MBB : Slumping SU zone preps for UConn, Walker
Comments To Brandon Triche, the fix for Syracuse’s four-game loss is simple. It’s a glaring problem that has yet to be addressed.The problem is this: In the span of four games, SU’s 2-3 zone defense has gone from strength to liability. Triche knows this because, even when the Orange shoots the lights out — as it did against Marquette (57 percent) Saturday — the Orange never held a lead in the game.‘I think we’ve been playing well offensively the past few games,’ Triche said. ‘We just need to be more consistent on defense. We need to play better there.’Looking to end a streak that has evolved into more than just a bump in the road, No. 17 Syracuse (18-4, 5-4 Big East) will need to fix its defensive inefficiencies on the road against No. 6 Connecticut (17-3, 5-3) Wednesday at 7 p.m. inside Hartford’s XL Center. During its current losing streak, the Orange has struggled to get early stops and was forced to play from behind. Against the Huskies, there isn’t likely to be a letdown from the type of pressure SU’s signature defense has faced recently.SU enters the game in a delicate position. The Huskies are coming off a double-overtime loss at home to Louisville but won its previous six, including wins against then-No. 12 Texas and then-No. 7 Villanova.AdvertisementThis is placeholder textSyracuse, on the other hand, comes into Wednesday’s game looking to avoid the first-ever five-game losing streak during Jim Boeheim’s tenure as head coach. The task becomes even more daunting considering UConn and its star point guard Kemba Walker found a successful formula for disrupting the zone in the teams’ matchup a year ago.During SU’s losing streak, all four opposing teams have found ways to exploit the zone. Pittsburgh slashed through the holes on the wings, scoring the game’s first 19 points. Villanova and Seton Hall stretched the zone with its shooters, and Marquette did a little bit of both.‘There are ways to crack the shell of that 2-3 zone,’ Notre Dame guard Ben Hansbrough said at Big East Media Day on Oct. 20. ‘Not many teams can do it, but it can be done.’Evidently, more and more teams are finding a successful formula.A year ago, Walker took his own approach to cracking the zone. Instead of looking for his shooters on the outside, the 6-foot-1 Walker took the ball right to the heart of the zone and, along with teammate Jerome Dyson, had much second-half success. The pair finished with 33 points and 11 assists and almost led the Huskies to a dramatic comeback after trailing by 16.In its last four games, SU allowed teams to find some shooting rhythm, as SU’s opponents shot 51 percent (108-for-212) from the field and 48 percent (33-for-69) from downtown. And now it prepares for a UConn team led by Walker, who shredded the zone a year ago.‘I think having players that can shoot against a zone will definitely help you out,’ former Connecticut forward Gavin Edwards said. ‘And that gives Kemba a lot more freedom to try and penetrate. And if he gets in trouble, he can kick it to a shooter that can knock down a shot.’Opposing players are having field days lately against the SU defense. Pitt’s Nasir Robinson went off for 21. That was followed by 21 from Villanova’s Maalik Wayns, 28 from Seton Hall’s Jeremy Hazell and 25 from Marquette’s Jae Crowder.Up next: Walker, the league’s top scorer.And a year ago, when the zone was arguably at its best, Walker still found a way to exploit it.In last year’s matchup, the Huskies thrived off the ‘high screen and roll’ they implemented a few days before facing Syracuse. And there was one person in particular who made it so effective against the 2-3 zone.‘Kemba did,’ UConn guard Donnell Beverly said. ‘Kemba and Jerome. Just going off the screens and getting into the lane and the middle of the defense.’With the Orange now in a freefall in both the standings and national rankings, a win at UConn could be the ticket to get back on track. To do that, however, it’ll need a return to the defense the Orange has been known for all along.Said Triche: ‘We just need to get back to where we were earlier this season.’aljohn@syr.edu— Asst. Sports Editor Michael Cohen contributed reporting to this article. Published on February 1, 2011 at 12:00 pm
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USC’s go-ahead possession late in the second half against Texas A&M could not have summarized the tide of events throughout the whole game any better: The Trojans fell short at times, but stuck with plays en route to a 65-63 victory over the Aggies on the road Friday night. With USC (3-0) trailing by a point with under 20 seconds remaining in regulation, sophomore forward Bennie Boatwright had his three-point attempt deflected — the ball then fell into the reach of sophomore forward Chimezie Metu, who batted the ball back out to the three point line. Junior guard Jordan McLaughlin was the recipient of the volleyball-esque pass, and he proceeded to lob an alley-oop to a newly-open Metu who slammed the ball into the net to give USC a 64-63 lead, which it would not relinquish. “We played a very good basketball team. It’s very difficult to win here at this arena,” head coach Andy Enfield said. “Lots of credit to [Texas A&M coach Billy] Kennedy, and to the players of this university. We were fortunate to come away with a victory here tonight.”Entering the final minute of regulation, USC trailed the Aggies (2-1), 63-60. Two free throws from Boatwright — who was making his season-debut Friday night coming off of an injury — with 56 seconds remaining pulled the Trojans within one. The McLaughlin-to-Metu alley-oop put USC ahead by one with 15 seconds remaining. Freshman guard De’Anthony Melton proceeded to steal a Texas A&M pass — he was then fouled and made a free throw that put USC ahead by the final score, 65-63. Texas A&M forward DJ Hogg missed a three-point attempt at the final buzzer, clinching the USC victory.With the victory Friday night, USC snapped Texas A&M’s 12-game winning streak against non-conference, high-major opponents on their home court. USC became the first high-major, non-league team to defeat the Aggies in their own arena since Miami did so back in 2001.The Trojans’ victory was sparked by big scoring runs to conclude both the first and second halves. USC finished the first half on a 18-7 run over the final six-and-a-half minutes; the Trojans finished the game on an 11-3 run to clinch the win. Junior guard Elijah Stewart recorded his first double-double of the young season against A&M, scoring 11 points and reeling in a team-high 11 rebounds. Metu’s go-ahead dunk in the second half was a part of his team-high 14 point performance Friday; he also recorded nine rebounds. The Trojans were able to prevent a big offensive performance from Texas A&M sophomore center Tyler Davis, who was averaging a team-high 16.5 PPG entering Friday night’s contest. Davis found himself in foul-trouble early on, and finished the game with eight points — he played 24 minutes in total. Overall, USC outrebounded Texas A&M Friday night, 47-44.The Trojans now return to the Galen Center Tuesday for a matchup with the visiting New Orleans Privateers — this contest will be the beginning of a five-game home stretch for USC.