SU upsets Virginia Tech for first win of Tennis season

By Rilwan Ameen SYRACUSE (Newhouse Sports Media Center) — The Syracuse Orange (1-7 overall, 1-2 ACC) tennis team picked up their first win of the season on Friday (3/1), defeating the #48 Virginia Tech Hokies (8-4 overall, 1-2 ACC), 5-2.

After seven straight losses against top competition, the Orange got back on track in its opener, capturing the program’s tenth straight win in its annual inaugural home game and its first as a member of the ACC. 

Syracuse was propelled to victory by collecting wins in two of three doubles matches and in four of six singles matches.

After the win, interim Head Coach Shelley George was pleased at how her team bounced back after struggling to win close matches earlier in the season.

“We’ve been saying to the girls don’t look at our record, but look at how we’ve been competing,” said George.

“We just needed to get home, we needed our home crowd. With two months on the road, it was tough but we had some really good lessons learned.”

After losing the first doubles, SU rallied back to win the next two to take the first point of the set. Led by Freshman Rhiann Newborn and junior Komal Safdar, they defeated Virginia Tech’s Tea Ivanovic and Sansitha Nandakumar on court three, 8-6, to even the score. 

The final outcome in doubles was decided by the successful combination of senior Maddie Kobelt and freshman Valeria Salazar, who refused to go down without a fight, overcoming the Hokies’ Francesca Fusinato and Raluca Mita in the tiebreaker, 8-7 (9-7).

Something George says happened through the combination of senior leadership and freshman talent.

“We’ve been through all this before, so having that calm person who has that experience and believes that they’re going to win just kinds of brings Valeria along with her,” George said.

With the win, the top Syracuse duo remained unbeaten in three ACC matches thus far this season.

In singles play, the Orange came out firing, taking a 2-0 lead in the match following a Kobelt 6-4, 6-3 triumph at first singles over nationally-ranked No. 103 Fusinato. 

It was Kobelt's second win in her career against a nationally ranked opponent and she acknowledged it being a personal milestone for her.

“That’s why you play you live for those moments, pick your target whether you serving or returning and just trust yourself, Valeria and I did a good job of that today,” Kobalt said.

She also improved her personal mark to 3-0 this season in the ACC and has won her last five matches overall, including doubles.

Kobelt alluded to the familiarity of her opponent in aiding her to victory.

“It was nice to see my opponent in doubles, being able to pick up on some of her patterns too, seeing her tendencies and picking up on her weaknesses,” Kobelt said. “I was just able to carry over the energy from the momentum of winning.”

Virginia Tech evened the score at 2-2 by winning the next two match-ups in singles play. The tide turned as Syracuse won the match in the final three singles games, coming out on top for its first-ever ACC win.

Newborn prevailed over the Hokies’ Kelly Williford in a close three-set match which ended in a tie breaker, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (12-10), clinching the victory for Syracuse.

Note: 

Syracuse’s last loss in a home opener came back in 2004

Syracuse was back in action on Saturday, March 1 to face No. 3 Virginia at Drumlins, losing 6-1

The first serve was originally set for 11 a.m., but due to travel issues the start time was pushed back to noon (ET)

Doubles

No. 1 Maddie Kobelt/Valeria Salazar (SU) def. Francesca Fusinato/Raluca Mita (VT) 8-7

No. 2 Ilinca Stoica/Kelly Williford (VT) def. Breanna Bachini/Amanda Rodgers (SU) 8-3

No. 3 Rhiann Newborn/Komal Safdar (SU) def. Tea Ivanovic/Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) 8-6

Order of finish: 2,3,1*

Singles

No. 1 Maddie Kobelt (SU) def. #103 Francesca Fusinato (VT) 6-4, 6-3

No. 2 Amanda Rodgers (SU) def. Ilinca Stoica (VT) 6-4, 7-5

No. 3 Rhiann Newborn (SU) def. Kelly Williford (VT) 6-0, 4-6, 7-6

No. 4 Isel Martinez-Marcos (VT) def. Valeria Salazar (SU) 6-4, 6-3

No. 5 Raluca Mita (VT) def. Breanna Bachini (SU) 6-1, 6-3

No. 6 Komal Safdar (SU) def. Sansitha Nandakumar (VT) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

Order of finish: 1,5,4,2,3*,6

Photos from the event are below: 

(c) 2014, Rilwan Ameen
Syracuse Legend Floyd Little taking in the action at Drumlins

Senior Night Spoiled By Georgia Tech

Syracuse loses last home game 

This was a night where Syracuse Senior’s Baye Moussa Keita, C.J. Fair, Russ DeRemer, and Nolan Hart were supposed to celebrate and enjoy their last night stepping on the Carrier Dome hardwood as players. 

No. 7 Syracuse (26-3, 13-3) hosted Georgia Tech (13-16, 4-12). Georgia Tech is a team that has struggled mightily in ACC play, and was also riding a four game losing streak. 

But, tonight was a different story. The orange lost to the Yellow Jackets 67-62. The loss puts Syracuse in a tie with North Carolina for second place in the ACC. 

This is also the first time the Orange has lost back-to-back home games to unranked opponents in 12 years. 

Injuries hurting down the stretch 

Jim Boeheim usually sticks to a seven man rotation towards the end of the season. He planned on doing that this year. But, injuries got in his way. 

Jerami Grant, one of Syracuse's top scorers, was out of the lineup with a sore back against Georgia Tech. 

"Obviously, injuries are a part of basketball, but we are a team that needs all of our parts," Boeheim said. "I think we're a very good basketball team. Without all of our parts, I don't think we are. I think that was pretty evident tonight."

The Orange had to rely on freshman Tyler Roberson who got his first career start in place of Grant. He added two points and three rebounds in 23 minutes of play.

"He's not ready to play," said Boeheim. "The reason he didn't play is because he's not ready. He doesn't know the defense. He doesn't know the offense. He cannot help us right now." 

Cooney not hitting

Meanwhile Trevor Cooney couldn't buy a bucket from downtown. He went 1-for-8 from the three point mark against Georgia Tech. He made the lone three pointer with less then two minutes to go in the game.

"I think since Notre Dame he has had trouble getting it going," Boeheim said.

In his last five games he has shot 7-for-37 from beyond the arc. That equates to a dismal 18.9 percent from three. 

"I think for six or seven games, our offense has not been good enough," said Boeheim. "We have not shot the ball well. We're getting in a hole."

Syracuse scored 23 points points in the first half. It was the lowest total in a first half this season. 

Georgia Tech "de"zoned the 2-3 zone

Georgia Tech was relentless from the start. The Yellow Jackets kept a balanced attack on offense and broke down the patented 2-3 zone. Tech shot 47 percent from the field, compared to Syracuse's 39 percent.. 

Tech spread the ball and had 18 assists on the night. Syracuse only had ten. 

"We let Georgia Tech get too comfortable," senior forward C.J. Fair said. "Once they got comfortable in the first half they were making shots and making plays."

The Yellow Jackets had three scorers in double digits. Two of them were big men. Daniel Miller, Georgia Tech's center, finished with 15 points and went 7-for-10 from the field. Most of his baskets were easy layups and dunks. Not to mention he added six blocks. Miller came into this game ranked second in blocks in the ACC with 2.3 per game. 

Robert Carter Jr. added 12 points mostly on easy baskets down low. 

Georgia Tech's senior guard, Trae Golden, a transfer from Tennessee, had an efficient scoring night as well. He went 8-for-8 from the line and made six key free throws down the stretch.

It ain't half bad

CJ Fair was one of the few who picked Georgia Tech's defense apart. He tied his career high with 28 points. The last time he scored 28 as against Duke on Feb. 1. Fair is now 16th on the all-time scoring list at Syracuse University. 

Fair went 12-for-25 from the field. He also made a couple of three pointers, going 2-for-5 from the beyond the arc.  

The freshman guard, Tyler Ennis, was the other bright spot. He added 18 points and 7 assists. He uncharacteristically took 17 shots from the field. 

"I have told him we need you to take 15 to 18 shots now," Boeheim said. 

With Grant out, the offense needs Ennis to step up.

