Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMidnight Madness marks beginning of men's and women's basketball seasons
By Conor Orr and Matt Ehalt
Posted: 10/19/09, 12:37 AM EST Section: Sports
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On 13 separate choppers, piloted by Syracuse police officers, rode each of the members of the 2009-10 Syracuse basketball team. Behind them rode SU men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim in his own squad car dressed in a full police officer uniform.
The Orange basketball season had officially begun.
The Syracuse men's and women's teams commemorated the start of their seasons with Midnight Madness Friday in front of 10,156 fans. The event, emceed by former Syracuse basketball player John Wallace, featured intra-squad scrimmages for both teams, a 3-point shooting contest and a slam dunk competition.
Earlier in the day, the two teams held their annual media days at the newly opened Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.
For Orange fans, it was the first time seeing a litany of new faces on one of the most unknown SU teams in recent memory. After losing its top three scorers to the NBA Draft last year, the Orange is searching for an identity - something Boeheim said may not be a bad thing.
"When you lose so many guys, there's a new kind of team," Boeheim said at media day. "I like the guys, I've seen improvement in the little time I've seen them."
The first step toward seeing that new identity came during the men's intra-squad scrimmage. The Orange split its roster in half and showcased some of the team's new talent, while highlighting some intriguing position battles.
The blue team was led by Scoop Jardine at point guard and featured Mookie Jones at shooting guard, Wes Johnson at small forward, DaShonte Riley at power forward and Rick Jackson at center.
The Orange squad was headed by freshman Brandon Triche at point, Andy Rautins at shooting guard, freshman James Southerland at the "3", Kris Joseph at power forward and Arinze Onuaku at center.
Though the scrimmage got off to a sloppy start with several missed shots and errant passes, the teams began to work together. Triche commanded the point well and managed to work the ball around despite tough contention from Jardine.
Johnson was able to separate himself as the team's dominant scorer, showing a slashing ability and touch from the outside that will likely make him a go-to weapon.
"He's already shown what he can do," Boeheim said. "We've had him in our system for a year and he was able to practice with us for a year. He probably played the most minutes in practice out of any player because we would rest our starters and he would never rest. I think he really understands what we do and what we're trying to do. He's got a good feel for the game."
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