Syracuse Basketball Thread

[Baseball Guru]

Score one for Anthony and Orangemen
Top prep star passes ACT, will suit up next season to play ball for Boeheim.

April 30, 2002

By Pete Thamel
Staff writer

During his third period geography class at about 10 a.m. on Monday, Carmelo Anthony got paged to the front office of Oak Hill Academy.


School secretary Lisa Smith, the wife of Oak Hill head basketball coach Steve Smith, delivered Anthony the news he'd waited all year to hear. Anthony's ACT scores had arrived, and he'd received a score that will make him eligible to play basketball in his freshman year at Syracuse University.

"Man, I was speechless," a still giddy Anthony said Monday night. "I couldn't really say anything. I was so happy."

Anthony, considered by many the No. 1 senior basketball player in the country, also squelched any notion of declaring for the NBA. Now that he has his score, Anthony said he will honor his commitment to attend SU.

"You can put all that talk to rest," Anthony said. "I'm coming to Syracuse, for sure."

Immediately after he received the news, Anthony called his mother. While he didn't reach her immediately, she wept tears of joy when she heard the news.

Steve Smith called up his good friend, SU assistant coach Troy Weaver. Smith left Weaver a message with the news.

Five minutes later, Weaver called back and asked, "Did I hear that right?"

"Troy's a laid-back guy, but he was excited on the phone," Smith said. "He's been a friend for a long time and I'm happy for him as well. It's a big day for us, a big day for Carmelo and a big day for Syracuse."

If Anthony hadn't received a qualifying score on this attempt, things could have gotten hairy for Syracuse. Projected as anywhere from a mid-to-late first-round pick, the specter of Anthony declaring for the draft could have become a reality.

A new NCAA rule passed last week that allows high schoolers to declare for the draft and still attend college fueled that prospect. Smith was quoted in a North Carolina newspaper over the weekend saying there's a chance Carmelo could test the new rule.

Smith admitted Monday night that at the time he was quoted, he was unaware of the specifics of the rule. A clause in the new rule that keeps entrants locked in the position where they're picked and the salary slot that goes along with it, Smith said, would not be beneficial to Anthony.

"Carmelo has no desire to put his name in the draft," Smith said. "As soon as he heard he got his test score, that was the end of that. I'm happy, too, because now all the NBA people will stop calling me and asking me about what he's doing."

Smith, his voice gushing with pride, pointed to Anthony receiving his test score as the culmination of a productive year at Oak Hill. Smith pointed out that Anthony chose to duck out of the summer basketball circuit last July to attend summer school at Oak Hill, without so much as a grumble.

While Anthony led Oak Hill by scoring 22 points and grabbing eight rebounds a game, he also thrived in the classroom. By bumping up his score on the English section of ACT in his latest attempt, Anthony said he felt a year of hard work came to fruition.

"I felt a lot of it coming together," Anthony said. "I knew that I was going to get it."

Smith pointed out how Anthony could have used his year at Oak Hill, which finished No. 3 nationally, to showcase his talents for the NBA. Instead, he focused on his team and his grades.

"Most kids of his ability would be trying to get into the first round of the NBA draft," Smith said. "But here's a kid, the whole year he's just trying as hard as he could to go to Syracuse. He's giving up $800,000 to a million dollars a year to go to Syracuse. I think that's great. He's like a kid back in the mid-80s that really wants to go play in the Carrier Dome."

[lal4l]

What is this??

[Baseball Guru]

What is what???:confused:

[Trots]

This is a column that reveals Guru is a SU fan. It also attempts to disprove the notion that SU basketball players can't read and write. The former is well established, the latter is still up for debate.

[Baseball Guru]

Smarta$$:wink::biggrin:

On another note, one of my favorite players DeShawn Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the university for beating up Otto the mascot...lol:biggrin: Not funny, but funny, you know....I'll post the article as soon as I can find it....

[Baseball Guru]

Williams suspended from SU
Police say basketball player punched woman who played mascot Otto the Orange.

May 10, 2002
By Jim O'Hara and Pete Thamel


Syracuse University basketball player DeShaun Williams was suspended from school Thursday after police charged him with assaulting the student who portrayed Otto the Orange, the university mascot.

Williams, SU's leading returning scorer who averaged 15.9 points per game last season, was arraigned Thursday morning on a misdemeanor count of assault. He is accused of punching Nicole Wilcox twice in the head during a dispute that turned into a barroom brawl at Konrad's on Marshall Street shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Police arrested Williams, 20, of Paterson, N.J., at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday after Wilcox decided to press charges.

Wilcox, who has dressed as Otto at SU sporting events for three years, told officers her left eye was swollen shut until about 2 p.m. Wednesday and she had four stitches to close a cut above that eye.

''I am graduating this Saturday and Sunday, and for the rest of my life I am going to think of DeShaun Williams when I see the pictures,'' Wilcox, 21, said in her statement to police. ''This should be the proudest day of my life.''

Williams was jailed in the Justice Center and released when his girlfriend posted $500 bail several hours later, said lawyer Gary Sommer, director of legal services at SU.

About 24 hours before, police were sent to the apartment of Williams' girlfriend, Amal Baggar. She told officers that Williams kicked in her apartment door after a shouting match, but she declined to prosecute.

Williams left court without comment.

''His version of the events is dramatically different from what's alleged,'' Sommer said.

City Court Judge Karen Uplinger issued an order of protection, telling Williams that he and his friends are to have no contact with Wilcox while the case is pending. He is due back in court June 4.

Williams remains on scholarship at SU, but he is ineligible to participate in university athletic activities or attend summer school until the case is resolved in the city and university judicial systems. He has just finished his third year at SU.

Williams already was on judicial probation for an alcohol-related driving conviction.

''When an individual is on disciplinary probation, if that student is accused of another infraction of the code of student conduct, it is a serious matter,'' SU spokesman Kevin Morrow said.

Police reported Wilcox initially was uncooperative, intoxicated and irate when officers tried

to question her outside the bar at 113 Marshall St. after the fracas. When officers talked to her three hours later at Crouse Hospital, she had calmed down, apologized for her earlier demeanor and told them what had happened. However, she did not seek prosecution of Williams at that time, police said.

Wilcox decided to seek prosecution Wednesday evening. Wilcox told police she and several friends were dancing at Konrad's when Williams slid into the circle and started staring.

''I don't know if he wanted to dance or start something,'' she said. ''I asked him what he was doing and I called him corny and told him to get out of here. I turned my face away from him and the next thing I remember was being on the ground.''

One of her friends, Ta'Von Todd, also told police that she saw Williams slug Wilcox.

''They were pushing back and forth. Then DeShaun reached over me and punched Nicole in the head,'' Todd said. ''It was a free-for-all after that.''

Wilcox told police she then crawled across the floor and managed to pull herself up. She said that was when she saw her roommate and Williams' girlfriend in an altercation.

Wilcox said she was trying to help her roommate when the bar owner put her in a headlock and dragged her outside ''because I was flipping out because I saw blood on me.''

Sommer, the lawyer representing Williams at the arraignment, said Williams hoped university officials would not impose disciplinary sanction before fully investigating the incident. ''He is concerned about his future at SU and on the basketball team,'' Sommer said.

Moments later, Sgt. Drew Buske of the SU Department of Public Safety, approached Sommer in the hallway outside the courtroom and handed him a copy of a formal notice placing Williams on interim suspension. Sommer said the notice accused Williams of committing a physical assault, of posing a threat to others on campus, of being disorderly and intoxicated in public.

Sommer said Williams can seek an early hearing to challenge the suspension, in addition to a more complete hearing.

After Thursday, Sommer could no longer represent Williams. Sommer explained that as the lawyer who represents all SU students, he could not represent Williams because Wilcox also is an SU student.

[Trots]

Sorry, James. Please forgive me. I had to do that.

A couple of Michigan FB players got shot over the weekend at a party that turned into a fight. College athletics are heading down a slope that makes MLB look like Disneyworld.

[Baseball Guru]

Yeah I was sorry to hear about those players.......

Your right about college athletics...Ridiculous:angry:

[Baseball Guru]

Trial Begins for Syracuse's Williams
By JOHN KEKIS

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Syracuse basketball player DeShaun Williams received a reprieve of sorts Monday when none of the witnesses questioned during his assault trial recalled seeing him throw the punch that led to the charges.

Williams, 21, is accused of hitting Nicole Wilcox during a fight at Konrad's, a bar just off campus, in early May. The blow caused a cut that required four stitches to close. He has pleaded innocent.

Wilcox, 21, served as the school's mascot, Otto the Orange, for three years at sporting events.

During opening arguments, Assistant District Attorney Pat Quinn said he would prove that Williams intentionally struck Wilcox, causing physical injury, a laceration, pain, and facial swelling.

After defense attorney James McGraw made a motion to dismiss that was denied, Quinn called five witnesses. One of three photos of Wilcox submitted as evidence showed her with blood streaming down the left side of her face, but ensuing testimony left much doubt about what exactly happened on the final day of spring semester.

After nearly two hours of testimony, the trial was adjourned until Tuesday morning. Quinn said he would call two more witnesses before resting the prosecution's case and expected the jury to begin deliberating right away.

McGraw was upbeat as he left the courtroom.

``I feel very good,'' the defense attorney said. ``We'll see what happens.''

Because of the popularity of the Syracuse sports teams, court officials had a difficult time finding jurors who were unfamiliar with the case. Three members of the six-member panel said they were season ticket-holders to sporting events at the school.

Williams, who will be a senior next year, remains suspended from school pending the outcome of the trial and the lifting of university sanctions.

He is a two-year starter who last season averaged 16.4 points and 4.2 assists per game.

[Baseball Guru]

Jury Acquits Syracuse's Williams
By JOHN KEKIS

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - DeShaun Williams was acquitted Tuesday of assault charges filed by a former female student.

A six-member jury cleared the Syracuse basketball player after deliberating less than three hours. The panel returned its verdict shortly after having key testimony from the morning session re-read. The trial lasted two days.

``It's definitely a feeling of relief. This case has been driving me up the wall,'' Williams said. ``I just wanted a fair trial and to prove I was innocent. Now, I just want to get back to school and start playing.''

Williams, 21, was accused of hitting Nicole Wilcox during a fight at a bar just off campus in early May, just hours after final exams ended. The blow caused a cut that required four stitches to close.

``I don't feel like I lost. I feel like I won,'' said Wilcox, 21, of Baldwinsville, who was Otto the Orange, the university mascot at sporting events, for three years. ``This was real hard. Now I know why victims don't come forward. I just wanted to stand up for myself.''

Asked if she still thought the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Williams hit her, Wilcox said: ``When you get blindsided by a truck, you may not see it coming but you know where it came from.''

Testimony by Mia Ballard, a 19-year-old Syracuse student, appeared to turn the case in Williams' favor. During questioning Tuesday, she said she spent the day with Williams and his girlfriend and accompanied them to Konrad's, the bar where the brawl erupted.

Ballard said the trio didn't have anything to drink before going out around midnight. Once inside the bar, she said Williams left the group for about five minutes and began arguing with Wilcox before rejoining them in the crowded bar.

``He told us she was trying to fight him,'' Ballard said. ``I walked over to her and punched her in the face.''

``Did she fall down?'' defense attorney James McGraw asked.

``Yes,'' Ballard replied.

``Did you see DeShaun Williams punch Nicole Wilcox in the face at any time?'' McGraw asked.

``No,'' Ballard said.

Ballard said she told McGraw her version of the fight soon after it occurred but never was questioned by police. When asked why she agreed to testify, Ballard said: ``I would never allow somebody to get punished for something I did.''

Williams, who has maintained his innocence, said he exchanged words with Wilcox and pushed her after she shoved him.

``I turned around and a brawl broke out,'' said Williams, who fell asleep in court several times on Tuesday. ``I saw her (Ballard) hit her but didn't know if that was the punch.''

Prosecutor Patrick Quinn was not surprised by the verdict.

``Any time you have cases involving alcohol, late hours and fights, it's difficult for jurors to hold people accountable,'' said Quinn, who was aware of Ballard but had not found anyone to back up her story. ``Maybe they believed her enough to create enough doubt in their minds.''

Williams, who will be a senior next year, is a two-year starter who last season averaged 16.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. He remains suspended from school pending the lifting of university sanctions. McGraw said he expected that to happen Wednesday.

``I'd be shocked if they didn't,'' he said.

Williams is academically ineligible to play for the Orangemen and needs to complete several courses to be able to rejoin the team.

``We're hopeful that he will be able to come back to summer school and prove himself academically, which is the No. 1 issue,'' coach Jim Boeheim said.

[Baseball Guru]

Great 1st half by the Cuse up 36-31 vs Mizzou....

A steal and a shot at the buzzer gives the Cuse a 5 point lead......

Playing well vs the #11 team in the nation...

Please Cuse, hold on:angel:

[awefullspellare]

the Big 12 has won 30 stragiht Non Conference games (wil the streak end!!!!)

[Baseball Guru]

Cuse up by 10 with 13 minutes to play...

They are playing an outstanding game:thumbsup:

[awefullspellare]

maybe a Cuse Creighton Final four??? :clap2:

[Baseball Guru]

LoL....We can dream cant we???

[awefullspellare]

yes we can :clap2: . Man thad be tough, i dunno if i could rsist going to that :clap2:

[Baseball Guru]

#11 going down!!!!

Cuse pulls off the upset!!!! 11 wins in a row!!!! Maybe now we can get some respect and get ranked!!!

[awefullspellare]

Cuse and Creighton!! I can see it!!!! :clap2:

[Baseball Guru]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jay Bilas
Special to ESPN.com



Anthony, Warrick and McNamara will test Pittsburgh's patience Saturday.
Syracuse at No. 3 Pittsburgh GAME TIME: Saturday, Noon ET (ESPN)
LAST MEETING: Pittsburgh 75, Syracuse 63 (Feb. 10, 2002)
SERIES: Syracuse leads, 58-28

Pittsburgh is one of the strongest teams in the country, not to mention one of the most patient and methodical offensive teams you will ever see. Syracuse, meanwhile, will finally be the complete team Jim Boehiem expected to have back on the opening night of the 2002-03 season.

Syracuse gets freshman Billy Edelin back for this game, about two months after he should have been back. Edelin was suspended for the first 12 Syracuse games after playing in a over-40 men's league last fall while not part of the Syracuse basketball team or enrolled in school.

But, even without Edelin, the Orangemen (11-1) have a very good offensive team that has not lost since getting clipped the first game of the season by Memphis. In fairness, Syracuse received the news about Edelin's suspension hours before its opener, and did not handle the news well. It clearly affected Syracuse's play on the floor that night. Since opening night, however, the Orangemen have won 11 straight games.

Pittsburgh Breakdown: The Panthers (13-1) are such a veteran team that it looks to run its plays to completion, which makes it very difficult to take Pitt out of its patterns. In order to beat Pittsburgh, Syracuse must find a way to take the Panthers out of their routine, and make the Panthers make plays out of their normal schemes.

The problem for teams that play Pitt, however, is that its so strong that the Panthers are able to run their stuff in spite of pressure. The Panthers just run through their cuts, and run their sets to completion. This allows Pitt to control the tempo on offense. It'll be Syracuse's priority to take Pittsburgh out of its sets. And Pitt will be challenged by the Orangemen's 2-3 match-up zone, which presents a far different look than the man-to-man defenses Pitt is used to seeing.

Point guard Brandin Knight will be the key in attacking the Orange zone. By penetrating into the zone, and finding flashing big men in the middle of the zone, Knight can find holes in the weakest spot of Syracuse's defense.

Pitt is just relentless in its defensive mind set, picking teams up at the 3-point line and playing a physical style of defense that denies penetration off of the dribble and swarms the ball. The Panthers send five guys to the defensive boards, bump every cut, box out on every shot attempt, and challenge every shooter. While Pitt is tough to take out of their stuff, they are very proficient at taking teams out of their offense.

The Panthers are not tall, but are big and strong defenders who put their bodies on the line, take charges and dive on the floor for loose balls. Julius Page is the Panthers' best on-ball defender, and the lefty guard can really pressure the ball He is lighter, quicker and shooting it better than last year. Jaron Brown, also a lefty, is also strong defensively, and is very good off the ball. He is an outstanding guard rebounder from the wing and is very versatile.

But the leader of the team is Knight, who is quick, athletic and a very smart competitor. Knight is not scoring or assisting at the same rate as last season, but that is because his teammates are better this year. Knight was late into the conditioning process due to off-season knee surgery, but he seems to be at 100 percent. Carl Krauser, a freshman point guard, can play alongside or in place of Knight, and is a competitive New Yorker who can really defend and penetrate, looking to kick the ball to open people.

Pitt's big men have made a tremendous difference for Ben Howland. Ontario Lett, Chevon Troutman, Toree Morris and Donatas Zavackas are all strong defenders and rebounders, each with five fouls (and more bruises) to give. Lett has great feet, and has been much more intense on the floor this season. Troutman has been great over the last six games, providing toughness, offensive rebounding and a big who can run the floor. Zavackas is a good shooter and tough as nails.

All of Pittsburgh's big men are good finishers around the basket, which is a big reason why Pitt is shooting a remarkable 52 percent from the floor as a team, while holding opponents to just 35-percent shooting. Granted, Pitt has not played the toughest of schedules up until conference play, and got beat by Georgia in its only real contest outside of conference play, but it is clear that Pitt can play with anyone.

Pitt's main problem is its free throw shooting. The Panthers only shoot 62 percent as a team, and Knight shoots a rank 41 percent from the stripe. He could close his eyes and hit close to that percentage. He is simply giving away points at the line.

Syracuse Breakdown: Getting Edelin on the court means the Orangemen have a point guard who can get to the basket and be creative with the ball. Edelin has a great knack for making off-balance layups when he penetrates to the hole, and he will also be able to look for Gerry McNamara, Kueth Duany and Carmelo Anthony on the perimeter.

Speaking of McNamara, the fellow freshman has done an outstanding job at the point in Edelin's absence. With Edelin running things, it'll free up McNamara to do what he does best -- shoot the ball. McNamara is an outstanding scorer and shooter, not to mention a good athlete who can spot up or shoots on the move. He has NBA range, and like J.J. Redick at Duke, McNamara is a terrific shooter who must be guarded.

The third freshman, Carmelo Anthony, is an absolute star and Jim Boeheim's first McDonald's All-America since John Wallace. Anthony is comparable to Caron Butler, only bigger. He is very skilled with the ball in his hands, whether he's dribbling, passing or shooting from behind the 3-point arc, posting up or driving to the basket. Anthony is the best all-around freshman in the country.

Hakim Warrick, just a sophomore himself, has star potential. Warrick is not a great offensive player, but is long and very athletic, and can get off his feet to score around the hole. Syracuse is a young team, but has good chemistry. The Orange will only get better with Edelin back into the mix.

More athletic than in year's past, Syracuse likes to push the ball up the court quickly, running some 5-out motion with high screens, ballscreens, staggers, curls and several guys who can go off the bounce. Anthony is a threat to score every time he touches it and commands double teams, which allows him to pass the ball with creativity.

Syracuse is very good offensively, and improving on the defensive end. The Orange has bodies and good athletes who can extend out of that zone and make it tough for Pitt to shoot over the defense. It's no secret, Syracuse likes to play a 2-3 zone, which will trap the sides, corners and on out-of-bounds situations. The zone contests passes, closes gaps on penetration, uses length and athleticism. Syracuse will play some man-to-man, with top-of-the key pick-up, along with some 1-2-1-1 on a made free throw.

Key Matchup: Carmelo Anthony vs. Pittsburgh's Defense


Syracuse No single Panther -- or many players in the country, for that matter -- will be able to shut down Anthony. Pitt will rely upon experience and strength to deal with the freshman sensation, but cannot forget about Warrick, Duany and McNamara. Anthony creates mismatches with almost every defender Ben Howland can put on him, but with a collective effort, Pitt can limit him.

Key Stat
Loose Balls and Free Throws
Pitt has to hit free throws to beat Syracuse. This will be a possession-by-possession game, and one that will be a "grind it out" game. Syracuse can score, but Pitt's methodical offense will keep the tempo in a 60s or 70s game.

What to Watch For
Anthony's Skills, Syracuse's 2-3 Zone & Itinerary
Anthony has the chance to be special Also, watch Syracuse's zone, which works because of the traps, extensions and the athleticism of the guys playing it. There are a lot of man principles in Boeheim's zone, and the players have embraced it. Also, check your local listings for the next time Syracuse travels outside of New York or New Jersey. So far, the longest road trip has been MSG and the Meadowlands. I wonder if the Orangemen know about the new security measures at the airport?

[BPBlueSox]

Well James, you can got to like the fact that Cuse hung around with em for a good bit of the game at their house...

[Baseball Guru]

Yeah, they played a very good 1st half and kinda lost it in the 2nd half around the 12 minute mark....
It was our first game outside the Dome sinc ethe 1st game of the season vs a very good Pitt team....
We are young and still learning to play together.....
The team is gonna be ok......

Is Anthony the real deal or what??

He is one of the best if not THE best frosh in the country.....

Kid is the real deal:thumbsup:

[GiveHyzduashot]

Anthony is one of the best players in the country, whether we're talking freshman, sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Is he bolting after this season for the riches of the NBA??

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by GiveHyzduashot
Anthony is one of the best players in the country, whether we're talking freshman, sophomores, juniors, or seniors.

Is he bolting after this season for the riches of the NBA??

Havent heard yet but it seems as though it may be the logical choice for him.....I pray that he stays at least 1 more year....This is such a young team with only 1 senior starter....They could be so good next year if he were to stay.....:clap2:

[imgreat95]

Not to take anything away from the Orangemen, because I did not see the game. But, it looks like this was sort of a typical Pitt win. They remind me a lot of the Steelers running game of the past. They would beat on you and beat on you and you would hang around. But, eventually in the end, they would just be too much. Remember how Bettis would piock up most of his yards in the 4th quarter against most teams??? That is what Pitt reminds me of.

Again, not to take anything away, because i think that Syracuse has a pretty good young team, but just how I see it.

[Baseball Guru]

No you are pretty much right on with that analogy Shawn....

Pitt is not the most flashy or exciting team but they smart and effective.....They have a very good half court game.....

[Baseball Guru]

Although the ESPN poll keps giving us the shaft, at least the AP poll gives us a little repect by putting us in the top 25 at #24:clap2:

[sil340]

the orangemen will be out of the polls next week, but they'll continue to rise all season now because there gonna be done with Pitt, which by the way should be number one

[GiveHyzduashot]

Arizona by far is the best team in the country right now ... how many teams could overcome what was it, a 20 point deficit over the then #6 ranked Jayhawks at Kansas?

Pitt's a pretty good team, but I don't think they're even close to Arizona.

[awefullspellare]

Arizona lost @ HOME 2 STANFORD :eek:

[GiveHyzduashot]

Forgot about that ...

If Pitt wins tonight, which they should, then there's no reason they won't be #1. Best team in the nation is still UA though IMO.

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by sil340
the orangemen will be out of the polls next week, but they'll continue to rise all season now because there gonna be done with Pitt, which by the way should be number one



I'm sorry, you were saying;)

[Baseball Guru]

Cuse was down by 12 with 10+ minutes to go and go on 27-13 run the rest of the way to beat Notre Dame 82-80 to grab a share of 1st place in the BE:clap2:

[GiveHyzduashot]

That was a very good game. Entertaining to watch, for sure. How much of a boost will Syracuse get if Anthony comes back next season? It's sounding like he'll be back next year.

Pitt lost too ... what in the world is wrong with Pitt?? In the last two weeks, they've gone from being a lock for a one seed in the East and a likely Final Four team to a team that's playing down to a three or four seed with a probable exit in the Sweet 16 round if things don't get turned around. Granted they've lost to two pretty good teams on the road, but still.

[Baseball Guru]

Cuse stays perfect at home (15-0) this season and stays in 1st place in the BE.....

First time Syracuse has ever gone 15-0 in the Dome....

One heck of a season thus far...Not bad for a team not ranked most of this season.....

Beat St Johns 66-60:clap2:


Great win for ND over WVU as it came down to a last second missed shot for WVU.....

Pitt looks like they are gonna hold on vs G-Town....A very entertaining night in the BE....

[rockin500]

i saw the replay last night on ESPN. great game. i was like in awe there in the second half with that storming back by cuse.

[Baseball Guru]

Carmelo Anthony Baby!!:thumbsup:

[Baseball Guru]

Damn, what an ending to the SU/MSU game...

MSU gets a ton of 2nd and 3rd chance shots and cant get the last second shot to win the game..

SU holds on 76-75:clap2:

Carmelo Anthony scores 25 in the HUGE win for SU on the road!!!:clap2:


Damn team is gonna give me heart failure one of these days!!

[GiveHyzduashot]

That was quite the finish, James. I only saw the last ten minutes, but it sure was entertaining. I thought MSU was going to win. Syracuse did a nice job to not let Hill touch the ball there. Speaking of Hill, he's possibly the most underrated player in the country.

James, James, James ... if you nearly had heart failure today, wait until the NCAAs. Maybe you shouldn't watch the games. ;)

[Baseball Guru]

LoL...I know Josh...This team does it to me every year...

Lucky for me they are usually good for a 2nd round exit so it puts less strain on the heart:hmm: :D

[Tigers#1]

:banghead This is getting embarrising, but at least they didn't lose by 30, like they did to Illinois the other day. This is suppost to be one of the "elite" teams in the league, and they've got a very good chance of missing the tournament. They've got the best point guard in the country committed here next year, and hopefully this season doesn't make him change his mind, especially while Michigan is in first place in the big 10.

[Trots]

You've got to expect that State is going to have a down year every once in a while, #1. If Carolina, UCLA, Indiana and other "traditional" powers can fall off the map from time to time, MSU is going to as well.

College hoops, as exhibited this year, is becoming more and more all about the impact of freshmen. If Izzo gets the recruits again, State will rebound quickly.

Nice win for your guys, Guru. Maybe 'Cuse can play spoiler this year, not the other way around. However, with Anthony in tow, the Orange aren't going to sneak up on anyone.

[Tigers#1]

As Terry Foster said, their biggest problem is no point guard after Taylor left last year. Hopefully this Brandon Cotton kid can come in and play well next year. I can't see anyone leaving early this year for MSU, and Ballanger, and Anagonye are really the only seniors i beleive, so maybe next year they'll be back.

As for Carmelo Anthony, i wasn't as impressed as i expected to be. He had a decent game, but i don't know if he's a top 3 pick. I know the Pistons will have one of the top picks next year(from Memphis) so i've started watching a lot of him.

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by Tigers#1

As for Carmelo Anthony, i wasn't as impressed as i expected to be. He had a decent game, but i don't know if he's a top 3 pick. I know the Pistons will have one of the top picks next year(from Memphis) so i've started watching a lot of him.


Decent??
I would think:
8-FG
15-FG Attempts
5-3-Point Attempts
5-3-Point FG
4-FT Attempts
4-FT Made
7-Reb
4-Assists
25-Total Points

Is not a bad night at all:D

Anthony is in the top 25 in scoring and rebounding in the nation...

He's top 4 in both those catagories in the BE...
He averages just about a double-double for the season:clap2:

[Tigers#1]

I don't mean his stats so much, i mean more the way he played. He looked decent, but not top 3 in the draft. I know he's only a freshman, buti just didn't see the "greatness" that everyone has talked about. I've even heard some people say they'd take him over Lebron James. I don't know, i'll watch some more of him before i make a final judgement.

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by Tigers#1
I don't know, i'll watch some more of him before i make a final judgement.

Fair enough:)

[rockin500]

ive seen him enough and he would school lebron james like a little chump, and lebron is the consensus number 1

[GiveHyzduashot]

I've heard Anthony is considering returning to Syracuse next year. Is there any chance of that, or is it just something he said to stop all the questions about if he's going and the like?

I'd take Anthony over James. I don't think James will be a fraction of what he's expected to be.

[Baseball Guru]

February 27, 2003

By Mike Waters
Staff writer

Just three days after an emotional one-point escape from Michigan State's green asylum known as the Breslin Center, the Orangemen faced a trapdoor of a game against West Virginia, which brought a ho-hum 13-11 record into Wednesday night's game at the Carrier Dome.

Kueth Duany, a fifth-year senior who gets ribbed as "Grandpa" because he's the only scholarship senior on Syracuse's roster, issued a warning to his teammates prior to the game.