Looking ahead

Syracuse plays at Florida State on Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. to close out the regular season.

Jim Boeheim news conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOlksttgDRg&feature=youtu.be

C.J. Fair postgame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxqPugFKRE

Trevor Cooney postgame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGKPs-8ngvM

Tyler Ennis postgame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgnnI9ZoE9k

  

Le Moyne Dolphins' Training Camp

High school teams learn from graduate talent

by Norman Seawright III - Dana Anderson, defensive player for the Le Moyne Dolphins lacrosse team, is on the sidelines, wearing her team jacket emblazoned with #12 and passionately yelling while a player on her team scores on a fast break.

She isn't injured. She isn't serving a suspension. For this match in the 5th annual 5v5 Brine Valentine's Day Shootout, she's coaching the West Genesee Wildcats—her former teammates.

"I'm excited to be on the other side of it," Anderson said. "It's definitely a good feeling to be able to take the skills that you received from your high school coaches and your college coaches and showcase those."

The Le Moyne Dolphins' women's lacrosse team plays host to training camps throughout the year that teach fundamentals and use competition in drills, rounding out the experience with tournament-style play that lets the players show off their skill.

"You get to see them evolve," Anderson said. "I've coached them ever since they were this little, and now I'm able to coach them in this tournament while I'm in college."

Each squad is matched with a Dolphins player. In West Genesee High School's case, Anderson was an easy pairing.

"I love watching the girls play," Anderson said. "I just love making connections with other girls I don't get to coach as much."

The Wildcats respond well to her—after all, at least some of the players, like Hannah Elmer (who has committed to SUNY Cortland), have shared the field with her before.

"She had that leadership role already in high school," Elmer said. "I like playing for her."

While she keeps an eye on promising talent, Dolphins Head Coach Beth Hewitt sees the camps as classic examples of learning through instruction for her players.

"For us, that's the most fun part," Hewitt said. "To see the girls go back to their high schools, work with some of their old friends, and I think a lot of these high school players look up to these college players as well."

The Dolphins have some friendly competition while coaching against each other.

When asked if they take some coaching tactics from her, Hewitt laughed and said, "hopefully!"

As for Anderson's Wildcats...they left the shootout as champions.

Watch the story here

#2 Syracuse over #15 Towson in Pictures

(Syracuse) What was a tight game well into the second half wound up looking like an easy win for Syracuse in a women's lacrosse game at the Carrier Dome Sunday afternoon. The No.2 Orange Women scored the last five goals to beat No. 15 Towson 12-7 and give Coach Gary Gait his 100th win. Here's a slide show of the game highlights from Max Berkowitz.

Click on any photo to begin:

Orange Takes Down Towson For Coach Gait's 100th Win

Photo by Max Berkowitz

It was a one-goal game through the first half and well into the second, with Syracuse and Towson trading the lead. But perhaps the Orange women didn't want to disappoint Coach Gary Gait, so they scored five unanswered goals in the last 11 minutes of play to keep their undefeated 2014 alive, and earn Coach Gait his 100th career coaching win.

Towson managed to keep things close for so long partly because of the spectacular effort by goalkeeper Kelsea Donnelley, whose eight saves forced the Syracuse attack to get creative.

"She's a good goalie, and we knew she was a solid goalie," Gait said. "We did our homework, we knew what what we needed to do, and unfortunately sometimes we don't execute."

Donnelly made things particularly frustrating for Syracuse attacker Kayla Treanor. "We came out a little flat in the first half," she said. "So [we were] just working on regrouping, taking quality shots, and executing when we have the ball."

Treanor did just that, scoring five of Syracuse's 12 goals, and keeping her status as the leader in points and goals scored for the Orange. The only other Syracuse player to score multiple goals was midfielder Katie Webster, with three.

"We were realizing timing on cuts better in the second half, in the later part of the second half especially,"Syracuse attacker Alyssa Murray said."Once we settled in and realized what would be open and what opportunities we could take advantage of, that's when we really started to click."

Murray had a goal in the first half, putting Syracuse up 3-2 at the time, and also notched four assists.

