Orangemen Prepare for BIG EAST Home Opener
1/10/2003 2:32:21 PM | Men's Basketball
The B.C. contest will not be televised in the Syracuse area. However, ESPN Regional will carry the game in New York City (WWOR), Philadelpia (Comcast Sportsnet), and the Boston-Manchester area (WLVI). Syracuse area fans can tune in to ESPN Radio 1260 AM to listen to the game. Voice of the Orange Mark Johnson will handle the play-by-play, and Matt Park will provide color commentary.
Syracuse is coming off a 70-66 come-from-behind win in its first BIG EAST game of the season at Seton Hall on Wednesday. Freshman guard Gerry McNamara and senior captain Kueth Duany keyed the comeback, with each scoring nine-straight points in the second-half surge. McNamara used three three-point plays to tie the game at 56. He stole the ball off the ensuing in-bounds pass and dished it to Duany who used a dunk to start his nine-point streak. McNamara’s final two free throws of a 7-for-7 night capped the Orangemen’s victory. Duany is averaging 14.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and McNamara is averaging 14.7 points and 5.1 assists per outing.
Boston College is led by senior Troy Bell, the 1999-00 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year and 2000-01 co-BIG EAST Player of the Year. Bell, who is averaging a team-high 22.5 points per game, is part of one of the conference’s top backcourts, which includes junior Ryan Sidney (14.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Freshman forward Craig Smith (20.6 ppg, 8.8 rpg) is a candidate for BIG EAST Rookie of the Year.
Fans are invited to attend an SU alumni game which will begin at 5:00 p.m. More than 40 former players are expected to participate. Gates A, B, C and E will open at 4:45 p.m.
The B.C. game will also be the first opportunity for Syracuse fans to preview the Carrier Dome’s new Daktronics video boards. A board will be in place for the Orangemen’s games against the Eagles and against Missouri on Monday, Jan. 13. The permanent boards will be installed in the Dome during the summer of 2003 and will be operational in time for the Syracuse football team’s first home contest.
