Paul Harris already has five double-doubles this year.
Syracuse And Virginia Renew Acquaintances
12/4/2007 9:52:42 AM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SU men's basketball team (5-2) returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 5 when it travels to Charlottesville, Va., to play ACC foe Virginia (6-1) for the first time during the regular season. The contest is an opportunity for both teams to earn a marquee non-conference win as the college basketball season rolls towards the New Year and the start of league play. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones arena.
Voice of the Orange Matt Park and former Post-Standard columnist Bob Snyder will have the call on the Syracuse ISP Network’s flagship (TK-99.5 FM) with the pre-game show beginning an hour before tipoff. The radio network broadcast is available live on Orange All-Access. In addition, Wednesday’s game will be televised live nationally on ESPN2.
The Orange and the Cavaliers have met twice previously with both encounters coming during the NCAA Tournament. Virginia defeated SU in the 1984 East Regional at Atlanta, 63-55. The two programs met again in the 1990 Southeast Regional and Syracuse prevailed in Richmond, Va., 63-61.
Syracuse bounced back from its loss to Massachusetts last Wednesday with a strong defensive effort en route to a 73-60 triumph against Tulane on Saturday, Dec. 1. The Orange held the Green Wave to 34.5 percent shooting (20-58), forced 17 turnovers and recorded nine steals in holding Tulane to 47 fewer points than it surrendered to the Minutemen (107).
In addition to its defense, rebounding also was an important factor in the win. The Orange owned a 47-33 advantage on the glass, and grabbed 20 offensive caroms that led to 24 second-chance points. Center Arinze Onuaku (Lanham, Md.) and forward Paul Harris (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) combined for 15 of SU’s 20 offensive boards. Onuaku had eight and Harris snagged seven. Both players registered double-digit rebounds and Onuaku finished with a career-high 16. He chipped in 14 points for his second consecutive double-double. Harris finished with 15 points and 10 boards. It was his fifth double in seven games. Harris notched seven double-doubles all of last season.
SU’s play in the post offset the first poor shooting night for rookie Donte’ Greene (Baltimore, Md.). Greene finished with just nine points, marking the first time this season he didn’t reach double figures. Greene still leads the Orange in scoring at 18.9 points per outing and now ranks on the club in rebounding (8.6 rpg) after a career-best 11 versus the Green Wave.
Third-year Virginia coach Dave Leitao is familiar to Syracuse fans. He was an assistant coach with BIG EAST rival Connecticut for 14 seasons and then served as head coach at DePaul for three campaigns. He was named the 2007 ACC Coach of the Year after guiding the Cavs to a 21-11 record and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia has 11 returning letterwinners and three starters back from the squad that captured the ACC regular-season title. The Cavaliers have jumped out to a 6-1 start with the lone loss to Seton Hall, 74-60. Included is a win at Arizona, 75-72.
Senior guard Sean Singletary, an All-American last season, is averaging a club-best 20.4 points per game. Senior forward Adrian Joseph is the team’s top rebounder (8.1 rpg).
Stanchion to Stanchion | Laila Phelia
Wednesday, March 04
Naithan George postgame at Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
Adrian Autry postgame at Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Louisville
Wednesday, March 04
