If the 2020-21 college basketball season has taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected. Like, the sight of SU forward Marek Dolezaj grinning, bloody mouth and all, as he returned to the floor after losing a tooth late in Saturday's win over Georgetown.

"I played football in high school, and I'd actually seen that a few times on a football field," said teammate Joe Girard. "But, on a basketball court, I'd never seen it."

"He was trying to go to the locker room, but he didn't make it," quipped head coach Jim Boeheim. "He's too important to us. We need him in there. He toughed it out."

Another visual nobody could have predicted Saturday night was the sight of Robert Braswell coming out of nowhere to block a Hoyas' shot that could've cut what once was a 16-point Syracuse lead, down to two, with about five minutes left in regulation. Moments later, Buddy Boeheim hit a transition three-pointer to turn the play into a five-point swing, stemming the Hoyas' momentum.

"Could have saved the game, really," said Boeheim. "The block was spectacular."

"It was a big momentum-changer, a big swing for us," echoed junior guard Buddy Boeheim. "Give all the credit to Rob, there, he made a great play."

It was reminiscent of Alan Griffin's game-and-potentially-season-saving swat against Buffalo last month, which Boeheim called one of the best plays he's ever witnessed at the Dome. The difference is, while Griffin moved into the starting lineup in his second game at Syracuse, Braswell has been the forgotten man, now in his third season with the program.

The Jacksonville native played in 12 games as a freshman, and was limited to just seven games last season before redshirting with a lower leg injury. Rumors about Robert possibly transferring began to circulate last spring after classmate Jalen Carey left the program. But, the spindly, 6-7 forward chose to stick it out, and is now making the most of his opportunities. His teammates couldn't be happier.

"We're just really happy for him that he's finally stepping up, and making big plays," said Girard about Braswell, who also equaled his scoring total from last season with 12 points against Pittsburgh last Wednesday. "Whether it's making a shot, or making that block, he's done a really good job these past two games of just making big plays. When anybody can do that, step into that role, it's huge for us."

The next thing Girard and his teammates want to see from Braswell is some feeling, little of which the reticent redshirt sophomore ever displays. The Syracuse bench seems to erupt anytime the team's new super-sub does something noteworthy, like when he hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers against Pitt after starting the season 0-12 from outside.

"Rob's so quiet, and just so nice of a kid, we're trying to get any kind of emotion out of him that we can," chuckled Girard. "But, as you guys can probably see, it's pretty hard."

As long as those big blocks and shots keep coming, nobody's going to complain, though. Least of all, Braswell, a two-time South Carolina high jump champion who's finally jumping out of obscurity.