Player and Rookie of the Week [week of 1/7 to 1/13]

This post should have been sent out yesterday, but better late than never.

Player of the Week:

C.J. Fair

The Syracuse Orange have looked rather unimpressive in their last couple of games, needing late surges in the second half to pull away from both Providence and Villanova. And while Michael Carter-Williams is probably the team’s most important player in terms of being successful, it is C.J. Fair that has been the team’s best player. He leads the team in rebounding; pulling down 7.1 boards per game, and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.8 per contest. Like I wrote about Brandon Triche in this same section last week, Fair is far from flashy. From time-to-time you actually forget about him on the court. But the Junior forward has become more aggressive this year in terms of getting to the rim to throw down powerful dunks or draw contact to get to the line. His play down the stretch last week was instrumental in the Orange emerging victorious in both contests (he finished with 23 pts/11 rebs against PC and 22 pts/5 rebs against Nova), thus earning him Player of the Week honors.

Rookie of the Week:

Chris Obekpa

The Red Storm lost both of their games last week – a tough fought loss to Rutgers in which the Johnnies got the final look and a blowout loss to a volatile Georgetown team. However, history was made during the beat down from Georgetown as freshman shot-blocking sensation Chris Obekpa broke the single season record for blocks at St. John’s (he had six in that game). Obekpa already has 82 blocks, breaking the record of 76 that was set in the 1985-86 season by Walter Berry. And with only half the season in the books, he should set a lofty bar that will be difficult to touch any time in the near future. And he continues to hone in his craft as he has cut down on his fouls while increasing his minutes played as the season has progressed. Now he just needs to improve his offensive game. [If you would like to read more about the record and the pace he is on click here.]

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Player and Rookie of the Week (week of 12/31 - 1/6)

Player of the Week:

Brandon Triche

Triche led the Orange to three victories last week, which included a win over conference foe Rutgers to move Coach Boeheim into second place on the all time wins list. In that game Triche had his highest scoring output of the season, 25 points, as he went five of seven from beyond the arc to lead the Orange in scoring on the night. He also finished with 20 against South Florida and 13 against Central Connecticut State. Triche, who is never flashy, often goes unnoticed when on the floor with Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. Fair, but he actually leads the Orange in scoring this year at an even clip of 15 points per game and is second on the team in assists per game (albeit that is a whopping 6+ behind MCW). His calm, steady, senior-laden demeanor should bode well for the Orange come March.

Rookie of the Week:

Ryan Arcidiacono

The Villanova Wildcats only played one game last week, but it was a 98-86 overtime victory at home over St. John’s. Arcidiacono led the way with 32 points in a performance that included seven three-pointers. The Johnnies left Arcidiacono wide open time and time again and he made them pay over and over as he only missed four of his attempts. Previously, Arcidiacono only eclipsed the 20 point threshold once in 13 games, and this was the first time he surpassed the 30 point barrier. Arcidiacono is currently second on the team in points scored per game (13.0), but leads the team in assists with 3.4 per. Arcidiacono has displayed flashes of brilliance in the point guard role, but he has also been just as inconsistent (just like my inconsistence in spelling his name even though I am really trying to type it as much as possible in this post). The Wildcats have reeled off six straight victories, but they get Pittsburgh, Louisville and Syracuse twice in the next three weeks. We’ll know more about the ‘Cats and Arcidiacono after this upcoming stretch.

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Throw-Down of the Year Alert: Rakeem Christmas

By:  Shane McCarthy

Wasn’t it nice to finally get one of these aircraft carrier games played this weekend?  Well, Deshawn Stephens of San Diego St. didn’t think so, because he got absolutely thrown-down on by Rakeem Christmas. 

Aboard the USS Midway, Syracuse showed how deadly they can be in transition.  About halfway through the first half, Michael Carter-Williams was handed the ball after a rebound and immediately found C.J. Fair stretching the floor.  Fair took one dribble and proceeded to toss up a perfect alley-oop to Rakeem Christmas.  Christmas converted with a powerful two-handed throw-down over Stephens.  Would saying that he ‘Rak’d the boat’ be trying too hard?  Probably, since it is an aircraft carrier and all.  But it was a big dunk.  

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #2 Syracuse Orange

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

Even after losing four significant contributors from last year’s squad, the Orange enter the 2012-13 campaign in the preseason top 10.  Needless to say, there is a bit of optimism surrounding this year’s team.  And rightfully so - they have veteran starters, skilled [young] role players from last year primed to step up, and another talented recruiting class.  The hype is warranted for their last year in the Big East, now it’s about delivering.

Who’s Back:

C.J. Fair –F– Junior – 26.4 Min, 8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

Brandon Triche –G– Junior – 22.5 Min, 9.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.6 apg

James Southerland –F– Senior – 16 Min, 6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg

Baye Keita –F– Junior – 12.3 Min, 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.1 apg

Rakeem Christmas –F– Soph – 11.5 Min, 2.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.2 apg

Michael Carter-Williams –G– Soph – 10.3 Min, 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.1 apg

Trevor Cooney –G– Redshirt Freshman 

Incoming Recruits:

DaJuan Coleman - [Center] – 6 foot 9, 275

ESPN’s 14^th ranked player and 6^th ranked Center

Rivals.com’s 26^th ranked player and 5^th ranked Center

McDonald’s All-American

Jerami Grant – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 7, 190

ESPN’s 37^th ranked player and 11^th ranked Power Forward

Rivals.com’s 64^th ranked player and 15^th ranked Power Forward

Who’s Out:  Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, Dion Waiters, Fab Melo

Overview:

I’m still disappointed that we didn’t get a Kentucky vs. Syracuse national championship last year.  Granted it would have only been a good game if Fab Melo was playing, but he is also the reason they didn’t get that far.  Damn you Fab.  That would have been a treat, as the Orange were probably the only team in the country that could actually match up with the Wildcats.

This year’s team is deep, a nine man rotation deep - very similar to last year.  That gives Boeheim the flexibility to tinker with combinations to exploit opponents and keep his guys fresh.

Brandon Triche, who has remarkably started every game of his Syracuse career, returns for his senior year.  Triche will continue to be the steady and solid player that he has been throughout his career.

C.J. Fair, James Southerland and Baye Keita also return to provide upperclassmen experience.  Fair will start and get the most playing time of the three as he has molded into a solid forward/wing player.  He isn’t the most dominating low-post player, but he picks his spots and is an excellent shooter.  Southerland is primarily a three point threat while Keita will provide front court depth.

Joining Fair in the front court will be Rakeem Christmas and freshman DaJuan Coleman.  Neither are the true center that Fab Melo was nor will they be the defensive force that he morphed into last year (earning him Big East Defensive Player of the Year recognition), but both are better all-around players than he was.  The combination of Christmas, Coleman and Fair will wear down opposing front courts and keep penetrators at bay.

Most of the buzz entering this year is over Michael Carter-Williams, and rightfully so.  MCW didn’t find the court much as a freshman, but will now take over the driver’s seat and assume the starting point guard role.  There isn’t a thing I can say about him that hasn’t been discussed all summer long: he’s long and fits into the 2-3 zone perfectly, has incredible handles, great vision, deep range, lightning quick slashing ability and can throw it down.  Pretty much – he will be the most exciting player on the court no matter who the Orange are playing.  And it seems plausible that the Orange will go as far as he takes them.

The rotation will be rounded out by Trevor Cooney, a redshirt freshman, and Jerami Grant, an incoming freshman. Cooney has been labeled as a sharpshooter, but Boeheim insists he is more than that.  While Grant is a tall, lanky forward who will factor in the front court/wing rotation.  Both these guys will likely be counted on to be more than role players, and will see extended minutes each game.

For their last year in the Big East, Boeheim has once again reloaded this team to compete for a championship.  On paper, this team looks to be very talented, Final Four worthy talented.  But of course there will be questions as this team will have a very different look from last year and will be counting on a number of young guys to contribute.  They likely won’t repeat their 17-1 conference mark from last season, but another big year looks to be on the horizon for the Orange.

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac