PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The last time Tyler Roberson played against Pittsburgh in February, he played most of the game with a bandage covering a gash above his eye and a nose plug to keep more blood from running. He was hit hard and scored just seven points and committed four fouls.

Now a more solidified starter in the rotation, he reversed the role against the Panthers. He showed a new arsenal in to his offense, and was the best player in the interior for Syracuse when it got blasted there all night.

Syracuse head coach Mike Hopkins said his big man was “plugged in” tonight. Sometimes he is, Hopkins says, other times he isn’t. And against the Panthers, even when he was at his best, it didn’t quell the apparent frustration that followed after another loss.

“He was aggressive,” Syracuse interim head coach Mike Hopkins said. “That was a plugged-in Robey. And that’s always nice, when he’s plugged in.”

Roberson finished with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, seven rebounds and three blocks. Even as Syracuse (10-4, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) as a whole got picked apart on the glass, 43-25, the junior was still in the middle of every play. He showed ability to score off the dribble, and was a focal point of the Orange offense in its 72-61 loss to Pittsburgh (11-1, 1-0) at the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday.

After making an errant pass in the first half, he came down the court and made a block on a Jamel Artis transition layup. He scored his first points off a block later in the half, as he got down the court and finished an alley-oop off a pass from Malachi Richardson.

When the Orange went down by four in the second half, he created from the top of the key. He went off the dribble to score a three-point play on a spin move layup and draw a foul.

His inconsistencies this season are beginning to become fewer and more far between for the Orange. And the player that Hopkins wished would show up on every night, came to play against the Panthers.

“He did a lot tonight,” SU guard Michael Gbinije said. “He scored inside, he got some easy buckets. He ran the floor and did a good job tonight.”

Published on December 31, 2015 at 1:34 am

Contact Sam: sblum@syr.edu | @SamBlum3