Syracuse will need a Big 4 with Marek Dolezaj in middle of Duke zone
March Marek Dolezaj bears almost no resemblance to January Marek Dolezaj.
Sure, the Syracuse University forward still stands 6-foot-9. He still weighs somewhere close to 180 pounds. But Dolezaj has ripened on offense for the Orange over these past few games. He's provided a viable alternative to the big three of Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett.
"Our shooting percentages have been way down, but we've managed to offset that with Marek, another option to score," SU assistant coach Gerry McNamara said. "That's what's been the most rewarding part. We've relied on our defense but offensively, it's been a little different face now and then."
Dolezaj might never be more important to the Orange than he will be on Friday night, when SU meets Duke -- and its zone defense -- in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse will likely attempt to get the ball into the middle of the zone to prompt the Blue Devils to shift their defense, to expose it to cracks and crevices. And Dolezaj is the likely middle man.
That middle man needs to be able to accomplish a few things against zones: He needs to convince teams he can make a jump shot inside the free-throw line. He needs the confidence and skill to drive the ball to the basket. And he needs to be able to find open teammates if Duke defenders converge on him.
Dolezaj said Thursday he felt up to the task.
In January, against his first taste of ACC basketball medicine, he played 24 minutes and averaged 3.5 points on 40 percent shooting. In March, he's averaging 10.3 points on 55 percent shooting in 36 minutes. Even accounting for his increased minutes, Dolezaj has made significant offensive strides.
"I feel comfortable every game, more and more," Dolezaj said. "I'm going to try to be aggressive every game. I see a big improvement in myself."
He has focused, these past few days of practice, on what he will be required to do against Duke and its zone. The last time these teams met, in the frenzy of Cameron Indoor Stadium, Dolezaj managed four points (2-of-6) in 34 minutes.
Syracuse forward Marek Dolezaj struggled in the Orange's game against Duke on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
He expects to provide more offensive ammunition this time. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski noted Friday the improved play of Dolezaj and freshman teammate Oshae Brissett, who combined to score a total of 10 points in that Feb. 24 encounter. Syracuse needs Brissett on the perimeter to space the floor against Duke. It needs Dolezaj to read the Duke defense and make plays from the middle of it.
"I'm working on that shot every practice," Dolezaj said. "I didn't shoot any 3s in the practice. Well, OK, a little bit. But most of my shots are from the (free-throw) line. I will try to be aggressive and make some plays from there."
"He's been playing well," Brissett said. "All these games, he's been really key for us, knocking down shots, getting to the basket and just finding his shots. So going forward, he's going to be very important."
Dolezaj said some European teams play zone defenses, but none of those defenses resemble the one he has been asked to execute at Syracuse or the one he will be asked to deconstruct Friday night.
"I had a little bit of experience (with zones), but when I came here, of course, I learned what I must do," he said. "I'm still learning what I must do and how to do it better."
March Marek Dolezaj bears almost no resemblance to January Marek Dolezaj.
Sure, the Syracuse University forward still stands 6-foot-9. He still weighs somewhere close to 180 pounds. But Dolezaj has ripened on offense for the Orange over these past few games. He's provided a viable alternative to the big three of Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett.
"Our shooting percentages have been way down, but we've managed to offset that with Marek, another option to score," SU assistant coach Gerry McNamara said. "That's what's been the most rewarding part. We've relied on our defense but offensively, it's been a little different face now and then."
Dolezaj might never be more important to the Orange than he will be on Friday night, when SU meets Duke -- and its zone defense -- in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Syracuse will likely attempt to get the ball into the middle of the zone to prompt the Blue Devils to shift their defense, to expose it to cracks and crevices. And Dolezaj is the likely middle man.
That middle man needs to be able to accomplish a few things against zones: He needs to convince teams he can make a jump shot inside the free-throw line. He needs the confidence and skill to drive the ball to the basket. And he needs to be able to find open teammates if Duke defenders converge on him.
Dolezaj said Thursday he felt up to the task.
In January, against his first taste of ACC basketball medicine, he played 24 minutes and averaged 3.5 points on 40 percent shooting. In March, he's averaging 10.3 points on 55 percent shooting in 36 minutes. Even accounting for his increased minutes, Dolezaj has made significant offensive strides.
"I feel comfortable every game, more and more," Dolezaj said. "I'm going to try to be aggressive every game. I see a big improvement in myself."
He has focused, these past few days of practice, on what he will be required to do against Duke and its zone. The last time these teams met, in the frenzy of Cameron Indoor Stadium, Dolezaj managed four points (2-of-6) in 34 minutes.
Syracuse forward Marek Dolezaj struggled in the Orange's game against Duke on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
He expects to provide more offensive ammunition this time. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski noted Friday the improved play of Dolezaj and freshman teammate Oshae Brissett, who combined to score a total of 10 points in that Feb. 24 encounter. Syracuse needs Brissett on the perimeter to space the floor against Duke. It needs Dolezaj to read the Duke defense and make plays from the middle of it.
"I'm working on that shot every practice," Dolezaj said. "I didn't shoot any 3s in the practice. Well, OK, a little bit. But most of my shots are from the (free-throw) line. I will try to be aggressive and make some plays from there."
"He's been playing well," Brissett said. "All these games, he's been really key for us, knocking down shots, getting to the basket and just finding his shots. So going forward, he's going to be very important."
Dolezaj said some European teams play zone defenses, but none of those defenses resemble the one he has been asked to execute at Syracuse or the one he will be asked to deconstruct Friday night.
"I had a little bit of experience (with zones), but when I came here, of course, I learned what I must do," he said. "I'm still learning what I must do and how to do it better."
