Spring Break
The Daily OrangeOrangemen earn 5th-seed, date with BYU in Denver
By Adam Kilgore
Posted: 3/16/04, 2:13 AM EST Section: Sports
For the first time since the season's outset, SU's defense of its national championship will be a main focus. Boeheim said the Orangemen haven't talked about the title all season, but will do so this week.
Their opponents will take note, too.
"Judging by the reaction of BYU, they do look forward to playing the defending national champion," guard Gerry McNamara said, referring to the Cougars who celebrated wildly on TV after discovering they had drawn SU in the first round.
While BYU will have a marquee opponent, the Orangemen are less informed about their first-round foe. When asked how much he knew about BYU, SU center Craig Forth said, "We have three days to find out, I guess."
Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara was able to shed a little more light on the subject.
"They have the big guy," McNamara said. "I'm not sure how to pronounce his name, but he's tough. I've watched him a few times on TV. We'll have our hands full with him."
BYU's 6-foot-11, 265-pound center Rafael Araujo (that's Ahr-ra-OO-zjoh, Gerry) could give the middle of SU's 2-3 zone fits. A possible NBA Lottery pick and almost certain first-round choice, Araujo is a banger with a soft touch who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds this season. He's comparable to Craig Smith, who torched SU for 22 points and 10 rebounds in SU's 57-54 loss to Boston College in the Big East tournament.
But, on Sunday night, the Orangemen weren't yet concerned with Araujo's inside power and had gotten over the sting of the BC loss. There's a national championship to defend, and that's motivation enough for the Orangemen.
"We're not coming in here the No. 1 seed," Warrick said. "We're coming in here kind of like the underdogs. But I think we match up real good with the teams they put us around.
We definitely like coming in here a No. 5 seed so we can prove, once again, that we belong."
Their opponents will take note, too.
"Judging by the reaction of BYU, they do look forward to playing the defending national champion," guard Gerry McNamara said, referring to the Cougars who celebrated wildly on TV after discovering they had drawn SU in the first round.
While BYU will have a marquee opponent, the Orangemen are less informed about their first-round foe. When asked how much he knew about BYU, SU center Craig Forth said, "We have three days to find out, I guess."
Syracuse guard Gerry McNamara was able to shed a little more light on the subject.
"They have the big guy," McNamara said. "I'm not sure how to pronounce his name, but he's tough. I've watched him a few times on TV. We'll have our hands full with him."
BYU's 6-foot-11, 265-pound center Rafael Araujo (that's Ahr-ra-OO-zjoh, Gerry) could give the middle of SU's 2-3 zone fits. A possible NBA Lottery pick and almost certain first-round choice, Araujo is a banger with a soft touch who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds this season. He's comparable to Craig Smith, who torched SU for 22 points and 10 rebounds in SU's 57-54 loss to Boston College in the Big East tournament.
But, on Sunday night, the Orangemen weren't yet concerned with Araujo's inside power and had gotten over the sting of the BC loss. There's a national championship to defend, and that's motivation enough for the Orangemen.
"We're not coming in here the No. 1 seed," Warrick said. "We're coming in here kind of like the underdogs. But I think we match up real good with the teams they put us around.
We definitely like coming in here a No. 5 seed so we can prove, once again, that we belong."
