In The Paint: Georgia Tech

IN THE PAINT

su vs georgia tech j a n u a r y 2 9 - 3 0 , 2 0 1 6 | d a i ly o r a n g e . c o m

2 january 29-30, 2016

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Mara Corbett

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Everything was clicking for Syracuse when SU played No. 25 Notre Dame. The Orange blew out the Fighting Irish by 15 points.

Page 3

Bang Trevor Cooney scored 22 points on Thursday night against Notre Dame, a team he’s dominated in his career.

Page 5

Slam!

Check out a photo of Syracuse forward Tyler Roberson throwing down an alleyoop against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium from earlier this season.

Page 6

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2016

The

Daily

Orange

january 29-30, 2016 3

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TYLER ROBERSON (21) AND MICHAEL GBINIJE (0) anchored a stingy Syracuse defense that rallied back from an early 5-0 deficit to go on a 23-1 run. The Orange never looked back, responding to every challenge and V.J. Beachem 3-pointer to garner the Orange its fourth win over ranked opposition this season. sam maller staff photographer

POT OF GOLD

Syracuse cruises to 81-66 win over No. 25 Notre Dame on heels of 23-1 1st-half run senior staff writer

A

s the game clock dipped below three minutes, every Syracuse player had a highlight, and they all added up to a 21-point lead against the 25th best team in the country.

Trevor Cooney, always burning Notre Dame, stole a pass in the backcourt before finishing an acrobatic three-point play.

Malachi Richardson was pushed into the crowd while sinking a 3 and finished a fourpoint play. Michael Gbinije drove baseline and spun a reverse layup off the top of the backboard and into the net. Tyler Lydon hit two 3s as the first half wound down. Tyler Roberson soared above the rim for a crowdpleasing tip-in. Dajuan Coleman went on a 5-0 run in the second half that was punctuated with an emphatic dunk.

On Thursday night, everything clicked for the Orange (14-8, 4-5 Atlantic Coast) and its 81-66 upset of the Fighting Irish (14-6, 5-3) hardly looked like an upset at all. After Notre Dame jumped out to a 5-0 lead, SU went on a 23-1 run the Fighting Irish could never overcome, especially with starting point guard Demetrius Jackson sitting with a hamstring injury. But even with Jackson sidelined, Syracuse’s fourth win over a ranked opponent added a little more shine to its tournament resume.

The Orange captured it by locking down the paint — neither Zach Auguste or Bonzi Colson scored in double-figures — and, more simply, never giving Notre Dame much of a chance.

“It starts with our defense, that’s the difference for us, and we can score some points,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said.

“But you know we scored a lot at Virginia and we couldn’t win. We’ve got to play better defense and that was really the difference tonight.”

It starts with our defense, that’s the difference for us and we can score some points.

Jim Boeheim su head coach

Cooney was at the center of the 23-1 run, which started with 18:22 on clock and ended when Colson hit a floater at the 9:48 mark. Cooney scored 10 points in that span and, when the spurt ended and Syracuse’s momentum starting to wilt, stole a Colson outlet pass in the backcourt by sneakily sprinting in front of Steve Vasturia. In stride, Cooney collided with Colson in the paint and blindly tossed a layup through the rim while the baseline referee whistled for a foul.

When Cooney made the ensuing free throw, SU held the 17-point lead it took into halftime.

He led all scorers with 15 first-half points, while Lydon chipped in 13 and six rebounds.

“Just staying aggressive and knocking down the looks that we had,” Lydon

said of the Orange’s success in the first half. “And most importantly just getting defensive stops.”

The Fighting Irish cut the deficit to 12 at the start of the second, but Richardson’s four-point play pushed it back to 16. On the next possession, Gbinije glided around a ball screen and calmly sunk a jumper from the top of the key that made it 18.

Every time V.J. Beachem hit a 3 to inch UND a little closer, the Orange had an answer. A Gbinije drive and finish. A Cooney 3. Two free throws from Richardson. A Fighting Irish comeback, which was fleeting all night, was never considered as the game wound down.

With 2:23 left in the game, Cooney was called for hand checking Rex Pflueger in the backcourt. Boeheim sprung off the bench in usual fashion. Cooney turned to his coach, flapped his hands at his sides and smiled.

Boeheim, in unusual fashion, smiled back, and walked back to his seat laughing and shaking his head.

Syracuse played its most complete game of the season and it seemed appropriate, even necessary, to let loose and enjoy it.

Shortly after the final buzzer sounded, Boeheim joked that he probably wouldn’t have won the Jim Boeheim look-alike contest at halftime. Walk-on Shaun Belbey did a mock interview in front of a TV camera, arm-and-arm with Lydon, and bragged about his cheering skills. Gbinije yelled across the locker room that while Richardson may seem tough, he’s actually a “softy” on the inside.

On Thursday, there was a lot to be

happy about.

“I think Syracuse is an NCAA Tournament team,” UND head coach Mike Brey said. And on Thursday, the Orange sure looked like one. jcdoug@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse 20

16 15 POINTS

By Jesse Dougherty

10

9

5

0 SU UND Syracuse scored seven more points off turnovers than Notre Dame Thursday night.

8:34 In a stretch spanning eight minutes and 34 seconds in the first half, Syracuse went on a staggering 23-1 run.

4 january 29-30, 2016

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Around the ACC: Virginia at UofL, BC at UNC and more

By Brett Samuels senior staff writer

Clemson at Florida State, noon on Saturday Two teams with identical overall records will square off in Tallahassee when Clemson (13-7, 6-2 Atlantic Coast) takes on Florida State (13-7, 3-5). The two teams played in each of their first conference game of season, with Clemson winning, 84-75. Since that meeting, Florida State has beaten N.C. State, then-No. 13 Virginia and Boston College.

Meanwhile, Clemson’s only ACC losses so far have come on the road, at No. 11 Virginia and at No. 2 North Carolina.

No. 11 Virginia at No. 16 Louisville, 1 p.m. on Saturday The only matchup of the weekend in the ACC that features a pair of ranked teams will take place at the KFC Yum! Center, where No. 16 Louisville (17-3, 6-1) hosts

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No. 11 Virginia (16-4, 5-3). The Cavaliers are coming off a wild win at Wake Forest, in which UVA trailed by 10 with 90 seconds left in the game before storming back and banking in a 3 at the buzzer to win, 72-71.

The Cardinals, led by senior guard Damion Lee, have a quick turnaround after Saturday’s game, as the team hosts No. 2 North Carolina on Monday.

No. 15 Miami at North Carolina State, 3 p.m. on Saturday The Hurricanes (16-3, 5-2) visit N.C. State (11-10, 1-7) after beating then-No. 20 Duke earlier in the week. The Wolfpack has struggled in ACC play, notching its only win of conference play on the road against Pittsburgh. N.C. State features the ACC’s leading scorer, junior guard Anthony “Cat” Barber, who is averaging 22.8 points per game on the season.

Boston College at No. 2 North Carolina, 4 p.m. on Saturday Boston College (7-13, 0-7) will go for its first win in conference play against the top team in the ACC, No. 2 North Carolina (18-2, 7-0).

The Tar Heels’ only losses this season have come at Northern Iowa and at Texas, by four points and two points, respectively. UNC is led by senior Brice Johnson, who averages 16.8 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game. Boston College last won a regular season ACC game on March 10, 2015, when the Eagles beat Georgia Tech.

Wake Forest at No. 25 Notre Dame, 1 p.m. on Sunday The Demon Deacons (10-10, 1-7), travel to South Bend, Indiana, to take on No. 25 Notre Dame (14-6, 5-3), which just lost at Syracuse on Thursday. The Fighting Irish have racked up wins this season against then-No. 9 Duke and then-unranked Iowa, while Wake Forest

just has one conference victory to date — a 77-74 win over N.C. State.

