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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The #10/9 Orange men’s basketball team (4-0) returns home after a successful run in the championship rounds of the 2K Sports Classic to host Central New York rival Cornell (2-1) at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Syracuse enters the game on a high note after defeating a pair of nationally-ranked opponents last week, including reigning national champion North Carolina, to win the 2K Sports Classic title.
Tickets for Tuesday’s game against the Big Red are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. The matchup will broadcast live on ESPN360.com. Fans can also listen to the action live via the Syracuse ISP Radio Network and its flagship TK 99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the radio broadcast will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse is coming off a pair of impressive victories at Madison Square Garden on its way to the 2K Sports Classic championship. The Orange dismantled Pac-10 favorite Cal, 95-73, in the tournament semifinals then routed North Carolina in the championship game, 87-71. The college basketball world took notice and has the Orange ranked 10th and ninth, respectively, in the most recent Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today national polls released on Nov. 23.
Syracuse is coming off a pair of impressive victories at Madison Square Garden on its way to the 2K Sports Classic championship. The Orange dismantled Pac-10 favorite Cal, 95-73, in the tournament semifinals then routed North Carolina in the championship game, 87-71. The college basketball world took notice and has the Orange ranked 10th and ninth, respectively, in the most recent Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today national polls released on Nov. 23.
Syracuse leads the BIG EAST Conference in scoring (89.2 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.546). The team’s high-powered offense has helped produce the league’s second-highest scoring margin this season as the Orange has won its four games by an average of 27.5 points per game. Notre Dame (+31.7) is the only conference team with a better mark.
Overall, five players are currently averaging double figures. Junior Wes Johnson (17.3 ppg) leads the way followed by senior Arinze Onuaku (13.8 ppg), sophomore Scoop Jardine (11.5 ppg), senior Andy Rautins (10.3 ppg) and freshman Brandon Triche (10.0 ppg).
As impressive as the offense has been, the team’s defense has been just as good. The Orange held a Cal team that entered last Thursday’s semifinal averaging better than 40 percent from long range to 30 percent (6-20) from behind the 3-point arc. Syracuse also limited North Carolina to a season-low 71 points on 38.1 percent (24-63) shooting from the floor.
The Orange lists third in the conference in field-goal percentage defense (.357), blocked shots (7.75 bpg) and first in steals (15.5 spg).
JOHNSON NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior Wes Johnson was selected as the first BIG EAST Player of the Week on Nov. 23. Johnson used the Orange’s two games in the Big Apple as personal coming out party. He averaged 21.0 points and 9.5 boards against Cal and North Carolina on his way to tournament MVP honors.
Junior Wes Johnson was selected as the first BIG EAST Player of the Week on Nov. 23. Johnson used the Orange’s two games in the Big Apple as personal coming out party. He averaged 21.0 points and 9.5 boards against Cal and North Carolina on his way to tournament MVP honors.
Against the Tar Heels, Johnson went for a career-best 25 points, including 16 in the first half. The Corsicana, Texas native hit four threes in the game and scored 11 straight SU points during one stretch in the first half. He also hauled down eight rebounds. The previous night versus Cal, Johnson registered his first double-double in an Orange uniform with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He also contributed a career-best six blocked shots.
RAUTINS LEADS BIG EAST IN STEALS
Senior Andy Rautins leads the BIG EAST Conference in steals average. Rautins has 17 thefts in four games, an average of 4.25 per contest. Against North Carolina, Rautins finished with a personal-best seven steals, tying several players for fifth on SU’s single-game record list.
Senior Andy Rautins leads the BIG EAST Conference in steals average. Rautins has 17 thefts in four games, an average of 4.25 per contest. Against North Carolina, Rautins finished with a personal-best seven steals, tying several players for fifth on SU’s single-game record list.
In addition, he poured in 11 points, tied his career high with seven rebounds and contributed seven assists versus the Tar Heels to join Johnson on the 2K Sports Classic All-Tournament Team. Rautins also canned three 3-point field goals in the game to increase his career total to 196, one shy of Lawrence Moten for fifth on SU’s all-time list.
SCOUTING CORNELL
The Big Red is off to a 2-1 start with road wins at Alabama and Massachusetts to open the season before losing in its home opener to Seton Hall, 89-79, on Nov. 20. The loss snapped the program’s 21-game home winning streak.
The senior trio of Louis Dale (13.7 ppg, 3.7 apg) Jeff Foote (11.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Ryan Wittman (17.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) is the engine that drives the Big Red. Dale is second on the squad in scoring and tallied a team-best 24 points in the win at Massachusetts. Foote has been the team’s leading rebounder in all three outings, and Wittman is one of the best 3-point marksmen in the nation. Wittman has hit 11-of-27 (.407) triple tries this season and paced the Big Red with 23 points against Alabama and 24 versus Seton Hall.
The senior trio of Louis Dale (13.7 ppg, 3.7 apg) Jeff Foote (11.0 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and Ryan Wittman (17.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) is the engine that drives the Big Red. Dale is second on the squad in scoring and tallied a team-best 24 points in the win at Massachusetts. Foote has been the team’s leading rebounder in all three outings, and Wittman is one of the best 3-point marksmen in the nation. Wittman has hit 11-of-27 (.407) triple tries this season and paced the Big Red with 23 points against Alabama and 24 versus Seton Hall.
Sophomore guard Chris Wroblewski (10 ppg, 3.3 rpg), the 2008-09 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, and senior forward Alex Tyler (1.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg) round out Cornell’s starting five.
Head coach Steve Donahue is in his 10th season with the Big Red. He owns a 119-134 overall record and has led Cornell to back-to-back Ivy League championships. The team went 21-10 last season, including a loss to Missouri in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and is 45-17 overall in the last three years.
THE SERIES
Syracuse owns an 85-31 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams and has won the last 31 meetings dating back to the 1968-69 campaign. The Orange is 17-0 all-time against the Big Red at the Carrier Dome and emerged with an 88-78 win at the Dome in last year’s pairing.
Syracuse owns an 85-31 advantage in the all-time series between the two teams and has won the last 31 meetings dating back to the 1968-69 campaign. The Orange is 17-0 all-time against the Big Red at the Carrier Dome and emerged with an 88-78 win at the Dome in last year’s pairing.
Cornell kept last season’s game close before Syracuse pulled away midway through the second half. Wittman poured in a game-high 33 points to help keep the Big Red in it.
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