Syracuse Basketball: Alan Griffin, Quincy Guerrier key to beating Houston

Earlier in the 2020-21 season, Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim was not shy in calling out the defense of his forwards, with that criticism primarily directed at junior Alan Griffin and sophomore Quincy Guerrier.

Both of those players, and the team as a whole, have fared better in the 2-3 zone of late, but the No. 11 seed Orange needs strong performances from Griffin and Guerrier if it wants to stun No. 2 seed Houston on Saturday night in the Sweet 16.

In the ‘Cuse wins over No. 6 seed San Diego State and No. 3 seed West Virginia so far in the 2021 Big Dance, Griffin unfortunately has really struggled. Guerrier wasn’t great versus San Diego State, although he did have a solid output against West Virginia.

The Cougars (26-3) are one of the most efficient squads around the country on offense and defense. They are also one of the nation’s top groups as it pertains to offensive rebounds a game as well as overall rebounding margin per contest.

To succeed versus Houston, Syracuse basketball (18-9) really has to crash the defensive glass effectively and not allow the Cougars to obtain a lot of second-chance points.

That, in turn, means that guys such as Griffin, Guerrier, senior power forward/center Marek Dolezaj, redshirt sophomore forward Robert Braswell and sophomore center Jesse Edwards will prove vital in the rebounding arena. They have to avoid foul trouble and hold their own on the boards.

Syracuse basketball needs Alan Griffin and Quincy Guerrier to thrive versus Houston.

Not only must Griffin and Guerrier do their part on the defensive end, but they also have to produce some scoring for the Orange against a stingy Cougars defense.

Junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and sophomore point guard Joe Girard III are competing at an ultra-high level in March Madness, but it’s certainly conceivable that one or both of them could have an off-shooting night versus Houston.

Griffin, if he can drive the lane and focus on taking 3-point shots that are good looks, will be critical for the ‘Cuse offense. He also has to stop dribbling so much around the perimeter, which decreases the team’s ball movement.

And Guerrier, the Orange’s most physical player, is at his best grabbing offensive rebounds, finishing around the rim, and getting to the charity stripe.

Stellar performances from Griffin and Guerrier, on each end of the floor, is a recipe for Syracuse basketball to conquer the Cougars and advance to the Elite Eight.