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. on Sunday The Hokies (12-9, 4-4) face the Panthers (16-4, 5-3) after its last two games came

blsamuel@syr.edu

ACC STANDINGS ACC SCHOOL

W-L

PCT

W-L

PCT

1.00

18-2

.900

7-0

Louisville

6-1

.857

17-3

.850

Clemson

6-2

.750

13-7

.650

Miami

5-2

.714

16-3

.842

Notre Dame

5-3

.625

14-6

.700

Pitt

5-3

.625

16-4

.800

Virginia

5-3

.625

16-4

.800

Duke

4-4

.500

15-6

.714

Virginia Tech

4-4

.500

12-9

.571

Florida State

3-5

.375

13-7

.650

Syracuse

4-5

.444

14-8

.636

Georgia Tech

2-5

.286

12-8

.600

NC State

1-7

.125

11-10

.524

Wake Forest

1-7

.125

10-10

.500

Boston College

0-7

.000

7-13

.350

OVERALL

North Carolina

86

Destiny USA

against ranked opponents — No. 2 North Carolina and No. 16 Louisville. After briefly entering the AP Top 25, Pittsburgh has lost two of its last three games. Virginia Tech visits the Carrier Dome on Tuesday to face Syracuse.

january 29-30, 2016 5

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TREVOR COONEY drives the lane on Fighting Irish guard Rex Pflueger, who started in place of Notre Dame’s star, Demetrius Jackson. Cooney continued his domination of UND by dropping a game-high 22 points. His performance drew the praise of SU coach Jim Boeheim and frustration of UND’s Mike Brey. sam maller staff photographer

KILLER’

Cooney writes next chapter of individual dominance against UND

By Sam Blum senior staff writer

T

revor Cooney kept getting the same question hurled at him, over and over again.

He’s played so well against Notre Dame in his career. A game with nine 3-pointers in 2014. A game where he scored nine clutch points down the stretch to finish off a monumental upset in 2015. And then, on Thursday night, a game-high 22 points to spark, and eventually close, another game-defining performance and another win against the Fighting Irish.

I don’t know what it is. I don’t know. … Every game’s big and I was just able to make shots today.

Trevor Cooney su guard

So many questions sounded the same, fitting into a perfect Notre Dame-killing

narrative. And Cooney answered each modestly, lacking a concrete explanation for the pattern of success.

“I don’t know what it is,” Cooney said. “I don’t know. … Every game’s big and I was just able to make shots today.”

Cooney sparked a 26-3 rally against No. 25 Notre Dame on Thursday night, scoring 10 points during that stretch. He proved to be the catalyst of the Orange’s (14-8, 4-5 Atlantic Coast) 81-66 win over the Fighting Irish (14-6, 5-3) on Thursday night in the Carrier Dome.

He continued a conference-season renaissance where he’s made 21 of his past 54 attempts from behind the arc. And did it by beating up on a team that he always seems to beat up on.

“He had a lot of big stops on defense,” Tyler Lydon said about Cooney. “Made some big plays offensively. Just knocking down shots and staying aggressive, it’s what he does.”

Cooney started out his night by draining a catch-and-shoot jumper just 45 seconds into the game.

The only problem was he was called for a travel before releasing his shot. The beginning to yet another Notre Dame breakout

35

the Orange a big enough lead to ensure it never got close.

After the game, Boeheim joked that Cooney and former SU star and current assistant coach Gerry McNamara were always Notre Dame killers — McNamara hit a game-winning 3 against the Irish during the 2003 championship season.

The coincidence added another dimension to an almost inexplicable slew of results against a team can’t do anything to change it.

3

With Trevor Cooney’s 22 points against Notre Dame on Thursday night, he now has three 20-point games this season.

When asked about the McNamara comparison and what the continued dominance means, Cooney was as unknowing as the questioning reporter.

“I don’t know,” Cooney said. “I don’t know. I have no idea.” sblum@syr.edu @SamBlum3

33

THREE IS A CROWD

30 25 POINTS

‘IRISH

would have to wait.

He made his first actual shot of the game when he attacked the rim and watched as his shot rolled there before falling in. Not more than six minutes later, he already had 10 points, and the Orange was up by 18.

“Offensively, Trevor got us going,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said.

His best play of the night came when the rest of the Syracuse players on the court had retreated back on defense, except Cooney.

UND’s Bonzie Colson tried to outlet a pass to Steve Vasturia, but Cooney read it well, intercepted the ball and scored as Colson fouled him attempting to make up for the mistake.

