What We Did and Did Not Learn About Syracuse Basketball in Maui

The Orange is set to face LSU in the Dome.

This Syracuse team returns to the friendly confines of the Dome against LSU in the SEC/ACC challenge after going 1-2 in the Maui Invitational. SU’s matchup versus Tennessee was much closer than the final score indicated. Still, the Gonzaga game was seemingly over by halftime, despite the Orange getting within six points in the second half. Facing an LSU team with an ACC win over Wake Forest but also a loss to FCS Nicholls State, this is the ideal time to assess what we did and didn’t learn about this team before they face a ranked Virginia and the rest of the non-conference schedule, and what if these ideals will be points to track all season.

WE LEARNED THAT…

This team needs more consistent shot creation besides Judah and JJ

Both guards were inefficient in the first game vs. Tennessee; Judah missed his first six shots, and JJ missed all three of his 3-point attempts en route to a nasty 8-for-27 combined shooting night for the duo. Both rebounded a bit in the Gonzaga game, but a horrendous 2-for-18 night from Chris Bell set any hopes of an efficient offense ablaze. Yes, this team undoubtedly needs to run through Mintz with Starling as the clear number two, but them being the only ones to create quality open looks will lead to more inefficient offense. Whether it’s Justin Taylor or Bell being aggressive getting into the paint coming off pindown screens or Quadir Copeland getting more as a pick-and-roll ball handler, this team needs a Plan B in place when Judah and JJ are struggling. That plan can’t simply be to jack contested threes, which did to the tune of averaging 24 treys in their three games in Hawaii.

WE LEARNED THAT…

You have to find consistent big man minutes outside of Naheem McLeod

McLeod had an impressive opening to the tournament, recording three blocks and two offensive boards in the first seven minutes versus Tennessee, and he looked like the center replacement Syracuse envisioned him to be with Jesse Edwards now in Morgantown. Those would be McLeod’s best minutes by far. His early-season struggle to clean the glass continued (seven boards combined against Tennesse and Gonzaga), and he was thoroughly dominated in trying to guard Gonzaga’s Graham Ike in the post. In theory, McLeod does everything that Jesse did as a defensive anchor, play-finisher around the rim, and cleaner of the glass. However, it’s clear when McLeod isn’t protecting the rim, he provides little to no value. Peter Carey and Mounir Hima saw their first action of the year in Honolulu, and I’d be all in on Hima taking minutes away from McLeod at this point. He can put a lid on the rim (7 [!] blocks against St. John’s last year and four in SU’s near upset of UVA in just 15 minutes), and he’s never struggled on the glass how McLeod has. Whether it's working more Hima into the rotation (having him listed on the scorer’s card as an eligible player would be a start) or going all in on pace and space with Maliq Brown at the five (who’s averaging more minutes than McLeod), you need more energy out of your center than McLeod is giving you right now.

WE DID NOT LEARN IF…

Benny Williams is going to be a consistent contributor or part of the rotation

Benny’s season-high in points and minutes came in the Tennessee game, and we saw glimpses of the floor spacing and size he provides that this team desperately needs, hitting two threes and snagging four boards in 16 minutes. However, was a DNP-CD for the Gonzaga game and only saw 12 minutes in a Chaminade game that would’ve been the perfect chance to start working him back into the rotation. It was bizarre not to see him in the Gonzaga game immediately after his performance against Tennesse, with whatever the cause for his early season suspension seemingly behind him. Justin Taylor didn’t exactly inspire confidence in Honolulu with his performance, so it’s not like there’s been play ahead of him to dictate his lack of minutes. It’s obviously still early in the season, but when’s on the floor and engaged, he raises this team's ceiling. In his third year in the program, that talent and potential needs to start translating on the court, but it appears he needs to get out of Coach Autry’s newly constructed dog house before worrying about any amount of minutes.

WE DID NOT LEARN IF…

This team can consistently get stops or space the floor

After some encouraging play in the first game, Justin Taylor was simply horrible in the games that mattered in Hawaii (sorry Chaminade), going 0-9 from the field and 0-6 from three in 54 minutes in the Tennessee and Gonzaga games. For him to stay in the rotation and unlock this offense, he has to be a guy who takes and makes open threes and finishes off defensive possessions with rebounds playing at the wing spot. Chris Bell got a bit of trigger-happy after having a team-high 16 points versus Tennesse, but that confidence to take open threes and not allow defenders to help off him needs to be there for him too. I did like seeing him take on the challenge of guarding Dalton Knecht, and he had some impressive reps against Tenneesse’s leading scorer, having high hands and forcing him to take some tough shots. However, Knecht is more of a shooter than a shot-creator, and we have to see if that assignment of the other team’s best player is something Bell will willingly take on a nightly basis. This team still hasn’t held any opponent under 70 points, and with the offense struggling to find its identity, maybe a bit more half-court and full-court pressure will create more turnovers and create more transition opportunities.

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