<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Getting Inside Donte Greene is having one of the best seasons for a true freshman in Syracuse history, and as Carmelo Anthony might point out, the school has had a lot of fantastic frosh in recent years. He’s averaging 17.6 points per game, has scored 20 or more points in a game 11 times and pulls down 7.4 rebounds per game. He’s also averaging more than 35 minutes per night, and the evidence strongly suggests that the workload is having an effect. From Dec. 5 to Feb. 2, Greene was in double-figures every night�"a 16-game stretch. In the five games since, he’s scored 10 points or more only twice, although one of those was an 18-point effort against Georgetown. Even against the Hoyas, however, it took Greene 22 shots to get those 18 points. He’s 20 for 71 over the past five games (28.1 percent). From 3-point range, he’s 7 for 41, or 17 percent. Coach Jim Boeheim’s not to blame for the workload, given that he effectively has nobody else to turn to. But the Syracuse success earlier in the season was in part based on Greene’s ability to score points both inside and out, and that ability has been less pronounced as the season has gone on. He’ll need an all-Big East-caliber final three games for this team to be in serious NCAA Tournament contention. Notes, Quotes • Syracuse came out in blue uniforms against Notre Dame for the first time in 20 years. The last time the team wore them, the Orangemen lost at Kentucky and coach Jim Boeheim reportedly swore he would never let his team wear them again. After losing the game to the Irish, it may be 20 more years before the team goes blue again. • The 94 points Syracuse allowed to Notre Dame was the most it has given up in Big East play all season. The Fighting Irish had no problems finding openings in the Orangemen zone, shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 56 percent from 3-point range. Quote To Note: “Coach was just telling us right now, we’ve got our backs against the wall, but we can still make the push. We’ve got to take each of the next three games one at a time and win them all.”�"Syracuse center Arinze Onuaku told the Syracuse Post-Standard after the loss to Notre Dame. Strategy And Personnel Playing defense without fouling has been difficult for the Orangemen this season, but with a seven-man rotation, that leaves the team critically thin late in games. Against Notre Dame, only the usual seven played, even though Donte Greene and Arinze Onuaku fouled out, Kris Ongenaet finished with four fouls, and three other players had three apiece. Player Rotation: Usual Starters�"F Donte Green, F Kris Ongenaet, C Arinze Onuaku, G Paul Harris, G Jonny Flynn. Key Subs�"F Rick Jackson, G Scoop Jardine. Game Review: Syracuse 77, Georgetown 70 Louisville 61, Syracuse 50 Notre Dame 94, Syracuse 87 Game Preview: vs. Pittsburgh, Saturday, March 1 at Seton Hall, Wednesday, March 5 vs. Marquette, Saturday, March 8 In Focus: Pitt is a must-win game for the Orangemen, but the Panthers are struggling in the latter half of the Big East slate and aren’t playing with much confidence. Stopping Sam Young and DaJuan Blair from scoring will be critical, since the Panthers become a perimeter-shooting team�"which hasn’t been its strength. Roster Report: • C Arinze Onuaku won his head-to-head battle with Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, who has made a case for himself for conference player of the year honors. Onuaku had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocked shots against the Irish. • F Paul Harris isn’t creating the buzz of the Syracuse freshman, but he’s been the rock the team has leaned on in February. The sophomore had 22 points in the loss to Notre Dame, and added 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals. • G Jonny Flynn finally saw his consecutive-minutes streak end when he went to the bench for just under a minute against Louisville. The freshman had played 301 minutes in a row.</div> Link Sheesh. I find it disgraceful that Johnny doesn't get just as much love as Donte, and that the most consistent player over the past 5-10 games, Harris, only gets a measley bullet. Donte's getting overrated, quick. It's getting annoying. I mean, sure, he has his nights, and he's a pretty good player...but let's not push it. He's gone away from his inside game, and in that G'town win, he shot SIXTEEN three's (and only made 4). Sure, we may "lean" on him at times, but that doesn't mean he should just sit on the outside and launch. It's annoying. and a big reason why I'd rather have Arinze or Johnny as the first option over him. It seems when one of the two has a good scoring night (especially Johnny), we're more poised for a win. Anyways, I love what Paul's been doing. He's really picked up his game for a young team that's in need of an experienced player--and for Syracuse, that's the most experience you're gonna get. I'd like to see him continue this, but not take over too much of the offense--that's proved to be very bad in the past. Turnovers and bad shots galore. I'd also like to see more minutes for Scoop and Jackson (regardless of what Scoop's done to piss of Boeheim or whoever, we need him). Jackson's been better than expected all season, and should definitely be the first player off the bench. On the other hand, with Scoop, well, someone needs to give Johnny and Paul a rest. All those guys look tired as hell. I'd like to see ~25-30 minutes from Scoop and Jackson, because let's face it, the starters need the rest. Also, if you know you're gonna face a strong three-point shooting team, don't ya think you should put out a man-to-man defense once they start catching fire? Sheesh. 9 three's for a team is one thing, but for a player...that's just ridiculous. Lastly, props to the big man down low, for winning the head-to-head battle against Harangody.
Donte is overrated on our team. Johnny has played better almost every game. Too bad everyone got injured because we had a good team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Feb 26 2008, 12:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Donte is overrated on our team. Johnny has played better almost every game. Too bad everyone got injured because we had a good team.</div> I agree on both parts. The injuries killed us. This team would be much better, with two extra guys who know the zone and who can shoot the lights out on a given night. As of now, we have no SF or PF coming off the bench...just a Center and a Combo Guard.
Wow. Great bullshit no-call. When someone gets a fuckin hip-check, and pushed, aren't refs supposed to call a foul? What the fuck was that? Wow, Syracuse just got screwed over, and everyone knows it. That was one of the biggest bullshit endings to a game since the Georgetown game. Hell, if that was fuckin Georgetown out there, they would've given them the fuckin foul. Those refs fucking sucked. I hate the NCAA.