Cooney’s contributions were more limited in the second half, but by then Syracuse was never in danger of giving up a lead that hovered near 20 points.

Richardson said that Cooney’s abilities are what typically jumpstart the offense.

And after the Fighting Irish got out to 5-0 lead, Cooney’s willingness to get to the rim, play defense and shoot from long range gave

22

20 15

11

10 5 0

2/3/14

2/25/15 DATE

1/20/16

Trevor Cooney has scored a combined 66 points against UND in his last three games against the Fighting Irish.

TYLER ROBERSON t h e i n de pe n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa pe r of s y r ac us e , n e w yor k

photo by logan reidsma senior staff photographer

january 29-30, 2016 9

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kaleb joseph defends against Georgia Tech’s Josh Heath in last year’s matchup between the two teams. This year, Heath is the primary point guard for a team that is the ninthmost experienced in the country. Read up on Georgia Tech ahead of its matchup with the Orange on Saturday at noon. courtesy of john nakano

SU opponent preview: What to know about Georgia Tech

By Matt Schneidman sports editor

Syracuse (14-8, 4-5 Atlantic Coast) wiped the floor with No. 25 Notre Dame (14-6, 5-3) in an 81-66 win on Thursday night in the Carrier Dome. The Orange has a quick turnaround before Saturday’s noon game against Georgia Tech, a team with the ACC’s leading rebounder.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Yellow Jackets.

All-time series: Knotted at three games a piece

Last time they played: In Syracuse’s lowest scoring output of last season, the Orange beat Georgia Tech, 46-45 and both teams shot below 35 percent from the floor. Rakeem Christmas hit two foul shots with 12 seconds left to put SU up one, and GT’s Quinton Stephens hit the underside of the backboard at the buzzer. The Orange only took nine shots from behind the arc in the game. This year, Syracuse has taken more than 20 3-pointers in all but two games. The win advanced SU to 2-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and 11-4 overall, led by Christmas’ 18 points and eight rebounds and Michael Gbinije’s double-double (14 and 10).

The Georgia Tech report: The Yellow Jackets have lost five of their

last seven games but have lost each by single digits. They’re strongest on the inside, ranking in the top half of the conference in blocks per game (4.6) and boasting the ACC’s leading rebounder in Charles Mitchell (10.9 boards per game). The team ranks third in the league in defensive rebounds per game (27) and fourth in offensive rebounds per contest (13.7), which may pose a threat for a Syracuse team that was exposed on the glass earlier in the season. GT’s adjusted offensive efficiency of 111.6 ranks 36th in the country, according to Kenpom.com, and the Yellow Jackets average the second most shots per game in the conference with almost 63 while making more than 28 of them (fifth-most in the ACC).

Georgia Tech is led by Marcus GeorgesHunt and Adam Smith, who average 16.4 and 14.4 points per game, respectively. Mitchell averages a double-double and ranks in the top 20 in the country in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentages, per Kenpom. The Yellows Jackets have a lessthan-impressive early-season loss to East Tennessee State on their resume, but GT has grabbed wins against Tennessee, Arkansas, VCU and Virginia.

How Syracuse beats Georgia Tech: If Syracuse can neutralize Mitchell and prevent him from manhandling the SU frontcourt like Duke’s Marshall Plumlee and Virginia’s Anthony Gill did, the Orange sets itself up for a win. Mitchell is second in the ACC in offensive rebounds per game, but the only player above

him might be the one guarding him on Saturday. Tyler Roberson can give SU the edge like he did against Duke if he controls the glass on both ends to take away the player that is most likely to expose Syracuse where it’s thinnest.

Numbers to know:

10.9

GT center Charles Mitchell pulls down an ACC-best 10.9 rebounds per game

4.6 – Georgia Tech averages the 14th most

steals per game in the 15-team league with only 4.6 takeaways per contest. Syracuse shouldn’t have to worry too much about getting beat in transition.

2.37 – According to Kenpom, the average years of experience on Georgia Tech’s roster is 2.37 years. That ranks as the ninth most experienced in the country, per the site.

