The Daily OrangeOnuaku scores 14 points, all in first half, in dominating effort against Robert Morris post players
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 11/12/09, 1:42 AM EST Section: Sports
More than three minutes had already gone by in Wednesday's game, but Jim Boeheim wasn't sure if Arinze Onuaku realized it. After watching Onuaku allow an offensive rebound and then follow with a foul, Boeheim had a question for his center before putting him on the bench.
"Arinze, are you gonna play tonight?" Boheim yelled. "You gonna play tonight, A.O.?"
When Onauku re-entered the game more than three minutes later, he showed his coach that he just needed some time to get his feet wet.
Onuaku paced the Orange with 14 points in the first half and helped Syracuse cruise to a 100-60 victory over Robert Morris at the Carrier Dome. Onuaku shot 7-of-8 from the field and hauled in five rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. He only played for three minutes in the second half, spending most of the time relaxed in his chair wearing a blue pullover, with a white towel wrapped around his neck.
"I guess they say if he's not on you, he doesn't feel that you can be great, and I know coach expects a lot from me, and he stays on me a lot, and that gets me going, too," Onuaku said. "He told me early to go out there and dominate the game, and that's what I tried to do."
After sitting in Boeheim's doghouse for several minutes, Onuaku flexed his muscles against a smaller Robert Morris team. He parked his 6-foot-9 body in the lane and gobbled up all the easy baskets.
A nice drive by point guard Brandon Triche resulted in an easy lay-up and a free-throw shot. A hook shot resulted in a quick bucket for the big man, and Triche later found him for a slam that galvanized the crowd.
Onuaku's crowning moment came with Syracuse leading, 46-32. Several Robert Morris defenders collapsed towards Onuaku in the post, but he moved away and put up a hook shot with his right hand that went home and drew a foul. Point guard Scoop Jardine came over and punched Onuaku several times, showing excitement for the big man's play.
Robert Morris simply had no answer for Onauku, who had an inch and 50 pounds on the Colonials' tallest and heaviest player.
"Arinze, are you gonna play tonight?" Boheim yelled. "You gonna play tonight, A.O.?"
When Onauku re-entered the game more than three minutes later, he showed his coach that he just needed some time to get his feet wet.
Onuaku paced the Orange with 14 points in the first half and helped Syracuse cruise to a 100-60 victory over Robert Morris at the Carrier Dome. Onuaku shot 7-of-8 from the field and hauled in five rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. He only played for three minutes in the second half, spending most of the time relaxed in his chair wearing a blue pullover, with a white towel wrapped around his neck.
"I guess they say if he's not on you, he doesn't feel that you can be great, and I know coach expects a lot from me, and he stays on me a lot, and that gets me going, too," Onuaku said. "He told me early to go out there and dominate the game, and that's what I tried to do."
After sitting in Boeheim's doghouse for several minutes, Onuaku flexed his muscles against a smaller Robert Morris team. He parked his 6-foot-9 body in the lane and gobbled up all the easy baskets.
A nice drive by point guard Brandon Triche resulted in an easy lay-up and a free-throw shot. A hook shot resulted in a quick bucket for the big man, and Triche later found him for a slam that galvanized the crowd.
Onuaku's crowning moment came with Syracuse leading, 46-32. Several Robert Morris defenders collapsed towards Onuaku in the post, but he moved away and put up a hook shot with his right hand that went home and drew a foul. Point guard Scoop Jardine came over and punched Onuaku several times, showing excitement for the big man's play.
Robert Morris simply had no answer for Onauku, who had an inch and 50 pounds on the Colonials' tallest and heaviest player.
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