Photo by: Michael J. Okoniewski
Orange Offense Clicks in Victory
1/25/2018 1:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
After his team beat Pittsburgh to snap a four-game losing streak, head coach Jim Boeheim stated that his team needed the practice days it would get during the week off before the Orange faced Boston College on Wednesday night.
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"We need practice days, this team more than any team I've ever had at this stage in the year," Boeheim said after his squad took care of the Panthers. "We really need some days of practice to understand what we're trying to do. We've got a long way to go but I think these few days will help us. Every game is going to be difficult. We just have to keep working and get a little bit better."
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The hard work the team put in during those practice sessions paid off in an 81-63 win against the Eagles in the Carrier Dome. The Orange's 81 points were the most for Syracuse in a regulation game since December 19 and their shooting percentage of 60.4 percent (29-for-48) was the highest of the season.
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"The difference in this game was our offense," Boeheim said after the victory. "We moved the ball - obviously made shots in the first half, but had good movement in the second half. We didn't make some outside shots, but we got to the basket."
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Junior Frank Howard and freshman Oshae Brissett carried Syracuse in the first half, accounting for 28 of the Orange's 47 points. But the offense was more balanced in the second half as five players reached double figures in scoring. Battle led the way with 24 points, while Howard finished with 18. Junior Paschal Chukwu had 14 points, and Brissett added 13. In addition, freshman Marek Dolezaj recorded a career high with 12 points.
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"Probably our best half, offensively, in terms of movement and scoring the ball," Howard said. "We got a lot of easy shots and picked up our pace."
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"We need practice days, this team more than any team I've ever had at this stage in the year," Boeheim said after his squad took care of the Panthers. "We really need some days of practice to understand what we're trying to do. We've got a long way to go but I think these few days will help us. Every game is going to be difficult. We just have to keep working and get a little bit better."
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The hard work the team put in during those practice sessions paid off in an 81-63 win against the Eagles in the Carrier Dome. The Orange's 81 points were the most for Syracuse in a regulation game since December 19 and their shooting percentage of 60.4 percent (29-for-48) was the highest of the season.
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"The difference in this game was our offense," Boeheim said after the victory. "We moved the ball - obviously made shots in the first half, but had good movement in the second half. We didn't make some outside shots, but we got to the basket."
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Junior Frank Howard and freshman Oshae Brissett carried Syracuse in the first half, accounting for 28 of the Orange's 47 points. But the offense was more balanced in the second half as five players reached double figures in scoring. Battle led the way with 24 points, while Howard finished with 18. Junior Paschal Chukwu had 14 points, and Brissett added 13. In addition, freshman Marek Dolezaj recorded a career high with 12 points.
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"Probably our best half, offensively, in terms of movement and scoring the ball," Howard said. "We got a lot of easy shots and picked up our pace."
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