Syracuse (17-9, 8-5 Atlantic Coast) captured its best win of the season on Wednesday, beating No. 12 Louisville (20-6, 8-5) 69-59 in the Carrier Dome.

Here are three quick observations from the game.

1. Heavyweight 

After faltering against Duke’s Jahlil Okafor on Saturday, Rakeem Christmas reverted back to his usual self against Montrezl Harrell, another big man who has lit up the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

Harrell busted out of the gates with six early points, but it was Christmas who sustained offensive success for 40 minutes. Christmas finished with a game-high 29 points while making nine of his 10 shot attempts, and Harrell — who finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and four fouls — couldn’t quite keep up with the most efficient performance of the senior’s dominant season.

2. Matching game 

Whether or not Syracuse’s shooters have shot the ball well this season, they’ve never had too much trouble finding shots. But Louisville’s match-up 2-3 zone wiped the perimeter threats out of the game and forced the Orange to look into the high post to set up Christmas on the block.

SU was still able to find open 3s here and there, but the quick-sliding zone mostly changed the Orange’s point of attack. Taking away the 3-point line forced Tyler Roberson to make plays out of the high post to free up Christmas, and Roberson’s facilitation was enough to spark the SU offense throughout the game.

3. The drought continues

Trevor Cooney has been misfiring from 3 as of late, and that trend rolled along against the Cardinals.

Cooney finished 1-for-10 with three points, and spoiled multiple chances to light up the Dome crowd with an open 3. But that game-changing shot never came from the junior. And when he missed a layup in traffic around the 12-minute mark of the second, it was clear that Wednesday just wasn’t his night.

But even with another slow game, Cooney’s teammates were there to pick him up on the offensive end.

Published on February 18, 2015 at 9:08 pm