A trip away from the Carrier Dome, it would seem, is the last thing the Syracuse men’s basketball team and its struggling offense needs. After a pair of lackluster offensive performances to open its season, a road game can only further hinder SU’s sulking scoring, right?

Well, maybe not. Several Orangemen feel a change of scenery may be the wake-up call to their slumbering offense. They’ll find out tonight, when Syracuse plays St. Bonaventure in Rochester at Blue Cross Arena at 7.

‘We need this road game to play out of the Dome and see the atmosphere outside of the Dome,’ SU forward Josh Pace said. ‘Hopefully, that can get us going.’

Syracuse needs something to turn around its stagnant offense. Aside from the second half of its season-opening loss to Charlotte – against the 49ers, SU guard Gerry McNamara authored his most Golden performance yet by knocking down seven 3-pointers – the Orangemen have been sluggish on offense.

The problem? Thus far, SU’s offense has had the flow of a clogged drain. Possessions have typically featured a pass followed by little more than standing around.

‘We’re just out of sync on offense,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘The offensive end is going to be a problem for us until we get some continuity in what we’re doing. People are just going to play Gerry all over the court. Other guys are going to get some opportunities because of that. Right now, we’re fighting ourselves trying to find out how.’

On Sunday, Rhode Island’s box-and-one defense particularly flummoxed the Orangemen. While URI guard Dustin Hellenga Velcroed himself to McNamara, the rest of the Rams camped inside and invited Pace and guard Billy Edelin – both of whom made a combined zero 3-pointers last season – to shoot from the outside. By doing so, the Rams took away drives to the lane, the duo’s strength.

Though dumping the ball inside to forward Hakim Warrick – who poured in a career-high 30 points – worked against URI, SU can’t depend on Warrick to produce so effectively every game.

‘If they play those junk defenses, we just have to keep moving the ball,’ Pace said. ‘If we move the ball, they can’t play box-and-one the whole 35 seconds without making a mistake. We just have to keep moving the ball and screening for Gerry, and the shots will come.’

‘It just takes time,’ McNamara said. ‘Even last year early in the season it was difficult. Right now we’re not moving well. The ball is passed, and everyone stands around. I’m sure coach will devise some scheme that will get us moving a little bit.’

If that doesn’t spark SU’s offense, perhaps playing in a different arena will.

‘It’ll be good to get out of here for a while,’ McNamara said Sunday in SU’s Carrier Dome locker room.

If a change in venue can’t help, the opponent might. St. Bonaventure (2-1) infamously ended last season by refusing to play its final two games after the NCAA leveled a no-postseason punishment after academic wrongdoing was discovered. The Bonnies are still feeling the effects.

St. Bonaventure’s second leading scorer from a year ago, Mike Gansey, transferred, and top recruit Patrick Tatham backed out of his written commitment. The Bonnies have played this season with only eight scholarship players and a new coach, Anthony Solomon.

But, as the Orangemen discovered in their first two games, last year’s accolades mean nothing. Every opponent, no matter how innocuous it seems, will be a challenge.

‘Our overall effort level is too low,’ Forth said. ‘St. Bonaventure is going to give us a battle. Wear knee pads or elbow pads if you’re afraid of hitting the floor hard, but you’ve got to get on the floor. If we don’t pick up our effort level, St. Bonaventure is going to wipe us out of the gym.’

Published on December 2, 2003 at 12:00 pm