For it only being the second game of the season, tonight’s game between Syracuse and Colgate feels big. The Orange barely escaped in their opener against LeMoyne. And Colgate’s had SU’s number as of recently, winning two of the past three meetings.
Despite this, the Raiders are not as strong this year. Colgate lost its three top scorers and didn’t get any reinforcements in the portal.
But someone has had to step up for Colgate. Here are three players to watch for the Raiders tonight:
It’s not everyday a player leads the team in points, rebounds and assists. But that’s exactly what Woodward is doing through the first two games of the season.
The fifth-year has averaged just seven points per game across his career, but that number this year is 15.5. He’s putting up seven rebounds and 4.5 assists a game along with that.
The forward’s emergence really came last year, when he had 18 starts. And when it mattered most, he stepped up, being named to the Patriot League All-Tournament team.
#5 Nicolas Louis-Jacques
The senior is back in a starting role this year after starting the first 20 games of last season. And he’s making the most of his return to the top.
Louis-Jacques had 21 points in a season opening win over Canton and is averaging 13.5 PPG through two contests. The Raiders needed someone to step up when Braeden Smith departed to Gonzaga, and Louis-Jacques has helped with that, along with…
#3 Jalen Cox
The sophomore guard came into his own during the second half of last year, starting the final 15 games of the season.
With some time under the belt, Cox has been off to a solid offensive start. The guard is averaging a respectable 9.5 points a game.
But defense is where the LA native has really shined. Through just two games, Cox already has seven steals, including an impressive 13 point, five rebound, four steal performance in his last time out against Drexel.
