For Brandon Triche, playing defense isn’t typically his favorite part of a basketball game. It lacks the glamour of a dunk or the satisfaction of a critical 3-pointer.

But when it’s done well, it’s pivotal to the outcome of a game. And that’s when it becomes enjoyable.

‘Playing defense in general is not the most fun thing,’ Triche said. ‘But when it’s working and we’re getting steals, it makes everybody want to make that defensive play to help the team.

‘Just getting steals makes it that much fun to play defense.’

If that’s the case, Syracuse had a lot of fun against Marshall on Tuesday, particularly in the first half. Though both teams struggled offensively, the Orange managed to build a double-digit lead before halftime thanks mostly to 10 first-half steals. That cushion allowed No. 3 SU (9-0) to hang on for a 62-56 win over the Thundering Herd (5-2) in front of 19,817 at the Carrier Dome. Marshall finished the game with 19 turnovers — 12 of them steals by the Orange, which entered the game leading the country with 12.5 steals per game.

‘This year, we’ve been a little bit more active,’ head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘I think maybe just the comfort level of guys being in the defense for a while now. I just think that we’re more active. We cover areas better. I think our zone is better than it’s been.’

Both Syracuse and Marshall opened with a horrid stretch on the offensive end. The teams combined for just nine field goals through the first 10 minutes of action. But that’s when the Thundering Herd started to cough the ball up.

It began with Orange guard Scoop Jardine deflecting a pass near the top of the key and chasing it down on the sideline. He saved it from going out of bounds by tossing it back to Dion Waiters near half court. Waiters then drove all the way to the rim for a layup on the break.

‘I kind of know where to cheat and get steals,’ Jardine said. ‘I know how to pressure a guy to pressure him into getting steals. I know where to take him so we can get traps. I’ve been here a long time and knowing that, we just have to stay active.’

Waiters’ bucket put the SU lead at 16-8 to start the game’s decisive stretch. Two possessions later, James Southerland picked off a pass and Triche scored on the other end with a nice hesitation dribble to get to the rim. Triche then got another steal for a breakaway layup and added a third easy basket on the next possession after reaching around Marshall guard Shaquille Johnson to poke the ball away from behind.

Thundering Herd head coach Tom Herrion called a timeout after Triche’s third lay-in, but it didn’t stop the Orange. Johnson lost the ball up top when play resumed, and Triche found Waiters streaking toward the rim. He hit him in stride with a pass, and Waiters finished with a tomahawk slam.

‘A lot of times, we’re reading the other team well and we’re trapping,’ Triche said. ‘We’ve got a lot of long guys, so passes are going to be difficult. We’re just able to retrieve loose balls.’

That spurt was part of a 17-4 run that put Syracuse in front 28-12 with five minutes left in the first half. But the Thundering Herd managed to stay within striking distance throughout the second half by holding onto the ball and dominating the offensive glass.

SU only forced two steals after halftime, and Marshall gave the Orange a scare when it finally started hitting 3-pointers after beginning the game 0-for-16 from deep.

‘Teams generally get used to playing against whatever defense you play and get going a little bit better in the second half,’ Boeheim said. ‘Normally, your offense gets going better in the second half.’

But although the Thundering Herd did manage to cut into the deficit and close the gap to six, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Orange’s first-half performance on the defensive end.

‘We got a lot of steals early, got the momentum and I think we played a great game on defense,’ Waiters said. ‘We only can pick it up and get better from there.’

zjbrown@syr.edu

Published on December 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm