One shining moment
After Maryland had cut a 15-point Syracuse lead to seven with 5:11 to go, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim called a 30-second timeout and drew up a play specifically for Gerry McNamara, the sophomore point guard who scored 43 points in Thursday's win over BYU but had only seven in the first 35 minutes Saturday. The play called for forward Hakim Warrick to set a ball screen for McNamara at the top of the key. "We usually set it with our center but when Hakim comes up, [the other team] is not used to him being up there and they're afraid to switch," said Boeheim. Dehydrated, nursing a sore groin, plagued by flypaper defense and burdened with four fouls, McNamara had made just one of six 3-point attempts. But Boeheim was confident. "He never misses that shot," he said. McNamara didn't, hitting only net as he fell backward on the floor to give Syracuse a 10-point lead and a shot of adrenaline.
Player who impressed me
Warrick did everything today but knock down 3-pointers. He set screens, broke Maryland's press on occasion and had his way in the paint, grabbing nine rebounds and scoring a team-high 26 points off dunks, short jumpers and, critically, 10 free throws. In what was, in the early going, a chaotic game with bad passes, fumbles and errant shots, Warrick stood out as a pillar of serenity, calmly taking a few dribbles in the paint to find his spot and then rising above the fray with a high arcing jumper that no one could block. Like McNamara, Warrick had a few signature rally-killing moments, including a final-second dunk (off a McNamara assist) to put Syracuse up 32-22 at the end of the first half.
Courtside confidential
Much of what fiery Maryland coach Gary Williams was telling his players, especially in the first half, might be better left unprinted. But a few Maryland fans took care of working the refs: "Foul!" "He carried the ball!" "Elbow!" and the all-purpose "Boo!" (And that was just in the first six minutes of the game.) When all else failed, they held up professionally printed signs on a stick, allegedly saved from a football bowl game, that read "Bad Call."
Long-term prospects
Syracuse has proved to be resourceful in its first two games. Against BYU, the Orangemen relied on one player, but the win over Maryland was a team effort that pleased Boeheim. "We played as well as we could for long stretches of the game," he said. What's clear is that Syracuse goes as the gutty McNamara goes. Though he played a great game despite scoring just 13 points, he will play even better after a few days rest. Look for Orangemen to get to the Final Four.
