Cornell Big Red — 2018-19 Syracuse scouting report with Ivy Hoops Online

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Syracuse guard Buddy Boeheim goes up for a shot during the second half against Morehead State. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kicia Sears, The Juice Online.

It’s time for The Juice Online’s annual exchange with  Ivy Hoops Online since another edition of Cornell-Syracuse is upon us. And it’s an extra special edition this year, since this is Boeheim Bowl II headline by Cornell sophomore forward Jimmy Boeheim, Syracuse freshman Buddy Boeheim and Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. Check out TJO’s Syracuse scouting report for this matchup at Ivy Hoops Online, and here’s Ivy Hoops Online’s take on the Syracuse side of the Boeheim Bowl II:

The Juice Online: Tell us about IvyHoopsOnline.

Michael Tony: IvyHoopsOnline is a blog that has provided a colorful take on Ivy League basketball since 2011.

TJO: What are the major story lines with Cornell?

MT: Cornell is coming off a season in which it exceeded expectations by sneaking into the four-team Ivy League Tournament, falling as the No. 4 seed to No. 1 Harvard in the semifinal round. The Big Red lost a lot when Stone Gettings transferred to Arizona in the offseason. Last season, Gettings posted 16.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 26.8 minutes per contest, ending the season third in the league in rebounding, sixth in scoring, sixth in free throw percentage (82.5 percent), ninth in assists, and 10th in field goal percentage (48.7 percent). Gettings was a crucial cog in coach Brian Earl’s offense, ranking 39th in the nation in percentage of possessions used.

TJO: Who are Cornell’s standout players?

» Related: Syracuse subdues Ohio State on the road for a needed win

MT: Fortunately for the Big Red, they still enjoy the services of Matt Morgan, who this week was named to the watch list for the Lou Henson Player of the Year Award (top Division I mid-major player) for the second straight season. The senior guard from Concord, N.C. has been one of the Ivy League’s most efficient scorers since entering the league (and may finish second all-time in scoring in conference history) despite taking on such a huge offensive load from his rookie year on. In his only other New York state road game this season, Morgan exploded for 38 points and 13 rebounds in just 29 minutes of play. Of course, Binghamton is hardly Syracuse (even in three-point shooting), and Morgan has yet to go wild on the Orange the past three seasons.

Remarkably, the only Big Red players to score in double figures in a Division I game this season besides Morgan are junior forward/center Josh Warren, Jack Gordon (once) and one Jimmy Boeheim of Fayetteville, N.Y. Now a sophomore 33 games removed from draining a three in front of his dad to kick off his collegiate career in last year’s opener, Boeheim notched a career-high 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting in a home loss to Delaware Nov. 15.

TJO: Tell us your predictions for the game.

MT: This Cornell team hasn’t yet consistently shown the cohesion on offense that made last year’s squad the program’s most successful since the Steve Donahue era – and last year’s squad was suffocated by Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, scoring just 0.69 points per possession (and 45 points overall). The Big Red’s defense has shown moderate improvement so far, but it won’t be nearly enough – after all, two Boeheims are better than one. Syracuse wins big, 82-56.

5. Bonus question: over/under on how many times ACC Network Extra broadcast mentions that Jim Boeheim is coaching Buddy Boeheim, his son, and against Jimmy Boeheim, his other son?

MT: Over 9,000. It’s BoeheimBall Z time! (The Z stands for zone.)

Make sure to check out the Syracuse scouting report for this matchup at Ivy Hoops Online.

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About Wes Cheng 2907 Articles
Wes has worked for Rivals.com covering the New York Knicks, as well as for Scout.com covering Syracuse athletics. Wes has also been a contributing writer for the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), for SportsNet New York (SNY) as a news desk writer covering all of New York professional sports, and reported on the NBA and MLB for the New York Sportscene. A native of Long Island, New York, Wes graduated from Syracuse University in 2005 with a degree in journalism. Contact him at wes[at]sujuiceonline.com.