the center position. Duke’s Brian Zoubek provided 31 minutes while scoring eight points and grabbing 10 rebounds last year. Tyler Hansbrough dominated two years ago for North Carolina. In Florida’s two-year run, Al Horford and Joakim Noah controlled the paint. Melo and Moussa Keita don’t need to dominate with Rick Jackson and his All-Big East start to the season flanking them. But they do need to contribute for SU to be successful in a rugged Big East and in the NCAA Tournament. Simply enough, Melo needs to play like he
Instead, the combination of Triche, Waiters and point guard Scoop Jardine is a very formidable three-guard rotation in the SU backcourt. Triche’s shooting and scoring ability keeps defenses from hesitating to double down on Rick Jackson when he gets the ball in the post. “He’s been playing well for us all year,” SU forward James Southerland said following a win over Cincinnati on Jan. 15. “When he’s playing at a high level, he gives us another weapon on offense.” It’s becoming more and more evident that for the Orange to reach its highest goals, Triche must continue to play at a high level. His ability to play either guard position gives Boeheim a number of options to work with. Syracuse will need his best if it wants to contend for a national title. aljohn@syr.edu
did against Cincinnati Saturday and against Cornell on Nov. 30. Melo’s second half against the Bearcats gave SU head coach Jim Boeheim reason for hope. “He was playing,” Boeheim said, when asked what Melo did differently in that second half. “Everything. He did everything differently.” Six points, four rebounds, four blocks. Melo was heavily involved, especially on defense, and helped get the Orange out to a 16-0 run to start the half. He did so without getting into any foul trouble too, another problem that has plagued SU’s centers so far. Melo’s expectations from the beginning of the season have died down, but a consistently solid contribution will go a long away. And he knows it. “Coach told me I need to get big in the paint,” Melo said Saturday. “Block shots. Blocked shots are the thing I do best, and I haven’t been doing that. Today, I felt comfortable on defense.” bplogiur@syr.edu