Ahead of the start of Syracuse’s run in the ACC Tournament as the Orange try to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, Maliq Brown is being highlighted as one of the key features of an SU team that has overachieved and is a couple positions away from being in position for the tournament.
On Monday morning, Donna Ditota of syracuse.com put out a big story on Brown’s impact on Syracuse and against ACC opponents. So, here are a few things that coaches around the league had to say about the Orange’s starting big man.
Syracuse assistant coach Brenden Straughn
“The guys respect him,” Straughn said via syracuse.com. “They know what he does. He comes to work every day and gives it all he’s got. He’s more of the stability or the calming influence on the group than some of the other guys with a lot more personality.”
“He can help us even more than what he’s doing. That’s the gift and the curse because he’s already doing so much,” Straughn said via syracuse.com. “This guy’s playing 35 minutes. He’s stepping out on every ball screen. And on offense he’s rolling on every ball screen… Hopefully, he’s not wearing down. He does sometimes leave you wanting, like ‘Maliq, I think you can go and score that.’ But then you keep in mind he’s playing 35 minutes.”
SU head coach Adrian Autry
“He’s made really good decisions when he’s had the ball in his hands, as far as making the reads in pick and rolls. He’s done a really good job of that and being opportunistic,” Autry said via syracuse.com. “I still think he can do a little bit more. He can be a little bit more aggressive.”
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young
“Maliq Brown is really coming on for them,” Young said via syracuse.com. “I’ve done this a long time. He is disruptive defensively. I just watched another game this morning. I think Maliq Brown had 12 deflections himself. And we’ve spent an inordinate amount of time on what we can run to not involve him.”
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell
“I think he’s one of the more underrated good players in our league,” Brownell said via syracuse.com. “I just love the way he plays on both ends of the floor.
It’s quite evident what people close to Brown and those who only see him a couple of times a year think about the sophomore’s impact on Syracuse. It’s not a surprise to see him on the All-ACC Defensive team. For SU to keep building into the future, it needs Brown around in whatever role it needs him to play, and get more players to buy into his mindset and work ethic.
