SYRACUSE IN THE ZONE AGAINST MICHIGAN STATE

by RAY FLORIANI

NEW YORK CITY - A sellout crowd of 19,391 packed Madison Square Garden to give an atmosphere of electricity. The crowd bellowed ‘let’s go Orange, let’s go Orange’. Was this a Big East Tournament night in March with Syracuse facing the likes of Pitt or Georgetown? Atmosphere-wise you could say so, but it’s December and the opposition was Michigan State at the Jimmy V Classic.

We will take a closer tempo-free look ar Syracuse’s impressive 72-58 victory.


TEAM.........Possessions............Offensive efficiency

Syracuse..........69........................108

Michigan State....69.........................84


Three things we learned from tonight:


1. Syracuse can mix it up inside. The Orange enjoyed a 36-26% edge in offensive rebounding percentage. They also had a whopping 41-17% advantage in free throw rate. A figure suggesting a team pounding it inside and getting to the line. Which was exactly what the Orange did all night. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo called it a “butt kicking” and could remember when his team was outscored 42-24 in the paint. Syracuse repeatedly broke down the Spartan interior defense to the extent 14 of their 15 first half field goals were in the paint. Rick Jackson with 17 points 16 boards, was virtually unstoppable, doing the most damage for the Orange in the lane.


2. The 2-3 zone is still tough to figure. The Michigan State fan behind my baseline press table seat constantly pleaded with his team to beat a ‘high school’ zone. The 2-3 of Jim Boeheim once again took another highly ranked team down. Big East teams fare a little better because they see it once or twice a year. A Michigan State may face zones, but none like this. The Orange trap the corners and always have quick, long and athletic players getting into the passing lanes. Stiffled by a defense not allowing them access in the lane, Izzo’s team got caught up in what he termed “a sissy jump shooting game’. Just a matter of playing into Syracuse’s hands. The Spartans shot 7 of 24 (29%) from three-point range. Lest anyone think zones are passive, Syracuse forced Michigan State into a 25% turnover rate.


3. The Orange have ‘struggled‘. They are 8-0 but Boeheim said, “I never had a team struggle early in the season like this team has.” Good thing is the struggling is not keeping them from winning and the veteran Orange mentor is certain, with each day, there is improvement. The senior Jackson, as noted, is providing strong inside play. Junior guard Scoop Jardine had a strong 19 point three assist night. Freshman as C.J. Fair, Fab Melo and Baye Moussa Keita are gaining valuable game experience and contributions in their own right. “We are defending,” Boeheim said. “We have to get better offensively. And we will.”