gsdiglio's Blog

For the second time in four weeks, Syracuse played a difficult, grind-it-out game against a tough Miami team. For the second time in four weeks, Syracuse used a late run to put Miami away.

The No. 2 Orange (19-0, 6-0) remained undefeated thanks to a 15-3 run to close out a 64-52 win over Miami (10-9, 2-5).

In the first match up between these two teams, the Hurricanes kept the game close by competing on the glass and holding the Orange to a low shooting percentage from the field. This time, though, Syracuse was the team holding its opponent in check, limiting Miami to 39.1 percent shooting and outrebounding the Hurricanes 39-24.

Syracuse came out strong in the early going and led 26-8 with less than eight minutes left in the first half. However, Miami used an 18-5 run to close out the half and only trailed 31-25 at the break.

The Hurricanes slowly crept back into the game during the second half, eventually tying it up at 49 with 5:24 to play. However, Syracuse withstood Miami’s second big run of the game with another run of its own. Clutch shots from Tyler Ennis, C.J. Fair, and Trevor Cooney kept the Hurricanes at an arm’s length, and the Orange sealed the deal at the free throw line down the stretch.

Jerami Grant led the Orange in scoring and rebounding with 16 points and eight boards. Davon Reed had 16 points for the Hurricanes off the bench.

Syracuse hits the road again Wednesday when it plays at Wake Forest.

The Syracuse men’s basketball team received a warm welcome to the Atlantic Coast Conference earlier this week at ACC media day. The Orange were picked to finish second in the league, behind only Duke, and senior forward C.J. Fair was selected as the preseason conference player of the year.

The talk of the new conference continued Friday at Syracuse’s media day for inside the Carmelo K. Anthony Center. Head coach Jim Boeheim expects his team to be prepared for ACC play coming from the equally competitive Big East.

“We’re going from a really, really tough league to a really, really tough league, so there’s no difference for us as far as league play,” he said.

Boeheim isn’t worried about any potential changes in officiating style the ACC may pose as well. He said he has no plans to change the team’s style of play due to any new interpretations of rules.

DaJuan Coleman had the chance to play in the Big East last season, although he did so sparingly due to Boeheim’s penchant for limiting freshmen big men’s minutes and a knee injury that kept him out for over a month. Nonetheless, he also has maintained the same approach towards the ACC.

“We’re just going to continue to play our game,” Coleman said. “We’re not going to change up our game for nothing.”

Although the Orange is making the switch to a new conference, the team does have someone with ACC experience: Duke transfer Michael Gbinije. Gbinije appeared in 19 games for the Blue Devils in the 2011-12 season before sitting out last year, and is ready to get back to competitive action.

“I’m just really excited,” he said. “Last year was tough, but hard work pays off and I believe I’ll have a good season this year.”

Gbinije used his time off well, Boeheim said, and expects Gbinije to be a versatile threat for the Orange, capable of playing any perimeter position.

“He plays a little bit more of the one in practice because it’s a more difficult position but he’s comfortable at both the two and the three,” Boeheim said.

In the new conference, it will be important for the Orange to close out opposing three-point threats, Gbinije said, threats he believes will have a tough time adjusting to Syracuse’s 2-3 zone defense.

“You just have to locate shooters. I think our zone will be very surprising to the ACC,” he said.

Another change the Orange has experienced going into this season is the new NCAA rule allowing teams to begin practice two weeks earlier than usual. While the extra practice has certainly helped the team, Boeheim insisted that it doesn’t imply a better end result.

“We’re way ahead of where we would be,” he said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean, though, that we’re going to get further than where we want to be.”

In particular, Boeheim said the added practices have helped the underclassmen better acclimate themselves to the 2-3 zone.

“We’ve been able to do a lot of stuff with the young players, getting them familiar with the defense and also to play more than one position on defense, which takes some time do,” he said.

