BUFFALO, N.Y. – Greg Paulus unveiled his new Niagara Purple Eagles to the world with a strong effort against Syracuse on Saturday. Niagara lost 71-58 but came back from down 17 points in the first half to make the game interesting throughout the second.
It was a dress-rehearsal effort that provided plenty of questions about Syracuse – led by reigning MAAC Champion head coach Gerry McNamara – but also answered a few key ones about the Purple Eagles. Here are a few Niagara takeaways.
Over the last few years, Niagara's starting lineup has been difficult to predict in the preseason because the team has had so many new players. This year was no different. The team's international flair was on display from the moment the first five dropped on live stats. Each of Niagara's starters hails from a different country.
Freshman Ruey Ruey represents Canada. Big man Fidel Rotta comes from Argentina. Fresno State transfer guard Bastien Rieber is French. And starting point guard Samuele Miccoli is one of three Italians on the roster.
The lone American starter, veteran Wright State transfer Logan Woods, says that integrating the international players into the American game has been a team effort.
"We just brought them in like family," Woods said after the game. "The whole team helped us help them adjust to it. We just go at each other every day (in practice)."
However, that starting lineup didn't start the game particularly well. Niagara was stuck at four points until around the eight-minute mark of the first half. Miccoli was doing a fine job getting into the lane, but had a few panic moments and bad shots once he got inside early. He finished with four turnovers and just one assist on 3-for-9 from the field. He should be a fun player to keep an eye on throughout the season, though.
Woods drilled back-to-back threes in the first half to cut the Syracuse lead from 17 down to 11, and it settled the Purple Eagles down. Woods is one of a few veteran transfers on this Niagara team, but his experience playing for a winning Wright State outfit in the Horizon League has been important in translating over.
"I thought the first couple of shots he hit there allowed us to take a deep breath," Paulus said.
He's taken on a leadership role on and off the court for Niagara.
"(I've been) speaking up in huddles, speaking up in meetings," Woods said. "If I see something that one of my teammates is doing wrong, I pull them to the side and let them know how to fix it."
"He's made big plays," Paulus said. "He's been part of championships. So for him, his ability to lead in that way is something that I think has allowed us to settle in a little bit more and a little bit quicker."
Woods played a team-high 33 minutes and scored a team-high 12 points.
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Argentine big man Fidel Rotta won't be facing Syracuse's length and athleticism most of the year. The 6-foot-9, 18-year-old went just 2-for-9 from the field but had some moments of intrigue. In the late stages of the first half, he proved that teams will have to worry about him as a pick-and-pop threat, drilling a top-of-the-key triple. Most of his day was categorized though, by a struggle to fight for positioning in the post.
"It's a great opportunity for him to learn," Paulus said. "If (he's) playing against this type of team, here's how we can attack it and adjust to it."
He's a huge key for Niagara's season, as he profiles as a true five man who can impact the game on the glass and down low.
However, he grabbed just two rebounds against Syracuse. The Orange dominated on the glass, 43-24, on the afternoon. Paulus gave short shifts to Brian Angeletti and Daniel Emokhare as well, two more athletic forwards. Vukasin Todorovic didn't score in 16 minutes, but the Purple Eagles were plus-six in his minutes.
Freshman Ruey Ruey has a high ceiling. He's super thin, but a big-time athlete who scored in bunches at the prep level last year. He's going to have to earn his on-ball reps through mastery of the off-ball game. In the first half, Paulus was frustrated when Ruey dribbled the ball up the floor off a rebound instead of passing to a point guard and sprinting to try to get ahead of the pack.
He finished with just two points on one shot, a layup in the first half coming off a line drive, but added in three assists and six rebounds.
Meanwhile, Tae Blackshear, a veteran transfer from Youngstown State, drilled a three in the second half and provided some solid energy over his 15 minutes of action.
Cole Farrell was the most impressive non-Woods wing. He played 22 minutes and scored 10 points, playing some strong defense and creating a few energy plays. He had a huge and-1 late in the game. Farrell started every game for Long Beach State last year, but I actually liked him a lot in this bench role giving energy and playing physical on defense.
Finally, Noah Slingerland, who profiles as more of a power forward than a wing, is currently dealing with a lower-body injury with no timetable on his return.
Niagara opens the season against West Virginia on Nov. 2.
