review of the year and what new interventions may be needed to turn things around.We have a Test a

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Andrew White says its way too early to call himself an X factor for No. 18 Syracuse. The fifth-year transfer from Nebraska may just be the difference maker, however, for a team that looks like it may be one of the nations elite.White, who shot 41 percent from 3-point range a year ago, signed with the Orange the day before fall classes started. He gives the Orange a dimension they appeared to be lacking entering the season.I definitely think hes a difference maker, said fellow fifth-year transfer John Gillon. The way he spreads the floor and how quick his release is theres really not five people who can shoot like that in the nation.White scored 19 points, Tyler Lydon had 17, and Syracuse went on a 14-0 run in the first half to take control and overpower Holy Cross 90-46 on Tuesday night.Syracuse (2-0) shot 58 percent from the field and was 13 for 25 on 3-pointers. White went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc after going 2 of 7 in the Oranges season opener against Colgate.Hes a huge piece of this team, Lydon said. He can do a lot of great things on the court. Adding him was huge for us. Anytime you have a guy who can space the floor like thats huge.White, a modest sort, preferred to let his teammates do the talking.Id rather that question be answered by my teammates, White said. Theyre the ones evaluating what my value is. I just try to come in and take care of business, take pressure off my teammates. I think thats what Ill do most.And just two games into the season, White says talk of his importance is a tad premature.I think were all critical. I think were all X factors. As far as me being the X factor I think its a little early now to be saying that. Im just trying to come in and do my job.And his job is knocking down 3s, a skill in which he has supreme confidence.My motto is if a shoot a shot its supposed to go in, he added. Thats why I dont get too excited when I hit a three or celebrate too much. My coaches and teammates expect the shot to go in when I attempt it.Coach Jim Boeheim praised White.He was geared up tonight. He was ready to go. He was focused in, Boeheim said. Hes a shooter. Obviously thats what he does. Were happy we have him here.Tyus Battle was 3 of 5 from long range, while Gillon made two while adding 15 points, nine assists and just one turnover off the bench.Anthony Thompson had 12 points, while Robert Champion and Malachi Alexander had eight apiece for the Crusaders (0-2). The Crusaders shot just 31 percent for the game.Asked what he would take away from the game, Holy Cross coach Bill Carmody had a succinct response: Nothing.Besides their 3-point attack, the Orange tallied 18 second-chance points, had 32 inside the paint, and scored 31 points off Holy Cross turnovers. The Orange outrebounded the smaller Crusaders 39-27. At one point in the first half, Syracuse had a 16-3 advantage on the boards.The Orange led 22-14 when they went on their 14-0 blitz to take control. The run featured four 3-pointers, two by White and one each by Frank Howard and Battle. Syracuse led 49-23 at the half.BIG PICTURE:Holy Cross: Its not fair to judge Holy Crosss outlook for the 2016-17 season based on Tuesdays outcome, but we may know more after Fridays matchup against UMass.Syracuse: This is one of Jim Boeheims best offensive teams in years. The Orange can beat teams inside and out.POLL IMPLICATIONS: With the nations top teams playing each other this week, the Orange could find themselves moving up in the rankings.SOPHOMORE SLUMP OVER: Tyler Lydon was 0-for-8 from beyond the arc in Syracuses two exhibition games and 0-for-3 in the season opener but he was 2-of-3 Tuesday.MICROWAVE: Gilllon is proving to be quite the spark off the bench for Boeheim. The transfer from Colorado State now has 28 points, 15 assists and just one turnover in two games.NO TREY, NO WAY: Holy Cross was just of 9-of-32 from 3 for 28 percent.UP NEXT:Holy Cross tries for its first win of the young season when the Crusaders host UMass on Sunday.Syracuse, a bubble team that made last years NCAA Tournament, hosts Monmouth, a bubble team that did not, Friday. Justice Hill Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. Justice Hill Youth Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.cheapravensshoponline.com/Youth-Jonathan-Ogden-Ravens-Jersey/ . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Jaylon Ferguson Jersey . -- Gus Malzahn finally had his day in Fayetteville. Miles Boykin Ravens Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Scott Baldwin has warned Wales to expect a wounded beast when South Africa arrive in Cardiff on a face-saving mission next weekend.While woeful Wales played a get-out-of-jail card courtesy of Sam Davies late drop-goal to beat Japan 33-30 on Saturday, the Springboks floundered in Florence, being defeated by Italy for the first time in Test match history.Wales hooker Baldwin said: South Africa are going to come here as a wounded beast. But it is also a kick up the backside for us, and we know we have to put in a much better shift next week to get a result.If you look at our game against Australia (Wales lost 32-8 a fortnight ago) when we left with our tail between our legs, we fronted up against Argentina the following week, and I think that is what they (South Africa) will be trying to do.Last time they came here in 2014 we got a result, and it is on us to do it again. The ambition is there, but for some reason we are just not clicking.In fairness to the coaches, we are doing a lot of skill work in training, a lot of off-load work, skills under pressure and stuff like that, and as players we have got to look at ourselves in how we control the game when we are on the pitch.When the whistle goes at 2.30pm it is up to us to manage the game, and we need to manage it better. It was a disappointing game in nearly every aspect.Bizarrely, given their dismal form, victory over the Springboks would mean Wales winning three out of four autumn Tests this season, which is a feat they have not accomplished since 2002.We probably wont forget the Australia game and how much of a bad loss that was, Baldwin added. But it would probably be a satisfying autumn, I wouldnt say a good one.So bad were the Springboks that South African Rugby president Mark Alexander released a hard-hitting statement after the game, when he highlighted deeply worrying aspects of performances this year that have also included aa record home loss against New Zealand and a 30-point thumping by England.ddddddddddddThe whole of South African rugby is extremely disappointed with this years Springbok results and deeply worrying aspects of the performances, Alexander said, in a statement posted on the official SA Rugby website.It has not been good enough, and no-one is pretending otherwise. It would be easy to lay the blame for that at one door or another and look for scapegoats, but it would also be an oversimplification.All of us within South African rugby need to look at ourselves and ask what we could have done differently in aid of the Springbok cause. Those questions will be asked at the end of the season when we will undertake a full review of the year and what new interventions may be needed to turn things around.We have a Test against Wales on Saturday, and then we will review the season and spend time determining a path for the future.If South Africa want to seek any consolation this week, though, it can probably be found in the fact that Wales look equally poor.Had Test rookie Davies not come up trumps 10 seconds from time, Wales would have been held at home by a team world-ranked five places below them before kick-off and who were without a number of leading players.Japan matched their highest points total against Wales and shared the try-count 3-3 as they displayed a superior attacking outlook to opponents devoid of ideas and lacking composure.Wales interim head coach Rob Howley was not alone in his opinion that the best team lost. A Wales starting XV containing seven British and Irish Lions Test players led Japan 14-6 and 24-13, but still could not avoid a nerve-shredding finale that saw former world junior player of the year Davies deliver the goods for a 73,000 crowd. ' ' '