What is going on?
Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images
For those that might’ve missed it yesterday, Jeff Goodman talked with Syracuse Orange men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim yesterday and either Boeheim is turning over a new leaf, or, well, he’s being Boeheim.
Goodman took to twitter with some of things that the Hall-of-Famer had to say, including the proclamation that Syracuse will play some man-to-man defense this year. We’re not kidding.
Boeheim on whether he’ll play a significant amount of man-to-man defense after playing about 15 mpg on the trip:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 26, 2019
“I think we’ll play some man this year - especially in the non-conference and see how it goes.”
Both Marek Dolezaj and John Bol Ajak did not play on trip. https://t.co/0Hn5j3eUuM
Yeah, I’m gonna go ahead and call bluff here. Syracuse did play some man on its Italy trip earlier this month, but I don’t buy it.
Boeheim hasn’t stepped outside of the 2-3 zone in the half-court since the Boston College game on January 1, 2017 and that was only because the zone left much to be desired that season.
Before that though? Syracuse hadn’t employed man defense since the Le Moyne debacle of 2009. Axe said it best.
Either sports radio callers in Syracuse are going to have their dream come true of Boeheim "just playing a little man-to-man" or it's August and Boeheim will abandon this plan when it counts. We shall await it with bated breath. https://t.co/ydOEHVMc1l
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) August 26, 2019
The rest of the conversation between Goodman and Boeheim is below.
Jim Boeheim on team’s trip to Italy:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 26, 2019
Standout: Freshman forward Quincy Guerrier. “He’s really good. He’s a man. Athletic, strong, physical.”
Surprise: “They move the ball over there against zones, but we covered it. We played about 15 minutes of man a game.”
Yep. The Candy Man was pretty good.
Guerrier rebounded at a high level over there and already has the physical tools to be an impact player in year one.
More from Boeheim on the trip:
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 26, 2019
Learned: “We’re better defensively than I thought we’d be.
Boeheim also singled out junior forward Bourama Sidibe. “He’s finally healthy. He hasn’t been healthy in 2 years. He averaged 12 rebounds per game on the trip.” https://t.co/pN66w0PqV3
Sign me up for a better defense that originally preconceived.
Bourama Sidibe did look really good on the trip, too. He rebounded at a high clip, finished well around the rim and on defense he covered the high post and corner with ease. If Sidibe is as good during the regular season as he was in Italy, that solves a lot of problems at center for the Orange.
Boeheim said they played with a 24-second shot clock … and he’s in favor of college going to the 24-second shot clock.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 26, 2019
“Everyone wants the game to be faster. That’s the best way and the easiest way to do it.” https://t.co/0Hn5j3eUuM
Imagine other teams trying to get a quality shot off against the man-to-man zone within 24 seconds.
Boeheim is confident that Elijah Hughes can take the next step and become the go-to guy.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) August 26, 2019
“He’s ready to take over the leadership. He shot 38 percent from 3 and can get his shot anytime he wants. He’ll get the most shots on the team.” https://t.co/0Hn5j3eUuM
It’s gonna be HUGHES, Tom, HUGHES.
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