How the Heels gave us the boot

[SWC75]

North Carolina has beaten us the last three teams, (just as Virginia had), so I thought I’d take a look at the stats from those games to see what they could tell us about what we have to overcome to beat them this time, (like we beat Virginia).

TEAMS

Scoring
1/26/15 Syracuse 83 North Carolina 93
1/9/16 Syracuse 73 North Carolina 84
2/29/16 Syracuse 70 North Carolina 75
Total: Syracuse 226 North Carolina 252
Comment: I love old fashioned, rim to rim basketball. And we can score, too (75.3ppg). But they can score more (84.0). The way to throw Virginia off their game was to speed them up. Against North Carolina, the answer may be to slow them down. It’s interesting that the game scores have gotten slightly lower with each game.

Quarterly Breaks (points scored in 10 minute intervals)
1/26/15 16-16, 24-19, 18-23, 25-35
1/9/16 20-19, 13-14, 18-17, 22-34
2/29/16 17-18, 17-20, 13-18, 23-19
Total: 53-53, 54-53, 49-58, 70-88
Comment: The first two games were one-possession games until the final minutes. The Heels pulled away at the 8 minute mark on the first game and the 5 minute mark of the second one. In the third one, the first half was close until the Heels pull ahead by 13 five minutes into the second half. We got it down to 5 but they pushed it back up to nine with 5:27 left before we rallied again and it came down to Gbinije’s choice of a three pointer or drive to the basket down 3 with 8 seconds left. I see no reason to think that Saturday’s game will be any less competitive.

Possessions (combined, formula: FGA-O-rebs + turnovers, + 47.5% of FTA)
1/26/15 159
1/9/16 137
2/29/16 139
Total: 435
Comment: The pace of this year’s games has been slower than last year, but still higher than the average of our games this season. (129)

Two Point Field Goals (shooting percentage)
1/26/15 Syracuse 22/40 (.550) North Carolina 22/44 (.500)
1/9/16 Syracuse 18/32 (.5625) North Carolina 29/45 (.644)
2/29/16 Syracuse 18/36 (.500) North Carolina 22/43 (.512)
Total: Syracuse 58/108 (.537) North Carolina 73/132 (.553)
Comment: I’ve heard that UNC has an advantage in this arena because of the huge background, much bigger than even the Carrier Dome. This will favor the team that can score inside because three point percentages will go down. They have certainly scored inside against us but we’ve scored inside against them, too. I think both teams are probably better at defending this now than we were in these prior games but I think we both may have gotten better at scoring inside. Syracuse has transitioned from a three point dependent team to a pick and roll team that goes to the basket to score or get to the foul line. No stat relates more to victory that two point field goal percentage and it will be a huge stat in this game.

Three Point Field Goals (shooting percentage)
1/26/15 Syracuse 7/24 (.292) North Carolina 9/16 (.563)
1/9/16 Syracuse 9/31 (.290) North Carolina 3/16 (.188)
2/29/16 Syracuse 5/20 (.250) North Carolina 6/25 (.240)
Total: Syracuse 21/75 (.280) North Carolina 18/57 (.316)
Comment: If the teams can’t hit jump shots in ‘NRG’ Stadium, (does that make you want to go out and buy an NRG?), it will be a familiar situation for them.

Free Throws (shooting percentage)
1/26/15 Syracuse 18/23 (.783) North Carolina 22/30 (.733)
1/9/16 Syracuse 10/12 (.883) North Carolina 17/20 (.850)
2/29/16 Syracuse 19/23 (.826) North Carolina 13/19 (.684)
Total: Syracuse 47/58 (.810) North Carolina 52/69 (.754)
Comment: On the other hand the two teams have shot very well from the foul line. I wonder how NRG will impact that?

Rebounding (Offensive rebounds/ O-Rebs + the other team’s D-Rebs)
1/26/15 Syracuse 10/41 (.244) North Carolina 11/28 (.393)
1/9/16 Syracuse) 14/37 (.378) North Carolina 10/31 (.323
2/29/16 Syracuse 12/33 (.364) North Carolina 19/41 (.463)
Total: Syracuse 36/111 (.324) North Carolina 40/100 (.400)
Comment: For the most part, they have been the “Boss Squirrels”. A “turned on Robie” would help but we really need everyone to hit the boards to have a decent chance to win.

