Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Gbinije Keys Strong ACC Start
1/11/2015 10:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Junior forward Michael Gbinije had played the first 66 games of his collegiate career without recording a double-double. On Sunday, he was one rebound shy of his second-straight.
After posting the first of his career in Wednesday's win over Georgia Tech, he followed it up with an 11 point, 9 rebound game against Florida State on Sunday night, including making 2-of-3 from long range to continue his hot stretch of making 13 of his last 19 from behind the arc.
"Mike makes us a different team when he scores in situations where he has an open shot," head coach Jim Boeheim said of Gbinije following his performance against Long Beach State.
The same could be said of the Duke transfer in any of his last seven games. He has proven to be a well-rounded asset for the Orange, scoring at a rate of 13.6 points per game over the team's last seven games, while also adding 6.1 boards and 4.0 assists over that span.
He was averaging just 6.9 points per contest, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the first eight games.
"It's a good feeling. Just ready to shoot and being confident out there. I'm just excited that I'm hitting my shots right now and hoping it can continue."
Rarely leaving the court, Gbinije is averaging over 32 minutes per game after being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time against St. Johns, playing a full-40 minutes against Florida State, which tied a career high.
"I like the minutes that I'm playing," Gbinije said. "I'm just trying to do the most that I can with them and come out with a win every night."
Gbinije attributes his recent run to putting in extra work and a different focus in practices.
"Extra work with Coach Red and G-Mac and keeping a competitive mindset [has been the difference]," Gbinije said. "I changed my mindset halfway through the season and it's all team focus and just us winning. That's been the motivation for me and it's been working for me."
His next chance to continue his run will come on Tuesday, when Syracuse hosts Wake Forest in a 7 p.m.Â
After posting the first of his career in Wednesday's win over Georgia Tech, he followed it up with an 11 point, 9 rebound game against Florida State on Sunday night, including making 2-of-3 from long range to continue his hot stretch of making 13 of his last 19 from behind the arc.
"Mike makes us a different team when he scores in situations where he has an open shot," head coach Jim Boeheim said of Gbinije following his performance against Long Beach State.
The same could be said of the Duke transfer in any of his last seven games. He has proven to be a well-rounded asset for the Orange, scoring at a rate of 13.6 points per game over the team's last seven games, while also adding 6.1 boards and 4.0 assists over that span.
He was averaging just 6.9 points per contest, 3.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists over the first eight games.
"It's a good feeling. Just ready to shoot and being confident out there. I'm just excited that I'm hitting my shots right now and hoping it can continue."
Rarely leaving the court, Gbinije is averaging over 32 minutes per game after being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time against St. Johns, playing a full-40 minutes against Florida State, which tied a career high.
"I like the minutes that I'm playing," Gbinije said. "I'm just trying to do the most that I can with them and come out with a win every night."
Gbinije attributes his recent run to putting in extra work and a different focus in practices.
"Extra work with Coach Red and G-Mac and keeping a competitive mindset [has been the difference]," Gbinije said. "I changed my mindset halfway through the season and it's all team focus and just us winning. That's been the motivation for me and it's been working for me."
His next chance to continue his run will come on Tuesday, when Syracuse hosts Wake Forest in a 7 p.m.Â
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