Archive for February 13th, 2013

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim calls ESPN’s Andy Katz names in UConn postgame (updated)

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Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim took to the podium following his team’s 66-58 loss to UConn and caused a stir when ESPN’s Andy Katz asked a question in the postgame press conference.

Katz asked Boeheim about the end of the UConn/Syracuse rivalry, to which Boeheim responded: “I’ll answer anybody’s question but yours. Because you’re an idiot and really a disloyal person. I have a few other things I could add, but I’m not gonna go there.”

Listen to the exchange via WAER in Syracuse:

The coach’s response took everyone by surprise and led to rampant speculation about the cause of Boeheim’s ire.

One theory quickly developed. Earlier on the ESPN broadcast of the game, Katz reported a new tidbit involving Syracuse senior forward James Southerland.

Southerland, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, had just successfully appealed his suspension and returned to play last weekend after sitting six games beginning Jan. 12

Katz reported Southerland’s issue was over “two paragraphs” of an academic paper, a fact Southerland and University officials had previously remained silent about.

Did Katz report something Boeheim believed was off-the-record? Ben Meyers of the Auburn Citizen seemed to think so in this insightful piece.

Or was it something else unreported as of now?

Katz also wrote critical words about Southerland just days after the suspension began. He was also the author of this November piece which touched on several sore subjects of the Syracuse men’s basketball program.

Then there was Boeheim’s use of the word ‘disloyalty,’ which further added to the confusion, since Katz isn’t exactly the head of the Syracuse public relations department.

Katz, for his part, sounded like he took the outburst in stride.

UPDATE: Feb. 14 Boeheim has told the Syracuse Post-Standard’s Bud Poliquin it had nothing to do with Southerland, but everything to do with an interview Katz conducted with Boeheim a year ago.

Katz also commented on the cause of the rant to Mike Waters of the Post-Standard.


h/t To the Post-Standard of Syracuse for the full press conference video.

UConn 66, Syracuse 58

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In 91st and final Big East matchup between UConn and Syracuse, the unranked Huskies pulled off a shocker, knocking off the No. 6 Orange 66-58. It was Kevin Ollie’s first win over a top 10 opponent.

STAR OF THE GAME: UConn’s backcourt tandem of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright outshined Michael Carter Williams and Brandon Triche, who combined to shoot 0-for-10 from 3-point range and had just four assists. Boatright finished with a team-high 17 while Napier chipped in with 10 points and seven assists. A Boatright fastbreak slam and a pair of Napier free throws opened up a 49-42 lead.

KEY TO THE WIN: Physically overmatched up front, UConn — playing without 7-foot-1 Enosch Wolf — outrebounded Syracuse, 38-36.

*Omar Calhoun drilled hit back-to-back 3s, the second of which extended the Huskies lead to 55-46. The freshman, left open in the corner for most of the game, finished with 15 points. UConn shot 8-for-14 from 3-point range, which proved to be a major difference.

*UConn took its first double-digit lead (59-49) on a pair of Niels Giffey free throws with 3:40 remaining.

*Tyler Olander scored the first two baskets of the game, but did not record another point. He finished with four points and four boards.

*Carter-Williams, the nation’s assist leader, picked up his second foul when he handchecked Ryan Boatright at the 15:30 mark of the first half. He played sporadically for the remainder of the half and fouled out on a block with 1:39 left.

*Back-to-back Ryan Boatright 3-pointers silenced a 6-0 Orange run and gave UConn a 35-30 lead at the beginning of the second half.

Halftime: UConn 29, Syracuse 24

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A balanced offensive attack and some feisty rebounding helped UConn take a 29-24 lead into the break against No. 6 Syracuse Wednesday night at the XL Center.

Ryan Boatright, who had five points, swished a straightaway 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to give UConn its largest lead. Tyler Olander, more valuable than ever with Enosch Wolf sidelined due to suspension, scored the team’s first four points, but picked up a crucial third foul with 1:01 remaining.