Effective Offensive Rebounding (Second Chance Points/ Offensive Rebounds)
1/26/15 Syracuse 13 from 10 = 1.30 North Carolina 16 from 11 =1.45
1/9/16 Syracuse 13 from 14 = 0.93 North Carolina 15 from 10 = 1.50
2/29/16 Syracuse 15 from 12 = 1.25 North Carolina 16 from 19 = 0.84
Total: Syracuse 41 from 36 = 1.14 North Carolina 47 from 40 = 1.18
Comment: Both teams have done a good job of scoring after getting offensive rebounds. The key will be who gets more of them.

Turnovers (Total – the other team’s steals = ‘unforced’ turnovers)
1/26/15 Syracuse 11-7 = 4 North Carolina 20-10 = 10
1/9/16 Syracuse 13-8 = 5 North Carolina 9-5 = 4
2/29/16 Syracuse 15-6 = 9 North Carolina 13-8 = 5
Total: Syracuse 39-21 = 18 North Carolina 42-23 = 19
Comment: Not a big advantage in this area, either. The big issues: can we turn them over eno9guh that defensive pressure should help or do we want to avoid that because we are better off in a slower pace? We had quite a difference in our favor in last year’s game but none in either of this year’s games. Maybe it would be better to pack it in and hit the boards.

Points from Turnovers (Points off of turnovers / the other team’s turnovers)
1/26/15 Syracuse 21 from 20 = 1.05 North Carolina 5 from 11 = 0.45
1/9/16 Syracuse 9 from 9 = 1.00 North Carolina 18 from 13 = 1.38
2/29/16 Syracuse 8 from 13 = 0.62 North Carolina 16 from 15 = 1.07
Total: Syracuse 38 from 42 = 0.90 North Carolina 39 from 39 = 1.00
Comment: Again, not a big difference. I think UNC’s numbers this year are more typical as they are a running team and should score a lot off defensive plays.

Manufactured Possessions (One team’s rebounds + the other team’s turnovers)
1/26/15 Syracuse 27 + 20 = 47 North Carolina 42 + 11 = 53
1/9/16 Syracuse 35 + 9 = 44 North Carolina 33 + 13 = 46
2/29/16 Syracuse 34 + 13 = 47 North Carolina 40 + 15 = 55
Total: Syracuse 96 + 42 = 138 North Carolina 115 + 39 = 154
Comments: Possession is 9/10 of the law and big chunk of basketball. Maybe we should press to increase our share of turnovers? Don’t bet on it.

Points Breakdown (PIP= points in the paint, POP = points outside the paint, which is total points – PIP –free throws made, TREY: points from three point shots, TZ= Twilight Zone, which is POP – TREY, two point jumpers from outside the paint, FBP = fast break points)
1/26/15
Syracuse 24 PIP 41 POP 21 TREY 20 TZ 7 FBP North Carolina 36 PIP 35 POP 27 TREY 8 TZ 5 FBP
1/9/16
Syracuse 26 PIP 37 POP 27 TREY 10 TZ 8 FBP North Carolina 46 PIP 21 POP 9 TREY 12 TZ 8 FBP
2/29/16
Syracuse 32 PIP 19 POP 15 TREY 4 TZ 8 FBP North Carolina 38 PIP 24 POP 18 TREY 6 TZ 16 FBP
Total:
Syracuse 82 PIP 97 POP 63 TREY 34 TZ 23 FBP North Carolina 120 PIP 80 POP 54 TREY 26 TZ 29 FBP
Comment: They are +38 in the paint. We are +17 outside of it but that’s obviously not enough. We’ve done more in the “Twilight Zone” between the arc and the paint and it might prove to be important in this game. If we can’t hit from outside, maybe we can move in a bit? A two pointer than goes in counts for more than a three pointer that doesn’t. We’ve got to get back on the fast break, easier said than done against Roy Williams’ team.

First Chance/Second Chance Points (First chance is total points – second chance points, fast break points and free throws made)
1/26/15 Syracuse 45 FCP 13 SCP North Carolina 50 FCP 16 SCP
1/9/16 Syracuse 42 FCP 13 SCP North Carolina 44 FCP 15 SCP
2/29/16 Syracuse 28 FCP 15 SCP North Carolina 30 FCP 16 SCP
Total: Syracuse 115 FCP 41 SCP North Carolina 124 FCP 47 SCP
Comment: The Heels are scoring more in their initial sets and when they get a second chance. The margins are not huge but there they are.

Starters/Bench Points (Points scored by the starting line- up and by the bench.)
1/26/15 Syracuse 83SP 0BP North Carolina 68SP 25BP
1/9/16 Syracuse 71SP 2BP North Carolina 55SP 29BP
2/29/16 Syracuse 54SP 16BP North Carolina 22SP 53BP
Total: Syracuse 208SP 18BP North Carolina 145SP 107BP
Comment: This is a matter of coaching philosophies: JB likes to go with his best people. Roy likes to develop his bench and keep his players fresh. Still, that last game was an amazing contrast: 54/16 vs. 22/53. We just need to have five guys playing well for 40 minutes, whatever combination that takes.

Assists (as a percentage of field goals made)
1/26/15 Syracuse 17 of 29 (.586) North Carolina 22 of 31 (.710)
1/9/16 Syracuse 14 of 27 (.519) North Carolina 24 of 32 (.750)
2/29/16 Syracuse 9 of 23 ((391) North Carolina 17 of 28 (.607)
Total: Syracuse 40 of 79 (.506) North Carolina 63 of 91 (.692)
Comment: We shoot threes and drive to the basket, rarely dishing to a teammate. UNC has that dynamite high-low game.

Fouls (Two point shots, points in paint and free throws attempted per times fouled.)
1/26/15 Syracuse 2.32/1.26/ 1.21 North Carolina 1.60/1.44/1.20
1/9/16 Syracuse 2.00/1.625/0.75 North Carolina 2.37/2.42/1.05
2/29/16 Syracuse 2.00/1.78/1.28 North Carolina 2.26/2.00/1.11
Total: Syracuse 2.11/1.55/1.09 North Carolina 2.03/1.90/1.13
Comment: Nothing here to suggest that the refs have favored one team over another, although Syracuse is a bit more likely to draw fouls when going to the paint, probably because we drive into it rather than feeding the post. We also get more charges called on us because of it.

Overall: We’ll have to control the tempo but take advantages of the opportunities to score when they are there. We need to hit the boards and get back on the fast break, (it’s hard to do both). I don’t see a lot of outside shots going down in this game. As usual, we’ll resort to pressure if we have to. It might work, not that Boeheim would ever acknowledge it.

 

[SWC75]

INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS

SYRACUSE

DaJuan Coleman
1/9/16 27M 2/3 2FG 0/0 TREY 1/1 FT 5 PTS 6 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 2 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 2 TO 4 PF
2/29/16 9M 2/3 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 6 PTS 3 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 1 TO 4 PF
Total: 36M 4/6 2FG 0/0 TREY 1/1 FT 11 PTS 9 O-REBS 4 D-REBS 2 AST 1 BLK 1 STL 3 TO 8 PF
Comment: He’s played the rough equivalent of a full game and has a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds, 9 from the offensive boards. His whole problem is staying in the game with those 8 fouls in 36 minutes.

Chinoso Obokoh didn’t play in any of the three games. If he plays in this one we are in trouble.

Tyler Roberson
1/26/15 35M 6/9 2FG 0/0 TREY 1/4 FT 13 PTS 2 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 5 AST 0 BLK 3 STL 0 TO 5 PF
1/9/16 32M 5/5 2FG 0/0 TREY 3/4 FT 13 PTS 2 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 1 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 2 TO 2 PF
2/29/16 34M 4/8 2FG 0/0 TREY 1/1 FT 11 PTS 6 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 2 PF
Total: 101M 15/22 2FG 0/0 TREY 5/9 FT 37 PTS 10 O-REBS 11 D-REBS 6 AST 1 BLK 3 STL 3 TO 9 PF
Comments: T-Rob has played very well against the heels, averaging 12 points and 6 rebounds a game, 11 of 17 from the offensive boards. He’s also shot 68% from the field.

Tyler Lydon
1/9/16 23M 1/2 2FG 0/2 TREY 0/0 FT 2 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 4 BLK 1 STL 1 TO 3 PF
2/29/16 36M 2/4 2FG 1/3 TREY 5/6 FT 12 PTS 1 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 0 AST 2 BLK 1 STL 0 TO 3 PF
Total: 59M 3/6 2FG 1/5 TREY 5/6 FT 14 PTS 1 O-REBS 6 D-REBS 1 AST 6 BLK 2 STL 1 TO 6 PF
Comment: T-L hasn’t played as well against the Heels as he has been in this tournament, (or in the Bahamas). But he always finds way to be productive. Those six blocks came against a big front line. He’s gotten those 6 defensive rebs and was 5 for 6 from the line in the last game. Still, we’ll nee4d more form him to win this game, especially more than 1/5 from the arc in 59 minutes.

