Rautins continues hot shooting, scores season-high 28 in win over Providence
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Perhaps it’s because his defensive play has been second-to-none on the team or because his passing has created countless scoring options. Either way, Andy Rautins senses that people don’t remember he can score 28 points and hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer like he did against Providence Tuesday night.
‘I guess I’m getting pretty lucky,’ Rautins said. ‘I think people forget that I can shoot the ball, and just because I don’t make eight 3s a game doesn’t mean I’m not capable. I’m doing whatever it takes to help my team win, and if that means taking more shots and stay(ing) aggressive, then that’s what I’ll do.’
Rautins scored a season-high 28 points in the Orange’s (26-2, 13-2 Big East) 99-85 win against Providence at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Tuesday night. Rautins has hit 13 of his last 21 3-point shots and is shooting 16-of-27 (59.3 percent) from the field in that two-game stretch. His 54 points over the last two games is his second-highest total ever in back-to-back games.
After tattooing Georgetown for 26 points in Thursday night’s victory, Rautins didn’t miss a beat against Providence (12-15, 4-1). He shot 10-of-16 from the field and 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. He was able to find open shots both from his teammates’ great passing and his ability to find the slightest bit of separation.
Rautins said the team penetrated into Providence’s zone well, getting the ball into the high post and then kicking the ball out to the guards. He said working the zone well translated into open looks, which he was able to take advantage of. His teammates also did a good job of finding him off screens or movement when he found space between his defender.
On his own, he knocked down several open 3-point jumpers, including a huge 3 in transition that almost ended any chance of a Providence comeback by ballooning Syracuse’s lead from 79-68 to 82-68 with 7:31 remaining. His long-range 3 at the end of the half also sliced what would’ve been an eight-point Providence lead to just five after 20 minutes.
Said Rautins: ‘I’m just staying aggressive and looking for a shot.’
Jardine’s the setup man
Scoop Jardine has drawn the ire of head coach Jim Boeheim plenty this season. His free-wheeling style often leads to a place on the bench. But Jardine knows what will keep him on the court.
It’s simple. When Rautins is hot, feed him.
‘When you have a guy that’s making shots like that, if you don’t find him you’re coming out,’ Jardine said. ‘So I’m going to do my job of finding him.’
After barely seeing the court at all against Georgetown, Jardine was solid in 22 minutes Tuesday night. He scored eight points and dished out four assists with only one turnover. When Rautins got into a groove, Jardine made it a point to find him.
Like so many times this season, SU split duties at point guard. Brandon Triche scored six points with four assists in 18 minutes. Boeheim praised his team’s unselfishness after the game. Several times, the Orange made an extra pass to find the open man. As a team, Syracuse finished with 23 assists.
Jardine was the primary point man when the Orange pulled away in the second half.
‘Scoop did a really good job of getting the ball to Andy and running the offense,’ Boeheim said.
Big East tournament update
Syracuse clinched a double-bye in the Big East tournament with its win over Providence Tuesday night. This means Syracuse will not play until Thursday in the quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden.
‘We don’t really think about that,’ Boeheim said. ‘We’re just glad we’re not on the bubble for the eighth year in a row.’
With three games left and a 13-2 mark in the conference, Syracuse has guaranteed itself at least a top-three seed in the tournament as it holds a tiebreaker over West Virginia. The Mountaineers will only finish with 13 conference wins if they win out.
If Syracuse defeats Villanova and then either St. John’s or Louisville, the Orange will clinch the top overall seed in the conference tournament and win the regular-season title. If it loses to Villanova, the Wildcats will win the top seed in the conference tournament by simply winning out, provided the team beats South Florida Wednesday.
Pittsburgh can still earn the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament by finishing 4-0 to end the season, and if Syracuse loses two of its next three games and Villanova falters once. The Panthers hold the tiebreaker over both teams and have a relatively easy schedule the rest of the way.
Published on February 23, 2010 at 12:00 pm
