Pitoniak: Triche stumbles for SU
By: Scott Pitoniak
Updated: March 2, 2013
SYRACUSE - This is hardly the final chapter Brandon Triche was hoping to author.
Never in a million years did Syracuse University's senior guard imagine that he
and his teammates would save their worst for last.
But that's the way it's
unfolding and time is running out for them to halt this skid. After an 18-1
start, the Orange men have lost six of their last 10, including three straight
with Saturday's 58-53 loss to Louisville in front of 31,173 in the Carrier Dome
and a national television audience.
And Triche has been at
the center of his team's struggles lately.
Against the Cardinals,
the four-year starter converted just two-of-11 shots and had almost as many
turnovers (7) as he did points (8). He was at his absolute worst during the
stretch run, committing four turnovers in the final three minutes after SU had
taken a one-point lead. His woes were a continuation of a disturbing downward
trend for him and his teammates. During this 10-game stretch, Triche has made
just 17 percent of his 3's and just 35 percent of his shots overall. SU is just
32 percent from beyond the arc and just 41 percent overall in that
span.
No wonder the Orange
managed just 19 points in the first half against Louisville a week after scoring
just 46 points the entire game against Georgetown - the lowest total by an SU
basketball team in 45 years.
You can't help but feel
for Triche, an exemplary young man who works hard both on and off the court. He
is an extremely gifted athlete, with an NBA build, and a head for the game. No
one is more confounded by Triche's struggles than his coach.
"I don't know,'' Jim
Boeheim said when asked about the young man who has started more games than all
but two basketball players in SU history. "I have no answer for it. But he's our
guy. We're going to continue to go with him. I think the trade deadline is
past.
"I love Brandon
Triche,'' Boeheim continued. "We just can't have him playing this way. He 's a
great kid. He works his tail off. He's going to graduate on time. He does
everything we want our kids to do. But I don't like the way he's playing right
now and I don't like the way our team is playing."
Triche grew up in the
shadow of the Carrier Dome and attended nearby Jamesville-DeWitt High School.
His uncle, Howard Triche, was a starter on the team that went to the 1987
national title game. After deferring to veterans like Andy Rautins, Scoop
Jardine and Deon Waiters the past three seasons, Brandon Triche's time had
arrived. He was hoping to finish with a flourish, not a whimper.
"A lot of this is on
me,'' he said following the Louisville defeat. "I just got to take care of the
ball and make the right plays. We were doing that earlier this season. That's
why we were winning close games. Now, we're not.
"You're almost in
desperation mode - you have to win and we should be winning. It might just take
one win to get us going."
Triche shook his head
when asked if SU's confidence was shaken after three consecutive
losses.
"Shaken?" he said. "I
don't think so or else we would probably be losing by a lot more
points."
As badly as the Orange
men have shot the ball lately, they've still had an opportunity to win their
last three games (Georgetown, Marquette and Louisville). Those three losses, it
should be pointed out, were to highly ranked teams that play tough
defense.
"I still like this
team,'' Boeheim said of his 22-7 Orange men. "We've got a good chance to be a
good tournament team."
For that to happen, a
lot must change - and in a hurry.
Triche needs to regain
his swagger; he needs to play like a four-year starter.
And SU must somehow get
more production out of their centers. I've been harping on this for several
weeks, but it remains the biggest problem facing this
team. Against Louisville, Rakeem
Christmas, Baye Moussa Keita and DaJuan Coleman (just three minutes) combined
for two points and six rebounds. You read right. TWO points and SIX rebounds.
Cardinals center Gorgui Deing had 11 points and 14 rebounds against
them.
The putrid production
by the Orange centers puts an even heavier burden on their outside shooters.
When they're not on, this team struggles mightily to score.
Given that there is
more parity than there's ever been in college basketball, I suppose Syracuse
could still make a run in the tournament.
But I disagree with
Boeheim that there's a good chance they could still be a good tournament
team.
I foresee a short march
in March.
And an unfulfilling
finish to Brandon Triche's college career.
Award-winning
columnist and best-selling author Scott Pitoniak has followed SU basketball
since the mid-1960s and has covered it since the mid-1970s. He is the author of
"Color Him Orange: The Jim Boeheim Story."