Malachi Richardson
1/9/16 35M 2/5 2FG 4/10 TREY 0/0 FT 16 PTS 1 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 5 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 4 TO 4 PF
2/29/16 37M 2/5 2FG 1/4 TREY 3/4 FT 10 PTS 0 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 4 TO 4 PF
Total: 72M 4/10 2FG 5/14 TREY 3/4 FT 26 PTS 0 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 5 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 8 TO 8 PF
Comments: The definition of a talent freshman, Malware has been our most inconsistent but also most exciting player. Against Virginia he broke out of a 4 for 27 slump to score 17 points on 6 for 8 shooting in a run that took us from 34-45 to 64-58 and on to the Final Four. He’s been productive against the Tar Heels but not En Fuego. He’s helped out on the defensive boards and had 5 assists on the first game. But there have been too many fouls and turnovers. He’s got to avoid that and shoot the ball better to put us over the top in this game.

Trevor Cooney
1/26/15 40M 6/13 2FG 4/13 TREY 4/4 FT 28 PTS 0 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 3 TO 3 PF
1/9/16 39M 5/9 2FG 5/12 TREY 2/2 FT 27 PTS 2 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 0 TO 2 PF
2/29/16 33M 1/4 2FG 2/7 TREY 6/6 FT 14 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 0 TO 2 PF
Total: 112M 12/26 2FG 11/32 TREY 12/12 FT 69 PTS 2 O-REBS 6 D-REBS 3 AST 0 BLK 5 STL 3 TO 7 PF
Comment: UNC knows nothing about this disappointing Trevor Cooney ‘Cuse fans moan about. He’s killed them, although not so much in the last game. A strapping lad like Trevor could help us a little more on the boards but he’s made some steals and took care of the ball but he’s got to score – in his jump shots and on his drives- for us to win the game.

Michael Gbinije
1/26/15 38M 3/7 2FG 3/7 TREY 1/3 FT 16 PTS 0 O-REBS 4 D-REBS 5 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 1 TO 4 PF
1/9/16 37M 3/7 2FG 0/6 TREY 4/5 FT 10 PTS 2 O-REBS 4 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 3 TO 4 PF
2/29/16 39M 5/10 2FG 1/6 TREY 4/5 FT 17 PTS 1 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 7 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 7 TO 3 PF
Total: 114M 11/24 2FG 4/19 TREY 9/13 FT 43 PTS 3 O-REBS 10 D-REBS 16 AST 0 BLK 3 STL 11 TO 11 PF
Comment: Mike’s our star and so receives the most attention by the other team’s defense and North Carolina can give you plenty of attention. But he’s had some big games despite the attention, just not against the Tar Heels. Obviously, we need him to come up big in this game. He looks for his teammates, thus the 16 assists. He’s got 11 steals but the same number of turnovers. The big thing is that he’s got to shoot it better than 4 for 19 from outside.

Franklin Howard
1/9/16 5M 0/1 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 0 PF
2/29/16 12M 2/2 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 4 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Total: 17M 2/3 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 4 PTS 0 O-REBS2 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 1 TO 0 PF
Comment: Frank is playing an increasing role on this team and could be our point guard of the future. He’ll see some action in this game.

Kaleb Joseph
1/26/15 24M 1/2 2FG 0/0 TREY 2/2 FT 4 PTS 0 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 5 TO 3 PF
1/9/16 2M 0/1 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Total: 26M 1/3 2FG 0/0 TREY 2/2 FT 4 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 5 TO 3 PF
Comment: Kaleb’s career has gone in the opposite direction. He used to be our point guard but will be a spectator in this game.


North Carolina

Kennedy Meeks
1/26/15 32M 6/13 2FG 0/0 TREY 5/8 FT 17 PTS 4 O-REBS 4 D-REBS 1 AST 1 BLK 1 STL 5 TO 3 PF
1/9/16 14M 4/8 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 8 PTS 2 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 0 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 1 PF
2/29/16 13M 3/5 2FG 0/0 TREY 4/4 FT 10 PTS 2 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 1 TO 2 PF
Total: 59M 13/26 2FG 0/0 TREY 9/12 FT 35 PTS 8 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 2 AST 2 BLK 2 STL 7 TO 6 PF
Comment: Meeks is a load. He can score inside. He gets to the line and makes his free throws. He stays out of foul trouble. He could be a better defensive rebounder in our games, (although his overall numbers are good). His playing time has declined somewhat because of the development of other big men but not as precipitously as the above numbers suggest: he’s never really been a 30+ minute guy.

Isaiah Hicks
1/26/15 11M 3/3 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 6 PTS 1 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 2 PF
1/9/16 22M 5/5 2FG 0/0 TREY 11/13 FT 21 PTS 1 O-REBS 7 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 4 PF
2/29/16 22M 4/9 2FG 0/0 TREY 2/4 FT 10 PTS 5 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 0 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 3 PF
Total: 55M 12/17 2FG 0/0 TREY 13/17 FT 37 PTS 7 O-REBS 8 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 9 PF
Comment: This guy’s been an even bigger load, especially at the Dome, where he murdered us. Meeks is a little bigger at 6-9 265 vs. 6-8 230 but we have trouble with either one, especially when Brice Johnson is feeding them from the high post.

Joel James
1/26/15 8M 1/3 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 2 PTS 2 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 0 PF
1/9/16 10M 3/5 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 6 PTS 3 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
2/29/16 7M 1/ 2 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 2 PTS 3 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Total: 25M 5/10 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 10 PTS 8 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Comment: James is the biggest guy on their team at 6-10 and 280. He’s obviously not as good as Meeks or Hicks but he’s shown he can hurt us, too.

Brice Johnson
1/26/15 29M 6/6 2FG 0/0 TREY 5/8 FT 17 PTS 1 O-REBS 10 D-REBS 1 AST 3 BLK 0 STL 3 TO 2 PF
1/9/16 33M 7/11 2FG 0/0 TREY 2/3 FT 16 PTS 0 O-REBS 4 D-REBS 8 AST 1 BLK 2 STL 2 TO 2 PF
2/29/16 24M 6/10 2FG 0/0 TREY 2/4 FT 14 PTS 5 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 1 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 3 PF
Total: 86M 19/27 2FG 0/0 TREY 9/15 FT 47 PTS 6 O-REBS 19 D-REBS 10 AST 5 BLK 2 STL 6 TO 7 PF
Comment: Just ask Florida State about Brice Johnson. He got 39 points and 23 rebounds against them. He hasn’t done quite that well against us but he certainly knows how to fill out a stat sheet. This 8 assists in the Dome game show what he can do when you play too much attention to him. Ad he’s a terror on the defensive boards. Just a great college player and a great NBA prospect, too. Either he or Buddy Hield is the best player in the Final Four.

Justin Jackson
1/26/15 29M 2/5 2FG 0/2 TREY 1/2 FT 5 PTS 2 O-REBS 3 D-REBS 4 AST2 BLK 0 STL 2 TO 1 PF
1/9/16 23M 8/10 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 16 PTS 1 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 0 PF
2/29/16 34M 3/6 2FG 1/5 TREY 1/2 FT 10 PTS 1 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 3 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 2 TO 1 PF
Total: 86M 13/21 2FG 1/8 TREY 2/4 FT 31 PTS 4 O-REBS 6 D-REBS 8 AST 1 BLK 1 STL 5 TO 2 PF
Comment: Still another talented big, although a skinny one, (6-8 193). He can certainly hurt us just like the others.

Luke Maye
2/29/16 6M 1/2 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 2 PTS 1 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Comment: The 6-7 May has played in 32 games and averaged 5.6 minutes, so we could see him but he’s not likely to be a big factor in this game.

Theo Pinson
1/9/16 18M 0/0 2FG 0/4 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 2 TO 2 PF
2/29/16 12M 0/1 2FG 1/2 TREY 0/0 FT 3 PTS 1 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 3 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 3 PF
Total: 30M 0/1 2FG 1/6 TREY 0/0 FT3 PTS 1 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 0 STL2 TO 5 PF
Comment: Pinson is a 6-6 three point specialist, although he’s better at missing them than hitting them, (28% this season: 26% last season). But you never know with these gunners and he does show an ability to pass for buckets, too.

