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Syracuse announces self-imposed post-season ban for the 2014-15 men's basketball season

The ban stems from violations initially reported to the NCAA in 2007.

Syracuse University has initiated a self-imposed post-season ban for the 2014-15 men’s basketball season as part of its case pending before the NCAA Committee on Infractions, according to a release by Syracuse Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.

The ban includes the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and all other post-season tournaments, namely the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament and the National Invitational Tournament (NIT).

According to the release, the ban is accompanied by other self-imposed punishments that the NCAA Committee on Infractions will make public when it issues a final report on the case. Syracuse appeared before the committee in October.

The case began when SU alerted the NCAA to potential violations within the Athletics Department in 2007. No current student athlete is involved in the investigation.

In an email to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, Chancellor Kent Syverud said he made the decision after consultation with the Board of Trustees Athletics Committee and with the support of Director of Athletics Daryl Gross and head coach Jim Boeheim.

Syverud added the following:

Syracuse’s history demonstrates a strong commitment to integrity, responsibility and fairness, values I have personally observed in practice many times since becoming Chancellor last year. The University has taken this matter seriously and worked with the NCAA for nearly eight years to investigate and address potential rules violations. The process has been exhaustive. 

We have taken responsibility for past violations and worked hard to ensure they are not repeated. We believe these voluntary sanctions are consistent with those imposed on other NCAA schools in similar cases. I have included below a copy of the University announcement that will be issued shortly. 

I am disappointed for our current men’s basketball players who must shoulder this post-season ban as a result of things that occurred years ago. I also recognize that not participating in post-season play will be disappointing for you and other Orange supporters. However, we look forward to moving past this matter and I am confident the men’s basketball program will be strong and successful both on the court and in the classroom in the years ahead.

The university is unable to provide additional details regarding the NCAA case because it has not concluded.

Team captains Rakeem Christmas, Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije released the following statement:

We are all tremendously disappointed that we are going to miss out on playing in the postseason based on issues that do not involve us. However, we support our school and this won't change how hard we will continue to work in practice and in games.

Chris McCullough out for season with torn ACL

The freshman had started all 16 games for the Orange.

Syracuse forward Chris McCullough will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee Sunday evening against Florida State, Syracuse Athletics announced on Monday afternoon.

Surgery has not been scheduled, according to the release.

With about 12 minutes remaining in the first half of Sunday's game, McCullough collapsed beneath the basket and lay in obvious pain. He eventually needed to be helped to the locker room by SU athletic trainer Brad Pike and teammate Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye. He did not return.

SU head coach Jim Boeheim said following the game that McCullough would be evaluated on Monday morning.

McCullough, who started in all 16 games this season, averaged 9.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest for the Orange (12-4).

Boeheim told The Post-Standard that Tyler Roberson will take McCullough's place in the SU starting lineup and Chinonso Obokoh's role at the center spot will also expand.

The injury comes only days after the Syracuse women's basketball team lost Brittney Sykes for the rest of the season following a similar injury.

Men's basketball: Four sign National Letters of Intent to play for Syracuse

SU's recruiting class is considered among the best in the country.

Syracuse men's basketball head coach Jim Boeheim has announced that four players have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Orange next season, SU Athletics said in a press release Monday.

Moustapha Diagne, Malachi Richardson, Tyler Lydon and Franklin Howard have committed to SU for at least one academic year. The class is ranked fourth by ESPN.com and eighth by Scout.com.

Diagne averaged 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds last season for Pope John XXIII High School (N.J.) and is ranked 48th overall by ESPN.

Richardson participated in the 2014 USA Basketball Men's U-18 training camp but did not make the final roster. ESPN ranks him 19th overall.

Lydon and Howard are ranked 49th and 74th, respectively.

 

Men's soccer: Orange earns No. 9 seed for NCAA tournament

SU's tournament appearance is only the third in school history.

The Syracuse University men's soccer team is seeded ninth in the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, SU Athletics announced in a press release Monday.