"Before the game, I was telling them 'This is one of those obstacles that you face. This is one of those games that can sneak up on you,'" Duany said.

The young Orangemen listened to Duany's words and then followed his deeds. Syracuse took control of the game early, shooting out to a 35-17 halftime lead, and never let up in an 89-51 victory in front of 19,484 fans at the Dome.

Duany led the Orangemen with 18 points, including 13 in the first half as the Orangemen built an insurmountable lead. He also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

"He's the fake grandfather to everybody on the team," Syracuse freshman Billy Edelin said. "He was talking about not letting down. But it had to come from everybody."


The effort came from every one of the Syracuse players, especially on defense.

The Orangemen, playing mostly man-to-man to counter West Virginia's quick, perimeter-oriented lineup, held the Mountaineers to 27-percent shooting - a season low against Syracuse this season. West Virginia made just 6 of its 26 attempts from 3-point range.

"If you look at what West Virginia's done this year, they've played very well," SU coach Jim Boeheim said. "They get you with their movement on offense. You have to guard them, and we did one of the best jobs we've done in a long time defensively.

"It's always tough when you play a game like we played Sunday," Boeheim added. "There was so much involved in that game. To come back, it's always a little more difficult. But our defense carried us."



Syracuse improved to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in the Big East. It's the 25th time in Boeheim's 27 years as SU's head coach that the Orangemen have won 20 games. The Orangemen remain tied with Pittsburgh, which beat Virginia Tech on Wednesday, for first place in the league's West Division.

The Orangemen are 16-0 at home this season. West Virginia, which lost for the fifth time in its last six games, dipped to 13-12 and 4-9.

The final 39-point margin of victory was the largest in a Big East game this season. Pittsburgh beat West Virginia by 36 points, 82-46 on Feb. 12.

Wednesday's romp was Syracuse's most lopsided win over a Big East foe since a 96-55 throttling of Boston College in the first round of the 1999 Big East Tournament.

The breather represented a departure from the norm for the Orangemen. Syracuse's average margin of victory in its first nine Big East wins was 7.4 points. However, the game continued a trend that started in the teams' first meeting in Morgantown on Feb. 8.

Syracuse trailed West Virginia 31-16 in the first half of that game. Since that point, the Orangemen have outscored the Mountaineers 167-100.

Syracuse more than doubled West Virginia's scoring at halftime with a 35-17 lead. The Orangemen kept lapping the Mountaineers in the second half - at 48-24, 68-34 and 79-39. As Boeheim noted, the Orangemen did it with defense.

West Virginia's Drew Schifino scored 25 points and center Kevin Pittsnogle had 24 in Syracuse's 94-80 win over West Virginia earlier this season. Schifino's 10-point game was a season low for the sophomore, who entered the game with a 20.8 scoring average.



Schifino, who made four of his 18 field-goal attempts, was the only Mountaineer to reach double figures. The Orangemen held Pittsnogle to just nine points on 3-for-11 shooting. Syracuse, meanwhile, put four players in double figures. In addition to Duany's 18 points, Carmelo Anthony scored 24 and added 10 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season. Hakim Warrick had 18 points and eight rebounds, while Edelin threw in 10 points to go with his seven rebounds and five assists.

"I think we all understand that we had to make statement tonight," SU freshman Gerry McNamara said. "This is our homecourt. We haven't lost (at home) yet. We have two more games left. Let's end it the right way."

[Baseball Guru]

Finally, an easy win:clap2:

2 tough games coming up, actually 3 if you count Rutgers which upset us the 1st time:angry:

At Georgetown and at Notre Dame......

Then the BE toruney right around the corner:clap2:

[Baseball Guru]

By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer

March 1, 2003, 4:22 PM EST


WASHINGTON -- Gerry McNamara, recovering from a rare missed free throw late in regulation, scored 10 of his 22 points in overtime as No. 15 Syracuse rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit to beat Georgetown 93-84 Saturday.

Fellow freshman Carmelo Anthony, shaking off a dismal first half, had career highs of 30 points and 15 rebounds for the Orangemen, but his numbers were bettered by another Big East player of the year candidate: Georgetown junior Mike Sweetney, who had 31 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks.

Georgetown's Gerald Riley, who was 3-of-17 from the field for the game, hit a 3-pointer with 3.2 seconds left in regulation to sent the game to overtime. The Hoyas were given the chance when McNamara, a 94 percent free throw shooter, went 1-for-2 with 10 seconds left.

McNamara finished 9-for-11 from the line -- ending a perfect 41-for-41 mark in conference play entering the game.

It was the fifth straight victory for the Orangemen (21-4, 11-3), including four come-from-behind victories in the second half. Anthony, just 3-for-10 from the field in the first half, finished 12-for-29 -- although he was 1-of-7 from 3-point range and 5-of-13 from the free throw line.

Hakim Warrick added 14 points and 18 rebounds for the Orangemen, who outrebounded Georgetown 60-43.

Tony Bethel had 19 points for the Hoyas (13-12, 5-9), who suffered yet another close loss in a frustrating season that has them at risk of not qualifying for the Big East tournament. Georgetown is 1-3 in overtime and has two other one-point losses.

Sweetney scored 11 of Georgetown's first 13 points in the second half -- all on inside moves -- as the Hoyas increased a three-point halftime lead to double digits.

But Anthony completed a comeback by tying the game at 60 with two free throws with 6:21 to play. He then stole the inbounds pass and made a short jumper to give Syracuse its first lead, 62-60.

The rest of regulation was a tense duel, with neither team leading by more than four points. Warrick stripped Bethel and turned it into a three-point play to put Syracuse ahead 76-74 with 47 seconds to go, but Anthony missed two free throws and McNamara's 1-for-2 trip gave Georgetown its chance.

