SYRACUSE OPENS WITH WIN; BOEHEIM EARNS WIN #800

It was a milestone night at the Carrier Dome for Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim as Syracuse tipped off the 2009-2010 season Monday. Boeheim Gets Win #800 as Syracuse Beats Albany (Syracuse Post-Standard), 75-43, putting the memories of the exhibition loss to LeMoyne well in the past.

It is not to say things were pretty, even in a 32-point victory. The Orange turned the ball over 21 times, were poor from the foul line (15-31) and beyond the arc (2-17), but this Boeheim team is built for the SU signature 2-3 zone and their length, quickness and ability to trap out of it forced 32 Albany turnovers. In their exhibition against LeMoyne, SU played very little zone defense...

The 32 turnovers committed by Albany was a school record, surpassing the previous high of 28 set back in 2001 against Ohio State. The Danes Gift Wrap #800 (Albany Times-Union) with their inability to take care of the basketball against the Orange zone.

Syracuse used a balance attack offensively, placing five players in double figures, led by senior Arinze Onuaku who was six of seven from the field and two of five from the charity strip for 14 points. Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson stuffed the stat sheet for the Orange with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 steals and 4 assists while Kris Joseph and 'Scoop' Jardine each added 12 points off the bench. Rick Jackson connected on all four of his shots from the field and two of four from the line to score 10.

Brandon Triche started at the point over Jardine and scored eight points in his debut, but turned the ball over six times compared to just three assists. Jardine finished with four assists and just one turnover in the contest.

Senior Andy Rautins went scoreless, missing all six field goal attempts, including four from beyond the arc. Rautins injured his Ankle in SU Win (Post-Standard), leaving the game and not returning with 14 minutes left in the second half. After the game Rautins was in a walking boot and will be getting treatment ahead of Wednesday night's contest with Robert Morris at the Carrier Dome as part of the 2009 Coaches vs. Cancer event. The Orange will move to Madison Square Garden to face Cal on November 19th in the semifinals with North Carolina and Ohio State on the other side. Link below for tickets...


Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Tickets - Semifinals (Syracuse vs. Cal; North Carolina vs. Ohio State) November 19 2009

A great night of basketball for a great cause!!