One younger player the team will be especially counting on is freshman point guard Tyler Ennis, who is expected to run the offense. Ennis said he aims to play within his game and keep the rest of the team focused.

“As a point guard, I’ve always been taught to keep everything in check,” Ennis said. “Making sure everyone’s in their spot and getting them the ball while playing in the system is important.”

Boeheim said he has shown the capability to both run the team calmly and make plays himself when necessary.

“He’s got a good skill set, and he can be explosive,” Boeheim said. “He can also run the team in the half court and make good decisions.”

He also called Ennis one of the most prepared freshman point guards he’s ever had. And Ennis understands the unique situation he is in.

“I have a different opportunity than most freshmen,” he said on his chance to start right away.

Fair is very confident in the team’s new show runner.

“He’s more mature than a normal freshman,” he said of Ennis.

Fair will be well-served to develop a good connection with Ennis, since he will likely be the main target of Ennis’ passes. Boeheim said Fair will get his points regardless of who is around him because he plays off of others so well. Now he must show that he can do the same in a larger role.

“Offensively last year he was the second or third option most of the time, and this year he’ll be the first option,” Boeheim said of Fair.

Fair joked, “second or third, who said that?”

On a more serious note, he added that he is ready to lead the team and for the extra pressure that comes with it.

“I’m looking forward to being the focal point of the team,” he said. “I know there’s going to be a lot of attention coming my way.”

Him and the team, both.

The Syracuse University football team took part in its first Atlantic Coast Conference Kickoff this week, a two-day media event held in Greensboro, N.C.

It was also a first for new head coach Scott Shafer, who takes over this season for Doug Marrone. Shafer said the rest of the conference has been very welcoming to him and his team.

“It’s really interesting for me to meet different people,” he said. “There are a lot of good ball coaches in this conference, a lot of guys passionate about where this conference is and where it needs to be. What a great time for Syracuse to jump into the conference.”

Senior center Macky MacPherson reiterated his coach’s sentiments, saying it’s been fun getting to know everyone in the new conference.

Senior defensive tackle Jay Bromley said he felt welcomed as well and looked forward to the new challenges the team faces in the ACC. “These conference games mean everything,” he said. “We accept the challenge that the Clemson’s and Florida State’s bring.”

Looking at the new competition, the two linemen agreed that their opponents’ speed was something they’d have to get used to, especially at skill positions.

“That is the biggest difference between the two conferences: the game is played a lot faster,” Bromley said, comparing the ACC to the old Big East.

“All these teams have speed up and down the field,” MacPherson added. “You have to account for that every play.”

In a poll of 120 members of the media, Syracuse was predicted to finish sixth out of seven teams in the Atlantic division. Bromley said the league will provide the team an opportunity to outperform expectations.

“The competition level is great. As a true competitor you look forward to this and having a chance to prove the world wrong.”

Moving forward, Shafer described the strong identity of the team he hopes to develop. “It’ll be a Syracuse team from a town that’s a tough town, a hard-nosed town,” he said. “We want to be an outfit that’s fun to watch because we’re physical.”

MacPherson also said the team’s toughness will come across in their style of play.

“Syracuse is a team that’s going to be blue collar, intense. We’re going to fight you to the death. That’s been the Syracuse way ever since I can remember.”

Former Orange Michael Carter-Williams was selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft Thursday.

The Philadelphia 76ers took Carter-Williams, Syracuse’s starting point guard this past season, with the 11th overall pick. Carter-Williams left school early, breaking out his sophomore year after a frustrating freshman campaign that saw him average just 10.3 minutes per game. This season, he averaged 11.9 points and five rebounds, while also leading the Big East conference in assists (7.3) and steals (2.7).

The 6’6” Carter-Williams will provide length and athleticism at the guard position that few others can match. In Philadelphia, he will team up with good friend Nerlens Noel, whom the 76ers obtained in a trade with New Orleans after the Pelicans drafted the Kentucky product with the sixth pick.