McNamara hit two 3-pointers and another jumper in an 11-3 run to start overtime. Hoyas, down by eight, had to pressure and foul the rest of the way, but never got closer than four.

Georgetown started the game with an 11-0 run as Syracuse missed its first eight shots and 14 of 17. The Hoyas couldn't build on the lead, however, because they shot just 29 percent in the first half. Billy Edelin and Warrick each scored two baskets as Orangemen finished the half with a 10-2 run to get within 30-27.

[rockin500]

wow, quite a close game. they just want to shave a few years off your life, eh james?

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by rockin500
wow, quite a close game. they just want to shave a few years off your life, eh james?


Uh huh...

Typical SU team:hmm:

As long as they continue to win the close ones...:D

They were saying on ESPN that if they can win the BE tourney, no easy task at all, they actually have a shot at a #2 seed....

I think they will be probably a #4 seed....Maybe #3 if they are lucky....

[Baseball Guru]

By TOM COYNE
The Associated Press
3/5/03 4:40 AM


SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame slowed Carmelo Anthony for a half. It wasn't enough.

Anthony, who was 3-of-13 from the field in the opening 20 minutes, scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half as No. 12 Syracuse beat No. 16 Notre Dame 92-88 Tuesday night.

"Carmelo wasn't really able to do anything the first half," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "When that happens, he usually gets going in the second half."

That was just what happened after the Irish managed to cut Syracuse's lead, which had been as much as 21 points in the first half, to 51-47 early in the second half. Anthony, a freshman forward, stopped the run by making three straight shots, two of them for three-point plays, to help the Orangemen regain control.

The Irish made another run, tying the score at 86 on a 3-pointer by Matt Carroll with 2:02 left. But Anthony scored inside over Dan Miller to give the Orangemen the lead again. After Torrian Jones made two free throws to tie the score for the Irish, Anthony gave the Orangemen the lead for good on a rebound basket after a shot by Hakim Warrick bounced off the rim.

"I just put it back in," Anthony said.

Anthony said he just stopped trying to force things in the second half.

"I wanted this game too much. I tried to get it all in one play. In the second half I realized I couldn't do that," he said.

Anthony was just one of three freshmen who keyed the victory for the Orangemen (22-4, 12-3 Big East). Gerry McNamara scored 13 of his 20 points in the opening 6:18 of the game, and Billy Edelin scored a season-high 26 points.

Edelin wasn't surprised by his performance. He said he knew he was capable of scoring a lot of points, all he needed was the opportunity. Boeheim gave him that chance against the Irish (21-8, 9-6), who lost their third straight.

"He was calling my play today," Edelin said. "Usually I have to try to get the other guys going. That's a point guard's job, getting 14 points or 12 points and a lot of assists. Today he just gave me freedom and called my number."

Edelin used his quickness to get around the Irish and drive the lane repeatedly to score.

"Once he got a couple of easy baskets, that really got him going," said Warrick, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds. "He was a little more aggressive with every shot."

Edelin, who sat out the first 12 games of the season for violating NCAA rules on outside competition, entered the game averaging 7.8 points and his previous season-high was 18 points against West Virginia.

"There are so many other threats that we were worried about, like Anthony and McNamara, and he was the one that hurt us," said Carroll, who led the Irish with 28 points. "He's a very good player."

The win clinched a first-round bye in the Big East tournament for Syracuse, which has won nine of its last 10 games against Notre Dame. The Irish, who have lost five of eight, will finish fourth in the West Division.

Carroll had 28 points, going 8-of-16 from beyond the arc to tie the school record for 3-pointers and break by one the school record for attempts.

"Matt deserved to have a win for his last home game," Irish coach Mike Brey said.

Torin Francis scored 19 points on 6-of-7 shooting and Chris Thomas had 16 points as the Irish lost their second straight home game after winning their first 14. The Irish have given up at least 82 points in each of the losses in the current streak.

"If we haven't learned our lesson after three losses, I don't know what it will take," Brey said.

[Baseball Guru]

This was a HUGE win for us last night!!!

We are now poised to share the BE title along with Pitt if we beat Rutgers at home on Sunday....Pitt also has to win their remaining games...

I'll say it again, not bad for a team that started the season unranked and took forever to get noticed and ranked.....

If everything falls right, by next weeks polls we should be top10....

Kudos to ND for storming back and actually tying the score with a minute-something left....

SU was up by 21 points in the first half and was extremely hit from the floor......ND battled back with what seemed like a tone of 3's in the 2nd half....

Turned out to be a great game....

BE tourney is ganna be good this year:clap2:

[rockin500]

yet another cardiac win. lol

but at least they beat ND.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Wow, James. I'm glad you're alive. You've been talking about heart failures recently, and when Carroll hit the three to tie the game at 88, I thought for sure you would've been hospitalized from a heart attack at a young age.

If Pitt and Syracuse win out, who gets the #1 seed?? Both teams have beaten each other this season, correct?

If it adds a few more years to your life, I'll say before every game McNamara isn't an NBA quality player last night. His hot shooting, I believe, was the only reason SU won last night ... if both teams started cold, I definitely think ND would've won by 5+.

ND sure has fallen fast. Last week they were #9 and if EVERYTHING went right (win out, win the BE tourney, other teams like Oklahoma, Texas, KY upset) then I think ND could've earned a #1 seed.

It seems to me like Thomas tries to take over the game too much. He plays out of control at times for someone who is thinking about jumping pro. Out of every ND game I've watched, he's taken bad shots each time, so it's safe to say he does that every game.

SU is looking real good right now, James. They play like this and they'll be a Sweet 16 team.

[Baseball Guru]

Agreed on McNamara...

He was on absolute fire the first part of the game....He had like 13 points in the first 7 minutes......
Your probably right, SU needed that 21 point lead just to hold on for that win....

