MEMPHIS, Tenn. – No matter how well Syracuse has played in its man-on-man defense this season, Jim Boeheim never had any doubt he was playing zone Saturday night against Memphis.

The Tigers are led by three players – Pierre Niles-Henderson, Robert Dozier and Shawn Taggart – all listed at least 6-foot-8 or taller. With all those rebounders on the floor, Boeheim knew his team would never be able to match-up with them in man.

Add in the fact that Memphis is a poor outside-shooting team, and it was tailor-made day for Boeheim’s patented 2-3.

The strategy worked to perfection in Syracuse’s 72-65 win. Even though the Orange was out-rebounded, 45-36, the Tigers were unable to connect on their 3-point attempts. All game long, Syracuse dared its opponents to shoot from deep, but Memphis cold only go 7-for-33 (21.2 percent).

‘Obviously, they struggled to shoot it,’ Boeheim said. ‘They got 13 foul shots. If we play man-to-man, they get 30. We’ll have nobody left at the end of the game. There was never any thought in my mind to play man-to-man tonight.’

Syracuse allowed 19 offensive rebounds, which Memphis turned into 19 second-chance points. But it wasn’t enough. The Tigers’ starting guards – Antonio Anderson, Wesley Witherspoon and Tyreke Evans – went a combined 1-of-12 from behind the arc. Only reserve Roburt Sallie, who shot 4-of-6, could find any rhythm.

As the missed shots continue to pile up, Memphis became gun-shy, much to the chagrin of its head coach, John Calipari.

‘I was just begging guys, I told a couple guys, ‘I will take you out if you don’t shoot,” Calipari said. ‘Not, ‘If you miss, I am taking you out.’ ‘If you don’t shoot, I am taking you out,’ and they still didn’t shoot.’

When they did shoot, though, the ball would not fall.

‘I suspect they’ll be seeing some zone defenses for a while,’ Boeheim said.

Jackson strong again

Coming off his best performance of the season Wednesday night against Canisius, Rick Jackson was rewarded with his first start of the season against a Memphis team laden with size. Jackson played power forward in place of Kristof Ongenaet and scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 28 minutes.

With starting center Arinze Onuaku struggling, Jackson was a key performer Saturday night, seemingly able to control the post against the trio of Dozier, Henderson-Niles and Taggart. It was another strong outing fro the Orange’s backup center, who may not be the backup anymore.

‘Ricky played a perfect game for our big guys,’ Boeheim said. ‘I thought he was huge inside.’

Jackson showed an impressive array of low-post moves Saturday and played tough against a talented Tigers squad. After the game, he said his confidence is as high as it has ever been.

‘I know coach knows for a fact he can trust me down the line, and he feels he can go to me, and I will be productive in games to come,’ Jackson said.

More missed free throws

Once again, free throws almost did Syracuse in. The Orange shot a dismal 12-of-26 from the line (46.2 percent) and missed some key shots down the stretch when trying to ice the game.

Even usually strong shooters Andy Rautins and Kris Joseph shot a combined 2-of-6.

Free throws have been an Achilles’ heel for the Orange all season long, and that was no different Saturday. After the game, Boeheim was frustrated with his team’s poor shooting, but was happy with how often his team reached the line. Now, it is about making the shots.

‘I just thought our guys hung in there, and they weren’t going to be denied, even though they missed a lot of free throws again,’ Boeheim said. ‘We’re going to go to the basket, and hopefully we’ll start making those free throws.’

jediamon@syr.edu

Published on December 21, 2008 at 12:00 pm