The Orange will receive a first-round bye and face either Penn State or Hartwick in the second round at SU Soccer Stadium on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. SU is one of seven Atlantic Coast Conference squads in the 48-team field that will vie for the title.

"We're delighted. Any time you see your team's name pop up on the screen, it's a special moment," Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said. "For us to enjoy that together was important, and now we will prepare for two quality teams in Penn State and Hartwick."

The match will be the first home NCAA championship contest in program history. SU is 2-1-1 all-time in the tournament.

 

Steve-O to make appearance at Frozen Dome Classic

The star of MTV's "Jackass" will perform for fans during the event's marquee game.

Comedy and television star Steve-O, best known for his role on MTV's "Jackass" and its subsequent film series, will make a special appearance at the Frozen Dome Classic, the Syracuse Crunch announced Thursday morning.

The 40-year-old actor will take part in an on-ice stunt during one of the intermission periods of the Crunch's game against the Utica Comets on Nov. 22 in the Carrier Dome.

Steve-O has performed in 38 different countries. In addition to "Jackass," he has made appearances on "Wildboyz" and was a contestant on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

Tickets for the game are still on sale and can be purchased at the Crunch Box Office, by phone at (315) 473-4444 and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Notes from David Cutcliffe's Wednesday teleconference call

The Duke head coach spoke highly of AJ Long and the rest of the Orange prior to their Saturday showdown.

Duke (7-1) head football coach David Cutcliffe spoke to the media Wednesday afternoon during the Atlantic Coast Conference's weekly coaches teleconference.

Not surprisingly, Cutcliffe talked about the Blue Devils' upcoming date with Syracuse (3-6) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. 

After escaping Pittsburgh with a three-point, double-overtime victory last weekend, the veteran head coach said he expects another grind-it-out game against the Orange. Cutcliffe complimented SU head coach Scott Shafer, whom he respects greatly for the way he teaches his team to be disciplined and tough on every down.

"They're a big, physical team," Cutcliffe said. "You better strap it on and be ready to play."

Known for his ability to groom young quarterbacks, Cutcliffe also had high praise for SU freshman signal-caller AJ Long. He said Long possesses, among other traits, courage and a very dangerous arm.

"(Long) has an exceptionally-quick release," he said. "He's accurate on both curls and outs."

Complicating matters is the Orange's talented crop of wide receivers, whom Cutcliffe commended for their physical play and ability to battle in tight coverage.

Knowing SU needs to win its final three games to qualify for a postseason bowl, he said he expects to face a scrappy team that won't stop fighting, much like the Panthers squad that nearly knocked the Devils out of first place in the ACC Coastal division last weekend.

WWE Live Returns to the OnCenter

A street fight main event highlights the next stop on the road to Survivor Series.

The War Memorial Arena is usually home to hard-hitting action on the ice, but for one night the mayhem will be between the ropes.

The venue will host WWE Live on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. This is WWE's first stop in Syracuse since May.

"The WWE is the best value in entertainment today," WWE superstar Damien Mizdow told The NewsHouse in an exclusive interview. "You know mostly everyone, from grandma and grandpa all the way down to the kids, has a smile on their face and is having a good time."

The main event will feature 15-time world champion John Cena and Seth Rollins, who currently possesses the Money in The Bank briefcase and a guaranteed title-match opportunity, in a no-disqualification street fight.

Among the other superstars scheduled to compete are U.S. Champion Sheamus, The Miz and his stunt double Mizdow, The Big Show, the inspirational Bo Dallas, the WWE Divas and more.

"You can write this in big, bold capital letters," Mizdow said. "Seeing me in person is worth the price of admission alone. You're all gonna want to be there."

If that isn't intriguing enough, fans will get a small taste of WWE's Survivor Series event on Nov. 23, when Cena's team of superstars will battle "Team Authority" for company bragging rights.

Tickets are still available at the Solvay Bank Box Office, online through Ticketmaster or by phone. SU students can buy discounted tickets in-person for $15 simply by showing their school I.D.