Joe Berry II
1/9/16 32M 2/3 2FG 2/4 TREY 4/4 FT 14 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 4 STL 0 TO 3 PF
2/29/16 32M 2/3 2FG 2/6 TREY 3/4 FT 13 PTS 1 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 3 TO 3 PF
Total: 64M 4/6 2FG 4/10 TREY 7/8 FT 27 PTS 1 O-REBS 6 D-REBS 4 AST 0 BLK 6 STL 3 TO 6 PF
Comment: Berry was on last year’s tam but missed the Syracuse game. This year he provided the Heels with an outside shot when they really needed one during Paige’s slump. Now they are a strong 1-2 punch, making an area of weakness into a strength.

Marcus Paige
1/26/15 35M 2/3 2FG 4/7 TREY 6/6 FT 22 PTS 1 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 8 AST 1 BLK 4 STL 0 TO 3 PF
1/9/16 35M 1/2 2FG 1/6 TREY 0/0 FT 3 PTS 1 O-REBS 5 D-REBS 8 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 2 TO 4 PF
2/29/16 37M 1/3 2FG 1/7 TREY 1/1 FT 6 PTS 0 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 8 AST 1 BLK 0 STL 1 TO 3 PF
Total: 107M 4/8 2FG 6/20 TREY 7/7 FT 31 PTS 2 O-REBS 12 D-REBS 24 AST 2 BLK 5 STL 3 TO 10 PF
Comment: Paige’s shooting slump seems to be over, although it will be interesting if the NRG Stadium background affects him. He’s not just a gunner: he’s had 8 assists in every game against SU and has 5 steals and 12 defensive rebounds, surprising since he’s only 6-1.

Nate Britt
1/26/15 26M 1/2 2FG 4/5 TREY 3/4 FT 17 PTS 0 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 2 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 0 TO 2 PF
1/9/16 13M 0/1 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 2 AST 0 BLK 1 STL 1 TO 0 PF
2/29/16 11M 1/2 2FG 1/3 TREY 0/0 FT 5 PTS 0 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 1 AST 0 BLK 2 STL 3 TO 0 PF
Total: 50M 2/5 2FG 5/9 TREY 3/4 FT 22 PTS 0 O-REBS 2 D-REBS 5 AST 0 BLK 4 STL 4 TO 2 PF
This guy hurt us badly in last year’s game. This year he’s averaging 15.7 minutes and 5.7 points a game, shooting 33.8% from the arc. So he’s an unknown quantity. But unknown quantities sometimes make their presence felt.

Justin Coleman
2/29/16 1M 0/0 2FG 0/1 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 1 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
Comments: A deep-bench reserve. If we see him, it will be a very bad sign.

Spencer Dalton
2/29/16 1M 0/0 2FG 0/0 TREY 0/0 FT 0 PTS 0 O-REBS 0 D-REBS 0 AST 0 BLK 0 STL 0 TO 0 PF
This is what is known in the trade as a “billionaire”. There’s one number representing minute(s) played followed by a long line of zeros.

Comment: They have more good players than we do and a couple of them, (when Paige is on), maybe better than anyone we’ve got. It’s hard to see us staying in the game with them but we’ve done it all three times we’ve played them in the last two years. Teams tend to be tight in the Final Four and to play conservatively. The backgrounds the arena provides will also tend to keep scores down. I think this game will be about gaining possession of the ball more than what they do with it when they have it. If we can hold our own on the boards, we’ve got a shot.

 

[Flacusian]

Steve... you belong on the bench within confiding distance of JB. Your affinity for crunching numbers, statistics, and trends is nothing short of astonishing.

The task of assimilating and enumerating the statistical data you cite alone is a Herculean task and you take it much further by analysis of it and illuminating trends and pertinent observations which raise the awareness of the factors involved with Syracuse and the games they play.

If nothing else... you are a board treasure!

A fellow board member who appreciates the hell out of what you bring to this board. You are a one of a kind type 'o dude for sure!

 

[AccuRater]

Steve... you belong on the bench within confiding distance of JB. Your affinity for crunching numbers, statistics, and trends is nothing short of astonishing.

The task of assimilating and enumerating the statistical data you cite alone is a Herculean task and you take it much further by analysis of it and illuminating trends and pertinent observations which raise the awareness of the factors involved with Syracuse and the games they play.

If nothing else... you are a board treasure!

A fellow board member who appreciates the hell out of what you bring to this board. You are a one of a kind type 'o dude for sure!

And he's got a great sense of humor. I look forward to the one-liners in the upsides and downsides. Even when we lose, his post-mortems cheer me up.

 

[SWC75]

 

[tbonezone]

i was at a christmas party for the sat. jan 9th matchup and remember it being much closer for most of the contest than anyone thought it would be.