Rakeem Christmas

Syracuse outlasts Providence
By Mark Volain
January 9, 2013 - 11:11pm
Although the Friars led at halftime, the Orange came back in the second half to secure its third Big East victory, 72-66.

When the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team has close games, CJ Fair shines. That remained true in Wednesday nights' 72-66 victory over Providence College.

The junior led the No. 7 Orange (15-1, 3-0 Big East) with 23 points and 11 rebounds. He was 9-for-10 from the line and also added four blocks.

Strong second half pushes Orange into Sweet Sixteen
By Tyler Greenawalt
March 17, 2012 - 3:23pm
Syracuse shot 66 percent in the second half on their way to a 75-59 win over Kansas State in Pittsburgh on Saturday

Three thoughts from Saturday's game:

1. Rakeem Christmas, Melo’s replacement, is improving …

Orange gets past Bulldogs in round one
By Dan Connors
March 15, 2012 - 11:04pm
Syracuse pulled away from UNC-Asheville thanks in part to 13 second-half points from junior forward James Southerland

Syracuse played poorly for 30 minutes but found a way to avoid the upset with some timely shooting and a clutch performance from junior forward James Southerland, winning 72-65. The Orange were down by four at the half as UNC-Asheville found holes in the SU zone, both in the high-post and beyond the arc. The Bulldog’s lead stretched to as large as seven, but Syracuse fought back and re-gained the lead for good after Southerland hit a jumper with six minutes left in the game.

Here are three thoughts from the game:

How to beat the Orange
By Dan Connors
March 14, 2012 - 11:54am
Syracuse will be without its starting center, but what's the best way to go about taking down the Orange?

Let me preface this by saying that it’s not easy. Simple. But not easy. The Orange is deep, talented and buck wild in transition. However, despite its bulky record, Syracuse is more prone to a loss than one would suspect. Come tournament time, a team that can do the three tasks listed below has a good chance at pulling an upset over SU like Cincinnati and Notre Dame did.

Orange drops Cardinals in season finale
By Dan Connors
March 3, 2012 - 8:57pm
Syracuse University seniors Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph end Carrier Dome careers with a win over Louisville on Senior Day.

For the last time in their esteemed Syracuse careers, Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine donned their home white uniforms in front of a loud Carrier Dome crowd. The result was a pretty one for the SU faithful. Behind a strong defensive effort that limited Louisville to 34 percent shooting from the floor, the Orange beat the Cardinals, 58-49.

Three thoughts from SU vs. WV
By Dan Connors
January 29, 2012 - 1:03am
What we learned from SU's game against the Mountaineers