What are the 3 keys to the game?

[RaleighSUfan]

Here's what I believe Syracuse needs to do in order to win on Saturday:

1. Rebound - Syracuse needs to keep UNC off the offensive glass. In addition, the team needs to grab a handful of rebounds on offense and convert them into 2nd chance points. Roberson has done a great job in the tournament so far and this needs to continue against a tough and deep UNC team.

2. Syracuse needs to keep UNC out of the break and make them earn their points in the half court. UNC has weapons in the half court, but if they're allowed to get out and run, it will get ugly.

3. Syracuse needs to have a decent day shooting the basketball. I think if they shoot 45% from the field, that could be enough to beat UNC... they can't win this game shooting 36%.

What are some other critical areas for Syracuse in this game?

 

[Cuse House]

I think it is very simple.
1) Contest shots down low like we did vs. Gonzaga and finish the possession with rebounds.
2) Hit some shots
3) Stay out of foul trouble

 

[Brooky03]

1) Rebound
2) Rebound
3) Take care of the ball

 

[urban96]

Dont let them run!!!

 

[joct]

1) Rebound
2) Rebound
3) Take care of the ball

Big on #3. In the last game, G and Richardson combined for 11, and it felt like at least half of them were killers that lead to scores on the other end.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Score points. Make threes. Lots of them. UNC is going to score and they're going to outrebound Syracuse. The difference is that UNC is not a great 3-pt shooting team (despite their mini-run in the tourney) and doesn't have a even a good defense. Syracuse has been winning with defense and efficient scoring. If Syracuse can get 2 of Lydon, G, Malachi, or Cooney en fuego, it will go a long way. This game would be a fantastic going away party for Cooney to be crazy hot and make 9 threes.

 

[Newhouser]

1) Make shots
2) Don't foul
3) hit FT's

 

[721Comstock]

Here's what I believe Syracuse needs to do in order to win on Saturday:

1. Rebound - Syracuse needs to keep UNC off the offensive glass. In addition, the team needs to grab a handful of rebounds on offense and convert them into 2nd chance points. Roberson has done a great job in the tournament so far and this needs to continue against a tough and deep UNC team.

2. Syracuse needs to keep UNC out of the break and make them earn their points in the half court. UNC has weapons in the half court, but if they're allowed to get out and run, it will get ugly.

3. Syracuse needs to have a decent day shooting the basketball. I think if they shoot 45% from the field, that could be enough to beat UNC... they can't win this game shooting 36%.

What are some other critical areas for Syracuse in this game?

Rebound - keep the margin within 3-4 for each half, and we've got a chance.
We did a pretty good job of this against them @ the Dean Dome.
Plugged-in Robey is key - he's gotta have a double-double, along with Lydon, DC, and G and Trev getting a few also.
Mali too - he can be a solid rebounder when he applies himself.

Avoid live-ball turnovers - G had 7 TO's and Mali had 4 in that last game, and a LOT of them got taken the other way for points.

C0nsistent Defensive intensity - we can't get sloppy or lazy on D and spot them a big lead.
A press won't likely work against UNC like it did against the Zags or UVA.

Shoot it decently - we don't need to be great, but we can't shoot 25% from 3 (5/20) like we did the last game.
IF we actually shoot it well, then we have an excellent shot at winning this game.
But we cannot shoot poorly and beat UNC.

Avoid foul trouble - G and Mali need to be careful to not draw offensive fouls.
Roberson needs to avoid getting over-the-back fouls.
DC needs to be smart, and IF he's going to foul a dude - FOUL LIKE YOU MEAN IT.
No soft And-1's.

 

[kirbivore]

question for the OP. I'm guessing the wolfpack fans are rooting for Syracuse, right?

 

[bpo57]

1- Keep UNC off the offensive glass.

2 - Minimize fast break opportunities for UNC.

3 - SU must knock down open looks from 3.

Bonus:

4 - SU bigs must avoid foul trouble.

 

[orangehomer]

1. score more points than UNC
2. score more points than UNC
3. score more points than UNC

 

[RaleighSUfan]

question for the OP. I'm guessing the wolfpack fans are rooting for Syracuse, right?

Correct... The Wolfpack fans are ABCers. Anybody but Carolina! Most of my friends that are Carolina fans have been very quiet this week and they're a bit nervous. I'm hoping that's how their players are feeling as well.

 

[KaiserUEO]

1. score more points than UNC
2. score more points than UNC
3. score more points than UNC

Exactly.

I'm not really interested in hearing what a bunch of hacks from the PlayStation-nation,who can't even dribble and will lose their shlit and declare it over if we lose the opening tip...have to say.

Just score more, lose everything else.

 

[tbonezone]

turnovers . fouls called. free throws made.

 

[jdubs30]

Big on #3. In the last game, G and Richardson combined for 11, and it felt like at least half of them were killers that lead to scores on the other end.

And we had 0 TO's in the 2nd half. Big change.

 

[jdubs30]

1. Stay close on the boards +/- 5 either way
2. Shoot a better 3% than them
3. Limit their run-outs

I'll also add getting to the line. I think we need to shoot at least 15 FT's to have a chance

 

[longislandcuse]

Noticed while watching their open practice clips on Facebook that no matter what, the second team sprinted the ball the other way, make or miss. Clearly we're preparing to make them play in the halfcourt.

Rebound. We don't need to out-rebound them. Just can't get destroyed on the boards.

Stay out of foul trouble. Depth isn't really an issue in these games given the length of timeouts and halftime.

Score. By score I mean that we have an advantage of playing in a cavernous dome. They don't. If both teams have trouble shooting due to the "legend of NRG stadium", that probably benefits them given their inside advantage. We need to shoot better than them from outside. We should have a built in advantage there, not to mention, we just plain have better shooters than they do.

Cooney/Roberson. Keep doing what you're doing. As role players, they've been fantastic this postseason and both traditionally play well against Carolina.

Lydon/Richardson. Stay growing up. These guys are not afraid of the big stage and are showing why they're skyrocketing up draft boards. They are no longer freshman.

G. This is your time. One of my fav players ever at Cuse. He's had a somewhat lackluster tournament. This is his time and I feel like he is due for a takeover game. Let's hope he has 2 games like that left in the holster.

Howard/Coleman. Just give us solid minutes.

In the end. I'm bullish on this team. We are really talented despite how that mess of a regular season played out. If you take out foul trouble and size (you obviously can't), I'll take our Top 5 vs anyone else's Top 5 left in the tournament. Let's hope our talent is able to shine, because we have a lot of it.