2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeWBB | SU game plan doomed by poor shooting
By Kyle Austin
Posted: 3/25/08, 12:57 AM EST Section: Sports
BATON ROUGE, La. - Throughout the close-fought battle between Syracuse and Hartford here at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Syracuse executed its game plan to near perfection.
It was the one thing coaches don't write on game plans, though, that did the young Syracuse team in: make shots.
Syracuse shot a dismal 16-for-59 from the field, its lowest field goal total and shooting percentage of the season. Everything else the Orange did well couldn't save it from its impending fate: a 59-55 loss to Hartford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"It's frustrating when your game plan actually falls apart, but our game plan didn't fall apart," SU coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We got [Hartford forward Danielle] Hood in foul trouble, and we were just in a position to control the game."
It wasn't that Syracuse didn't get the shots it wanted. Hillsman said he was happy with how his team attacked the rim and got shots under the hoop. But the attempts didn't fall for most of the Syracuse frontcourt, including a 0-for-6 effort from forward Nicole Michael and 1-for-6 from forward Vionca Murray.
"I actually thought we took too many 3's today because we try to attack the rim and be aggressive," Hillsman said. "That's our game, just trying to stay close to the basket, trying to stay close to the rim and attacking the basket."
Facing off against a staunch Hartford interior defense, Syracuse couldn't get an open look. In one possession in the first half, forward Chandrea Jones had two shots blocked. On the ensuing possession, Murray missed a short jumper, and the Orange missed three putback attempts.
The tough play underneath did result in one positive for the Orange: free throws. Syracuse converted 21 free throws, compared to 11 from Hartford. Free throws accounted for seven of SU's final 13 points as it fought back to take a one-point lead in the final minute.
The team also clamped down on defense, particularly on Hood, Hartford's leading scorer, who managed only six points in 18 minutes before fouling out with 5:33 left.
It was the one thing coaches don't write on game plans, though, that did the young Syracuse team in: make shots.
Syracuse shot a dismal 16-for-59 from the field, its lowest field goal total and shooting percentage of the season. Everything else the Orange did well couldn't save it from its impending fate: a 59-55 loss to Hartford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
"It's frustrating when your game plan actually falls apart, but our game plan didn't fall apart," SU coach Quentin Hillsman said. "We got [Hartford forward Danielle] Hood in foul trouble, and we were just in a position to control the game."
It wasn't that Syracuse didn't get the shots it wanted. Hillsman said he was happy with how his team attacked the rim and got shots under the hoop. But the attempts didn't fall for most of the Syracuse frontcourt, including a 0-for-6 effort from forward Nicole Michael and 1-for-6 from forward Vionca Murray.
"I actually thought we took too many 3's today because we try to attack the rim and be aggressive," Hillsman said. "That's our game, just trying to stay close to the basket, trying to stay close to the rim and attacking the basket."
Facing off against a staunch Hartford interior defense, Syracuse couldn't get an open look. In one possession in the first half, forward Chandrea Jones had two shots blocked. On the ensuing possession, Murray missed a short jumper, and the Orange missed three putback attempts.
The tough play underneath did result in one positive for the Orange: free throws. Syracuse converted 21 free throws, compared to 11 from Hartford. Free throws accounted for seven of SU's final 13 points as it fought back to take a one-point lead in the final minute.
The team also clamped down on defense, particularly on Hood, Hartford's leading scorer, who managed only six points in 18 minutes before fouling out with 5:33 left.
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