The Daily OrangeOrange upset No. 13 California to advance to finals of tournament at MSG
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 11/20/09, 12:35 AM EST Section: Sports
NEW YORK -- It's only been 16 days, but Syracuse's loss to Division II Le Moyne in an exhibition game seems like ancient history. Just ask shooting guard Andy Rautins.
"We lost to Le Moyne?" Rautins said. "That's news to me."
Then again, when Syracuse shellacks the No. 13 team in the country, it's easy for Rautins to forget that slip-up.
In a dominating effort, Syracuse cruised to a 95-73 victory over California in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer last night at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. The Orange (3-0) has now beaten its first three opponents by an average of 31.3 points.
Syracuse will now face No. 6 North Carolina in the championship tomorrow night at 7 p.m.; the Tar Heels defeated No. 15 Ohio State, 77-73, in the other semifinal game.
"I think the loss really put us back into place, I think we had a little bit of clout that we didn't deserve to have," Rautins said. "This isn't the Sweet 16 team of last year, we lost some guys so we didn't really have an identity the first couple of weeks we started playing. I think now we found ourselves a bit and we've been fired up ever since and we're not going to look back."
For barely two minutes Thursday night, California played better than the Orange. The Golden Bears (2-1) had a 5-0 lead and were hitting their shots.
Once Syracuse scored its first points on a Rick Jackson free throw, the momentum changed and it was all Syracuse from there as the Orange used a 17-4 run to take a 17-9 lead that it never relinquished.
SU's offense and defense were stingy all night and never let California seriously entertain the thought of a comeback. Syracuse led, 44-33, at the half and led by as much as 24 in the second half, much to the delight of a pro-Orange crowd.
Offensively, Syracuse moved the ball around and found ways to consistently get to the free throw line. Syracuse had eight players with eight points or more. Scoop Jardine led the way with a career-high 22 points, mostly by slicing and dicing to the rim.
"We lost to Le Moyne?" Rautins said. "That's news to me."
Then again, when Syracuse shellacks the No. 13 team in the country, it's easy for Rautins to forget that slip-up.
In a dominating effort, Syracuse cruised to a 95-73 victory over California in the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer last night at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y. The Orange (3-0) has now beaten its first three opponents by an average of 31.3 points.
Syracuse will now face No. 6 North Carolina in the championship tomorrow night at 7 p.m.; the Tar Heels defeated No. 15 Ohio State, 77-73, in the other semifinal game.
"I think the loss really put us back into place, I think we had a little bit of clout that we didn't deserve to have," Rautins said. "This isn't the Sweet 16 team of last year, we lost some guys so we didn't really have an identity the first couple of weeks we started playing. I think now we found ourselves a bit and we've been fired up ever since and we're not going to look back."
For barely two minutes Thursday night, California played better than the Orange. The Golden Bears (2-1) had a 5-0 lead and were hitting their shots.
Once Syracuse scored its first points on a Rick Jackson free throw, the momentum changed and it was all Syracuse from there as the Orange used a 17-4 run to take a 17-9 lead that it never relinquished.
SU's offense and defense were stingy all night and never let California seriously entertain the thought of a comeback. Syracuse led, 44-33, at the half and led by as much as 24 in the second half, much to the delight of a pro-Orange crowd.
Offensively, Syracuse moved the ball around and found ways to consistently get to the free throw line. Syracuse had eight players with eight points or more. Scoop Jardine led the way with a career-high 22 points, mostly by slicing and dicing to the rim.
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