SYRACUSE, NY - Former Orange star Jonny Flynn, who led Syracuse's 2008-09 squad to the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16," is scheduled to return to the Carrier Dome for an NBA Preseason game between his Minnesota Timberwolves and the Detroit Pistons. The two squads will meet on Friday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.
"It's always great to be back to where you started," said Flynn. "Without Syracuse, there wouldn't be a Jonny Flynn. It'll be fun to play in the Dome again. I can't wait!''
Flynn was the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft after spending two memorable seasons with the Orange. He accumulated 1,211 points during his SU tenure and set school records for single-season minutes played (1,418) and points scored by a sophomore (663). He played a Syracuse-record 67 minutes in a six-overtime, BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal victory against Connecticut in 2009.
"Jonny had a great impact not just on the court but with the Syracuse community as well," said Chris Cordes, national marketing director for One on One Basketball, Inc. "It will be fun to see him reunite with all of his fans."
Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale Tuesday, June 15th, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are priced at $39.50, $29.50 and $19.50, and will be available on-line at SUAthletics.com or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office during normal business hours. Tickets will also be available at all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-888-DOMETIX (366-3849), Option 1.
SU season-ticket holders and athletic donors will receive a special ticket and parking offer via e-mail or letter early next week. SU students will receive an e-mail early next week about $25 first-level, student general admission tickets.
Flynn had a productive rookie campaign with the Timberwolves. He started all 81 games in which he played, and averaged 13.5 points and a squad-best 4.4 assists per game. His 233 steals also led Minnesota. Flynn converted 77 three-pointers, the second-best mark on the team, and led the club's regulars in free-throw percentage (.826). He was named to the NBA's All-Rookie second team.
The Timberwolves have three picks in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft, including the number four overall selection. The current roster includes high scoring NBA veteran Al Jefferson, Cory Brewer, a two-time NCAA champion at Florida, Wayne Ellington from North Carolina's 2009 NCAA title squad and UCLA star Kevin Love.
Detroit had made nine consecutive trips to the NBA play-offs before injuries derailed the Pistons this past season. Detroit features former Connecticut stars Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Detroit also owns the seventh selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.
The Carrier Dome most recently hosted an NBA preseason game in 2008 when Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets took on the Phoenix Suns.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
