SU Looks to End Two-Game Losing Streak Saturday Against Virginia Tech
1/30/2004 2:33:52 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The #20/22 Syracuse men’s basketball team (13-3, 3-2) will look to rebound from its first two-game losing skid since 2001-02 when it hosts Virginia Tech (8-9, 1-5) in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m.
Despite 16 points and 10 rebounds by junior Hakim Warrick, the Orangemen lost to Pittsburgh, 66-45 in their last outing on Jan. 24. It was the fewest points SU has scored since it managed 41 in a loss to Kansas on Dec. 14, 1968. Freshman Darryl Watkins played a season-high 17 minutes and contributed four blocked shots against the Panthers.
Earlier this week, Warrick was chosen as a semi-finalist for the Wooden Award, as the committee narrowed its list of candidates. He was also named to The Sporting News first-half All-America team. Warrick is second in the BIG EAST in scoring at 19.8 points per game and sixth in rebounding average (8.6). Syracuse is first in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.36 and sophomore guard Billy Edelin is tied for third in the league at 5.38 assists per contest.
Virginia Tech is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, having lost to #8/8 Connecticut, 96-60, in its most recent contest on Jan. 28. Senior Bryant Matthews paces the Hokies at 24 points per game, the top scoring mark in the BIG EAST. He also leads the conference with 45 steals and ranks third in rebounding average (9.9). Against Connecticut, Matthews tallied almost half of Virginia Tech’s 60 points (25).
Zabian Dowdell is also scoring in double figures for the Hokies this season at 12.5 points per game and Jamon Gordon is averaging 10.3 points per contest. Gordon is also tied for the club lead with 56 assists.
This is the first time Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg will face the Orangemen as a Hokie. He is 0-1 against Syracuse, having lost to the Orange, 80-68, wihile coaching at South Florida in 2001-02.
The Orangemen have defeated the Hokies twice in three previous meetings at the Carrier Dome. The all-time series is tied, 2-2.
The two teams last met in 2002 with the Orangemen prevailing, 81-69. SU made 25-of-29 free-throws in the contest on the their way to the triumph. Preston Shumpert and DeShaun Williams led SU with 25 points and 28 points, respectively.
Saturday is also Syracuse University Employee Day. All SU employees are eligible to purchase discounted tickets ($14.00 adult, $4.00 youth) by showing a valid SU faculty/staff ID at the Carrier Dome Box Office by Jan. 30.
The Success by Six Book Drive will also take place at the Dome Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring new or used children’s books to the game to benefit the United Way.
Prior to tip-off the annual men’s basketball alumni game will take place. The game will begin at 5:00 p.m. Former Orange standouts Roosevelt Bouie, Tony Bruin, Marty Headd, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington will compete, among others.
The Virginia Tech game will be televised on Time Warner Cable in Syracuse and Albany. It will also be carried on Adelphia Cable in the in the Syracuse, Albany, and Utica areas. Fans in Virginia can see the matchup WAPK. John Sanders and Jack Armstrong will call the action.
Fans can also listen to the game on the SU Radio Network with the “Voice of the Orange” Mark Johnson and Matt Park. The pre-game show will begin 60 minutes prior to tip off on 1260 AM with the rest of the network joining the broadcast 30 minutes before game time. Fans can also hear the contest live via the Internet at www.suathletics.com
Gates A, B, C, and E will open at 4:55 before the start of the alumni game. All other gates will open 90 minutes prior to the Virginia Tech contest.
Tickets are available at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), by telephone (1-888-DOMETIX) or on the Internet at www.dometix.com
