Trevor Cooney might be the best shooter in the country. But only a year ago, the same 3-point specialist shot just 26.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The difference? Consistent minutes.

That’s what’s been plaguing Syracuse freshman B.J. Johnson, who teammates agree is one of the best shooters on the team.

“B.J., I wouldn’t say he looks very comfortable to me,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said wryly after Syracuse’s 93-65 win over Binghamton on Saturday. “When he makes one, maybe I’ll think he’s making progress.”

Johnson missed all five of his 3-point shots against the Bearcats, lowering his season total to 1-of-12 from deep. While fellow reserve freshmen Ron Patterson and Tyler Roberson showed improvement in SU’s blowout win, Johnson struggled.

Despite shooting between 300 and 400 outside shots every day outside of practice, Johnson said the sweet shooting he’s accomplishing outside of games just isn’t carrying over.

“I think today I felt more competent, more comfortable than I usually do,” Johnson said. “I just wasn’t making shots.”

Cooney said he sympathizes for Johnson. As a redshirt freshman last season, he was unable to find what he called “flow shots” in games.

Cooney said Johnson just has to keep shooting.

“It’s all you can do. It’s just what I did last year, and once you find it, you’ll be fine,” Cooney said. “It’s not something that he should be worried about just because he hasn’t gotten many good flow shots in games. Once he does that, he’ll be fine.”

Sitting by his locker after the game, Johnson was clearly frustrated, but able to look past his woeful performance.

He knows opportunities come few and far between as a freshman on the soon-to-be No. 2 team in the country, and he’s doing everything he can to be ready the next time Boeheim calls his name.

“In practice I’m hitting them,” Johnson said, “so eventually it should carry over.”

Published on December 8, 2013 at 2:49 pm

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