Even 35 years into coaching, there are still some things that Jim Boeheim has not accomplished yet.
Rick Jackson scored 18 points and collected 10 rebounds, and Dion Waiters scored a career high 17 points as No. 8 Syracuse (10-0) completely dominated Colgate (0-8) 100-43. The Orange was in complete control from the opening tap, opening up a 34-4 lead with 7:23 left in the first half.
Syracuse would go into halftime with a 46-8 lead, the fewest point total in the first half given up by any Boeheim-coached team.
“I don’t keep track of those things,” Boeheim said. “I need young, smart guys like you to keep track of that stuff.”
It was a rare laugher for a team that has struggled to get easy wins in its non-conference schedule. In its past four games, SU’s average margin of victory was less than seven points.
This game bucked the trend, as Syracuse’s defense continued its early season dominance, holding Colgate to 10-for-56 from the field (17 percent).
“I’m happy to get one,” Boeheim said. “If you think back on our first nine games, they were two or three point games in every game at halftime or closer and well into the second half in most of them.”
Syracuse guard Brandon Triche, who had been struggling recently, drained a pair of 3s to start the game, as the Orange raced out to a 12-0 lead. Triche had been shooting just 27 percent from downtown heading into this game, but finished with 14 points on 3-for-5 shooting from 3-point land.
“I have not made a three pointer since about early November, so my first one gave me a lot of confidence,” Triche said. “It showed me that I need to just keep shooting.”
SU forced 15 turnovers in the first half that led to 20 points, and Colgate ended up with 20 turnovers for the game. Joe Hoban led Colgate with 14 points.
The 57-point margin of victory tied Boeheim’s largest blowout as a coach, matching a 57 point win over C.W. Post 21 years ago. Boeheim’s previous record for fewest points allowed in a half was 11, when Syracuse defeated Princeton 60-43 in 1999.
It removed any doubts that Syracuse would have a let down game after a hard-fought victory over Michigan State on Tuesday.
“[Coach] keeps us grounded,” guard Scoop Jardine said. “He never lets us get too high or too low.”
About the only negative to the game was that starting center Fab Melo played only six minutes due to a sore right Achilles tendon.
“He has missed one day of practice,” Boeheim said. “It’s been lingering for a little while. We’re going to give him off tomorrow and Monday would be an off day anyway – so we’ll get him all treated up and get him back out there.”
Wesley Cheng is the Editor in Chief for The Juice Online.