With 14 minutes left in the game, Towson tied things up 7-7, and it looked like the Tigers might even force overtime - but Treanor, Gabby Jaquith, Devon Collins, and Kailah Kempney had other plans, scoring the last five Syracuse goals to take the lead permanently.

The game might have been tense right up until the end, but Coach Gait was all smiles when asked how it felt to have earned his 100th career coaching win. "It's been a lot of fun over those years, getting to know a lot of great young athletes, and working with some great coaches," he said. "I'm just happy to still be doing it."

With that milestone under his belt, and an undefeated season to protect, Gait and the Orange will have a week free from competition before taking on Maryland in the Carrier Dome on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m.

Watch postgame comments from Coach Gait, Treanor, and Murray here.

Newhouse Sports NBA Recap: Feb. 27, 2014

Newhouse NBA Recap: Feb. 27, 2014

Game of the Night: Heat Throttle Knicks, 108-82

Story by Jordan Greer

All Images Courtesy of AP

LeBron James flew through the air, donning a black mask that drew comparisons to the Caped Crusader across the Twittersphere. But even “LeBatman” can’t do it alone, a lesson Carmelo Anthony is learning the hard way.

The Miami Heat (41-14) dominated the New York Knicks (21-37), shooting more than 60 percent as a team on the way to a 108-82 win.

LeBron finished with 31 points on an efficient 13-19 shooting night. Dwyane Wade turned back the clock, scoring 23 on 10-13 shooting from the field. Both James and Wade did not venture too far from the basket, going a combined 18-20 inside the paint.

Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, and Ray Allen each added 11 points in a complete team effort. The Heat kept pace with the Indiana Pacers for the number one seed in the East after the Pacers narrowly defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 101-96.

The Heat turned the game into a blowout in the third, finishing the quarter on a 26-5 run that sealed the outcome. Miami found easy looks all over the floor, and when you get the combination of James and Wade with role players stepping up, there might not be a team in the NBA that can stop this machine.

For the Knickerbockers, it was a game that served as a microcosm of the entire season – a complete mess.

The team shot less than 40 percent from the field overall, including 4-23 from behind the three point line. Raymond Felton, in the starting lineup for the first time since being arrested on felony gun charges, shot 1-7. Tim Hardaway, Jr. went 2-15. Starting guard Pablo Prigioni did not score in 25 minutes of play. On and on and on.

It was not just offensive ineptitude, as the Knicks defense failed to even exist on some possessions. After made baskets, the Heat would simply take the ball out of the net and push it up the floor for an easy score. It only got worse when Tyson Chandler subbed out, leaving the Knicks with no rim protection.

Chandler and Anthony were the lone bright spots in an otherwise disappointing effort. Chandler had 19 points and 16 rebounds while Melo dropped 29 to go with 7 rebounds of his own.

As smooth as Carmelo’s jumper has looked, he can only do so much. This looks nothing like the team that was first in the Atlantic Division at 54-28. Games like this one make you wonder how seriously Anthony can consider resigning with a team that does not appear to be built for present or future success.

There is not exactly salary cap flexibility, as the Knicks have the second highest team payroll in the league. You are not going to see any help coming from the NBA Draft. The Knicks have no draft picks in 2014 and 2016.

LeBron realized he could not capture a championship in Cleveland with a below average supporting cast. With Melo having a player option for next season with New York, he may be taking his talents elsewhere.

• The 2003 NBA Draft was very much on display Thursday night; James (No. 1), Anthony (No. 3), Chris Bosh (No. 4), and Wade (No. 5) all came out of that draft class.
• Two teams going in different directions: the Knicks have lost 10 of their last 11, while the Heat have won 9 of their last 10.
• Lebron played in his first game with the protective mask due to broken nose suffered Feb. 20 against OKC; he had sat out the Heat’s last game against Chicago.
• James last wore mask during 2004-05 season and he might want to keep it on based on his numbers. He averaged 26.4 points in 16 games with the mask on for the Cavs during that stretch.
• Both of these team’s leading scorers came into this game on a tear. Melo averaged 41.3 points in previous four games, while Lebron averaged 37.0 points in his last four.
• Just a side note, but an interesting quote I heard from none other than Charles Barkley on TNT concerning Jason Collins dealing with any kind of pushback from players for his sexual orientation: “We hate playing with basketball players that suck. That’s what we hate more than anything.” Gotta love Chuck.

Catching Up with the ‘Cuse

Carmelo Anthony

I went into depth on Anthony above, so I won’t belabor the point. The guy is doing everything in his power to keep this team competitive, but it’s still a team game. Melo is second in the league in scoring only to the Thunder’s Kevin Durant, and his three point shooting has been incredible as of late.

Season Averages: 28.3 ppg, 3.0 apg, 8.5 rpg, 46% FG, 42% 3PT FG

Michael Carter-Williams

Yes, you could make an easy argument that the Sixers are the worst team in the league. But Philly is hoping to hit rock bottom and build back up, as evidenced by moving Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes at the trade deadline. Carter-Williams has continued to shine in a weak rookie class. His shooting numbers leave something to be desired, but last time I checked Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook were not burning up the nets in their rookie seasons. He is not quite the lock he was early in the season for Rookie of the Year, but he will be squarely in the race if he can stay healthy.

Season Averages: 17.1 ppg, 6.2 apg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 spg, 40% FG

Wesley Johnson

The Los Angeles Lakers own the worst record in the Western Conference. Sounds weird, right? Johnson is taking advantage of the situation by putting up decent numbers in expanding minutes. Mike D’Antoni has even experimented with Johnson playing at one of the frontcourt positions in a small ball lineup. Johnson finished with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks against Memphis Wednesday night, but did struggle at times guarding Marc Gasol due to the size differential. I can’t say I see this as the solution, but when you are 19-39 overall in the West with a serious lack of talent on the floor, does strategy really make a difference?

Season Averages: 9.3 ppg, 1.4 apg, 3.9 rpg, 44% FG, 39% 3PT FG

Dion Waiters

Waiters has missed five straight games since hyperextending his left knee Feb. 18 against Philadelphia. Cleveland is fighting for a playoff spot in the lowly East after winning seven of their last ten, including an impressive victory at Oklahoma City. Still, Waiters is a much better option than the likes of Jarrett Jack and Matthew Dellavedova. With no timetable set for a return, Cavs fans may be waiting for a little while longer (See what I did there with waiting? Ok… I promise I will leave after this last player).

Season Averages: 14.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.9 rpg, 42% FG, 36% 3PT FG

Arinze Onuaku

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Onuaku to a 10-day contract on Feb. 22. Onuaku was previously on the Canton Charge, the Cavs NBA Development League team. He appeared in 26 games for the Charge this season, putting up 14.4 points per game to go with 9.7 rebounds. He last appeared in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this season, appearing in only three games with the team.

Mike Tirico: In the Moment

He comes dressed casually with a cup of Starbucks in his hand to share his time, experience, advice and a few laughs with several dozen students and others who showed up in the Miron Room in Newhouse I at midday Saturday. Mike Tirico '88 is a guy who enters to little fanfare, sits down and chats with early arrivals and is as approachable as can be.

When he is introduced as one of our most successful and loyal alums he tries to deflect the praise. Then, just hours after being inducted into the WAER Hall of Fame, he proceeds to show why he deserves the accolades. Animatedly discussing his experiences from WAER to WTVH-5 to ESPN and ABC. He tells the audience golf is the easiest sport to do because "you don't have to say a lot." That brings chuckles.

He takes them through his preparation for Monday Night Football, pointing out that if you miss prep time because of one thing or another, you make it up late at night or early in the morning. He talks of Jon Gruden's brilliance in getting the crew ready for games. He explains that it's a good idea to take some of your children's books on the road so you can read to them and put them to bed through Skype.

And when the Q&A is over he greets each person enthusiastically, posing for pictures, shaking hands, saying "thanks for coming" until the last person in line gets a chance.

Saturday night Tirico will be a speaker in WJPZ's tribute to Dr. Rick Wright. Sunday morning he'll fly out and Tuesday he'll call Illinois vs. Michigan. But at the moment, in that room, he is there and evidently very happy to be there with the people who have come to meet him.

Here is the story in photos from Kayla Chadwick.