Preparation For NCAA Tourney Opener Ramped Up
3/17/2021 9:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Syracuse University men's basketball team had its first complete day of activity since arriving in Indianapolis on Monday afternoon for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
The Orange passed its COVID testing protocols late Tuesday afternoon, clearing the way to ramp up preparation for the first-round encounter with San Diego State on Friday, March 19, at 9:40 p.m.
Syracuse began a full Wednesday with COVID testing, part of the daily routine for all 68 times selected for the Tournament. Breakfast followed and then a few hours for virtual classes and schoolwork. The travel party includes Katie Scanlon, director of academics for student-athlete development, who helps the players stay up with assignments while the group is away from Syracuse.
The team congregated in its meeting room for lunch around 2 p.m. Shortly after, the group moved to the roof top of an area parking garage, which allowed them to pose in front of the world's largest "bracket." Spanning 47,000 square feet, the bracket is affixed to one side of the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
Jim Boeheim, who is the first coach to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in six different decades, stayed back at the home hotel to participate in zoom interview with media. Senior center Marek Dolezaj took a turn with the media after Coach Boeheim.
Early in the evening, the Orange got a first look at the venue they will play their first-round game in, historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University Campus. Constructed in 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse was the largest basketball arena in the country up until 1950. The Fieldhouse was brought back into the public eye in the 1980s, thanks to the movie "Hoosiers." Scenes of the state championship basketball game for the movie were filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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ÂGallery: (3-17-2021) Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Day 2
For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow us on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (cuse_mbb) and like us on Facebook (SyracuseOrange).
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The Orange passed its COVID testing protocols late Tuesday afternoon, clearing the way to ramp up preparation for the first-round encounter with San Diego State on Friday, March 19, at 9:40 p.m.
Syracuse began a full Wednesday with COVID testing, part of the daily routine for all 68 times selected for the Tournament. Breakfast followed and then a few hours for virtual classes and schoolwork. The travel party includes Katie Scanlon, director of academics for student-athlete development, who helps the players stay up with assignments while the group is away from Syracuse.
The team congregated in its meeting room for lunch around 2 p.m. Shortly after, the group moved to the roof top of an area parking garage, which allowed them to pose in front of the world's largest "bracket." Spanning 47,000 square feet, the bracket is affixed to one side of the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
Jim Boeheim, who is the first coach to take a team to the NCAA Tournament in six different decades, stayed back at the home hotel to participate in zoom interview with media. Senior center Marek Dolezaj took a turn with the media after Coach Boeheim.
Early in the evening, the Orange got a first look at the venue they will play their first-round game in, historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on the Butler University Campus. Constructed in 1928, Hinkle Fieldhouse was the largest basketball arena in the country up until 1950. The Fieldhouse was brought back into the public eye in the 1980s, thanks to the movie "Hoosiers." Scenes of the state championship basketball game for the movie were filmed at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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Syracuse conducted practice at Hinkle Fieldhouse, before returning to the hotel for dinner, approximately 48 hours before tip-off time on Friday.Sights set on Friday night. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/4blcxMxnfw
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 18, 2021
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For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow us on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (cuse_mbb) and like us on Facebook (SyracuseOrange).
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