MBB | BIG TIME: Big man Arinze Onuaku scores a timely 23 points as Syracuse wins Big East opener

By: Jackie Friedman

Posted: 12/7/07

Jan. 2, 11:32 p.m. -- Forget all the technical basketball jargon, his dexterity on both sides of the hoop, his ability to make a move in the post. Nope, freshman Scoop Jardine knows exactly why Arinze Onuaku can't be stopped.

"He's a big boy," Jardine said of the Syracuse center. "He just played like a monster (Wednesday). They just can't stop him. He's so strong. I remember one guy asking, 'How many pounds does he squat?'

"AO is an animal. He's an animal. He's just patient on the block. He doesn't miss a lot. The ones he misses he should make."

Wednesday night, he didn't miss many. Onuaku finished with 13 rebounds and a career-high 23 points and carried Syracuse during crucial stretches in the Orange's 76-70 win over St. John's in front of 17,487 at the Carrier Dome on Wednesday night.

Onuaku has made 68.3 percent of his field goal attempts this season, second in the Big East.

"Coach just kept saying they can't stop me, so keep getting the ball in the post," Onuaku said. "They were playing me behind so I was just trying to catch the ball and make good moves around the basket."

Onuaku picked a good time to step up, too.

When SU's leading scorer Donte Greene, who finished with 22 points, was called for his third personal foul 1:44 into the second half Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim stole a glance down his bench. He looked to the floor. He shook his head.

Greene stayed in. And less than two minutes later, the freshman forward picked up his fourth foul and made his exit for the next 10 minutes, opening the door for Onuaku to produce arguably one of the best performances by a big man in recent Syracuse history.

"Otis Hill was our last offensive weapon inside and that was about 10 years ago," Boeheim said of his three-year starting center from 1993-97.

When Greene was relegated to the bench after receiving Nos. three and four, there was an obvious tension. Less than a month earlier, Greene had stacked up fouls against Rhode Island on Dec. 8 and watched his team lose because no one else could get the ball in the net.

"Our shooting is at best just OK," Boeheim said, "and when (Greene)'s not out there, it goes down to not very good at all."

The Orange was up seven when Greene sat, and during the 10-minute stretch of his absence, Onuaku had 10 points and three rebounds, holding Syracuse's lead at five. And while no one on the team could compensate for the 3-point threat Greene creates, Onuaku's presence allowed the Orange to keep the offense simple.

"We were trying to get the ball inside," Boeheim said. "We were fortunate to do that. We made plays."

Early on, it looked as if the Orange (11-3, 1-0) wouldn't need a breakout performance from anyone other than Greene. Syracuse produced a 14-0 run, led almost wholly by Greene's ability from beyond the arc, to go up 19-6. But SU's hot-shooting spree slowed and the Red Storm (6-6, 0-1) successfully penetrated inside to come within two, while clearly shaking up the Orange freshman unaccustomed to the more physical Big East game.

"We made some mistakes," Boeheim said. "We're going to be saying that all year; that's just the way it is. Fortunately we had enough of a cushion that we could throw the ball away two or three times."

The Red Storm cut what was once a 14-point lead in the first half down to two, midway through the second half and never truly let the Orange out of sight.

But Onuaku's flexibility in the paint offered Syracuse a much-needed outlet during the tighter times.

"He can use both hands, and that's a big asset," Boeheim said. "I don't think many guys can do that. That's a big plus for him, a big plus, that he can use both hands so well."

"I'm like Eric Devendorf," Onuaku joked, referring to the injured Syracuse guard known for his ability to drive the lane on both sides of the basket. "That's what I like to say."

While Onuaku offered the most comfort, a pair of clutch free throws from freshman Rick Jackson and a turnaround jumper from Jardine were also in the mix.

"It's the Big East," Onuaku said. "It's here. I know we're going to need every body. The five starters and the people on the bench. Tonight was kind of my night."