SOUTH BEND, Ind. —  For months, Bourama Sidibe has just wanted the ball. He said before the season that he could be used more on offense. But Sidibe knows that’s not his role in this Syracuse offense, one that relies heavily on the 3-pointer and scores inside sparingly. 

“I usually don’t get the ball,” Sidibe said with a shrug. 

But still, he’s wanted the ball because he believes he can score. If Sidibe could just get the ball on the run, like he used to back in his adolescent days in Spain, maybe he could run the floor. Or if the ball was inserted to him down low, surely Sidibe could finish the layup as he did for years in high school. 

In Wednesday’s win 84-82 win against Notre Dame, Sidibe did what he’s long-said he can. The junior center flashed the offensive prowess he showed in earlier stages of his career. For the seventh time this season, he finished perfect from the field, shooting 6-for-6 while grabbing five rebounds. In Syracuse’s fourth-straight ACC win, the big-man, known best for his hobbling tendonitis and bobbling of passes, dunked the ball in transition and sank a hook shot. It was everything he hasn’t been but could be in one game. 

“If he can get us some points like he did tonight that was big.” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. “He was moving guys were finding him when he was open.” 

Sidibe’s night came four days after Boeheim flashed his finger in Sidibe’s face early in the game against Virginia Tech. Sidibe was responsible for the man in the corner and didn’t get out in time before the Hokies sank a 3-point shot. 

Boeheim’s bench reaming, something seen often throughout the year, was partially taken back when Syracuse watched the game again as a team. Sidibe shouldn’t have been screened. He can’t get screened. But the pass to the corner could’ve been blocked had other SU defenders been in proper spots. So it wasn’t all on the big man. 

But the scene said perhaps more than the play. A Sidibe screw up followed by a Boeheim scowling topped off by fans on the internet. 

“It’s tough,” Sidibe said. “He’s one of the toughest coaches I’ve played for.”

 

Wouldn’t mind seeing him not play ever again at Syracuse. He’s a waste of a scholarship

— Scott Langenfeld (@Scott0909Scott) January 18, 2020

After the Virginia Tech game, Sidibe vowed to be more aggressive. Syracuse assistant coach Allen Griffin told Sidibe the ball couldn’t be on the floor as much. When he catches a rebound, he needed to go up to the hoop with it. Don’t dribble. Don’t pass it outside. That’s when all the trouble happens. Just shoot. 

That’s what Sidibe did. When he caught a pass on the first possession against Notre Dame, he sank a layup. When he bobbled a no-look feed from Joe Girard III, Sidibe dunked it anyway. 

“If I touch it today I’m not going to pass it to nobody,” Sidibe thought to himself. “I’m just going to finish it.”

The 6-foot-10 Sibide likes to catch the ball and turn and attack the hoop with a right-hand hook shot. Throughout practices and sometimes before, he’s worked on the move with Griffin. In his freshman season, when tendonitis hampered his ability to move, Sidibe would just fling the ball at the basket. This year, he’s tried to be more explosive and dunk the ball. 

Therein lies the problem. The dunk was too much. He didn’t need the dribble. Against Notre Dame, the ball didn’t hit the floor, and Sidibe swung his body around to hit a baby hook shot. 

“Take a risk with it,” forward Marek Dolezaj advised Sidibe. “If you get the ball don’t put it down…if you miss you miss, you know? “

Sidibe’s point of demise never came against the Fighting Irish. He lost some battles against Notre Dame’s John Mooney, whom Boeheim likened to a top-25 player nationally but also denied some scoring opportunities. 

It seemed Boeheim directed Sidibe less. Normally, Boeheim’s motioning to him all game, but against the Fighting Irish, the disappointed look came less and less. When Sidibe reached his fourth foul with under 10 minutes remaining in the game, Qunicy Guerrier dropped his towel and looked toward the scorers table. Boeheim motioned him off.

In a situation that’s been a substitution time and time again this season, Boeheim let Sidibe play. 

“When you’re  getting touches around the rim, you’re scoring, you’re going to be motivated yourself and play better defense,” Sidibe said. “But if you’re not getting that sometimes your motivation is going to sink, especially when the coach is yelling at you.” 

Published on January 22, 2020 at 11:00 pm

Contact Josh: jlschafe@syr.edu | @Schafer_44