136 – Georges-Hunt has taken 136 foul shots this year, which is 62 more than any other player on the team. Mitchell is second and he’s only attempted 74.

Player to watch: Nick Jacobs is the second most-used player on the team based on possessions that end with the ball in his hands, per Kenpom. He averages a respectable 11.2 points and six rebounds per game while playing 22 minutes per contest.

Jacobs also shoots 82.2 percent from the foul line and gets to the line the third-most of anyone on the team. The 6-foot-8 Alabama transfer is shooting almost 49 percent from the field and has scored in double figures in each of the last five games. mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman

5.2

In the Yellow Jackets' last five losses, they've fallen by an average of 5.2 points per game

2.37

Per KenPom, Georgia Tech boasts an average of 2.37 years of experience per player.

That's the ninth-most experience in the country.

13.7

Ten players on GT play at least 13.7 minutes per game

10 january 29-30, 2016

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ROSTER SYRACUSE 0

Michael Gbinije

F 6-7 200 Gr. Richmond, Va. / Benedictine College Prep

1

Franklin Howard

G 6-4 190 Fr.

3

Shaun Belbey

G 5-10 165 Fr. Brick, N.J. / Christian Brothers Academy

4

Mike Sutton

G 6-2 194 So. Norwich, N.Y. / Norwich

10

Trevor Cooney

11

Adrian Autry

13

Paschal Chukwu

C 7-2 226 So. Westport, Conn. / Fairfield Prep

14

Kaleb Joseph

G 6-3 180 So. Nashua, N.H. / Cushing Academy

20 Tyler Lydon 21

Tyler Roberson

Suitland, Md. / Paul VI

G 6-4 195 Gr. Wilmington, Del. / Sanford School G 6-0 182 Fr. Jamesville, N.Y. / Jamesville-DeWitt

F 6-8 210 Fr. Elizaville, N.Y. / New Hampton School, N.H. F 6-8 226 Jr. Union, N.J. / Roselle Catholic

23 Malachi Richardson

G 6-6 205 Fr. Trenton, N.J. / Trenton Catholic Academy

25 Evan Dourdas

G 6-0 160 Fr. Jamesville, N.Y. / Jamesville-DeWitt

32 Dajuan Coleman

C 6-9 268 Sr. Jamesville, N.Y. / Jamesville-DeWitt

33 Jonathan Radner

G 5-10 168 Fr. Huntington Woods, Mich. / Berkeley

34 Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye F 6-6 230 Jr. Uniondale, N.Y. / Uniondale 35 Chinonso Obokoh

C 6-9 215 Jr. Rochester, N.Y. / Bishop Kearney

54 Ky Feldman

G 5-10 150 Fr. Agoura Hills, Ca. / Agoura High School

55 Christian White

G 5-10 185 Sr. Rochester, N.Y. / Aquinas Institute

GEORGIA TECH 0

Charles Mitchell

F 6-8 256 S

1

Tadric Jackson

2

Adam Smith

G 6-2 209 SO Tifton, Ga./Tift County HS

3

Marcus Georges-Hunt G 6-5 216 SR

College Park, Ga./North Clayton HS

5

Corey Heyward

Duluth, Ga./Peachtree Ridge HS

G 6-1

Atlanta, Ga./Wheeler HS

165 GS Jonesboro, Ga./Fayette County

G 6-1 210

JR

10 Travis Jorgenson

G 6-0 184

SO Columbia, Mo./Rock Bridge HS

11

G 6-2 179

JR

Josh Heath

12 Quinton Stephens

F 6-9 203 JR

24 Sylvester Ogbonda F 6-10 2 38 FR

32 Nick Jacobs 33 James White

Tampa, Fla./Tampa Preparatory School Atlanta, Ga,/Marist School Port Harcourt, Nigeria/National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.)

