The six guards Syracuse rotated in its season-opening win against Rhode Island wasn’t a mirage. It wasn’t an experiment by head coach Quentin Hillsman to give every player time on the court early in the season. It wasn’t an accident.

It’s an indication of what’s to come this season for the Orange.

A style of play predicated on quickness and aggressive pressing lends itself to fatigue, and SU rolled out guards Brittney Sykes, Brianna Butler, Alexis Peterson, Abby Grant, Cornelia Fondren and Jade Philips to compensate.

“I remember when I was playing,” Hillsman recalled, “the thing was, ‘I can’t get into a rhythm. I can’t get into a flow.’

“Well you have to get into a flow quickly (now). We’re going to get you in and out of the game.”

Syracuse made 17 more substitutions than URI, and 11 times subbed in two or more players at once.

The surplus of talent at the guard position allows Hillsman flexibility, running players on and off his bench similar to a lacrosse or hockey team with position lines. The frequent substitutions at the position are likely to be a common occurrence throughout the season for the No. 25 Orange (1-0).

Sykes is recovering from her second ACL injury and is gradually building back up her stamina. She laid out the hypothetical situation in which she, Peterson and Butler were running the top of SU’s press for four or five plays.

It “lights up (Sykes’) eyes” knowing that once fatigue sets in, she can confidently hand over the keys to reserve players just as capable as the starters, she said. Hillsman swapped three players at once off the bench three times on Friday.

“You can send in platoons if you wanted to,” Sykes said. “It feels pretty good to know that on the bench you can bring in three other guards on and bring three other guards off give them a rest.

“That way we can keep the pace of a run-and-gun team to get up in your face and pressure.”

It was the veteran trio of Sykes, Peterson and Butler SU rolled out against the Rams. But not even halfway through the first quarter it was Grant, a freshman, planting herself on the sideline to replace Sykes, a redshirt junior. Phillips also made her collegiate debut, and dropped a 3 in her first two minutes on the court in the second quarter.

The ripple effects of guard depth have reached the practice court too, Sykes said, with starters in intrasquad scrimmages able to acknowledge, “OK, I have a sub,” as they look to the sideline.

It’s fostered a competitive culture among the team, with a budding few freshman learning from the veterans as much as they’re gunning for their spot.

“At the same time it’s more of a, ‘if I’m on the floor and playing hard, I expect you to do the same exact thing,’” Sykes said of the competition at guard. “It’s not more of a ‘I’m trying to take your spot;’ it’s more a ‘we’re all in this spot together.’”

Syracuse should be outpacing opponents on the floor and taking advantage of its perimeter shooters in Butler and Grant. The Orange finished right in the middle of the ACC in both scoring offense and defense last season, marks that stand to improve if SU’s depth is as deep as it thinks it is.

With the revolving door of talent, the ability of SU’s reserve guards will be just as paramount to the team’s success at the starters.

“If you want to contribute, you’ve got to contribute in your 2-2.5 minutes on the floor,” Hillsman said. “(Then) come back in your next 2.5 minutes and contribute.”

Published on November 17, 2015 at 8:11 pm

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman