Syracuse - Marquette Postgame Reactions OR That's How To End A Season
0 Comments Published on 3.09.2009 by Brian Harrison
Andy! Why didn't you play like this all year!?Well that was one hell of a game. Any game that goes to overtime is probably exciting, but this one was a treat to watch not only for the outcome, but for the show we got as well. This was a very good game to watch, and the final punctuation on a good end to the regular season in which Syracuse’s NCAA Ticket has surely been punched before the Big East Tournament. Syracuse beat Marquette in overtime 86 to 79.
Jonny Flynn was Syracuse’s leading scorer with 24 points. 20 of those points were in the second half or beyond. A slow start to Flynn’s day, he exploded with the Jonny Flynn we know and love, making 10-23 field goals from the floor and earning six assists. On occasions he tried to do too much, but the key play of the game was intercepting a pass, earning a bucket, and making the and one. An excellent performance for what could be Jonny Flynn’s final regular season game in Orange.
Andy Rautins had 20 points off the bench. He had a phenomenal shooting day from the floor. He hit four of nine from long range, seven of 12 overall, and had another key play in overtime after draining a three by driving the lane, much like Jonny Flynn, and hit a lay up to keep the lead in the overtime. The best performance of the year from Rautins since the Coppin State affair with nine threes.
Rick Jackson also had an excellent offensive game earning 17 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Offensively he had every move working, and went 8-9 from the floor. Defensively, it was the same story, different day, in which he was lax on defense and allowed people to get behind the zone unchecked and failed to step out in the lane and help properly. But again, on offense he had a virtually flawless day. If only he could have made one more free throw, the overtime drama could have been avoided.
Eric Devendorf earned 12 points on a pretty good shooting effort. He made 5-10 and 2-4 from long range. He had some great moments driving to the hoop and shooting. But he was not as effective as the last few games as he coughed up the ball three times and did not have as good of a shooting outing as the last few. However, this was not a bad game for Devendorf.
Paul Harris also had a decent day with nine points, hitting 4-6 from the floor. He coughed up the ball five times however. This was certainly not the show that we got during the Rutgers game. Either way, still not bad from Harris.
Kristof! only played nine minutes in this one because Jackson was playing so well, however he did hit a key basket in traffic to keep us up in the second half.
Arinze Onuaku did not have a good day, having only two points. He did have eight rebounds and one big block though, so at least Onuaku was active on the boards.
Overall, Syracuse shot the ball extremely well from the floor compared to Marquette. Syracuse shot 56.3% from the floor (36-64) and 35% (7-20) from long range. Marquette only shot 36% on senior day. Speaking of seniors, Jerel McNeal had a great day with 25 points, and hit a key three at the end of the game, but just did not come through in the overtime on Senior Day. Also, with four seniors in the Marquette starting line up, they are screwed next year.
The defense and rebounding was far better in the second half than the first, which was the key to this victory. Syracuse also came through in the clutch and played pretty flawless in the overtime. It was nice to see that the team did not crumble like we have seen a lot this year.
Syracuse earned a huge overtime win against a great team to earn a four game win streak heading into New York City. They earned a six seed and the possible third round match with UConn. IT should be an interesting time in New York, but before then we take a couple of days to enjoy a huge win to end the season. It has been a fun one.
Stay tuned for Lacrosse Weekly to wrap up a nice win in DC against Georgetown, and look early tomorrow for a preview of the Big East Tournament.
Jonny Flynn was Syracuse’s leading scorer with 24 points. 20 of those points were in the second half or beyond. A slow start to Flynn’s day, he exploded with the Jonny Flynn we know and love, making 10-23 field goals from the floor and earning six assists. On occasions he tried to do too much, but the key play of the game was intercepting a pass, earning a bucket, and making the and one. An excellent performance for what could be Jonny Flynn’s final regular season game in Orange.
Andy Rautins had 20 points off the bench. He had a phenomenal shooting day from the floor. He hit four of nine from long range, seven of 12 overall, and had another key play in overtime after draining a three by driving the lane, much like Jonny Flynn, and hit a lay up to keep the lead in the overtime. The best performance of the year from Rautins since the Coppin State affair with nine threes.
Rick Jackson also had an excellent offensive game earning 17 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks. Offensively he had every move working, and went 8-9 from the floor. Defensively, it was the same story, different day, in which he was lax on defense and allowed people to get behind the zone unchecked and failed to step out in the lane and help properly. But again, on offense he had a virtually flawless day. If only he could have made one more free throw, the overtime drama could have been avoided.
Eric Devendorf earned 12 points on a pretty good shooting effort. He made 5-10 and 2-4 from long range. He had some great moments driving to the hoop and shooting. But he was not as effective as the last few games as he coughed up the ball three times and did not have as good of a shooting outing as the last few. However, this was not a bad game for Devendorf.
Paul Harris also had a decent day with nine points, hitting 4-6 from the floor. He coughed up the ball five times however. This was certainly not the show that we got during the Rutgers game. Either way, still not bad from Harris.
Kristof! only played nine minutes in this one because Jackson was playing so well, however he did hit a key basket in traffic to keep us up in the second half.
Arinze Onuaku did not have a good day, having only two points. He did have eight rebounds and one big block though, so at least Onuaku was active on the boards.
Overall, Syracuse shot the ball extremely well from the floor compared to Marquette. Syracuse shot 56.3% from the floor (36-64) and 35% (7-20) from long range. Marquette only shot 36% on senior day. Speaking of seniors, Jerel McNeal had a great day with 25 points, and hit a key three at the end of the game, but just did not come through in the overtime on Senior Day. Also, with four seniors in the Marquette starting line up, they are screwed next year.
The defense and rebounding was far better in the second half than the first, which was the key to this victory. Syracuse also came through in the clutch and played pretty flawless in the overtime. It was nice to see that the team did not crumble like we have seen a lot this year.
Syracuse earned a huge overtime win against a great team to earn a four game win streak heading into New York City. They earned a six seed and the possible third round match with UConn. IT should be an interesting time in New York, but before then we take a couple of days to enjoy a huge win to end the season. It has been a fun one.
Stay tuned for Lacrosse Weekly to wrap up a nice win in DC against Georgetown, and look early tomorrow for a preview of the Big East Tournament.
Labels: Basketball, Big East
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