2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeMBB | Syracuse's freshmen face biggest test yet vs. Ohio State
By John Clayton
Posted: 11/20/07, 9:32 PM EST Section: Sports
Nov. 20, 9:30 p.m. -- Thad Matta knows how to succeed with young talent.
Last year, the Ohio State head coach fielded a team that started two freshmen - Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., the Nos. 1 and 4 picks overall in the 2007 NBA Draft - and utilized two others (David Lighty and Daequan Cook) heavily.
Matta guided that team to a 35-4 record and a spot in the NCAA Championship game, which it lost to Florida, 84-75.
On Wednesday, Matta will get a firsthand look at a Syracuse team that mimics last year's Buckeyes team in its reliance on freshmen.
The 21st-ranked Orange (3-0) will face its most difficult test of the young season on Wednesday night, when it plays Ohio State (2-0) in the NIT Tip-Off semifinals at 9:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The winner of the game will play the winner of Texas A&M/Washington in the NIT Tip-off championship on Friday at 7 p.m. The losers of the two games will play at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation game.
"They're a very talented basketball team," Matta said of Syracuse in a teleconference. "I think those guys come in, obviously, off to a great start. The young guys can do a few different things. They can obviously score."
The Orange enters the game with an air of confidence after three solid wins to start the season. Those same players are preaching that the team will need to improve areas of its game, most specifically the defense, if it is to defeat the Buckeyes, an equally young and unproven side that features a highly touted freshman of its own - 7-foot center Kosta Kofous.
Syracuse's freshmen might not be the type of players as Oden and Conley Jr., but Wednesday's contest should provide a glimpse into whether Syracuse can come close to the quick development and success last year's Ohio State exhibited.
"It's important to get to New York, and get more important games for these young players to see how they react in those kinds of games," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said after his team's win over St. Joseph's. "There will be very good teams there. It'll be a great experience for us."
Last year, the Ohio State head coach fielded a team that started two freshmen - Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr., the Nos. 1 and 4 picks overall in the 2007 NBA Draft - and utilized two others (David Lighty and Daequan Cook) heavily.
Matta guided that team to a 35-4 record and a spot in the NCAA Championship game, which it lost to Florida, 84-75.
On Wednesday, Matta will get a firsthand look at a Syracuse team that mimics last year's Buckeyes team in its reliance on freshmen.
The 21st-ranked Orange (3-0) will face its most difficult test of the young season on Wednesday night, when it plays Ohio State (2-0) in the NIT Tip-Off semifinals at 9:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The winner of the game will play the winner of Texas A&M/Washington in the NIT Tip-off championship on Friday at 7 p.m. The losers of the two games will play at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation game.
"They're a very talented basketball team," Matta said of Syracuse in a teleconference. "I think those guys come in, obviously, off to a great start. The young guys can do a few different things. They can obviously score."
The Orange enters the game with an air of confidence after three solid wins to start the season. Those same players are preaching that the team will need to improve areas of its game, most specifically the defense, if it is to defeat the Buckeyes, an equally young and unproven side that features a highly touted freshman of its own - 7-foot center Kosta Kofous.
Syracuse's freshmen might not be the type of players as Oden and Conley Jr., but Wednesday's contest should provide a glimpse into whether Syracuse can come close to the quick development and success last year's Ohio State exhibited.
"It's important to get to New York, and get more important games for these young players to see how they react in those kinds of games," SU head coach Jim Boeheim said after his team's win over St. Joseph's. "There will be very good teams there. It'll be a great experience for us."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Nick
posted 11/21/07 @ 5:47 AM EST
Nice article... the Flynn/Greene combo is instantly the bread-and-butter for this team if they want to be "elite" and stay ranked for the entire season. (Continued…)
Marc LeVine
posted 11/21/07 @ 10:18 AM EST
This IS the first real test for the 'Cuse, though I must admit that Siena's nice upset of #20 Stanford brings a little added credibility to their current 3-0 record. (Continued…)
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