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Something has been missing from the SU offense this year, and well, it has been the offense. The Orange has had trouble scoring points. In the past couple of years, Jim Boeheim has had players he can turn to to come off the bench and score points almost on demand:¬†James Southerland¬†and¬†Dion Waiters. Both were highly productive scorers and outside shooters. This year, that’s missing, even before DaJuan Coleman was lost for the season and the Orange had Jerami Grant coming off the bench.
Grant is a different player, obviously. He is super athletic and although he has made strides in his offensive game, he still doesn’t have the confidence to shoot or make jump shots with regularity. That said, he isn’t exactly a polished post player either, and he will drive at almost any chance he gets. However, Grant provided a bit of a spark off the bench before being inserted into the starting lineup. He has high energy, grabs rebounds, and is usually good for a highlight block or put-back dunk each game. Bottom line, Grant is not the same player as Southerland and Waiters. Grant is not a shooting threat rather he is more just a super-athlete.
That is what has been missing from the Orange this year. The team needs a high-volume scorer off the bench. Maybe that scorer could have been Tyler Roberson or BJ Johnson, who could come in for a stretch and give the Orange some points. But the freshmen were never given the chance once conference play started, something that shouldn’t be a surprise given how Jim Boeheim has handled freshmen in the past. The few exceptions include Ennis, Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Coleman and Dwayne Washington.
This problem was really inevitable because the Orange didn’t have a Southerland- or Waiters-type scorer, even when Grant was coming off the bench. Michael Gbinije didn’t become a go-to player off the bench, whether that is because he isn’t comfortable with the team yet or just isn’t getting minutes. Tyler Roberson, BJ Johnson and Ron Patterson haven’t gotten significant playing time since non-conference play in December. At this point in the season, it is impossible to find another source of scoring, so it will be up to the players already in the rotation to make the most of the opportunities they have and get more points on the board for the Orange.
Who will that player be? The best bet is probably Trevor Cooney. He needs to bounce back for the Orange to make a run through the tournament. Cooney has not played very well since conference play began, but has had some games where he was on point, notably against Notre Dame. However, since then, Cooney has scored in double digits in just two of six games, and both times he had just 11 points. If Cooney can give the Orange 15 to 18 points a night, that might be enough to make up for the lack of scoring off the bench. If the Orange can find another source of scoring, that could be enough to push SU to a deep tournament run.
Posted by: Seth Goldberg
8 responses to “Syracuse Basketball: Where Has the Scoring Disappeared To?”
Where’s the scoring??
Because the bench has been so short, we’re not running and getting easy buckets. We’re having to work for everything.
Cooney has been reduced to a catch and shoot player.If he comes off the screen and is open he’ll stick the shot 40% of the time. If guarded, he gives the ball up than rather create, put the ball on the floor and get to the rim or foul line. Which is too bad as he’s near 88% from the free throw line, I think.
For years, CUSE has been a lousy half court offensive team. We walk the ball up and sleep walk through sets where pics are half a55ed set and passes are rarely crisply delivered. The result this year is an Ennis floater or a forced off balance shot by CJ.
Wouldn’t you love to see what goes on in a few practices??
We have 3 top tier recruits just sitting and watching a team that struggles defensively and offensively. These kids would play high minutes and start on most D1 teams, and people seem to think, because of Boehiem, that “they’re not ready yet.” PLEASE!! These kids are ready and have been ready. They need to be played because the 6/7 guys Coach is playing look tired and in need of breathers. Let’s be real, we could EASILY have 5 losses right now. And all, IMO, are due to fatigue at the end of games. Patterson and Johnson couldn’t shoot 3/13 or 2/11,ala T Cooney? Roberson can’t give us a couple points and decent defense ala BMK?
I’m hardly the first nor only fan that knows Jimmy is his own worse enemy in coaching His failure to use Roberson or B J is nothing short of wrong and stubborn The two worse issues that you can possess in a personality.
Scoring from the Bench!..What Bench?
Grant and Keita have both been hurt and we have been stretching our guys longer. It does matter especially at the end of the season. I think Gbinije has played well considering he is not a point guard.
We’ll be fine. W @ virginia would be a good quality win.
Coach Boeheim believes in and has always used a 6,7 and sometimes an 8 man rotation,he’s been doing it now for 30 some years,so why are we even discussing it here? Get used to it people he’s not going to change because a few fans are upset with the way he does things.
Now onto Saturdays game against Virginia for 1st place in the ACC. That same rotation that everyone of you are crying about is going to win the game. Cooney comes out of his slump,Ennis needs to start shooting the ball more,Grant and CJ Fair become unstoppable with Christmas and Keita dominating the middle of the zone.
The zone defense is going to shut Virginia down in this game gentlemen. Start your celebration now if you want. Syracuse goes to (27-2 14-2 ACC)jumps back to #1 in conference and finishes the season at (29-2 16-2 ACC),ends the season as conference and ACC Tournament Champions heading into the NCAA Tournament as a #1 seed on it’s way to the National Championship with a 32-2 overall record.
Will we still be talking about the rotation after Syracuse has won the National Championship and the season has ended?
8 man rotation got us a championship…
7 man can work if all goes well meaning no injury or foul trouble.
WE almost “yacked” at MD with Grant injured and we did “yack” against BC at home with no Keita(2 minutes).
You’re going nowhere fast with 6. No one starts a season believing in a 6 man rotation.
This aint “Hoosiers”.
If our 7 are healthy and play well, I agree we can/will win in C’ville.
Proof of Boeheim’s stubborness with regards to not lengthening his bench: Waiters and MCW playing limited minutes as freshman and then turning into lotto picks a year later once granted the minutes.