Melo

G-Man wrote me earlier with this remarkable statistic: Fab Melo has scored 22 points over the past two games. He had ten in the regular season finale against DePaul – then a career high. And today in the Garden, twelve points against St. Johns, another career high. Those twenty-two points were more than his total point production in all the Big East conference games before DePaul. And I have to agree with John – the Orange don’t win today without Melo. Rebounds, some key blocks in the first half, a beautiful pass to an open Rick Jackson late in the game, leading to an easy bucket. Help at both ends of the court.

Tomorrow night, Cuse plays UConn in the semis. Everyone kept talking about the six overtime marathon from two years ago, but what I remember is that in 2003, Cuse ended the regular season on a hot streak – six in a row to my recollection, including a couple tough road wins -- but then lost to UConn in the Big East semifinals. At this point, I don’t think it matters all that much whether they win any more Big East games. I think today’s win cements a three seed, and while it’s always nice to beat UConn, I’d rather they get one more dose of humility before the NCAAs start.

A couple more observations about today’s win. The biggest difference between the two halves today was, in my opinion, the turnovers. A dozen turnovers in the first twenty minutes, and it’s hard to beat anyone when you’re giving the ball away that much. But after intermission, only three turnovers in the final twenty minutes. And that was the biggest reason they outscored the Johnnies by double digits in the second half. Plus I can remember at least three blown lay-ups in the second half – two after nice feeds from Jardine. Meaning, of course, that they could easily have put up more points in the second half. Always room for improvement.

Another big factor were the blocks. Cuse gets a lot of credit for the two-three, for forcing turnovers when teams try to sneak the ball inside; but even when the ball gets inside against this zone, there aren’t a lot of easy buckets. Cuse had ten blocks today, to St. John’s one. Rick Jackson led the way with four, and wasn’t it nice to see him get some credit for the great year he had? Really, he deserved first team Big East, in addition to defensive player of the year. All the first teamers were big scorers, but what about all those rebounds Jackson pulled down all year long?

I continue to be amazed by this late season surge, and I hope they carry it over, not so much in the remainder of the Big East, but next week, when the NCAAs start. I’d be the happiest guy who ever had to eat his own words. Go Orange.