Syracuse Basketball: 2017-18 Season Report Card
A+. . Forward. Syracuse Orange. MAREK DOLEZAJ
Our first A+ of the report card goes outside of the United States. I’m sure mama Dolezaj will put it up on her Slovkian refrigerator. Now I’m not sure what reactions this grade is going to get, but let me explain.
Dolezaj wasn’t only adapting to the Syracuse basketball team, let’s be honest, he was adapting to America. Hardly an easy transition for anyone, let alone a player doing that when no one else speaks the same language.
Dolezaj was understandably timid when the season first started, but he slowly and methodically worked his way into the dynamic of this team. He developed his shot and that proved to be the difference maker during the season.
He had two performances that deserve recognition here. The Wake Forest game where he scored 20 points and led the team literally came out of no where. If you would’ve combined his previous four games to that point you wouldn’t have gotten 20, but he found a way. Also his performance in the round of 64 (before fouling out) vs TCU was the stuff of legend. Without him SU would’ve been done right there. He’s got a bright future as a four-year player at Syracuse.