Friday's Shootaround: UNC and Syracuse impress at the Garden

Statements at MSG

• Syracuse 95, Cal 73: I can't decide if I was more impressed with Syracuse or disappointed in Cal. The Orange were down 5-0 early, but responded with a 26-9 run to take a 12 points lead they never looked back from. Once again, it started with their defense. Cal was unable to successfully run offense, having to rely far too often on settling for deep threes off the dribble. Beating a zone requires passing, getting the ball to the high post or the short corner, and Cal was unable to do that.
  
  
  Blocked shots were a consistent theme last night.
  (photo credit: Seattle Post)
  
  
  To be fair, much of that had to do with the length of Syracuse. That zone is so difficult to go against, not just because they have a couple guys that are 6'9" and athletic along their back line. Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, and Andy Rautins are all 6'3"-6'5" and aggressive. It is their work on the top of the zone that causes the most damage as team have trouble getting into their zone sets.
  
  I think we have an answer to the point guard question. Jardine finished the game with 22 points, 6 boards, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Wesley Johnson added 17 points, 11 boards, and 6 blocks as Cal's defense was essentially non-existant. To be fair, the Bears are playing with a key big man and a starter in their back court, which is not good news for a team that is not all that deep. Without Harper Kamp and Theo Robertson for an extended period of time, Cal could be in trouble.
• UNC 77, Ohio State 73: More than anything, last night we learned that Evan Turner is not a point guard. Talented, yes. But not a point guard. Turner notched the second triple double of his career last night, going to 23 points, 11 boards, ... and 10 turnovers before fouling out. Look, this is a talented kid, and that talent is the reason that he was able to put up astronomical numbers against Alcorn State and James Madison. I'd be willing to bet he put up those same numbers if he was playing the three that game. But against Carolina, where he is playing against kids with an equivalent skill level, Turner looked shaky, indecisive, and out of control. He wasn't getting his teammates involved, he wasn't making good decisions with the ball, and he forced the issue too often.
  
  
  Marcus Ginyard and company looked impressive in their win over OSU last night.
  (photo credit: AP)
  
• For UNC, what impressed me was their perimeter play. You know the big guys on the inside are going to get theirs, but if Larry Drew, Marcus Ginyard, and Will Graves can put up these numbers - 38 points, 11 assists, 6-12 from three, just 7 turnovers combined - the Heels may make some noise after all. Another note - UNC has the potential to be great on the defensive end. Graves and Ginyard are stoppers. Davis, Thompson, Zeller, and Henson are shot blockers. They are long and athletic everywhere on the court, and are deep enough where fouls should never be a concern. Will the Heels, a program known for their offensive prowess, buy into the fact that their team's strength may be playing without the ball?
  

A good opening night in Puerto Rico

• Villanova 69, George Mason 68: The Patriots dominated this game. They played great defensively, they forced turnovers, they took Corey Fisher (1-12 FG) and Scottie Reynolds (8 t/o's) and made them look like freshman playing their first games. Villanova never led until the second half of the game, and even then they were down four in the final minute. But where the Wildcats were clutch, knocking down two threes in the final minute, Mason struggled, missing a free throw, turning the ball over, and failing to get a shot up on their last possession.
  
• Dayton 63, Georgia Tech 59: In a game that was only seen by the 25 people in the stands, Dayton went on a 13-2 run down the stretch to put away the Jackets. Chris Wright finished with just 7 points and 6 t/o's, but it was the performance of Chris Johnson (19 and 7) and Paul Williams (13 points, including a go ahead three and four free throws in the final minutes) off the bench that kept the Flyers out of the loss column. Interesting stat of the night - Dayton got just 16 points from their starters, and 47 points from their bench. Of note - Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors combined for 19 points, 14 rebounds, just 15 shots (and 10 FT's), and 11 turnovers. Unacceptable that those two to only be getting 15 shots.
• Mississippi 89, Indiana 71: Murphy Holloway had 26 and 7 with Chris Warren added 16 has the Rebels picked up the win. They forced 21 turnovers in the game, as Indiana never did look comfortable on the offensive end.
• K-State 80, Boston U 70: The Wildcats were lucky they only played BU, as Denis Clemente and Wally Judge combined for seven points in a game that was in doubt most of the way. Rodney MacGruder had 20 off the bench to carry K-State.
  

Charleston Classic

• UNC-Wilmington 80, Penn State 69: Chad Tomko had 21 points, hitting 4-5 from deep, as the Seahawks overcame 29 points from Talor Battle to "upset" a Big Ten cellar dwellar.
  
• Miami (FL) 74, Tulane 54: Dwayne Collins had 22 points and 14 boards while shooting 8-8 from the field. The Canes also got 10 points each from Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant.
• South Carolina 78, La Salle 68: In what was billed as one of the best match-ups of the day, South Carolina finally woke up late in the first half. Down 34-27 with two minutes left, the Gamecocks outscored La Salle 51-34 the rest of the way. While Devan Downey only had 10 points, Dominique Archie, Mike Holmes, and Brandis Baley-Ross combined for 48 points.
• South Florida 65, Davidson 58: The Bulls got 38 points and 18 boards from Gus Gilchrist and Dominique Jones as they held off against a tough Wildcats team.
  

Other notable games:

• Kansas 94, Central Arkansas 44: Sherron Collins rolled an ankle, but he returned to the game as Kansas dominated.
• Kentucky 102, Sam Houston State 92: Kentucky needs to learn to play defense, as they allowed SHSU to hit 18-38 threes, with 11 coming from Corey Allmond, who finished with 37 points. No one scored off of UK's bench, and the Wildcats have allowed opponent's to shoot 33-64 from three the last two games.
• Minnesota 76, Utah Valley State 51: Freshman Rodney Williams had 17 points and 6 boards to carry the Gophers.
• Pitt 71, Eastern Kentucky 60: Ashton Gibbs had 20 points, while Dante Taylor added 10 points and 12 boards for the Panthers.
• Virginia 79, Rider 46: After starting the season 2-0, Rider got smacked by Virginia. Mike Scott had 17 points and 9 boards.
• Notre Dame 82, Long Beach State 62: Luke Harangody had 29 points and 12 boards, while Ben Hansbrough added 11 points and 7 assists. Tim Abromaitis also had 11 points.
• Mississippi State 82, SE Louisiana 67: Jarvis Varnado led five players in double figures with 20 points, 9 boards, and 8 blocks.
  
• Washington State 89, IPFW 70: Klay Thompson had 37 points as the Cougars improved to 3-0.
• Arizona 66, Rice 49: The Wildcats improved to 2-0 on the strength of 15 and 7 dimes from Nic Wise.