Friday, March 13
Madison Square Garden
9:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
West Virginia
Andy Rautins had 20 points in SU's marathon win against Connecticut.
SU-WVU Take The Floor In BET Semis
3/13/2009 4:49:13 PM | Men's Basketball
Tournament Central | Bracket | Live Audio
NEW YORK, N.Y. – A pair of upset-minded squads square off in the second BIG EAST Championship semifinal Friday, March 13 at approximately 9 p.m at Madison Square Garden when West Virginia and Syracuse take the floor. The sixth-seeded Orange (25-8) upset No. 3 seed Connecticut by the score of 127-117 in six overtimes in Thursday's last quarterfinal. In the previous game, seventh-seeded West Virginia (23-10) knocked off the No. 2 seed, Pittsburgh, by the count of 74-60.
Friday's matchup will be televised live nationally on ESPN. Fans can also catch the action on the radio live via the Syracuse ISP Sports Network and its flagship station TK 99 (99.5 FM). Live streaming audio of the game will be available online on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.
Top seed Louisville will face fourth-seeded Villanova in the tournament's first semifinal which gets underway at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse enters tonight's contest after engaging in what was tied for the second-longest game in NCAA history Thursday against Connecticut. The Orange and Huskies played six overtimes. The time of the game was three hours and 46 minutes, making it the longest BIG EAST Conference game ever (regular-season or championship). The longest NCAA game on record was a seven-overtime clash between Cincinnati and Bradley on Dec. 21, 1981.
Syracuse enters tonight's contest after engaging in what was tied for the second-longest game in NCAA history Thursday against Connecticut. The Orange and Huskies played six overtimes. The time of the game was three hours and 46 minutes, making it the longest BIG EAST Conference game ever (regular-season or championship). The longest NCAA game on record was a seven-overtime clash between Cincinnati and Bradley on Dec. 21, 1981.
Sophomore guard Jonny Flynn recorded a double-double for the second night in a row with 34 points and 11 assists. He played a school-record 67 minutes out of the possible 70 minutes against the Huskies. He was a perfect 16-for-16 from the free-throw line. His 34-point showing was his second 30-point game of the year and was one shy of Sherman Douglas' Orange BIG EAST Tournament record (35 points vs. Pittsburgh, 3/7/87).
Junior Paul Harris posted the Orange's second 20-point, 20-rebound double-double in conference tournament play with 29 points and 22 boards against the Huskies. Derrick Coleman was the only other SU player to achieve the feat with 25 points and 23 rebounds against Villanova in the 1990 BIG EAST Tournament.
Junior Eric Devendorf chipped in 22 points and classmate Andy Rautins finished with 20. It was Rautins' three to kick off the sixth extra session that gave the Orange the lead for the first time in OT. The shot sparked SU as it outscored the Huskies, 17-7, in the sixth extra frame to record the victory.
The game was nearly decided in regulation, but Devendorf's off-balance three at the buzzer was wiped out after the officials check the monitor and ruled that he did not get the shot off in time. The decision set the stage for the epic six overtime sessions.
The marathon victory secured Syracuse's 20th trip to the tournament semifinals.
ORANGE IN THE BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
Syracuse is 44-24 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament. Its 44 tournament wins ranks second in the league behind Georgetown's 45 triumphs. The only other time Syracuse was the tournament's sixth seed was in 1981 and the Orange fared well, winning its first tournament championship with an 83-80 triple-overtime victory against Villanova in the Carrier Dome. Overall, the Orange has won the tournament crown five times, including back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006.
Syracuse is 44-24 all-time in the BIG EAST Tournament. Its 44 tournament wins ranks second in the league behind Georgetown's 45 triumphs. The only other time Syracuse was the tournament's sixth seed was in 1981 and the Orange fared well, winning its first tournament championship with an 83-80 triple-overtime victory against Villanova in the Carrier Dome. Overall, the Orange has won the tournament crown five times, including back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
The Mountaineers have won four of their last five, including victories against Notre Dame and the aforementioned Panthers to set up tonight's showdown. West Virginia is led by the trio of junior Da'Sean Butler (17.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg), senior Alex Ruoff (16.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and rookie Devin Ebanks (10.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg).
The Mountaineers have won four of their last five, including victories against Notre Dame and the aforementioned Panthers to set up tonight's showdown. West Virginia is led by the trio of junior Da'Sean Butler (17.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg), senior Alex Ruoff (16.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and rookie Devin Ebanks (10.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg).
Butler was an all-league second-team choice and leads the Mountaineers in scoring. Ruoff earned conference honorable mention laurels and was voted the BIG EAST Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Ebanks leads West Virginia in rebounding and was a conference all-rookie team choice. Ebanks paced the Mountaineers with 20 points last night against Pittsburgh.
Bob Huggins is in his second season as head coach at West Virginia. Overall, Huggins is 639-232 as a college head coach. He spent most of his career at Cincinnati where he led the Bearcats to 14 NCAA appearances in 16 seasons and the Final Four in 1991-92.
THE SERIES
Overall, Syracuse leads the all-time series, 30-16. The Orange posted a 74-61 win against the Mountaineers in the Carrier Dome during the regular season.
Overall, Syracuse leads the all-time series, 30-16. The Orange posted a 74-61 win against the Mountaineers in the Carrier Dome during the regular season.
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