F 6-8 262 SR Atlanta, Ga./South Atlanta HS

F 6-8 226 GS Jonesboro, Ga./Jonesboro HS

34 Abdoulaye Gueye F 6-9 218 SO Dakar, Senegal/Central Park Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) 42 Rand Rowland

F 6-7 213 JR

44 Ben Lammers

C 6-10 231 SO San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights HS

Cleveland, Ga./White County HS

january 29-30, 2016 11

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Malachi Richardson shows composure after late scuffle

By Sam Blum senior staff writer

Malachi Richardson was still thinking about the emotions of the play before when his 3-pointer from straight-on extended a far-from-tenuous Syracuse lead to 24 with 8:22 to play.

He was thinking about getting his arms tangled with Notre Dame’s Matt Ryan. He thought about Ryan pushing him, and he thought about the double-technical foul that was assessed after bumping Ryan with his body before the two were separated.

Richardson pulled up just 11 seconds later, on the next time down the court, and swished the 3 to the roar of a crowd that wanted revenge as much as he did.

“I knew it was going in before I shot it,”

Richardson said.

Richardson scored 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting to follow up his 23-point night at No. 13 Virginia just four days earlier.

His emotional moment was the highlight of Syracuse’s otherwise drama-less, 81-66 win over No. 25 Notre Dame on Thursday in the Carrier Dome.

“That was a frustration shot,” Michael Gbinije said. “He was looking to get back at them. That’s the only way he could have done that. It helped us out.”

Richardson wasn’t as much of an offensive factor for the Orange as it jumped out to an 17-point lead thanks to a 23-1 run, but his offense continued as it has throughout conference play. He hit a 3 in the first half to make it 31-14. He connected on a fourpoint play to end any idea of a Notre Dame

MALACHI RICHARDSON (RIGHT) is held back by teammate Michael Gbinije. Richardson struggled earlier this season during a non-conference stretch but has returned to form as of late. He scored 15 against Notre Dame. sam maller staff photographer

3.4

Richardson is averaging 3.4 3-pointers per game over Syracuse’s last eight contests.

55

The freshman is shooting 55 percent (12of-22) from the field in the last two games.

13.5

He has upped his points per game average to 13.5 with his latest scoring outburst.

11

Richardson has scored at least 15 points in a game 11 times this season.

rally after the Irish cut the lead to 12 in the second half.

With two minutes left, he went one-onone to the basket, and finished at the rim with ease, long after the Fighting Irish had any fight in them.

But his best part of the night was the way he responded to the worst part. Teammates told him that the best way to get back at Ryan was to knock down a shot, dunk on him, do whatever it takes to get yourself going.

And it didn’t take long for him to answer that call.

“I was already a little frustrated at the choppiness that the kid did,” Richardson said. “It happens, and I moved on from it.” sblum@syr.edu @SamBlum3

12 january 29-30, 2016

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PREGAME PLAYBOOK by the numbers

22

key players

point guard

shooting guard

small forward

Trevor Cooney scored 22 points against Notre Dame on Thursday. It’s the third time all season he’s scored more than 20, all of which came in the past three weeks.

10

Tyler Lydon took 10 shots against Notre Dame, the second most he’s taken all season.

He took his lowest number of shots, one, in Syracuse’s game against Virginia.

93.8

MICHAEL GBINIJE

JOSH HEATH

TREVOR COONEY

ADAM SMITH

MALACHI RICHARDSON

MARCUS GEORGES-HUNT

HT: 6’7” WGHT: 200 YEAR: SENIOR

HT: 6’2” WGHT: 179 YEAR: JUNIOR

HT: 6’4” WGHT: 195 YEAR: SENIOR

HT: 6’1” WGHT: 165 YEAR: SENIOR

HT: 6’6” WGHT: 205 YEAR: FRESHMAN

HT: 6’5” WGHT: 216 YEAR: SENIOR

Gbinije has been pestered at times by smaller defenders. Heath, if matched up against the fifth-year senior, could pose the same obstacle on Saturday.

Cooney has a career shooting percentage of 27.3 percent against Georgia Tech. That’s not too good compared to some of his recent performances.

