Wanted: reliable scorer and distributor in the paint.

That was the job opening headed into Syracuse’s matchup against Boston College on Wednesday night. Because while junior center Paschal Chukwu has reached double-figures in four of his last eight games, he does not possess the court vision, shooting ability or distribution skill that SU needs out of one of its bigs.

Enter Marek Dolezaj, a freshman forward who displayed Wednesday night why he, not starting forward Matthew Moyer, fits best at the four position for the Orange (14-6, 3-4 Atlantic Coast). In Syracuse’s 81-63 victory over Boston College (13-8, 3-5), a team that beat Duke and Florida State earlier this season, Dolezaj scored a career-high 12 points, while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and charity stripe. He collected a pair of assists and steals over a career-high 35 minutes. Not to mention, he had a game-high eight rebounds.

Yet here’s the thing: none of that was an anomaly. Rather, it was the result of a several-months-long progression in both his shot and ability to create for himself in the paint.

Meanwhile, Moyer, who has started all 20 of SU’s games this season, exited the BC contest about five minutes in with a sprained left ankle. He will be re-evaluated Thursday. His status is unclear, and he could miss significant time, depending on the severity of the sprain. Either way, he had reached double-figures only twice since his 18-point explosion against Connecticut, and he is neither the passer or shooter that is Dolezaj.

When Moyer exited the game Wednesday, the tenor of the Syracuse offense changed. Dolezaj’s entrance coincided with a 36-23 SU run to cap off the first half, including a 13-3 mini run.

“He changed the game,” said junior point guard Frank Howard, who scored 18 points. “With him flashing and cutting, making the hockey assists, I don’t think he gets enough recognition. The little dump-offs, hitting the open guy. He’s a smart player, talented, finding his spots, and he’s being confident.”

Moyer, who stands a solid 6-foot-8, 215 pounds, is a strong defense player, able to stay tall against potent forwards. Yet it’s worth noting he has only five blocks to Dolezaj’s 17 on the season, and they rebound the same. Dolezaj has nearly the triple the number of assists as Moyer.

Part of why Dolezaj struggled to get-going in conference play was a result of more physical defenses, head coach Jim Boeheim said. The difference Wednesday, Boeheim said, was that the Eagles played looser defense on him. But even when faced with physicality, Dolezaj finished on Wednesday. For example, Dolezaj finished a layup to push SU’s lead to nine early in the second half.

“He finished those plays,” Boeheim said. “Early in the year, he bobbled it, missing those. This game he finished those and that’s a big difference.”

Don’t discount Dolezaj for his lack of strength. Boeheim said in November that him being light — he is 6 feet 9 inches but only 180 pounds — does not matter, comparing him to former SU standout and 2005 first-round NBA pick Hakim Warrick. Both were light as freshmen, but that “has nothing to do with it,” Boeheim said, because being thin means being quicker.

There are other encouraging signs, because for Dolezaj, the steep part of the learning curve could be nearing its end. Eric Devendorf, Syracuse’s assistant strength and conditioning coach, said that when Dolezaj is more aggressive and stays firm with the ball in the high post — a position in which SU has produced hardly any offense so far — he can open up space for Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett, Howard and Chukwu.

Boeheim also said in November that Dolezaj’s shooting was “a long ways away.” He didn’t miss a shot Wednesday.

“It’s hard to improve your shooting in one year and he has,” Boeheim said. “His free throw shot, he’s got perfect form. The 15-footer he took, he had really good form with that and he couldn’t do that early in the year. It’s a big part of his game.”

Dolezaj said the SU coaching staff completely changed his shooting form when he arrived on campus. That, he said, contributed to why his shooting mechanics were inconsistent. He has worked at the craft, though, by rising more in his shot, raising his shoulder higher and shooting with only one hand, not two.

Of course, having both Dolezaj and Moyer clicking at the same time would be the perfect scenario. But Moyer’s injury, while likely a minor one, may just have given the keys to a budding Dolezaj.

Published on January 24, 2018 at 10:44 pm