Basketball team opens season with exhibition victory over Kutztown U.

The Syracuse University basketball team played its first exhibition game of the season last night and defeated Kutztown University 96-60.

Coach Boeheim clearly wanted to use the exhibition as a way to evaluate his younger players in a “real game” situation.  The freshman and sophomores played early and often, mostly together as a unit, and performed very well…albeit against a way overmatched opponent. 

Some observations:

*Rick Jackson looks great.  He must have lost at least 15 lbs. and it was obvious that the weight loss has him playing at a much quicker speed. 

*It comes as no surprise, but Fab Melo is going to be a dominating big man.  It’s hard not to be impressed with a 7-foot 260 lb. center who can steal the ball at the foul line, and then dribble his way down to the other end of the court for a dunk.  He’s a very big man, he can move, he can pass, and he has great hands.  Wow.

*Mookie Jones has the ability to shoot the lights out from anywhere on the court.  He’s proven that.  The important thing for him is learn better shot selection.  He hoisted 2 or 3 bad shots last night that would have earned him a seat next to Coach B if this were a meaningful game.

*James Southerland is my pick for “Breakout Player of the Year.”  The guy is 6-8 and is considered to be the best athlete on a team that is filled with great athletes.  He is also considered to be one of the better shooters on the team.  And if that weren’t enough, he is a solid rebounder AND even saw a few minutes last night at POINT GUARD.   

*C.J. Fair had 14 points and 6 boards.  Not a bad debut.  This kid looks like a prototypical small forward for the Syracuse program.  He is really smooth on the court and his athleticism makes his dribble penetration, rebounding and defense seem effortless.

*Baye Moussa Keita may have impressed me more than any other new player last night – considering my low expectations for him coming into the season.  Don’t be fooled by his rail thin physique.  This kid is no project.  Keita finished the game with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks and showed that he can run the floor and catch the ball extremely well.  He is athletic and very coordinated for a freshman big man.  That being said, he will have a great deal of difficulty matching up against other big men.  It’s a shame that he’ll be thrust into action before he is physically ready (due to DaShonte Riley’s season ending injury), but he does have a lot of ability.

*Dion Waiters didn’t have a great night.  He had 5 assists, but he did not look particularly comfortable on the court and shot only 3-for-9 from the field.  Let’s chalk it up to first game jitters.  There’s little doubt that he will develop into a huge weapon coming off the bench.

*Syracuse was 13-for-13 from the foul line.  It bodes well for the future that ALL of the young players – including big men, Fab Melo and Moussa Keita – seem to have nice strokes from the line.  This actually has the makings of a very good free throw shooting team.  When was the last time that you could say that?