Chukwu and Sidibe block 12 shots as Syracuse shakes an early deficit behind a 22-0 first-half run. Boeheim unleashes the full-court press early.
Tyus Battle and Franklin Howard high-fived at the top of the 2-3 zone after failing to finish their stop on the first possession. Syracuse struggled to get stops early in their first exhibition, but midway through the first half they were running away from Southern New Hampshire after switching to a full-court press.
Geno Thorpe sat once again but the Orange had no trouble defeating the Penmen in the first of two preseason exhibitions at the Carrier Dome. Early shooting struggles and quality Southern New Hampshire shooting fizzled and Syracuse won 84-54.
The Orange trailed four minutes into the game, allowing a pair of Southern New Hampshire three-pointers. Paschal Chukwu commanded the middle of the paint, waiting as Scott Toresco up-faked, then stuffed his shot without leaving the floor.
Franklin Howard and Tyus Battle facilitated on the ball in the opening minutes, Battle got his first shot to go on his third attempt driving into a defender in the paint. Howard hit a spot-up three, but misplaced a pass to Battle on the wing.
Minutes later the Penmen continued to pepper the Orange with an inside-out approach, as Syracuse’s forwards struggled to contest three-point attempts. Dimitri Flores hit the team’s third three-pointer in six attempts as Matthew Moyer slipped trying to get to the wing to contest.
After Oshae Brissett caught a SNHU pass through the post, he hit Moyer on the run toward the basket, then collided with Charlie Russo to get to the free throw line. Syracuse trailed 13-10.
Midway through the first half after Marek Dolezaj checked in, the Orange broke into a full-court press. Dolezaj got a steal working a double team on the in-bounds, but couldn’t turn and hit the layup.
One minute later Dolezaj stole another in the press, recording three steals in short order, then quickly transferred to Battle who slammed with two hands to cap a 7-0 run on his own.
“The press speeds it up a little bit,” Boeheim said. “We got a couple turnovers right away … we had a couple easy baskets and that always helps.”
Chukwu picked up two fouls in the first 10 minutes and Boeheim replaced him with Bourama Sidibe. Syracuse continued to press and initiate double-teams when SNHU inbounded the ball, and forced 10 Penmen turnovers through the 7:35 mark. Dolezaj found Sidibe inside from the corner, who attempted a layup as two SNHU defenders grabbed his jersey to pull him down. The Orange maintained height inside through their lineups.
Brissett got the Orange into the bonus with seven minutes left, missing a driving floater that Sidibe got fouled from behind on fighting for position on the block. SU hit 10 of their first 12 free throw attempts, 18-of-22 in the half despite 34 percent shooting from the field.
The Orange’s press held SNHU scoreless for roughly eight minutes, cutting down on their three-point attempts and forcing quick decisions on the run. Brissett hit two shots inside to push Syracuse’s run to 22-0.
Sidibe got involved defensively, making it a long night for Chris Walters. He blocked Walters three times in a two minute span: once into the second row behind the net, then off the backboard, then driving on the opposite baseline.
Sidibe blocked five shots, Chukwu four, in the first 16 minutes. By the end of the night they combined for 12.
“You can’t judge by this game,” Boeheim said. “But we hadn’t blocked that many shots in a long time ... the threat of a blocked shot is a factor down there.”
He added that SU’s defense movement was a bigger factor than their size inside.
The game broke into a free throw contest, with 10 made free throws between the two teams before Battle hit Sidibe on a transition ally-oop. Howard hit an elbow jumper in the closing minutes, but slapped his hands in frustration, turning it over at half court, one of five for him before halftime. He cleaned it up with only one after.
“I had how many turnovers,” Howard asked after the game.
“I had six turnovers. Just anticipating movements, but we’re young. It’s the first game. You can’t expect too much,” he said.
He described a play where he thought Moyer was moving in one direction but didn’t.
“I haven’t played in a while so I’m jittery too,” Howard added.
The second half began with similar frustration. Howard waved his arm with the ball in hand for Brissett to get to the top of the arc, then again motioned for him to cut baseline. Howard talked on the sideline with Boeheim after, then plays later found Brissett in stride for a transition dunk. Brissett followed with a three on a feed from Battle to put Syracuse up 52-26.
Brissett hit an elbow jumper, then a three. Combined with Howard Washington and Howard hitting mid-rangers Syracuse got back over 40 percent from the field. SU would get to 47 percent by the end of the game.
“It could have been better,” Brissett said of the team’s communication on offense. “We talk defensively more than we do on offense because we’re still trying to learn plays ... and learn where we’re supposed to be. I feel like it’s just going to get better.”
The blocks started flying again midway through the quarter. Moyer got his first, Chukwu jumped and smacked away his fifth.
Washington hit a pair of threes on the wing to push Syracuse’s lead to 44. By the end of the game they had a 30-point exhibition win. The early 3-of-6 shooting outside from the Penmen disappeared into 4-of-21 after.
Syracuse will be back on Monday, Nov. 6 for another exhibition against Southern Connecticut State University before tipping off the official season against Cornell next Friday.
