Syracuse beat Division-II program Daemen 90-71 in its exhibition opener. Elijah Hughes led SU in scoring with 24 points on just 10 field goal attempts. The Orange shot 60% from the field in the game.

Here are some takeaways from SU’s first exhibition.

Shooting stars, from afar

As the first half wound under five minutes, Hughes slowly inched toward the 3-point line with the ball in his hands. The Orange hadn’t scored in almost three minutes — this game’s version of a slump. Seemingly without effort, Hughes ended it with a stroke far beyond the line. All game, when the Orange needed to score, they reawakened their offense with timely makes from beyond the arc.

Forty-five of Syracuse’s 90 points came from beyond the three-point line. Syracuse hit just over eight 3’s per game last year. In Saturday’s exhibition, SU matched that total in the first half. Hughes was the most impressive of the Orange’s shooters, finishing 5-for-7 from 3-point range. One of his makes from the corner came off a step-back dribble to free himself beyond the line and make the shot while he was fouled. Though he didn’t convert on the free throw, the move looked like one that the redshirt junior could rely on. And the contact seemingly didn’t bother the shot much.

Centerfold 

When the stadium announcer read ‘Bourama Sidibe’ off of Syracuse’s starting lineup before tip, it reaffirmed what was already known: Sidibe, the six-foot-10 junior, is SU’s starting center. 

With Daemen’s tallest player, redshirt junior Andrew Sischo, listed at six-foot-nine, Sidibe didn’t have to out-muscle, out-rebound or out-play an Atlantic Coast Conference big. He tallied seven defensive rebounds and a field goal, but also clanked an open layup. Freshman Jesse Edwards impacted shots as a rim protector but was caught too high in the paint repeatedly, allowing a few backdoor passes. John Bol Ajak also rotated in at center through garbage time. 

Boeheim eyeing Marek Dolezaj as a forward this season leaves Sidibe with the lion’s share of minutes at the five. After one night, Sidibe recorded 21 minutes with freshman Edwards (11) and Ajak (eight) also contributing. 

No, Syracuse didn’t play man-to-man

Through the 40-minute exhibition, Syracuse limited Daemen to a 42.9% shooting percentage. And it didn’t play man-to-man defense for one second. Jim Boeheim is entering his 44th season hearing a familiar question — Will Syracuse plan man-to-man defense this season? — and Saturday night didn’t provide much of an answer. 

Five nights before the season-opener, the Orange showcased the defensive strategy they’re known for. 

In the starting lineup, Buddy Boeheim and Jalen Carey platooned the perimeter, Hughes and Quincy Guerrier manned the wing and Sidibe anchored the paint. To start, the Wildcats scored seven points in three-and-a-half minutes, then didn’t score for the ensuing three. Even when the zone creaked — SU allowed six first-half 3s — a timely steal or tipped pass preserved the blowout. 

Already leading by 20 in the second half, white jerseys pressed higher, trapping guards at mid-court. When a few backups checked in after a pair of Orange free throws, Boeheim twirled his finger and called for more. 

Best of the rest 

• Hughes, on several occasions, brought the ball up the floor for the Orange. He had five assists and showed good vision and added an element of midrange to his offensive game, making him a threat at all three levels of the floor.

• Robert Braswell paced Syracuse with three triples, dotting the perimeter on set plays and fast breaks. The sophomore forward finished with 17 points punctuated by an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Joe Girard III. 

Published on October 26, 2019 at 9:07 pm

Contact Nick: nialvare@syr.edu | @nick_a_alvarez