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Syracuse's Malachi Richardson with a 3-point shot attempt in first half action in the exhibition game at the Carrier Dome. Nov. 2, 2015. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
(Dennis Nett)
Syracuse, N.Y. — For Malachi Richardson, the nerves were normal. Every game he plays, he said, includes the jangly energy of anticipation.
"I woke up this morning like 'Man, I have my first college game today,'" the Syracuse basketball freshman said Monday night in the Orange locker room.
Richardson, who started Monday's exhibition game against Le Moyne College, stealthily concealed those anxieties. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward scored 11 first-half points. He sank half of the six 3-pointers he attempted. He grabbed four rebounds in the first 20 minutes. And he played with the healthy confidence of SU's sole 2015 McDonald's All-American.
His classmates also impressed the visiting coach.
"Syracuse is a very talented team," Le Moyne's Patrick Beilein said. "I love their freshmen."
There was a lot to appreciate from the rookies Monday night in Syracuse's methodical 97-58 victory over the Division II Dolphins. Richardson finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, an assist and two steals in 23 minutes. Frank Howard scored 10 points in 15 minutes and contributed three assists and three steals. Tyler Lydon scored six points, grabbed six rebounds (five on the offensive end), contributed three assists and three blocked shots in 22 minutes.
"Malachi had a nice run there in the first half. In a normal situation, I wouldn't have taken him out at that stage," SU coach Jim Boeheim said. "I thought Frank was good, Malachi good. I thought Tyler was really active. That's what he does. He's not quite strong enough yet, but he gets to balls. He gets to them, tips them. I thought they all were good."
Richardson's seven rebounds were something of a revelation, considering he has played mostly the guard position. He showed the ability to push the ball off those defensive boards, to lead the Orange fast break. His shooting stroke earned Richardson the most acclaim coming from Trenton Catholic. And there he was Monday night, pulling the trigger on open 3-pointers and watching as they splashed through the net.
After sinking his third three of the first half, Richardson strolled down the sideline and performed a little happy dance.
"That was just me showing my emotions a little bit after knocking a couple shots down," Richardson said later with a big, wide smile. "It was just fun for me. I had a lot of fun today."
Syracuse's Frank Howard drives baseline in the second half against LeMoyne in an exhibition game at the Carrier Dome, Nov. 2, 2015. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Syracuse's Tyler Lydon on defense in the second half against LeMoyne in an exhibition game at the Carrier Dome, Nov. 2, 2015. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
So did Howard and Lydon.
Howard split duties at point guard and shooting guard. At 6-foot-5, he can see over defenses and direct the ball to places where teammates can score. He talked afterward about the chemistry developing between SU's four interchangeable guards. He talked about learning from his mistakes on Monday. He talked about the way he eased himself into the game.
"I just made sure I found my spots," Howard said. "That's the main thing I was dealing with, where I could fit in during the game, what parts of the game I could take advantage of. It took me like a minute, two minutes to think about that, to feel my way through, try to get comfortable."
Lydon, the 6-foot-9 forward, was a springy, sprawling bolt of energy Monday night. Blessed with a sweet shooting stroke, he sank just 1-of-5 on Monday night. He confessed to a bout with nerves. He did not, he said, "play as well as I wanted to." But he provided evidence of why USA Basketball selected him to its 2014 U18 National Team.
"I just try to do whatever I can," Lydon said. "I just try to do all the little stuff. That's some of the best parts of the game. It's a lot of fun for me just diving on loose balls or getting rebounds. I might be kind of weird to say, but I almost enjoy getting hit sometimes. It keeps me motivated, keeps me wanting to get the ball. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help this team."
All was not perfect for Syracuse's trio of young prospects. Richardson worried about his defensive deficiencies, something he will concentrate on this week of SU practice. Jim Boeheim wants Howard (and Kaleb Joseph) to improve at denying guard penetration at the top of the zone. And Lydon will shoot the ball better.
But Syracuse's rookie crop provided a promising glimpse of what they might provide the Orange this season.