UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Syracuse got its first look at the Gerry McNamara era on Tuesday night, and the early read was simple: there were flashes, there were issues, and there was a whole lot for the Orange to clean up after a 72-52 exhibition loss to UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena.
The Orange hung around for a half, trailing 31-26 at the break, before the Huskies stretched things out after halftime and turned it into a comfortable win. Syracuse shot just 31% overall and got buried from deep in the second half, where it finished 1-for-15 from 3-point range.
It was also a night that quickly went sideways on the injury front. Less than three minutes into the game, Aidan Tobiason limped off holding the area high on his right hamstring and never returned.
Syracuse was already without freshman Mark Morano, one of its better shooters, who was out of uniform. Morano’s injury is not supposed to be serious.
Tobiason spent time on an exercise bike, then sat on the bench looking dejected. By the start of the second half, he was in warmups and clearly done for the night. Syracuse was suddenly down two wing players expected to play important roles.
That forced Kiyan Anthony into the game early, while McNamara also got a long look at Ryan Moesch. Moesch entered with 14:18 left in the first half for Garwey Dual and stayed out there the rest of the half.
He gave Syracuse a little pace, especially after defensive rebounds, and led the Orange with five first-half boards despite standing (possibly) 6-feet tall. But the shot wasn’t there.
He finished 1-for-10 from the floor.
Still, Moesch had one play that stood out. Early in the second half, he came away with a UConn miss, pushed in transition, drove the lane and delivered a spinning, no-look pass to White for a basket at the rim. That was the kind of burst Syracuse badly needs.
The real bright spot, though, was Sadiq White. The sophomore forward scored 10 points in the first half, knocked down both of his 3s, and finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 25 minutes. White shot 36.8% from long range last season but took only 19 attempts, so if that shot becomes a real part of his game, his value jumps fast.
The rebounding margin was another sore spot. UConn won that battle 41-33, and White was part of the mix there too, grabbing only one board. Tasman Goodrick started at center, and Syracuse used three different players at the position against the Huskies, with Iker Martinez even getting a late look.
UConn’s size made life miserable. Na’Jai Hines, the 6-foot-9, 278-pound transfer from Seton Hall, was a problem from the start.
He scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds in 12 first-half minutes, then finished with 17 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes. Nobody really had an answer for him.
Syracuse actually looked a little more settled defensively than offensively in the first half, but UConn didn’t offer many easy openings. The Huskies entered with the reputation to back it up; last season they were the nation’s seventh-best defensive team according to Kenpom. That pressure showed, and Syracuse never found much rhythm.
The numbers tell the story. Syracuse shot 7-of-20 in the first half and then went 5-of-19 in the second half with 7:21 left.
Outside of White, there wasn’t much consistent scoring. Anthony and Moesch, the two main guards for Syracuse on Tuesday, combined to shoot 3-for-21 and 0-for-8 from 3-point range.
By the time UConn pushed ahead 57-40, the game had slipped out of reach.
The starters for Syracuse were Dual, Doty, Tobiason, Goodrick and White. Mullins was out for UConn with an injury.
Syracuse also got a look at Nik Khamenia, who transferred from Duke and showed a smooth jumper even if the stat line wasn’t overwhelming. And yes, there were plenty of moving screen calls to go around.
Injuries and missed shots made for a rough first impression, but this much was clear by the end of the night: UConn is good, and Syracuse has work to do.
In Other News...
Syracuse May Be Down To Another Backup Vs Louisville
Syracuse is still sorting through a quarterback room that has been thinned by injuries, and the timing could not be worse with Louisville next up. Steve Angeli may be nearing a return to practice, while Amari Odom is still being evaluated for a shoulder injury and Malachi Nelson is dealing with an upper-body issue, though there are no broken bones.
With the depth chart in flux, Danny Lauter and true freshman Zaid Lott are among the options if the Orange have to move ahead without their injured quarterbacks. It leaves Dino Babers and his staff waiting on medical updates before they can settle on who might be under center when Syracuse lines up against Louisville. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Gets An Early Reality Check Against UConn
Syracuse got its first real measuring stick of the season Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Orange faced Connecticut in an exhibition that offered an early look at how the roster might function against one of the sports standard-bearers. The game brought together Syracuses coaching staff, a new set of lineup decisions and the kind of opponent that quickly reveals where a team is still learning to fit together.
The matchup also gave a glimpse of how Syracuse wants to play, with the broadcast providing a wider audience for a team that is still sorting out roles and rhythm. Against UConn, every scoring run and defensive possession carried a little more weight than a typical exhibition, and the Orange left with plenty to study as the real season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Finally Gets A Key Newcomer Back At The Right Time
Garwey Dual appears set to give Syracuse a much-needed boost right when the Orange are trying to sort out their new-look backcourt. The transfer guard has been working his way back after a collarbone injury, and after being cleared for contact practice in late September, he is expected to take the floor in the upcoming exhibition against Connecticut. Syracuse brought him in with the idea that he could eventually settle into the starting point guard role, and his return gives the staff a closer look at how that can work in real time.
For a team trying to build chemistry with a key newcomer, simply getting Dual back on the court matters. He has dealt with injuries before, so there is still some caution in the picture, but he has been practicing and preparing to contribute. The exhibition will offer Syracuse an early chance to see how much he can handle and how quickly he can settle into the offense, which is especially important with the season inching closer. [Read more 🡒]