Le Moyne, a Division-II team with no player taller than 6 feet, 7 inches, didn’t provide much of a barometer for Syracuse in its first of two preseason exhibitions. That much is evidenced by the final score, a lopsided 97-58 win for the Orange that had the walk-ons mopping the floor as the game clock expired.

But it still was the first look at SU and there were small things to pick up on with the season opener against Lehigh 11 days away. Here are a few things we learned in the Carrier Dome on Monday night, even if the Dolphins were a less-than-formidable first test.

1. At least for now, Michael Gbinije is Syracuse’s starting point guard

Even after CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported that Gbinije would start at the point over sophomore Kaleb Joseph, SU head coach Jim Boeheim coyly said he hadn’t made a definitive decision.

But Gbinije started alongside Trevor Cooney in the backcourt against Le Moyne, and finished with a game-high 21 points while shooting 5-of-10 from 3. When Joseph subbed in, both players handled the ball and Gbinije got more opportunities off the ball. He even played some small forward in the Orange’s small, three-forward lineup in the second half, but still quarterbacked the offense on a handful of possessions.

“I like the way that Mike took charge tonight,” Boeheim said after the game. “He was really, really good tonight.”

Joseph turned in an up-and-down performance, scoring 11 points in 16 minutes and shooting a team-worst 4-of-12 from the field. The highlight of his night was hitting back-to-back 3s in the second half. The lowlight of his night was getting pulled for an illegal screen and getting an earful from Boeheim as he walked to the bench.

2. In Malachi Richardson, Syracuse has another capable ball handler

Richardson, a freshman, started at small forward and finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. But outside of his encouraging stat line, he showed that he can push the ball off defensive rebounds and set up the Orange offense, even if he’s not considered one of the team’s “primary” ball-handlers.

“If he can get a rebound, long rebound in certain situations he can,” Boeheim said. “… He can push it down. He’s got good ball-handling skills.”

Just 1:37 into his college career, Richardson grabbed a weak-side defensive rebound and started Syracuse’s fast break down the left side of the court. He hit Tyler Roberson posting up in the paint and Roberson quickly found Gbinije for a wide-open 3 at the top of the key. Later in the half, Richardson made the exact same run up the court before calling up Roberson for an on-ball screen.

His mid-range shot rolled off the rim, but the ability to jumpstart the break and exploit an unset is a very usable tool for a more-than-capable shooter.

“Obviously I’m a guard so I can handle the ball,” Richardson said. “If I get a rebound everyone knows I can push the ball down the floor and get the break started.”

3. Chinonso Obokoh is still very much a work in progress

Of the nine payers expected to be in Boeheim’s rotation this season, Obokoh was the only one to play less than 15 minutes.

Obokoh — starting his second active season with Syracuse — finished with zero points, zero rebounds, two steals, a block and three fouls in 11 minutes off the bench. He’s the Orange’s backup center behind junior DaJuan Coleman, but his performance Monday did not inspire confidence that SU will have depth at center this season.

Coleman is coming off two knee surgeries and hasn’t played in a game since Jan. 7, 2014. He won’t be able to play the same kind of minutes that Rakeem Christmas did last season, which bought Obokoh some time to develop before jumping into the fire. But now he’ll likely be called upon to spell Coleman, and he doesn’t look quite ready to be effective on either end of the floor.

Boeheim also used a three-forward frontcourt in the first and second half against the Dolphins. It mostly featured 6-foot-8 freshman Tyler Lydon at center and the 6-foot-8 Roberson at power forward. At one point in the second half, the lineup was even smaller with Gbinije at power forward and 6-foot-6 freshman Richardson playing small forward, where he started.

Boeheim said he’ll use the three-forward lineup this season, which would give Obokoh even more time. Right now it looks like he’ll need it.

Published on November 2, 2015 at 11:14 pm