Syracuse defeated Drexel, 75-60, on Sunday evening to improve to 2-0 on the season. Here are some quick hits from the game:
- Jesse Edwards and Frank Anselem were very effective at center, combining for 14 points, ten rebounds, and four blocks (all coming from Edwards). Watching the team on the bench, you can see they are very invested in trying to build off those players’ success, particularly Anselem, with multiple coaches and players getting onto their feet to commend good plays.
- Joe Girard III is a perfect 8-for-8 on threes so far, but the team’s success shooting threes goes well beyond him. The rest of the team is shooting 38.2 percent from deep, as well.
- Through a couple games, it seems Benny Williams will need to do some work on his perimeter shot, specifically adding more arc to what is a pretty line drive shot. It is probably not something the coaching staff will look to do in-season, but is likely an offseason adjustment.
- Seemingly everyone on the roster was playing with active hands, as the Orange forced 15 steals and 20 turnovers overall. Cole Swider’s activity level, in particular, has been a very positive surprise, as he led the way with five steals.
- The wings in particular played a key role in shutting down Mate Okros shut down after hot start. Okros connected on four threes in the first seven minutes of the game, but went just 2-for-5 in 27 other minutes of play. Jimmy Boeheim and Cole Swider, in particular, were very attentive to Okros on defense, especially as he remained in the weak side corner in a lot of Drexel offensive sets. Okros eventually finished with 16 points after notching 11 in his hot start.
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- Saturday, the Orange will host Colgate, renewing their series with their regional rival. The Red Raiders (1-1) were edged at North Carolina State on Saturday, 77-74, and will have a pair of games (at Cornell on Tuesday, against SUNY-Poly on Thursday) before their weekend matchup with SU.
- Colgate is shooting 39.2 percent from three at this early stage of the season, including leading scorer Nelly Cummings’ gaudy 10-for-13 streak. Cummings is the only Red Raider to average double digits in scoring, ringing up 22 points per game.
- Saturday’s game between Syracuse and Colgate will start at 5:00pm Eastern and be available online through ACC Network Extra.
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