Richardson is the reigning ACC Rookie of the Week and Georges-Hunt has scored at least 23 points in each of his last three games.

center

head coaches

power forward

Syracuse’s free-throw percentage against Notre Dame, its best of the year. SU came into the game shooting 67 percent from the foul line.

beat writer predictions Syracuse (14-8, 4-5 Atlantic Coast) takes on Georgia Tech (12-8, 2-5) on Saturday at noon. The Orange is coming off an 81-66 win against No. 25 Notre Dame on Thursday night. SU has now won four of its last five games after starting conference play 0-4.

Here’s how our beat writers predict the game will unfold.

TYLER ROBERSON

NICK JACOBS

DAJUAN COLEMAN

CHARLES MITCHELL

JIM BOEHEIM

BRIAN GREGORY

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 226 YEAR: JUNIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 262 YEAR: SENIOR

HT: 6’9” WGHT: 268 YEAR: SENIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 256 YEAR: SENIOR

W-L: 879-331 40TH SEASON

W-L: 239-174 13TH SEASON

Jacobs is GT’s second-leading rebounder with six boards per game but Roberson has been “plugged-in” almost every game since being called out for his inconsistency.

stacking up

This may be more of a Mitchell-Tyler Lydon matchup with the way Coleman has been subbed out early. It may not be a favorable matchup for SU either way against the ACC’s top rebounder.

stats to know

GEORGIA TECH

SYRACUSE

3 pt. field-goal percentage

SAM BLUM (15-7)

syracuse 77, georgia tech 59

BUMBLING BEES

Syracuse showed on Thursday night that it was a bona fide NCAA Tournament team. Bona fide Tournament teams beat up teams like Georgia Tech. The Orange has all of its rotation players all rising at the same point of the season, and its turned into a revival of a once-lost 2016 campaign. Malachi Richardson is on another level right now, and he leads Syracuse over the Yellow Jackets on Saturday.

36.9%

STEALS PER GAME

4.8 8.4 REBOUNDS PER GAME

JESSE DOUGHERTY (15-7) syracuse 71, georgia tech 64

GT

MATT SCHNEIDMAN (15-7)

Syracuse and Georgia Tech make nearly the same percentage from deep, but SU takes about eight more 3s per game.

SU

45.0%

42.0%

shots made

3-POINTERS ATTEMPTED PER GAME

GT

shots made

SU

17 25 TURNOVERS PER GAME

syracuse 71, georgia tech 62

BUZZKILL

If Syracuse plays like it did against Notre Dame, Saturday will be no fun for the Yellow Jackets. Richardson is clicking on all cylinders, and Tyler Lydon has developed into a formidable post defender.

Against Georgia Tech center Charles Mitchell, the league’s top rebounder, the freshman’s defensive resurgence couldn’t come at a better time. Michael Gbinije seemed like a supporting cast member behind Trevor Cooney, Richardson and Lydon, and the point guard still had 15 points, five assists and four rebounds. That scoring depth, yes Syracuse depth, should scare people.

shots made

shooting percentage

36.9

WRECKING THE WRECK

36.0%

shots made

40.8

Syracuse will be on a high after beating No. 25 Notre Dame in style, and it won’t dissipate, not yet at least, when the Yellow Jackets come to town. The Orange rode a balanced scoring effort to a lopsided win over the Fighting Irish, and similar ball-sharing turns into another convincing win on Saturday. Defense has been the key for SU all season, and another good stabilizing performance from the guys inside does the trick.

Gregory is in his fifth season as the Yellow Jackets head coach after coming to GT from Dayton. Boeheim, despite vacating 101 wins, still boasts a 640-win advantage over his Saturday counterpart.

10.2 11.5

BLOCKS PER GAME

4.6

they said it

“We've been letting guys get it in there and just turn and make layups practically. We got to be better.”

Jim Boeheim

su head coach on post defense

“Just staying aggressive and knocking down the looks that we had.”

Tyler Lydon

4.3

Georgia Tech shoots 3 percent better than SU does from the field this year. Last year, both teams shot worse than 35 percent from the field.

su forward on first-half success vs. notre dame

“I think Syracuse is an NCAA Tournament team.”

Mike Brey

notre dame head coach

“It starts with our defense. That’s the difference for us. ...

We’ve got to play better defense and that was the difference tonight.”

Jim Boeheim

su head coach after thursday’s win over no. 25 notre dame