Opponent Preview: What to know about Canisius
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Adrian Autry recorded his first win as head coach in Syracuse’s 83-72 season-opening victory over New Hampshire Monday. Judah Mintz finished with a team-high 20 points while Quadir Copeland registered his first career double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Powered by speedy transition offense and disciplined man-to-man defense, the Orange jumped out to a 32-9 lead in the opening 10 minutes but lost some steam heading into the second half.
When UNH closed the deficit to nine with eight minutes remaining, SU switched to its ever-reliable 2-3 zone front to stave off an aggressive Wildcats squad.
Syracuse returns to action Wednesday for its second game in three days. The Orange host cross-state opponents Canisius, who finished 10-20 last season with an 8-12 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Here’s everything to know about the Golden Griffins before Wednesday’s tip-off:
All-time series
Syracuse leads, 46-24
Last time they played
Syracuse last faced Canisius on Dec. 15, 2012, in an 85-61 victory. The then-No. 4 ranked Orange led 35-32 at halftime but outscored the Golden Griffins 50-29, to advance to 9-0.
Michael Carter-Williams, a future 10-year NBA veteran, notched 12 points and 14 assists in the win while forward James Southerland produced a game-high 21 points. Brandon Triche added 19.
In what would be its final year in the Big East conference, SU ended the season winning the 2013 Big East Tournament before advancing to the Final Four for the fifth time in program history.
KenPom odds
Syracuse has an 86% chance of winning, with a projected score of 80-68.
The Golden Griffins report
Canisius endured a tumultuous 2022-23 campaign, punctuated by a winless December. It took until Jan. 6 for the Golden Griffins to win their first conference game. Now, entering its eighth year with Reggie Witherspoon at the helm, Canisius is projected to suffer its third consecutive losing season, according to KenPom.
In effective field goal percentage, which measures a team’s offensive output while incorporating the added benefit of a 3-point make, Cansius ranks in the high 200s (48.7% on offense and 52.8% on defense), according to KenPom. This means the Golden Eagles aren’t taking, or making, the best shots on offense while allowing opponents to convert on the other end.
Despite losing top scorer Jordan Henderson, Canisius returned nine of its players, including guard Tahj Staveskie. The now-sophomore displayed flashes in his freshman season, highlighted by a 26-point outburst against Iona in February.
How Syracuse beats Canisius
SU’s win over New Hampshire showcased Autry’s decisiveness to bench 7-foot-4 center Naheem McLeod when facing shorter competition. Against the Wildcats, when forward Clarence Daniels beat McLeod on a couple of drives, Autry called on Maliq Brown’s quicker feet for reinforcement.
Six-foot-eight Frank Mitchell will likely start for Canisius at center, which might garner a similar response from Autry. As for the rest of SU’s man-to-man set, which saw a lot of success in its first 10 minutes versus UNH, the Orange have to keep their focus and energy high through both halves. Otherwise, expect Autry to reintroduce the zone.
Syracuse also needs to improve its outside shooting given the Golden Griffins’ poor perimeter defense. Neither Mintz nor J.J. Starling could find their stroke Monday, combining to shoot 8-for-28 from the field. SU’s guards will need to step up and stop their reliance on forwards Chris Bell and Justin Taylor.
Stat to know: 23.8%
Syracuse shot 23.8 percent from 3-point range against New Hampshire, resulting in just five total makes. Taylor finished with a game-high two from deep, which included a 4-point play late in the second half. Otherwise, SU did not receive much help from outside the arc.
“We know we have guys who can hit threes,” Taylor said postgame. “It was kind of just one of those days where some shots didn’t fall.”
The Orange certainly don’t lack in 3-point shooters, but will need to field an all-around performance facing Canisius and other nonconference opponents before Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Player to watch: Tahj Steveskie, guard, No. 44
A 2023-24 Preseason All-MAAC Second Team honoree, Steveskie averaged 12.4 points in his first year at Canisius, where he was named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team. Able to create his own shot, Steveskie is a shifty point guard equipped with a reliable outside jumper. Expect the Golden Griffins to run their offense through the sophomore.
