Paul Harris is SU's leading rebounder at 8.0 rpg.
Syracuse and #18/19 Florida Collide in Semifinals of CBE Classic
11/23/2008 11:17:40 AM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange men’s basketball team tangles with its first nationally-ranked opponent this season when it meets #18/19 Florida in the semifinals of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic on Monday, Nov. 24 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. The Syracuse-Florida winner will face the winner of Monday’s second semifinal – Kansas versus Washington – in the tournament championship game Tuesday.
Both the Orange and Gators enter Monday’s tilt with 3-0 records and both clubs have defeated their foes by an average of 19.7 point per game. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for Monday’s two semifinals and Tuesday’s consolation and championship games are available at Ticketmaster.com Fans not in attendance can watch the game live nationally on ESPN2 or listen to the action via the Syracuse ISP Sports Network and its flagship station TK 99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.
The game is also available free to any student on campus (in fact, to any student on any U.S.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse carries a three-game winning streak into its matchup with the Gators. The Orange is coming off an 86-66 win against Oakland at the Carrier Dome on Nov. 21. Syracuse never trailed against the Golden Grizzlies and led by as many as 24 in the second half.
Syracuse carries a three-game winning streak into its matchup with the Gators. The Orange is coming off an 86-66 win against Oakland at the Carrier Dome on Nov. 21. Syracuse never trailed against the Golden Grizzlies and led by as many as 24 in the second half.
Sophomore point guard Jonny Flynn (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) led Syracuse in scoring for the third time this season, finishing with 18 points. Freshman Kris Joseph (Montreal, Quebec) had his most productive game of the campaign thus far, scoring a personal-best 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field.
Flynn leads four Orange starters averaging double-digit points this season at 20.0 ppg. Guard Eric Devendorf (Bay City, Mich.) is second on the team in scoring (15.3 ppg). Center Arinze Onuaku (Lanham, Md.) leads Syracuse in field-goal percentage (79.2 pct.) and is averaging 14.3 ppg. Forward Paul Harris (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) rounds out SU’s list of double-figure scorers at 10.0 ppg.
REBOUNDING IS KEY
The Orange has dominated the glass in its first three games. Syracuse is averaging 42.3 boards per game to 30.7 for its opponents, a margin of +11.7. The Orange has won the rebounding battle in each of its three outings and pulled down a season-best 48 caroms Friday against Oakland. Harris leads the Orange at 8.0 rpg and SU boasts four players with rebounding averages greater than 5.0.
The Orange has dominated the glass in its first three games. Syracuse is averaging 42.3 boards per game to 30.7 for its opponents, a margin of +11.7. The Orange has won the rebounding battle in each of its three outings and pulled down a season-best 48 caroms Friday against Oakland. Harris leads the Orange at 8.0 rpg and SU boasts four players with rebounding averages greater than 5.0.
RECENT NATIONAL CHAMPIONS DESCEND ON KANSAS CITY
When Syracuse, Kansas, Florida and Washington take the floor at the Sprint Center, they will combine to represent four of the last six national champions. Syracuse won the crown in 2003 and Florida won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Kansas is the most recent NCAA title-winner. The Jayhawks were crowned national champions after holding off Memphis in last year’s title tilt.
When Syracuse, Kansas, Florida and Washington take the floor at the Sprint Center, they will combine to represent four of the last six national champions. Syracuse won the crown in 2003 and Florida won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Kansas is the most recent NCAA title-winner. The Jayhawks were crowned national champions after holding off Memphis in last year’s title tilt.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
The Gators are ranked 18th and 19th, respectively, in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. They posted wins against Toledo (80-58), Bradley (81-58) and Southern Utah (64-50) in their opening three games.
The Gators are ranked 18th and 19th, respectively, in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. They posted wins against Toledo (80-58), Bradley (81-58) and Southern Utah (64-50) in their opening three games.
Sophomore Nick Calathes leads Florida in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg). He is also the club’s leading assist man (17) and a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award. Dan Werner is Coach Billy Donovan’s only other double-digit scorer at 15.0 ppg.
Donovan got his coaching start as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky. Donovan also played for Pitino in the 1980s when Pitino was the head coach at Providence. Donovan received his first head coaching job at Marshall in 1994 and spent two seasons with the Thundering Heard before taking over the Gators in 1996-97. In his 13 years at Florida, Donovan owns a 288-115 record and has led the Gators to three Final Fours, including consecutive national championships in 2006 and 2007. In 15 years as a college head coach, Donovan is 323-135.
THE SERIES
This is the third meeting between Syracuse and Florida. The Orange posted an 87-81 decision in the 1987 Sweet 16, while the Gators won the most recent meeting between the two, 75-70, in the championship game of the 2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
This is the third meeting between Syracuse and Florida. The Orange posted an 87-81 decision in the 1987 Sweet 16, while the Gators won the most recent meeting between the two, 75-70, in the championship game of the 2005 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
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