Menu
Wesley Cheng Home
  • Home
    • Environment
    • Literature
    • Movie Review
    • Philosophy
    • Politics
    • Racism
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Television
    • Theater
  • About Me
  • Resume
  • Contact
Wesley Cheng Home

Orange dominate paint, rolls past Lumberjacks

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Wes

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim’s message was clear – get the ball inside.

The Orange certainly heeded his message.

Forward Rick Jackson (6-foot-9, 240 pounds) and center Arinze Onuaku (6-9, 275) combined for 24 points and 17 rebounds as No. 3 seed Syracuse easily dispatched No. 14 seed and NCAA Tournament newcomer Stephen F. Austin 59-44 in opening round South Regional play.

“Coach was saying in the huddle, ‘We’re a bigger, stronger team, let’s pound it down low,’” forward Paul Harris said. “We got it down low.”

Syracuse quickly established its inside presence as Jackson blocked Lumberjack center Matt Kingsley on the first possession.

The Orange brought the ball down the floor and immediately threw it down low to Jackson who found Onuaku for an easy lay-in. On the ensuing possession, Jackson took an entry pass for an emphatic slam, which propelled Syracuse to a 20-4 lead.

The Lumberjacks would never be able to get back within single digits.

“Coach made some good play calls to get them the ball,” guard Jonny Flynn said. “When our big guys are rolling and down there banging and dunking, I don’t think anybody in the country can stop us.”

Syracuse also controlled the glass, outrebounding Stephen F. Austin, 51-32. Harris led the way with 16 rebounds.

The win marked the first time since 2004 Syracuse had won an NCAA Tournament game.

Since winning the National Championship in 2003, the Orange has not gone further than the Sweet 16. In 2005 and 2006, the Orange was upset in the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament by Vermont and Texas A&M, respectively. In the following two seasons, the Orange was relegated to the National Invitation Tournament.

Of the current Orange, only guard Eric Devendorf had seen any NCAA Tournament minutes.

That all changed Friday, as Syracuse won their first NCAA game in five years.

“Ever since I came to Syracuse, I wanted to get into the NCAA Tournament,” Harris said. “I’ve been to the NIT two years in a row and finally got here, and our mission is to win it all.”

The Orange showed no ill effects from the Big East Tournament, which saw them play four games in as many days, including a six overtime thriller against rival Connecticut and then another overtime game against West Virginia the following night. The Orange 2-3 zone stifled and stymied the Lumberjacks, holding them to just 2-for-21 shooting from 3-point land.

Still, Syracuse had problems of its own shooting, as Syracuse went 2-for-16 from downtown. Sharpshooters Andy Rautins and Devendorf were anything but, finishing a combined 1-for-11 from beyond the arc, 3-for-17 overall.

“When Eric and Andy shoot 3 for 17 [from the field], we usually lose by about 15,” Boeheim said. “We were fortunate today to survive a bad shooting performance by those two guys.”

The Orange was without reserve forward Kristof Ongenaet, who had flu-like symptoms. Ongenaet also had a foot injury sustained in practice, but is expected to be ready Sunday when the Orange face No. 6 seed Arizona State, which defeated No. 11 seed Temple.

“I wanted to try to keep him out if I could,” Boeheim said. “Fortunately we were able to.”

This article was originally published on http://syracuse.scout.com/2/849266.html

  • Arinze Onuaku
  • Basketball
  • Syracuse
  • Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Archives

    • August 2024
    • April 2024
    • January 2024
    • June 2023
    • February 2023
    • December 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • February 2022
    • November 2021
    • July 2021
    • May 2021
    • November 2020
    • September 2020
    • December 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • April 2019
    • November 2015
    • July 2015
    • September 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • October 2013
    • May 2013
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • February 2011
    • August 2010
    • May 2010
    • March 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • March 2009
    • January 2009
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • April 2008
    • February 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • September 2006
    • July 2006
    • June 2006
    • May 2005
    • April 2005
    • March 2005
    • February 2005
    • January 2005
    • December 2004
    • September 2004
    • August 2004
    • May 2004
    • April 2004
    • December 2003
    • November 2003
    • October 2003
    • September 2003
    • August 2003
    • April 2003
    • March 2003
    • February 2003
    • January 2003
    • December 2002
    • November 2002
    • October 2002
    • September 2002
    • July 2002
    • May 2002
    • April 2002
    ©2025 Wesley Cheng Home | Powered by Superb Themes