MBB | SU seeks revenge against Massachusetts

By: Zach Schonbrun and Matt Gelb

Posted: 3/25/08

Of its 34 games so far this season, Syracuse's late-November matchup with the Atlantic 10's Massachusetts has to go down as the strangest.

After all, the prevailing image from the game was a fuming Eric Devendorf, seconds after being whistled for an intentional foul on UMass guard Ricky Harris, being held back by teammates during a profanity-laced feud with a student fan.

And in the background, of course, the final score, 107-100 in favor of the Minutemen, lit up like a marquee for a wild and crazy night at the Carrier Dome.

That was Nov. 28, and on Thursday, the SU players spoke with anticipation about a rematch with Massachusetts, who beat Akron on Saturday to earn a trip to the NIT's quarterfinal round. The game is tonight at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome, where a few months ago UMass set records in its run-and-gun offensive assault on the Orange.

"We owe them one," SU center Arinze Onuaku said. "They're probably going to come in here, and they're probably going to think they can beat us again. But we've got to play hard. We're a better team than we were at the beginning of the season."

The same could also be said for Massachusetts, which lost a heartbreaker in the A-10 conference tournament to Charlotte, a game that if won would likely have put it in the NCAA Tournament. The Minutemen have still won eight of their last nine games, and it still has proven it can score. UMass finished first in the conference in 3-pointers made and second in scoring, assists per game and field goals made.

Good news for Syracuse, though, as the Minutemen might be without 6-foot-8 role player Tony Gaffney, who injured his knee against Akron on Saturday. Gaffney scored four points and grabbed five rebounds in 21 minutes against the Orange in November.

Gaffney's absence will weaken Massachusetts' bench, and, for a team that loves to run, could become a factor down the stretch. The Minutemen used their defense to knock off Akron, 68-63, tying their second-lowest scoring total of the season.

After the Maryland game on Thursday, the Syracuse players were asked how they felt about a possible rematch with UMass, even though the matchup hadn't been decided yet. It didn't matter - the players jumped at the questions anyway. And it was clear how eager they are to getting another shot at running with the Minutemen.

"I'm just sure that it's not going to happen twice," SU forward Kris Ongenaet said. "It's not going to happen anymore. That was our mistake."

Trash talkin'

With so many connections between opposing players on Thursday, there was understandably a good deal of jabbering and trash talking. As players shot free throws, ran down the court, posted each other up or crossed each other over, there always seemed to be some words flying back and forth.

The difference is that there were smiles to go along with it.

"We were talking trash and all that," Onuaku said. "We were having a good time out there."

Onuaku, who grew up minutes from Maryland's campus, said he knew almost everybody on the Terrapins and was just enjoying banging around with them. SU forward Donte Greene, a Baltimore native, also said there was a little bit more chatter than usual on the court.

He was also surprised by who was doing most of the talking.

"Osby," Greene said, referring to the Maryland center Bambale Osby. "You'd think he's not a chatter, but he's a chatter."

Scoop is loose

For the second game in a row, freshman guard Scoop Jardine saw increased minutes in the backcourt - and took plenty advantage of the opportunity.

Playing 14 minutes in the first half, Jardine scored six points when Syracuse desperately needed a scorer and had four assists to one turnover. This came after his 15-point effort against Robert Morris last Tuesday.

"He did a tremendous job last game when Jonny was out and (Thursday) in the first half, again we were struggling to score," Boeheim said. "He had four assists in the first half and three big baskets."

T-Rob in the house

Former Syracuse forward Terrence Roberts sat with Juli Boeheim during Thursday's game and visited the SU locker room afterward. Roberts, who graduated last year, is still rehabbing from knee surgery almost a year ago after the end of the 2006-07 season.

Roberts, who has been working out at his home in Jersey City, N.J., said he hopes to be ready for NBA summer camps in July.

zsschonb@syr.edu

magelb@syr.edu