Cold Front Passes

It was cold in the Cuse last Saturday, and I don't mean out on the quad. Everyone went cold inside the Dome as the Orange went one for umpteen from three-point range, and lost to Pitt by ten. Rautins couldn't buy a basket; Triche played like a freshman, tentative and intimidated; Jackson apparently hadn't set his alarm clock to wake up before noon; and everyone aside from Wes Johnson mostly stood around and let Pitt beat them to loose balls, and to position under the boards. By the time it was over, Cuse had lost for the first time since Lemoyne, and it was clear that every Big East game was going to be a battle.

Tonight, in the first half, it seemed like the cold front had stuck around, as the Orange trailed Memphis for much of the half, and managed to top thirty points only when Rautins hit a long three with seconds on the clock. But as they have in many games this year, Cuse stepped up in the second half, and pulled away to win by double digits - 17 at the final buzzer. Johnson had his customary all-around game, leading the team in scoring, and contributing everywhere on the court. Kris Joseph, after a mostly invisible first half, ended up with fifteen points, and seemed to energize the second half offense. Five guys scored in double figures, excellent balance considering that the team only put up 74 points. But most importantly, the defense seemed to come alive in the second half. The zone extended out on the Memphis guards, who had hit seven threes in the first half, but couldn't seem to get good looks in the second half. With about a minute or so to go in the game, the defense had allowed only 19 second half points. And when the defense is active, and generating turnovers, the offense gets some easy hoops, which are even more important in a low scoring game like tonight's.

Still, even winning by seventeen, the Orange committed seventeen turnovers, many of them unforced. Boeheim said it looked like they were trying to pass to Memphis. From one perspective, that's worrisome, because seventeen turnovers against Georgetown or Villanova will probably be fatal. On the other hand, if they protect the ball better, there's obvious room for improvement. Cut down on turnovers and make layups, even without great outside shooting, and they'll be in much better shape for conference play.

All things considered, the good news is that, at least for the time being, even though it continues to snow up here, and they're now predicting a big storm for the end of the week, which I hope doesn't interfere with our travel to the Dome on Sunday, last Saturday's cold front seems to have passed.