SU needs consistency to be successful in new Big East

By Sean Quinn

Syracuse has had to work hard for its nine-game winning streak and 12-2 record, but entering the toughest conference play in the country the Orange have to work a lot harder.

Jim Boeheim insists playing the 48th toughest non-conference schedule in the country has prepared his team for the Big East season. The Orange need more than preparedness, though, to be successful against a conference that hosts three teams in the top 10 – it needs consistency. And that starts with Gerry McNamara and Terrence Roberts.McNamara is averaging a team-high 16.9 points per game but it has come on just 32 percent shooting. McNamara has launched 134 3-pointers, netting just 43. That’s just six more than Demetris Nichols has, but Nichols has done it on just 89 attempts.

McNamara’s perimeter shooting must improve, as he has hit just three out of his last 17 attempts. It will only get more difficult, as Connecticut’s Rudy Gay and Villanova’s Allan Ray aren’t going to be any better matchups for him. The pre-season first team conference selection must take better shots from inside the arc, as well, as G-Mac has shot better than 50 percent from the field in just one game this season. The man picks his shots about as well as ABC picks its Monday night comedies.

McNamara has been contributing in other ways, though, with a league-leading 6.9 assists per game. That’s partly because of an injury to reserve guard Josh Wright, who will be back to full health entering conference play after missing five games.

The senior’s shooting woes, though, can be blamed as much on the lack of production the Orange are getting from its big men inside. Terrence Roberts, who improved his game this summer playing for the national team, has shown sparks of an All-American at times but can’t seem to put complete games together. Roberts is averaging 12 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, significant improvements from last year’s disappointing campaign but he has yet to master consistency. Just look at the last four games for his story. He put up a double-double against Illinois-Chicago, then had just seven points against Towson. The following games, he had 21 points on 14 shots in a win against Kent State, then contributed just nine points on five shots against UTEP.

Roberts has been a second-half player so far this season, lacking enthusiasm and energy early in ball games. He doesn’t have enough talent to solely rely on, so it’s a must he show heart for the entire 35 minutes he’s playing the game.

Part of this, though, is Boeheim’s fault. Roberts should be touching the ball on every offensive possession. He can be an inside complement to McNamara and Nichols on the outside. Roberts should have more touches than Michael Jackson at a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party.

The junior class, of Roberts, Nichols, Darryl Watkins and Louie McCroskey are still the catalysts of this team. As they go, so does the Orange. Nichols has been a pleasant surprise, changing his number from 4 to 34 and increasing his production from last season’s 3.9 points per game to just less than 16 points this season. He has scored in double-figures every game this season while shooting better than 48 percent for the Orange, setting the level of consistency for his teammates.

Watkins has been a force defensively, leading the conference in blocked shots but he has to do better than his six rebounds per game. The Orange has outrebounded its opponents just twice in the last eight games. Windex has been more active on the glass than the Orange have this season. Roberts and Watkins have struggled against larger teams, such as Bucknell and Florida, and things are only going to get harder when SU matches up against Connecticut and Louisville.

If the Orange are going to be on the same level as its conference rivals, Josh Wright must contribute night after night. His foot injury seems to have healed and he should go back to the player he was in the Manhattan game scoring 19 points and dishing out eight assists. The scoring in that game was a fluke performance, but it’s nice to know he can step up and score. His assists are what this team needs right now. With Wright at the point, McNamara can move off screens and get better looks at the basket. That’s what made him successful his freshman year when Billy Edelin was there to run the point.

Freshman Eric Devendorf can also run some point for the Orange, but his penetration is what the SU offense needs. He has scored in double-figures four out of the last five games. His drives can also take away double teams from Roberts down low.

The former Oak Hill Academy standout, though, still looks lost on the 2-3 zone. Boeheim needs to find a way to contribute Devendorf’s offense and McCroskey’s defense in each game. And McCroskey needs to find a pacifier and a bib if he is going to keep throwing his mouthpiece after missing open layups.

The Orange appear to have the weapons this season, as they are far more balanced than just the one-two punch of McNamara and Hakim Warrick of last season. If Josh Wright can run a majority of the point and Boeheim can make sure Roberts gets the ball down low, the Orange may be in the first tier of the Big East and have a good chance of the winning the conference.

Still, consistency is the bottom line. Roberts needs to take a his Flinstone vitamins or scarf down a few subs with Jared Fogle and be ready to play each and every night. Because Connecticut, Villanova and Louisville are sure going to be ready.