You can also follow along on Twitter by using the hashtag "WWESyracuse."

Women's ice hockey: Clarkson batters Orange in weekend doubleheader

SU musters only one goal in a pair of games against the No. 10-ranked team in the country.

Syracuse entered the weekend with a streak of four-consecutive tie games, but defending national champion Clarkson completely shattered it Friday afternoon.

Led by Genevieve Bannon's hat trick, the Golden Knights dismantled the Orange, 9-0, in Potsdam, N.Y., during the first game of a weekend twinbill.

The onslaught began only 21 seconds into the game, as Shannon MacAulay fired Clarkson's first shot past SU goalkeeper Jenn Gilligan. By the time the period ended, the Orange had dug itself a 4-0 hole.

The SU (1-2-4) defense stabilized in the second period, allowing only one tally. However, its offense failed to convert on two power-play opportunities.

Clarkson (4-3-0) again flexed its muscles in the third, piling on another four goals to send the Orange to its worst loss this season.

The Golden Knights outshot SU 29-19.

Saturday: Clarkson 4, Syracuse 1

Syracuse had to wait only 24 hours to try and avenge Friday's embarrassing loss. While it did play much better, the Orange stumbled to the same end result.

Larissa Martyniuk scored in the second period to draw SU even, but Clarkson pulled away late to hand SU a 4-1 loss Saturday at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

The Golden Knights again struck first on Savannah Harmon's tally with only 1:56 left in the first period.

Martyniuk gave the Orange (1-3-4) new life in the middle frame with her first goal of the season on a screened shot through traffic, but that would be all the offense SU could muster.

Clarkson (5-3-0) quickly regained the lead, and Caley Mercer added two insurance goals in the final period.

In its three setbacks this season, Syracuse has been outscored 23-3.

Men's soccer: Bono, Murrell crack Top 100 list

The two have been key pieces to the Orange's 13-win season.

Two Syracuse soccer players have been recognized among the best in the country.

On Wednesday, TopDrawerSoccer.com included defender Jordan Murrell and goalkeeper Alex Bono on its midseason list of the Top 100 college men's soccer players. Murrell checked in at No. 49, while Bono vaulted all the way to No. 2.

Both players have been standouts for the SU defense, which is tied for the national lead with 10 shutout victories.

Bono has the third-best goals-against average (0.39) in the country and has upped his career shutout total to 28 this season.

Murrell has scored two goals and added six assists in 2014. His 19 career helpers are the most ever for an Orange back.

UCLA midfielder Leo Stolz was ranked atop the list.

Men's soccer: Orange offense too much for Bucknell

Alseth's first two career goals help SU outlast the Bison.

After 56 minutes of play at SU Soccer Stadium on Tuesday night, No. 5 Syracuse had only mustered a one-goal advantage against Bucknell.

But an unlikely offensive threat soon broke the game open.

Sophomore Oyvind Alseth scored the first two goals of his college tenure in the second half to help the Orange pull away to a 4-1 victory over the Bison. With the win, SU became the first school to reach the 13-victory plateau this season.

The Orange (13-2-0) first struck only 47 seconds into the match, as Chris Nanco picked up a flubbed pass by Bucknell goalkeeper Mike Lansing and launched it into a wide-open net.

In the 22nd minute, Alseth lobbed a corner kick in the direction of Emil Ekblom. The sophomore's header flew past Lansing to double the advantage.

The Bison (6-9-0) remained in hot pursuit thanks to a goal by Ben Derleth in the 56th minute, but ultimately couldn't keep up with Alseth.

Only two minutes later, the sophomore converted a header of his own for the Orange's third tally. He would later deliver the final dagger in the 63rd minute on an SU counterattack with Ekblom.

SU has now won 20 consecutive matches against non-conference opponents. Coach Ian McIntyre and Co. will now head to Raleigh, N.C., to face North Carolina State on Saturday at 7 p.m.