Brittney Sykes is serious about her commitment to improving her game as Big East play nears.

With a month without classes and 24-hour gym access, she plans to use the extra time to her advantage. All 24 hours, if need be.

“I can come in at two in the morning,” Sykes said. “Shoot if I want to, go to sleep. Wake back up, shoot some more.”

As one of three freshman starters for SU, Sykes has played an important role in the Orange’s hot start as it prepares to face Binghamton on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Through 10 games, Sykes averages 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 18.5 minutes. Last Saturday against Loyola, the Newark, N.J. product had 15 points, her season high.

It hasn’t been easy at times, though. Before the Loyola game, Sykes had a three-game stretch with a total of nine points, despite playing double-digit minutes in each game. Sykes went 3-for-14 from the field during the stretch, including a 0-for-4 performance against Wagner in a game where she committed five turnovers.

Sykes admits that she gets down on herself when she struggles, and she knows that building her mental toughness is crucial to overcoming the inevitable mistakes that come in a basketball game.

“I can’t play frustrated,” Sykes said. “I get frustrated so easily with myself, so to let things go and have a short-term memory is really key. Everyone on the bench is always telling me, ‘Brittney, have a short-term memory.’”

For senior center Kayla Alexander, Sykes’ natural talent and basketball instinct has been present ever since the team started practice. In drills and scrimmages, Sykes performs well and excels offensively in a variety of facets.

Even if the skill hasn’t fully shown yet on game day, Alexander is confident that it will soon.

“I know Britt, she’s such a talented player.” Alexander said. “You can see it every day in practice; she’s so athletic, she can score inside and outside. She can knock down the three, she can attack the rim. I know it’s going to carry over to the court eventually.”

After the suspect performance against Wagner, Sykes turned it around quickly in her 15-point, three-assist effort against Loyola, where she had only one turnover.

Sykes demonstrated leadership and confidence throughout the game, and it translated to the score sheet, Alexander said.

“I feel like a big thing for her is just getting her confidence back,” Alexander said. “I think that was a big part of it (her struggles). Last game, I definitely saw her getting her confidence back, and we’re going to need her to continue to play like that. Because I know she’s capable of that, and even more.”

Sykes agreed with Alexander’s assessment, also feeling that she stayed patient against Loyola and let the game come to her, rather than trying to force plays that weren’t there.

“I just played,” Sykes said. “I didn’t think about anything, I finally just went out there and did what I do best, and that’s score. For me, to see the ball go in the basket early on in the game really was a big confidence booster.”

Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman knows the risk associated with entrusting his freshmen with so much playing time. With Big East competition looming, the first-years will need to be ready for a level of play unlike anything they have ever experienced.

There’s no substitute for in-game experience, and the small adjustments learned along the way will aid Sykes’ development as the season progresses, Hillsman said.

“Just adjusting, that’s the biggest thing for her,” Hillsman said. “When you’re a freshman, you have to learn how to play college basketball, no matter what kind of high school player you were. The game’s faster. The players are a lot stronger, and as athletic as she is.”

With just one game in a 15-day span after facing Binghamton, and the relief from classes, Sykes will have plenty of time to hit the gym and work on her shooting, along with the other little things that have been setting her back.

She looks forward to it.

“When you shoot, you’ve got to put in work to shoot,” Sykes said. “It doesn’t come overnight.”

Published on December 15, 2012 at 10:36 am

Contact Kevin: kmprisei@syr.edu