Observations from SU’s exhibition win over IUP: Zone returns, new additions

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Jim Boeheim made it clear at Syracuse men’s basketball media day the goal this year was the same as every year — make it to the NCAA Tournament. 

Following his first losing season at the helm of the Orange, Boeheim entered the 2022-23 season without his two sons on the roster, a key transfer in Cole Swider and a secondary big in Frank Anselem. But SU returned Jesse Edwards, Joe Girard III and brought in six freshmen. 

On Tuesday, SU’s revamped squad took to the court for the first time in an exhibition matchup against the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Girard led all scorers with 17 points as four SU players finished with double-digit points. 

“This was a good start, but we have a lot of work to do,” Boeheim said.  

Here are some observations from Syracuse’s 86-68 win over IUP:

The zone’s return

Boeheim said the Orange would utilize man-to-man a lot more this season. Still, he added the zone was something he could teach his new players in a matter of a couple weeks. 

SU opened the game using the zone against the Crimson Hawks. Edwards secured the center of the floor, Benny Williams and Chris Bell positioned on either side of Edwards while Judah Mintz stood at the top next to Girard. IUP attacked the middle of the court early, leading to an early block from Edwards. 

“The zone was okay, they got some inside stuff, but it’s good practice for us,” Boeheim said.  

But like last season, Syracuse’s defense became its achilles heel as IUP led at halftime. The Crimson Hawks carried out long possessions to get open looks from deep, found holes for floaters or runners near the paint and caught Edwards or Williams on pump fakes right under the rim. 

With 10 minutes left in the first half, the Orange executed their zone flawlessly, forcing IUP to rotate the ball around the perimeter after halting any open opportunities inside. But a pass late in the shot clock found Jaheim Bethea at the left wing. He shot just before the buzzer, and his shot rattled in to cut SU’s lead to 17-15. 

Five minutes later, Edwards and Williams both jumped up to try and block Tomiwa Sulaiman under the basket. But he faked them out, making for an easy layup to give IUP a 25-24 lead.

Boeheim said IUP ran its offense through the high post, freeing up opportunities from deep. The Crimson Hawks hit five 3-pointers in the first half, but the Orange got them off their spots in the second. But Boeheim added that the game was “deceptive” since a good team would have still hit their shots from long range. 

Judah’s debut

Jim Boeheim said Mintz is one of the best freshman guards he’s ever welcomed to Syracuse. On Tuesday, Mintz immediately showed his athleticism, leaping up over an IUP defender to secure the opening tip-off. He passed to Edwards, who put SU on the board 34 seconds into the game with a hook shot from the right side. 

Mintz missed his first two shots, slapping his hands together in frustration after each one. He got separation on both, but the ball rattled in-and-out of the basket. 

With four minutes left in the first half, Mintz got on the board. He attacked hard down the right side of the court before planting and leaping up near the paint. His shot bounced off the backboard and fell in, cutting IUP’s lead to two. 

Mintz looked for the same shot a few possessions later, but he was contested and fell to his stomach. And a few minutes later, Mintz was called for an offensive foul after kicking a Crimson Hawk defender on a pull-up. Then, he turned over the ball trying to drive inside. 

But moments before Dave Morris’ half-court buzzer-beating heave gave IUP the lead at half, Mintz hit again from mid-range. He extended his right leg, but this time, he wasn’t called for a foul. 

Boeheim said Mintz “got it going” in the second half as he scored the Orange’s first points in the period on another jumper. Mintz said he learned when to pick his post and a few possessions later, he stopped his tracks and fired from behind the 3-point line. It went in, though the Crimson Hawks still led by two.

“Even though I had a bad first half, my teammates kept telling me to be aggressive,” Mintz said. “Knowing that my coach believes in me as well helps me.”

Benny’s back

Last season, Edwards provided most of the opportunities for second-chance points inside for SU. Playing against a weaker opponent, the rest of Syracuse’s team helped out on the boards as well, mainly Williams, who collected a team-high five rebounds in the first half. Boeheim said Williams is at his best when he’s moving around, making plays on the glass. Williams finished with 15 points. He preferred to work on his own, getting himself briefly isolated from the rest of the offense before driving inside.

Mintz passed to Williams after IUP took a 7-point lead, left wide open on the left wing. Williams never passed back, instead using his footwork to go into a little half-spin before fading backwards and sending the ball to the basket. 

His shot went in and a few possessions later, moments before he recorded his first and only steal of the night, Williams found the bottom of the net from deep.  

New additions

Mintz wasn’t the only freshman in the starting lineup with Bell alongside him. Bell finished 1-for-9 from the field, but Boeheim said he’s a good shooter and on a normal night he would’ve been 6-for-9. 

Bell said the transition into college play doesn’t bring much of a change as it is “just playing basketball” whether it’s pickup or something else. The Orange immediately substituted other freshmen into the game as well, like Quadir Copeland and Maliq Brown. 

Copeland replaced Bell with the rest of the starting rotation in the second half, making a difference defensively as pest, constantly going for steals at the wing to make IUP’s offense uncomfortable. After making a defensive play, Copeland stationed himself on the left baseline before receiving the ball. He pump-faked the 3, taking a few steps in for a long 2, which fell through the net to give Syracuse a six-point lead.   

“He’s a ball-handler and he makes plays, that’s why I like him in the game,” Boeheim said.