Florida’s Kenny Boynton hit a 3-pointer from a few feet beyond the arc to put Florida up by three with 9:19 remaining in the second half. Coming down the court, he and teammate Bradley Beal celebrated as the Gators on the bench rose to their feet in excitement.

On Syracuse’s ensuing possession, Brandon Triche nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to even the score. But the SU guard remained emotionless after hitting the big shot in an intense back-and-forth game.

His stoic reaction has been common throughout his career at SU.

‘I’ll get there and be hyped so he can get there like that because he can go into the moment and doze off in games, but he sees me there and I’m clapping,’ point guard Scoop Jardine said. ‘… I’m slapping on the floor, that’s gonna get him going and also does get him going.’

Triche has been among Syracuse’s (8-0) most consistent performers so far this season, but the guard is still gaining confidence in his third year as a starter. He is second on the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game, leading the Orange to victories with his efficient play on offense. Triche and SU will take on Marshall (5-1) in the Carrier Dome at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

In an impressive 72-68 victory over No. 12 Florida on Friday, Triche paced the team with 20 points. He scored 13 in the second half and went 9-of-9 from the free-throw line to help the Orange hold off the Gators late.

He scored on a variety of drives and mid-range jumpers to go with that huge 3 to tie the game.

‘The thing with Brandon is that he’s done that in the past, he’s come in last year, get nothing and then get 15 in the second half,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘I still don’t think he realizes how good he is. I just don’t think he realizes. I don’t think anybody can guard him, and I think he’s a tremendous player.’

Triche displayed his all-around ability throughout the game Friday.

He gave Syracuse its first lead of the game. Triche received the ball on the right wing, put his head down and dribbled a few feet to his left before knocking down the shot over the defender to put the Orange up 18-16 in the first half.

Later, Triche banked a shot in from the left block in traffic after being knocked to the ground by Florida forward Will Yeguete. The Orange guard finished a three-point play with the free throw to put SU up 25-21 with 4:41 left in the half.

Triche said he tries to stay aggressive and confident on the floor every game.

‘I’m trying to get there,’ Triche said. ‘I have to make sure I believe that as well, but it starts every day just make sure you go out there and being comfortable and making sure everybody else knows that as well.’

His confidence shined through when he hit that big 3 to end a Florida run and help SU take control of the game. In a poor shooting half by the Orange, Triche made the first of just two shots from beyond the arc for Syracuse.

That 3-pointer took back the momentum for the Orange and set the stage for Jardine to take over the game in the final eight minutes.

For Kris Joseph, Triche’s offensive production was crucial for his team to get the win. Even though the rest of the Orange struggled to knock down shots, Triche remained confident and kept shooting.

That confidence hasn’t always been there for Triche, but it is something Jardine has noticed he has developed in the last two years.

‘Brandon, he worked hard and that’s how he gained his confidence,’ Jardine said. ‘But the most important thing is I tell him all the time he’s the best player on our team because I know he needs to hear that.’

rjgery@syr.edu 

Published on December 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Ryne: rjgery@syr.edu