Star Spangled entrances highlight "Orange Madness" Media Day

Story and photos by Alan Key

Editor's note: our reporter covered SU Basketball Media Day and Orange Madness on Friday, October 17.  Here's a look back at some of the happenings.


Syracuse N.Y-  Syracuse basketball season is still a few weeks away, but the "Madness' began this past weekend. Friday afternoon the Orange men's and women's hoops teams held press conferences followed by the main event at the Carrier Dome - Orange Madness.

Men begin their quest for March Madness with an exhibition game November 2nd with the regular season opener on November 14th in the 2k classic preliminary round at the Carrier Dome.

The women will have to wait until November 16th.

"Q" cites depth

Women's head coach Quentin Hillsman stood poised behind the podium at the 'Melo center as he laid out plans for a successful season with a team that includes nine returning letter-winners.

Coach Hillsman at Women' Media Day

 "We are a very deep basketball team," Hillsman said. "We are returning a lot of key players, but most of all our new players have bought into our system and are playing at a really high level going into the season."

Referencing last year when the Orange went 23-10 and won its first NCAA tournament game, "Q" said he hopes to build on the ideology that three possessions are one of the keys to his team succeeding this season.

After beating Chattanooga, the Orange lost to Kentucky in the second round of the women's tournament, 64-59.

Syracuse will enter the season ranked 24th in the country, which Hillsman boasted is a testament to the type of program being built at Syracuse.
 

Coach Boeheim at Men's Media Day

Boeheim points to challenges

Men's Head Coach Jim Boeheim  addressd some of the challenges that face his hoops program, after a season in which the Orange went 28-6 but lost to Dayton in the third round of the NCAA tournament. Seniors C.J. Fair and Baye Moussa Keita finished their eligibility and underclassmen Tyler Ennis and Jerami Grant declared for the NBA draft.

"Losing our three biggest scorers two seasons in a row now and we lost our best defensive player coming off the bench in Baye in a two year period that's a big loss," Boeheim said.

In addition to more offense, the hall of fame coach is looking for more leadership from 6'9" senior forward Rakeem Christmas.

"I think he's got to the point that he's ready to compete at a very high level," Boeheim said.

With point guard Tyler Ennis' departure to the NBA the Orange will turn to another highly touted freshman Kaleb Joseph to run an up tempo offense.

Boeheim declined to compare the two point guards playing styles, but said he is very confident in Joseph's abilities.

Redshirt junior Trevor Cooney will play with his third point guard in the last three years, but said he considers himself fortunate having another standout in Joseph.

"Playing with him so far has been great," Cooney said. "All you can ask for is someone who works hard."

Joseph knows there are challenges he must face in the upcoming season.

"One of the biggest adjustments for me is not being able to get to the rim when I want like in high school I could get to the rim and dunk and here that's not what's really asked of me," Joseph said.


Ohhh, the Madness!

More than 3,000 rowdy Orange nation faithful filed into the Carrier Dome a couple of hours later to get a glimpse of this year's teams.

Each coach rode into the main event in his own style.

"Q"-mobile

Coach "Q" took a more laid back Sunday afternoon cruise as his entrance to "Madness." The sounds of Motown with a twist of hip hop played over the public address system while a Cadillac convertible carrying Hillsman emerged from the foggy tunnel.

 The stage was now set for the arrival of his counterpart.

"General" Boeheim

Wearing a sheepish grin and a combat helmet, Boeheim entered with a flamboyance rivaled only by Sargent Slaughter of the WWE . Riding atop a Humvee transport and surrounded by military servicemen and women from Fort Drum, he made a star-spangled entrance.

Fans stood and honored the soldiers as Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA," echoed throughout the dome. Boeheim took a moment to show off his gold medal from the FIBA world games this summer.

Competition

Fans were treated to a three point competition, a dunk contest, men's and women's scrimmages.

Dunk Champ B.J Johnson

Trevor Cooney edged out 5-11 junior forward Brianna Butler by a slim margin in a three point shoot-out.

6'7" Sophomore Forward  B.J. Johnson and 6'7" Michael Gbinije electrified the crowd with jaw-dropping dunks.

After three rounds the crowd scored Johnson the winner.



Turning back the clock

"Pearl" Washington

The highlight of the night was a Syracuse Legends exhibition game that included Orange greats such as Dwayne "Pearl" Washington, whose many SU highlights include a halfcourt shot to beat Boston College in 1984.

Billy Owens

 Second round draft pick of the Phoenix Suns Rafael Addison, Big East tournament hero Eric Devendorf and John Wallace showed fans they could still score as they combined for 21 points.

John Wallace

  Billy Owens and Jim Lee were honorary coaches.

 The night finished up with fans able to get up close and take "selfies" with their favorite player past or present.




Opening games set

The men will play a couple of exhibition games against Carlton and Adrian in the Dome before starting the regular season in the 2K classic against Kenesaw State on November 14.

The women open at home against Fordham November 16.