MBB : Syracuse’s Melo can fuel postseason run
CLEVELAND — Jim Boeheim said Thursday that Fab Melo could be the ‘X factor’ for Syracuse this postseason. After a strong showing in the Big East tournament, the conference’s preseason Rookie of the Year proved he can contribute.
But that doesn’t mean that Boeheim is necessarily expecting that to continue. He’s not banking on his freshman center playing his best basketball of the year on college basketball’s biggest stage.
‘He’s kind of an X factor,’ Boeheim said about the 7-footer who had arguably his best game of the season March 10 against St. John’s in the Big East tournament.
‘I’m not counting on it,’ Boeheim continued. ‘It’s one of those, you’re hoping that something can happen here.’
Against the Red Storm, Melo broke out with 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting and added four rebounds and a pair of blocked shots in 22 minutes. Beyond the stats, though, he was involved in every key play down the stretch for the Orange, making a key pass here or forcing a turnover there. His contributions were a major reason why SU advanced past Steve Lavin’s club and into the Big East semifinals against Connecticut.
It was the second time in as many games that Melo had shown signs of life after marginal contributions throughout much of the season. Through 28 games, he averaged a paltry 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
Two big games against DePaul (10 points, six rebounds) and St. John’s changed all that. It was the first time Melo began to show why fans were so excited about the former McDonald’s All-American prior to his arrival on campus.
In his most recent game, however, Melo reverted to his old ways. He shot 0-for-2 from the field and was held scoreless in 14 minutes of action against UConn in the game on March 11. The result was a Syracuse defeat.
But despite the inconsistencies, there’s still a feeling that Melo’s performance in these postseason games could be dividends for Syracuse. With his size and skill, he’s a matchup nightmare for most opposing big men — as long as he plays intelligently and effectively.
Indiana State doesn’t have a player over 6-foot-8 in its rotation. In the Missouri Valley conference, it hasn’t played against anybody with Melo’s size, either.
‘We don’t have the type of size they have,’ Indiana State forward Carl Richard said.
It all comes together to create the perfect storm for another potential big game for Melo. If he can step his play up over the next few weeks, that’s an advantage SU will have that Boeheim and the Orange aren’t even counting on. One that could be the difference for a team trying to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2003.
‘He’s had a couple of good games. He’s better than he was early in the season when he really struggled,’ Boeheim said. ‘I think he’s definitely gotten to the point where we’re very hopeful that he can contribute.’
Stereotyping Indiana State not a good idea
When Kris Joseph offered up his initial thoughts on Indiana State Thursday, he wasn’t thinking about its defense.
Instead, Joseph and his Syracuse teammates spoke about the importance of getting up on the Sycamores’ shooters and protecting the perimeter through the 2-3 zone defense. But stereotyping ISU as a bunch of shooters is not completely accurate.
‘We led the Missouri Valley in field goal percentage defense,’ ISU head coach Greg Lansing said, ‘so we’re going to try and make it tough for them.’
The reality is that Indiana State’s defense, not it’s shooting, is what led it to a 20-win season and the Missouri Valley conference title.
Though Syracuse’s 2-3 zone is mentioned as much as any defense in the country, it was the Sycamores, not just the Orange, who led their league in field goal percentage defense. Indiana State’s opponents make just 40.3 percent of their shots. ISU also forces 13 turnovers per game.
Yet the stereotype of ISU still exists.
For a team that has had trouble shooting at times this season, and one that turned the ball over 14 times per game this season, ISU’s defense could be the key Friday. Syracuse boasts more size and arguably better athletes, but an inability to get going on offense could be troublesome when considering that ISU also drilled 228 3-pointers this season — more than all but two Big East teams (Notre Dame and Louisville).
Indiana State guard Aaron Carter doesn’t mind the stereotypes that his is strictly a team of shooters. Defensively, the Sycamores are proven. Offensively, they intend to live up to the notion that they are simply a group of marksmen.
‘I guess that’s a popular stereotype,’ said Carter, who has connected on 49 3-point attempts this season. ‘I guess me and Jake (Odum) would like to prove that stereotype right tomorrow, you know.’
