Coleman's Jersey To Be Retired Sunday
3/2/2006 2:50:17 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY -- Derrick Coleman, the top rebounder in Syracuse men's basketball history and the number one overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, will have his jersey retired by the University in a halftime ceremony during the SU-Villanova game on Sunday, March 5, in the Carrier Dome.
"It is an honor as a member of the SU family, and a privilege, to have my jersey retired," said Coleman. "When I think about the people I played with and the people I watched and idolized like Pearl (Washington) and Sherman (Douglas), it means a great deal. I can't say enough about having my jersey next to Dave Bing's."
Coleman's jersey will join those of Dave Bing, Sherman Douglas, Vic Hanson, Wilmeth-Sidat Singh and Dwayne "Pearl" Washington.
He earned All-Ameircan honors in each of his four seasons at Syracuse and was a consensus pick in 1990. Coleman was the 1986-87 BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year and a third-team all-league pick that year. He was a first-team all-conference selection in his next three campaigns and wa the 1989-90 BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year.
One of the most dominant rebounders in college basketball history, Coleman accumulated 1,537 rebounds at SU, some 443 ahead of Rony Seikaly , who is second on the Orange ledger. He led Syracuse in rebounding in all four seasons. His 422 boards in 1988-89 remain a single-season record.
Coleman tallied 2,143 career points, a total that ranks second behind Lawrence Moten on the Hilll His 140 career starts are a school standard, as are 587 career free throws, 858 career free throw attempts, 121 double-figure scoring games and 83 career double-doubles.
He ranks third in career blocked shots (319), trailing only Etan Thomas (424) and Roosevelt Bouie (327).
Coleman was the first NCAA player to prodcued at least 2,000 points, 1,400 rebounds and 300 blocked shots.
The Orange were 113-31 during Coleman's tenure. SU earned NCAA Tournament berths each season and advanced to three "Sweet 16's," and the NCAA championship game in 1987.
In 2004, Coleman was selected as a member of the BIG EAST Conference's Silver Anniversary Team. Players were selected by fan voting.
After being picked first by the New Jersey Nets, Coleman embarked on a 15-season NBA career that included stops in Philadelphia, Charlotte and Detroit. He retired following the 2004-05 campaign. He averaged a double-double in five of his first seven pro campaigns.
He was a member of 1994 U.S. Olympic squad, knowns as "Dream Team II."
Coleman was a high school All-American at Northern High School in Detroit.
Sunday's game with Villanova is the first pre-announced sell-out in the history of the Carrier Dome. Ticket sales have surpassed the 33,199 sold for last year's home game with Notre Dame, the current NCAA record for an on-campus arena.
