Syracuse 100, Robert Morris 60: The Orange's defense is devastating. They forced 32 turnovers against Albany, and 28 more last night. And it isn't just their length along the back line that is giving team fits - it is the pesky defenders at the top of the zone. Andy Rautins, Scoop Jardine, and Brandon Triche got their hands on everything last night. Deflecting passes and stripping ball handlers, the Orange gave Robert Morris fits trying to get into their offense last night.
Brandon Triche and Scoop Jardine both looked better handling the ball last night.(photo credit: Syracuse Post-Standard)
After watching last night's game, I came away very impressed with Andy Rautins. He is a much better defender than he gets credit for, as he had four steals. His offense came around too, scoring 22 points and hitting 7-10 from deep.
The biggest question for the Orange after their first game of the year was point guard play, and last night we may have gotten out answer. While the Cuse still had 23 turnovers as a team, Jardine and Triche looked like different players out there. Both were able to get into the lane at will, finding the numerous big guys Boeheim can throw out there for easy dunks and lay-ups. Jardine inparticular looked comfortable leading the break. All told, the two combined for 18 points, 16 assists, and just 4 turnovers.
Speaking of Rick Jackson and Onuaku, after last night's 11-13 showing, the two are shooting a combined 87.5% from the floor, which isn't all that surprising when you consider that the two may not have taken a shot this year that wasn't a dunk or a lay-up.
UNC 89, North Carolina Central 42: Eight minutes into the game, UNC was clinging to a 21-17 lead. Over the next 32 minutes, the Heels outscored NCCU 68-25. They were bigger, faster, and more athletic, and once the Heels got into a rhythm, there was really nothing the Eagles could do.
UNC is still dealing with some turnover issues, as they committed 19 last night. But as was the case on Monday, much of that can be attributed to young guys learning a new system and new roles.
The biggest difference was the comfort level of the Heels freshman. After looking jittery and nervous against FIU, this group played a much more controlled game last night. Dexter Strickland and John Henson, specifically, showed flashes of being big time players.
All-in-all, not much too take out of UNC's destruction of another extremely overmatched opponents.
Cal 95, Detroit 61: The Bears looked much more impressive last night against Detroit than they did in their opener against Murray State, but there is still a lot that Monty's group needs to work on.
Detroit had this down to a four point game early in the second half, but that is when the Bears finally found their range. Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson, inparticular, both knocked down a couple threes as Cal used an 11-0 run to open up a 17 point lead and start to pull away. The Bears showed a killer instinct they didn't have on Monday, when they opened up an 18 point lead only to let the Racers back in it.
My biggest issue right now is with Jerome Randle. Yes, he is averaging 20 ppg right now, but he hasn't looked as dominant as he did last season. The biggest issue in my eyes is his inability to effectively use the high ball screen. Randle is not quick in the same way that Ty Lawson is - what Randle excels at is his stop and go quickness. He is deadly when he can get up a head of steam, because he can stop on a dime and hit a pull-up with three point range. Take note, Pac 10 teams. Both Murray State and Detroit crowded and pressured Randle out by half court, which has forced him to be more of a penetrator. Sure, he is able to draw fouls against this level of competition, but will he be able to get by an Isaiah Thomas or a Malcolm Lee in league play?
The other issue I noticed was how poor he is at setting up ball screens. Markhuri Sanders-Frison and Jamal Boykin are both big bodies. Given Randle's ability to shoot the three, a defender is not going to be able to go under those ball screens. But Randle has not really been able to turn the corner off the screen and get into the paint as well as I expected him too. When he did last night (I remember two times specifically), both ended up with open looks for shooters on the wings.
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