Syracuse, N.Y. – He talked, before a moment of college basketball was played this season, about his intent to guard people.

JJ Starling, the hometown kid from Baldwinsville, had for his entire career been lauded for his ability to attack the rim, his skill at sinking mid-range jump shots, his scoring prowess.

It wasn’t enough.

“Last year, I was more offensive minded. My energy was exerted on that end and therefore I had a lot of mental lapses on the defensive end and I knew I had to get better,” Starling said. “I wanted to help this team win and become a more complete player.”

Starling scored 12 points in his 33 minutes and three seconds of basketball work Tuesday night in SU’s thrilling 62-60 win over Tennessee in the JMA Wireless Dome.

Eleven of those points came in the second hal

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