Friday, March 19
9:37 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
University of Vermont
Kris Joseph will see a familiar face on the Vermont sideline Friday - his older brother Maurice.
Time To Dance! Orange Opens NCAA Tournament Friday Against Vermont
3/18/2010 10:30:09 PM | Men's Basketball
Tournament Central | Bracket | Tournament Notes | Live audio
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Orange men's basketball team (28-4) opens NCAA Tournament play against 16th-seeded Vermont (25-9) at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Friday, March 19 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo. Syracuse received the top seed in the West Region on the strength of winning the BIG EAST regular-season championship. Vermont garnered the America East Conference's automatic bid after sweeping through the league's postseason tournament.
The Syracuse-Vermont game is one of four that will be played at HSBC Arena on Friday. The other first-round games at the site are No. 2 West Virgina versus No. 15 Morgan State at 12:15 p.m., No. 7 Clemson versus No. 10 Missouri at 2:35 p.m. and No. 8 Gonzaga versus No. 9 Florida State at 7:10 p.m.
The Syracuse-Vermont winner will get the winner of Gonzaga-Florida State on Sunday in the second round.
Every game of the tournament will be televised live on CBS and are available free online through CBS Sports' MMOD (March Madness on Demand) Player available by clicking here. Fans can also catch Orange in action live via the Syracuse ISP Sports Network and its flagship radio station TK99 (99.5 FM). A live audio stream of the Syracuse radio broadcast will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access.
The Syracuse-Vermont contest is one of the most intriguing first-round matchups in the tournament. In the only other meeting between the two teams, the 13th-seeded Catamounts upset the fourth-seeded Orange, 60-57, in overtime in the opening round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
ORANGE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Syracuse is making its 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange owns a 50-32 overall tournament record. SU has reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" 18 times, the "Elite Eight" seven times, and four Final Fours. Syracuse made championship-game appearances in 1987, 1996 and in 2003, winning the title in the most recent visit.
Syracuse is making its 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Orange owns a 50-32 overall tournament record. SU has reached the NCAA "Sweet 16" 18 times, the "Elite Eight" seven times, and four Final Fours. Syracuse made championship-game appearances in 1987, 1996 and in 2003, winning the title in the most recent visit.
COACH BOEHEIM IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
In 34 seasons at the helm of the Orange, Jim Boeheim has led his alma mater to 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. His 42 victories in NCAA postseason play are tied for eighth on the all-time list for Division I coaches. He owns a .627 NCAA Tournament winning percentage (42-25). Syracuse has appeared in 14 regional semifinals, four regional finals, four Final Fours and three title games under Boeheim.
In 34 seasons at the helm of the Orange, Jim Boeheim has led his alma mater to 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. His 42 victories in NCAA postseason play are tied for eighth on the all-time list for Division I coaches. He owns a .627 NCAA Tournament winning percentage (42-25). Syracuse has appeared in 14 regional semifinals, four regional finals, four Final Fours and three title games under Boeheim.
ORANGE AS A NO. 1 SEED
The 2010 NCAA Tournament marks the second time in school history that the Orange will start the national competition as a No. 1 seed. The only other time that Syracuse was seeded first was in 1980. That year, the Orange received the top seed in the East Region and earned a first-round bye before defeating Villanova (97-83) in the second round. The following week, Syracuse was eliminated by Iowa, 88-77.
The 2010 NCAA Tournament marks the second time in school history that the Orange will start the national competition as a No. 1 seed. The only other time that Syracuse was seeded first was in 1980. That year, the Orange received the top seed in the East Region and earned a first-round bye before defeating Villanova (97-83) in the second round. The following week, Syracuse was eliminated by Iowa, 88-77.
ORANGE IN THE WEST REGION
This year's regional placement is the fourth time Syracuse has been put in the West Region. The Orange owns a 9-3 record in its previous three West Region appearances. Syracuse was 2-1 in 1994; 5-1 and advanced to the national championship game in 1996; and 2-1 in 2004.
This year's regional placement is the fourth time Syracuse has been put in the West Region. The Orange owns a 9-3 record in its previous three West Region appearances. Syracuse was 2-1 in 1994; 5-1 and advanced to the national championship game in 1996; and 2-1 in 2004.
SCOUTING VERMONT
The Catamounts are making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Vermont earned a spot in the field of 65 by winning the America East Tournament with an 83-70 win over Boston University in the conference championship game. The Catamounts enter the tournament having won 11 of their last 12 games overall and their 25 wins are tied for the most in school history.
The Catamounts are making their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Vermont earned a spot in the field of 65 by winning the America East Tournament with an 83-70 win over Boston University in the conference championship game. The Catamounts enter the tournament having won 11 of their last 12 games overall and their 25 wins are tied for the most in school history.
Senior Marqus Blakely leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 ppg). He paced the Catamounts in the America East title game with 24 points, 18 rebounds and five assists on his way to earning Reggie Lewis Most Outstanding Player honors. Blakely is one of three active Division I players with at least 1,500 points, 900 rebounds and 200 blocks. Blakely's career totals are 1,858 points, 1,035 rebounds and 253 career rejections.
Classmate Maurice Joseph, the older brother of Orange sophomore forward Kris Joseph, is second behind Blakely in scoring average (14.1 ppg). He leads the Catamounts in 3-point field goals (75) and is hitting 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts (75-197) for the year. The elder Joseph is also Vermont's top free-throw shooter (.853, 122-143) and the team's only captain.
Senior Nick Vier (5.4 ppg), sophomore Garvey Young (7.5 ppg) and junior Evan Fjeld (10.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) round out the Catamounts likely starting five.
Head coach Mike Lonergan is in his fifth season at the helm of the program. He succeeded longtime coach Tom Brennan in 2005-06 and has compiled a 103-58 record with the Catamounts. Lonergan previously spent time as an assistant coach at American International College (188-89), Colgate (1989-92) and Maryland (2004-05). He was also the head coach at Division III Catholic University in Washington, D.C. from 1992-2004.
THE SERIES
The aforementioned 2005 NCAA Tournament contest is only time the Orange and Catamounts have squared off on the hardwood. That game took place on March 18, 2005 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
The aforementioned 2005 NCAA Tournament contest is only time the Orange and Catamounts have squared off on the hardwood. That game took place on March 18, 2005 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
The Orange led by two (51-49) with 1:12 to play, but a jumper by Vermont's Taylor Coppenrath with 53 seconds left tied it and forced overtime. The Catamounts outscored Syracuse, 9-6, in the extra session to record a 60-57 victory.
Hakim Warrick tallied a game-best 21 points for the Orange. Germain Mopa Njila paced the Catamounts with 20 points and nine rebounds. Vermont also got 17 points from T. J. Sorrentine and 16 from Coppenrath.
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Tuesday, March 10
Highlights | Syracuse vs. SMU - ACC 1st Round
Tuesday, March 10
Syracuse Men's Basketball Postgame Press Conference
Saturday, March 07
Adrian Autry postgame vs. Pittsburgh
Saturday, March 07
