Orange Climbs Up Polls
1/5/2009 3:30:35 PM | Men's Basketball
SYRACUSE, NY -- The Syracuse men's basketball program moved further up the two national polls on Monday, earning the 11th spot in the Associated Press ranking and ninth in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The Orange, 14-1 overall and 2-0 in the BIG EAST, won both outings since the last poll was announced.
SU is back in 11th in the Associated Press Poll for the second time this year. The Orange were placed in that spot in the December 15 rankings but lost that evening to Cleveland State on a three-quarter court shot at the buzzer, 72-69. Syracuse tests its most recent poll position on Wednesday when it hosts DePaul (8-7, 0-2 BIG EAST) in the Carrier Dome at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at SUathletics.com, by phone at 1-800-DomeTIX or in person at the Dome during regular business hours.
Coach Jim Boeheim's club has won five straight since the loss to Cleveland State. The Orange have already accumulated three victories against nationally-ranked clubs, defeating #17/18 Florida, #22/23 Kansas and #23/21 Memphis.
Syracuse last owned a top-10 spot in the Associated Press Poll in February 2005.
For the second time this season, the BIG EAST Conference set a record for most league members in the Associated Press Poll. Earlier in the campaign, the BIG EAST established a standard with eight of its members in the top 25. The January 5 poll includes nine institutions affiliated with the BIG EAST: Pittsburgh (1), Connecticut (5), Georgetown (9), Syracuse (11), Notre Dame (13), Marquette (18), Villanova (18), Louisville (23) and West Virginia (25).
