Definitely an improvement from the exhibitions, which is great. My big takeaways:
1. It’s nice to have a more athletic team again. I’m not sure how this team will compare to last as the season rolls on, but I think we’d have had a harder time with Lehigh last year simply because of more athletic parity. Long term that’s a big positive.
2. Edwards has to be willing to give up occasional easy buckets to stay out of foul trouble. The drop off after him is so massive (which is more about him being a good player), he’s gotta be on the floor 30+ minutes. I doubt we play man against good teams, in part to protect him.
3. Turnovers will be problematic against better teams.
4. Benny Williams….he can’t have games like that, especially against teams that bad. He should have had a workman’s 10 & 8 just hustling, cutting, being active. It’s gotta click sooner than later for SU, or it’s a problem. Doesn’t have to be a shooter or dynamic wing (and disappointingly, maybe he never will be), just scrappy, athletic, and active.