A quick take on Syracuse’s 80-61 win against Tulane:
WHAT HAPPENED: The game was over early as SU closed out its non-conference schedule. Syracuse went on a 20-0 run, with 19 of those points coming at the end of the first half as Orange made its last six shots going into intermission. SU held Tulane without a field goal from 7:04 left in the opening half to 18:08 in the second half. By then, the Orange was already up 42-19 and cruised the rest of the way, as 12 different Orange scored. For the game, SU shot 53 percent from the field and 10-of-21 from downtown. Meanwhile, Tulane shot just 30 percent from the field, and had 11 of its shots blocked. It is the third year in a row that Syracuse finished its non-conference schedule undefeated.
ANALYSIS: SU coach Jim Boeheim used SU’s final tune-up before Big East play to get freshmen Rakeem Christmas (15 minutes) and Michael Carter-Williams (18) some extra playing time. Both Christmas (two points, five rebounds) and Carter-Williams (seven points, two assists) had solid nights, but how much playing time will they see when SU plays Connecticut, Georgetown, Pittsburgh or Louisville? Probably not much.
INJURY REPORT: Before the game, there was some injury concern over Dion Waiters and Brandon Triche, each of whom had their wrists taped. But both seemed fine, shooting a combined 9-for-18 from the field for 24 points.
HERO: Waiters’ 15 points off the bench led SU in scoring. James Southerland finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Kris Joseph chipped in with 13 points, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
ZERO: Josh Davis came into the game averaging 12.1 points and 10.2 rebounds a game. But he struggled mightily against SU’s zone, finishing with three points and six rebounds on 0-for-9 shooting.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Orange will start Big East play when it faces off against Seton Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 28, in Syracuse, NY at 7 p.m. on BIG EAST Network/MSG.
