Someone tell Oakland that the name is in the wrong place on the jerseySee what I did with that headline? Oakland has long been notorious for gang violence, so I played off that...it's really too bad the Oakland I'm referring to is located in California and Syracuse played a team from Michigan. One of these days I'll nail a clever headline. Today isn't it.
However, Syracuse moved to 12-0 with a 92-60 thrashing of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the Carrier Dome. Brandon Triche lead the way and was helped by a veritable gang of Orange teammates, who now have a week off before opening Big East play against Seton Hall next week. Here are some post-game observations.
* It goes without saying Brandon Triche was a man among boys tonight. He managed to score a career high 27 points in 20 minutes of play. The most amazing thing about his performance, he only took 11 shots. Donte Greene sometimes had 11 shots up before he got out of the locker room.
* It's easy to take double-doubles from Wes Johnson for granted - he had another one tonight with 19 points and 11 boards. He was also more active defensively, chalking up 2 blocks, 2 steals and being a general menace along the baseline.
* Likewise, Rick Jackson is quiet, efficient and lethal on the floor. It's easy to over look how consistent he has become. He added 14 points, playing most of the night at center.
* One of things I really, really, love about this team is that NO ONE is in love with the dribble. Prepare for an old guy rant here - but in a day and age where players grew up watching the And 1 Mixtape Tour, many players think if you can dribble past all 5 guys on the other team, you're a good player. That's not the case with this team. A couple of times they moved the ball the entire length of the court without the ball hitting the floor. That's beautiful.
* A corollary to the point above, only a team as unselfish this current SU team is willing to do that. It's a joy to watch.
* Something that wasn't a joy to watch - Oakland Coach Greg Kampe. I'm not sure what look he's going for, but if you add in a mustache, Ron Jeremy would probably think his look is being ripped off.
* Another thing, Oakland wear jerseys with the player's names BELOW the number. I have no idea who thinks this is a good idea, since it most assuredly is not. Here's the thing with uniforms - people try and get too cute with them. Memo to the world (and especially Oregon) you CANNOT re-invent uniforms. It does not work. Uniforms have certain basic elements. One of which is that if there is a name on the jersey, it goes ABOVE the number. When people try to get cute, awful things happen. Don't believe me? Ask the 1976 White Sox. Or the Evansville basketball team.
* While they only allowed 60 points, the Orange did have a few defensive lapses, including giving up 18 points to a guy named Drew Maynard. I haven't seen a white guy dunk that many times in a game since Tom Chambers was playing.
* Mookie Jones got in the game in the first half and continues to light it up in limited playing time. He scored 13 and is now shooting 46% from three point range. He even put the ball on the floor and got to the rim in this one. His defense needs to improve, but if SU has nights where they aren't shooting it well, Mookie can provide some instant offense off the bench.
* Andy Rautins had 9 assists, while only taking four shots. I love how he can assess what the team needs adjust his game accordingly.
* Arinze Onuaku was limited due to a leg bruise tonight, which allowed DaShonte Riley some playing time. In limited time he showed a couple of nice offensive moves, however, like Mookie, the key to him getting on the floor will be defensive improvement. Right now he's not a factor defensively.
* Scoop had a rough first half, but bounced back to play much better in the second. The best thing about Scoop, he doesn't get down or hang his head.
* This has nothing to do with this game, but UConn was tied at the half with Maine tonight. Their fans booed -- don't tell Larry Elin. When Syracuse played Maine the half time score was 60-12. Bring on the Big East baby.
However, Syracuse moved to 12-0 with a 92-60 thrashing of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in the Carrier Dome. Brandon Triche lead the way and was helped by a veritable gang of Orange teammates, who now have a week off before opening Big East play against Seton Hall next week. Here are some post-game observations.
* It goes without saying Brandon Triche was a man among boys tonight. He managed to score a career high 27 points in 20 minutes of play. The most amazing thing about his performance, he only took 11 shots. Donte Greene sometimes had 11 shots up before he got out of the locker room.
* It's easy to take double-doubles from Wes Johnson for granted - he had another one tonight with 19 points and 11 boards. He was also more active defensively, chalking up 2 blocks, 2 steals and being a general menace along the baseline.
* Likewise, Rick Jackson is quiet, efficient and lethal on the floor. It's easy to over look how consistent he has become. He added 14 points, playing most of the night at center.
* One of things I really, really, love about this team is that NO ONE is in love with the dribble. Prepare for an old guy rant here - but in a day and age where players grew up watching the And 1 Mixtape Tour, many players think if you can dribble past all 5 guys on the other team, you're a good player. That's not the case with this team. A couple of times they moved the ball the entire length of the court without the ball hitting the floor. That's beautiful.
* A corollary to the point above, only a team as unselfish this current SU team is willing to do that. It's a joy to watch.
* Something that wasn't a joy to watch - Oakland Coach Greg Kampe. I'm not sure what look he's going for, but if you add in a mustache, Ron Jeremy would probably think his look is being ripped off.
* Another thing, Oakland wear jerseys with the player's names BELOW the number. I have no idea who thinks this is a good idea, since it most assuredly is not. Here's the thing with uniforms - people try and get too cute with them. Memo to the world (and especially Oregon) you CANNOT re-invent uniforms. It does not work. Uniforms have certain basic elements. One of which is that if there is a name on the jersey, it goes ABOVE the number. When people try to get cute, awful things happen. Don't believe me? Ask the 1976 White Sox. Or the Evansville basketball team.
* While they only allowed 60 points, the Orange did have a few defensive lapses, including giving up 18 points to a guy named Drew Maynard. I haven't seen a white guy dunk that many times in a game since Tom Chambers was playing.
* Mookie Jones got in the game in the first half and continues to light it up in limited playing time. He scored 13 and is now shooting 46% from three point range. He even put the ball on the floor and got to the rim in this one. His defense needs to improve, but if SU has nights where they aren't shooting it well, Mookie can provide some instant offense off the bench.
* Andy Rautins had 9 assists, while only taking four shots. I love how he can assess what the team needs adjust his game accordingly.
* Arinze Onuaku was limited due to a leg bruise tonight, which allowed DaShonte Riley some playing time. In limited time he showed a couple of nice offensive moves, however, like Mookie, the key to him getting on the floor will be defensive improvement. Right now he's not a factor defensively.
* Scoop had a rough first half, but bounced back to play much better in the second. The best thing about Scoop, he doesn't get down or hang his head.
* This has nothing to do with this game, but UConn was tied at the half with Maine tonight. Their fans booed -- don't tell Larry Elin. When Syracuse played Maine the half time score was 60-12. Bring on the Big East baby.
3 comments:
Remember the Tom Chambers dunk from the three point line in Lakers vs Celtics for Sega Genesis?
Good times...
Chambers mullet had a flight ratio of 20:1
I think Rautins was just off last night... I don't think he "adjusted to what the team needed." He was just not making shots.. I love him for his defensive effort, but he wishes that he scored more last night.
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