Versatility. It can be the difference between becoming a champ or becoming a chump.
In Buffalo, New York, the spotlight was shining brightly on the Syracuse Orangeman as they took the floor, minus one of its leaders, Arinze Onuaku. After watching top-ranked Kansas get knocked out of the tournament the previous day, Syracuse definitely was feeling the pressure to deliver a solid performance against a Gonzaga squad ranked 22nd in the AP Poll and a perennial NCAA Tourney upstart.
Johnson Leads Syracuse To Blowout Victory
The Orangemen didn’t disappoint and sent a message to the remaining teams in the field that they are the team to beat with a stunning 87-65 rout. With Onuaku in street clothes on the bench and center Rick Jackson on the bench with three fouls with 8:58 remaining in the first half, the Orangemen were ripe for defeat. Instead, the showed why they are the most feared team in the tournament, as they stuffed the Gonzaga offense with a stifling 2-3 zone and spread the wealth on offense as they went on a 15-4 run to close the first half to open a 15 point lead.
The beatdown didn’t end there, as Syracuse opened the second half with another 15-4 run over four minutes to effectively to put a close to the game and coast in with the most impressive victory by any team thus far in the tournament.
On both ends of the court, everything went right. As a team, Syracuse shot 55% from the field, 48% from behind the arc and 74% from the free throw line. Defensively they held Gonzaga to 42% from the field and 14% from behind the arc, numbers which improved as Syracuse showed mercy over the final ten minutes.
The offensive onslaught was led by Wesley Johnson and Andy Rautins. Johnson scored a career high 31 points and 14 rebounds with Rautins scoring 24 points while draining five three pointers. Brandon Triche chipped in 13 points and Scoop Jardine added 9 points. Rick Jackson pulled down 10 rebounds and Kris Joseph added 6 boards to round out the action.
The victory was all that more impressive given that star big man, Arinze Onuaku was still nursing a quadricep injury that he aggravated during the Big East tournament. Onuaku, considered one of the best defensive players in the NCAA, is the central core of the vaunted 2-3 zone defense. Despite Onuaku not on the floor, the Orangemen shut down the Gonzaga offense over and over and was especially relentless during the eight minute span that saw Syracuse establish a 30 point lead.
What makes Syracuse so dangerous for upcoming opponents is the preparation required to prepare for its 2-3 zone. During the regular season, teams get a few days to prepare during practice for what awaits on the floor that they only see when they play Syracuse. Gonzaga showed today what limited practice time can do to a team facing this defense. If Syracuse can win it first of two games in each of the upcoming weekends that close out the season, they have the advantage in the Regional Final and Final matchups.
At this point, nobody wants to play Syracuse and they are the clear favorite to be cutting down the nets in Indianapolis, with or without Arinze Onuaku.
