MBB : Carter-Williams turns in career performance; Boeheim moves into tie with Smith on wins list
NEW YORK — It came out of nowhere.
Michael Carter-Williams, the quiet freshman that takes the backseat to three other guards on the Syracuse roster, triggered an explosion in Madison Square Garden courtesy of a jaw-dropping dunk.
‘That’s the best play of the year for us,’ point guard Scoop Jardine said.
The 6-foot-5 Carter-Williams drove into the lane and took off. He soared high above the rim with the ball cocked back in his right hand and slammed it through the hoop, posterizing God’sgift Achiuwa in the process.
That highlight-reel dunk was the exclamation point in the best game of Carter-Williams’ short Syracuse career. He scored a career-high 13 points in 17 minutes, hitting five of his six shots and drawing the praise of head coach Jim Boeheim. He was one of five SU players in double figures on Saturday en route to a 95-70 win over St. John’s.
‘Michael is a very good player,’ Boeheim said. ‘He just needs to get some time, and I just haven’t quite figured out how to play four guards.’
Unfortunately for the former McDonald’s All-American, he plays behind a fifth-year senior in Jardine, a three-year starter in Triche and perhaps the best sixth man in the country in Dion Waiters.
But Saturday, Carter-Williams provided a boost offensively when the Orange was struggling. He made back-to-back 3-pointers in the first half, injecting life into a Syracuse team that was 0-of-5 from long range at that point in the game.
When his second 3 fell through the net, assistant coaches Mike Hopkins and Gerry McNamara erupted with joy on the sidelines. McNamara jumped off the bench screaming with delight. Hopkins clapped him on the back.
‘I’m just happy that he played well,’ McNamara said. ‘He’s in a tough situation. Obviously a very, very talented player that hasn’t played as much as he would have liked to. So to come out and still be aggressive and still be confident, I’m just very happy for Mike because he’s continued to work hard.’
McNamara said he has worked extensively with Carter-Williams on his jump shot, and to see him go 3-of-4 from long range on Saturday was the sign of hard work paying off.
The hot shooting even seemed to surprise Boeheim.
‘Michael got his first real good looks and hit both of them, and I thought he played very well,’ Boeheim said. ‘ … I was going to get him in there early, and obviously it’s a big bonus when he hits those 3s early. That’s big.’
As his teammates roared all around him after the thunderous dunk in the second half, Carter-Williams retreated down court without so much as a fist pump.
In the locker room after the game, the scene was the same. He spoke humbly and quietly, happy that he got a chance to contribute more than anything else.
‘Any time I step on that floor, I’m just trying to play as hard as I can,’ Carter-Williams said. ‘ … We haven’t really given it to a team like we did tonight. We all played well, and we were just hungry to go out there and win.’
Boeheim ties Smith on wins list
In typical Boeheim fashion, the Syracuse head coach shrugged off the significance of yet another record win. Even after he tied Dean Smith for third all-time in Division-I history with 879 career wins, Boeheim deflected that attention to the ongoing season.
‘It’s great,’ Boeheim said. ‘It’s a great honor. But we’re focused on trying to get to the next game. That’s what we’re going to continue to try to do.’
Boeheim can pass Smith with a win against No. 14 Georgetown in the Carrier Dome on Wednesday. He surpassed Adolph Rupp for fourth all time earlier this year when the Orange knocked off Cincinnati.
And while Boeheim paid little attention to the feat, Kris Joseph praised his coach for continuing to climb the all-time wins chart.
‘That’s a great accomplishment for him,’ Joseph said. ‘I’m proud because he works hard. He works hard just as much as we do. That’s a great thing. I’m happy for him.’
