Syracuse Basketball: Frank Howard Cements Starting Role During Win Over Maryland
The Syracuse basketball squad got their biggest win of the season thanks to the phenomenal play from Frank Howard. ITLH breaks it down.
Syracuse basketball guard Frank Howard backed up Michael Gbinije two years ago. After that he lost the starting job to graduate transfer John Gillon. This time around, Howard isn’t letting anyone steal his thunder.
Monday night, the 6-foot-5 Maryland native did it all in Syracuse’s 72-70 win over the Terrapins and has done far more than Jim Boeheim would have ever expected during their 6-0 start to the season.
Going into Monday night’s highly anticipated first game of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, Frank Howard was averaging 15.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, including a 25-point (career high) outburst in Syracuse’s 72-64 win over Toledo on November 22.
It’s safe to say that Howard more than kept it going in Monday night’s win over the Maryland Terrapins. The 205-pound guard played all 40 minutes, scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, dished out a season-high 10 assists, and had a career-high seven steals, five of which came in the first half.
From the get-go, Howard stole ball after ball from a Maryland team that has some of the worst turnover numbers in college hoops.
Howard’s ability to both slow the game down when necessary and score on the run has been key. This season, Howard looks nothing like the mistake-driven point guard we saw in 2015 and 2016.
Howard and star guard Tyus Battle provide Syracuse with lots of length at the top of their 2-3 zone, and it was evident on Monday night. The Syracuse offense came to fruition down the stretch because of their ability to play effective defense without using all of their energy.
With Syracuse down 66-65 with just over a minute to go, Howard came off a high ball screen, dished the ball out to an open Battle, who’s three from the corner gave Syracuse a lead they would not relinquish.
Before that play, Maryland’s Kevin Huerter hit one of his game-high seven three-pointers and took the life out of an Orange-filled Carrier Dome. On the ensuing possession, Howard took the ball up unfazed and found Syracuse’ late-game hero in Battle, who did the rest.
Aside from Andrew White, Syracuse’ limited success in 2016 came from their backcourt of Battle and Gillon. Just three weeks into the season, Howard is already replicating Gillon’s breakout 2016 season, and this Howard-led Syracuse team is well on their way to once again shocking the NCAA come March.
Syracuse missed the 2016 March Madness Tournament because of their unimpressive record in non-conference play. Monday night’s win over Maryland will surely give the Syracuse an edge over other NCAA teams when it comes time for the committee to choose who dances.
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The win over Maryland gives Syracuse plenty of motivation ahead of their stiff matchup against Kansas on Saturday. The Orange are a different team away from the Carrier Dome but may be able to bring back some of their 2003 championship heroics this coming weekend in the Hoophall Miami Invitational against the No. 2 team in the country.