Shabazz Napier was held scoreless until the 3:30 mark. His 3-ball from the left wing put UConn ahead 22-21.

Gameday and updates: Syracuse at UConn

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Sixth-ranked Syracuse travels to Hartford tonight for its 91st (and possibly final) matchup with UConn.

Kevin Ollie (AP)

This game is the biggest of the year — with the possible exception of Louisville — for the unranked Huskies. For the ACC-bound Orange, it’s another stop on the farewell tour.

Here are links, stats and rosters to get you ready for tonight’s game:

*Toss him from school or bring him back next year? Ollie is faced with a difficult decision on Enosch Wolf — Connecticut Post

*Wolf case continued to March 20 — Connecticut Post

*Notes/Quotes from Ollie: Wolf, Syracuse, etc. — Connecticut Post

*Syracuse/UConn scouting report — Syracuse Post-Standard

*UConn presents small, speedy backcourt — Syracuse Post-Standard

SYRACUSE

UCONN

  • Shabazz Napier, G, 6-0 Jr..: 22 pts, 9 assists, 6 steals vs. Seton Hall
  • Ryan Boatright, G, 5-10 So.: 20 pts, 10-for-10 FT vs. Seton Hall
  • Omar Calhoun, G, 6-5 Fr.: 11.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
  • DeAndre Daniels, F, 6-8 So.: Team-high 4.8 rpg
  • Tyler Olander, F, 6-9 Jr.: 4.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg
  • Niels Giffey, F, 6-7 Jr.: 4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg
  • R.J. Evans, G, 6-3 R-Sr.: 6 pts vs. Seton Hall
  • Phil Nolan, F, 6-9 Fr.: Scoreless in 25 mins of Big East play
  • Leon Tolksforf, F, 6-8 Fr.: 3 pts in Big East play

STORY LINES

MEMORIES OF ‘CUSE: Believe it or not, Kevin Ollie was a Syracuse fan while in high school. An older classmate at Crenshaw High, Stevie Thompson, went on to play for the Orange. “When I was at Crenshaw, I was a fan of Syracuse, so seeing Connecticut, seeing the Big East, seeing Georgetown, you hate to see it come to an end, but it’s part of life,” Ollie said. “You have to move on and I know our AD and our president are going to put us in a great situation going forward.” Syracuse leads the all-time series 54-36.

THE ORANGE ZONE: Syracuse’s length could pose problems for the smaller UConn guards. Michael Carter-Williams is a long-armed 6-foot-6 and shooting guard Brandon Triche stands 6-4. “They’re long and the back wings play up real high to take away the wings’ jump shot,” said UConn guard Ryan Boatright. “…Once they get up, and they play that zone so well, it’s hard to get back in the lead, so we want to come out with some fire and keep fighting until the end.”

BIG EAST SUPERIORITY: Syracuse has won an astonishing 30 of its past 34 Big East games. Almost as surprising, UConn is 16-18 in that span.

Live Updates


Wolf case continued to March 20

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UConn center Enosch Wolf was arraigned at Rockville Superior Court Wednesday on charges of third degree burglary, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.

His case will be continued to March 20.

Wolf, 22, was arrested at 5:55 a.m. following a dispute with a female student. Police said Wolf grabbed the hair of the victim and pushed her head. Wolf also knocked the glasses off of the victim’s face with his hand, according to the report.

“I just want to say I’m sorry and I apologize for what I put the University through, what I put the coaches through, the people at the university, my teammates and my family,”  Wolf said after his appearance Wednesday.

In a statement Monday, UConn head coach Kevin Ollie said Wolf will remain suspended “until the legal and university process is finalized.” Given that Wolf will not appear in court until March 20 — 11 days after UConn’s season ends — it seems unlikely that he’ll return this year.

Wolf continues to live on campus and take classes, according to his attorney, Robert Britt.

The victim in the case was granted a partial protective order, which allows contact between the two parties.

UConn (16-6, 6-4 Big East) hosts the league leader, Syracuse, in what could be the final meeting of a longstanding rivalry.

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