Of course I kept thinking the whole time, they are gonna blow it because that is just their way...God forbid any game be easy:hmm:

They are a young team but they are playing well together and seem very confident at this point....They could make a nice run in the tourney...

Damn, I would love to see Anthony stay at least for one more year...This team will be super next season.....

Edelin has been playing well also and him missing the first 12 games hurt SU early but now they seem to be gelling at the right time....

I'm not sure who will get the #1 seed in the tourney....If both win outright they will have identical records both in BE and overall.....They also split the season series....I know the top 2 teams get a 1st round bye and SU with the win last night guaranteed that.....

Maybe Shon knows who will be the #1 seed.....

[GiveHyzduashot]

Watch SU draw one of those "dangerous" 15 seeds ... the teams that always hang around for 30 minutes and then get blown out in the last 10 minutes.

If Anthony stays next season, SU will be outstanding. They're not losing anyone major, are they James?

Edelin looked good last night.

SU had a great recruiting class ... Anthony, McNamara, Edelin etc. UNC has been said to have the best class, but so far SU is light years ahead of UNC.

[Baseball Guru]

The only starter they will lose next year is Duany who is a good role player and starts at point...But Edelin will be the starter next season and is a better player so not a huge loss....

[Baseball Guru]

Clinches at least a tie for the BE championship with a win vs Rutgers...

Anthony tied a career high with 30 points!!

SU is the #1 seed going into next weeks BE tourney!!!:clap2:

Not bad for a team generally not picked in the top 3 or 4 in their own BE bracket and not ranked during a good portion of the season:D

[rockin500]

whoo hoo! good job by cuse!

[Baseball Guru]

What a great day for me...

Go to the Mets game and they kick butt and then come home to watch the last 5 minutes of SU winning the BE plus the Knicks beat the Wizards by 1:clap2:

One of those rare all around great days:thumbsup:

Today, the sports God were good to me!!!

[rockin500]

:hail: :hail:

you definitely had the good luck goin today. :)

[awefullspellare]

woo cuse.... there the only team i expect to do much out of the Big East... i think its really overrated this year....

[GiveHyzduashot]

Just curious, awefull. Why don't you think Pitt will go far in the tournament?

I'd agree with you if you think only Syracuse and Pitt will go deep (say, Sweet 16), because frankly, I don't think Boston College, Seton Hall, or UConn can/will win two games. But I don't see Pitt making an early exit.

[Baseball Guru]

By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
March 12, 2003
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- The last time the Syracuse Orangemen were at Madison Square Garden, they were trying to explain how they lost their season opener to Memphis.

Carmelo Anthony began his freshman year with 27 points and 11 rebounds, but the Orangemen dropped a November game for the first time since 1996 -- breaking a winning streak of 26 in the month.

Fast forward to March and the madness that goes with it. Syracuse (23-4, 13-3 Big East) has won seven straight and is a top seed as it prepares for the Big East tournament. The Orangemen, who have a first-round bye, play Thursday night against the winner of the Georgetown-Villanova game Wednesday.

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Syracuse ended its regular season Sunday with a comeback 83-74 win over Rutgers, making the Orangemen 17-0 at home, its first unbeaten season in the Carrier Dome since it opened in 1980.

Syracuse was 6-4 away from the dome but finished with a flourish, winning at Michigan State, Georgetown and Notre Dame, all three games decided by four points or fewer.

``We play the rest of our games on the road, so we're going to have to buckle down and get it done,'' said freshman guard Gerry McNamara, who set a Big East record for free-throw shooting percentage, hitting 53-of-55 (96.3 percent) during the regular season. Khalid El-Amin of UConn held the old mark of 93.4 percent (57-for-61 in 1999-00).

Syracuse, which has attained its highest ranking of the season at No. 11, rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half Sunday and have won a dozen games after trailing by significant margins in the second half.

``Every game somebody different has stepped up,'' said Anthony, who set Big East freshman records with a 21.4 scoring average and 10 double-doubles. ``We've got a lot of confidence right now. We know that the first half of our season is over. We've got another part coming up in New York City. We control our own destiny. If we play together, we can go far.

``We owe them (the fans) a couple of games,'' Anthony said. ``We went up there the first game of the season and lost to Memphis, so I think we owe them some games.''

Syracuse beat Georgetown twice during the season but didn't play Villanova. Last year, the Wildcats stunned the Orangemen 78-64 in the first round of the Big East tournament, most likely costing Syracuse an NCAA tournament bid for only the fifth time in Jim Boeheim's 27 years as head coach.

``We're not going into this tournament not being tested,'' Boeheim said. ``To finish the way we have, this has been the hardest schedule of any team I've coached.''

The Orangemen finished 2001-02 by dropping nine of their final 13 games and ended up in the NIT, where they lost to South Carolina in the semifinals. With Anthony and McNamara in the lineup this season and sophomore forward Hakim Warrick displaying dramatic improvement over last year, Syracuse has won nine of its last 10 and ranks ninth in the Rating Percentage Index (RPI).

A team's RPI is derived from three factors: its winning percentage in Division I, strength of schedule, and strength of its opponents' schedules.

The Orangemen also are 7-1 in games decided by five or fewer points. The only loss was a 68-65 setback Jan. 29 at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights won on a desperation 3-pointer by Herve Lamizana that banked in off the glass with 16.6 seconds left.

``We've got guys that got heart, guys that make plays and don't ever back down and just keep playing hard,'' said Kueth Duany, the lone senior on the team. ``Whatever the situation may be, they just keep playing hard, and that's something this team has done all year long. After we slipped against Memphis, I think guys learned that we weren't that good and the only way we could win was playing hard.

``I'm very confident in my teammates,'' said Duany, who is averaging 11.9 points per game. ``We want to end this season the right way. When our intensity is up, there are not too many teams that can beat us. I think we're capable of going out there and winning the entire thing.''