Quick Hits: Syracuse gets late boost from Anselem, Sidibe

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Feb 21, 2022; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange center Bourama Sidibe (34) dunks the ball against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the first half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse hung on for a 74-73 overtime win over Georgia Tech on Monday evening at the Carrier Dome. Here are some quick thoughts from the game:

  • The last thing Syracuse needed in the second of a series of five games in ten days was an overtime game that dragged on. You can probably feel comfortable penciling in a batch of tired legs for perimeter-shooting reliant team by the time the Duke and North Carolina games roll around on Saturday and Monday, respectively.

  • It was a tale of two halves for Frank Anselem. The sophomore center could do no right in the first half (and early second half), going without a rebound but committing two fouls and getting sent to Jim Boeheim’s doghouse twice for defensive errors (and even got a third trip in the opening minutes of the second half). In the final 17:31 of regulation, though, Anselem grabbed eight boards and blocked a couple shots.
  • Anselem and Bourama Sidibe, while not being significant shotblockers, both got themselves in foul trouble by chasing blocks. The duo need to be more disciplined and focus on playing vertically instead of trying to swat shots they have no chance at getting.
  • Like Anselem, Jimmy Boeheim also had a tale of two halves, but his came primarily shooting the ball. After a 6-for-10 first half where his 15 points kept SU afloat, he went 0-for-7 over the remainder of the game with six of those shots classified as lay-ups.
  • Buddy Boeheim’s game was off most of the night. He shot just 4-for-13 inside the arc with three of his makes coming from the mid-range on the right baseline. Inside the paint, he was a woeful 1-of-7.
  • The Orange committed a season-low four turnovers in the game.

» Related: Timing running out for Syracuse to avoid losing record

NEXT UP

Syracuse will continue this busy stretch on Wednesday with a game at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (19-8, 12-4) hold second place in the ACC, but had a five-game win streak snapped on Saturday, dropping a 79-74 contest at Wake Forest.

Notre Dame is one of the stronger perimeter-shooting teams in college basketball, as five of the seven players on their roster who have seen action in at least 26 of their games have made at least 35 three-pointers. Blake Wesley (14.7 pts/game), Dane Goodwin (14.6), and Paul Atkinson Jr. (12.3) each average double-digits in scoring with Goodwin topping the team with 58 triples and a 46.4 percent shooting mark from beyond the arc.

Wednesday’s matchup with the Irish will be the second straight 7:00pm Eastern tip for the Orange. ESPNNEWS will televise the action.

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About Jim Stechschulte 894 Articles
A 1996 graduate of Syracuse University, Jim has reported on Syracuse sports for the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California on nearly a decade. He has also written a fantasy basketball column published by NBA.com. He currently resides in Syracuse.