SU Basketball looking deep with talent
On a Friday when the SU Campus was buzzing for Midnight Madness, the 2011-2012 SU Basketball Team was also speaking to the media for the first time. While guys like Jonny Flynn, Wes Johnson and John Wallace were taking part in the first ever Midnight Madness Alumni game at the Carrier Dome, much of the talk at media day was surrounding SU's potential starts of the future, and how important year two will be for C.J. Fair, Dion Waiters and Fab Melo.
"I think I've improved a lot from last year," says Fair, " my whole mindset. My whole confidence for what to expect. I improved a lot on my jump shot."
While much of SU's success will be riding on how those three youngsters have developed, the Orange are also blessed with three other players with all type of experience to work with. The return of Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph and Brandon Triche help make this year's edition of the Orange one of the deepest we've seen in years.
"there was one time when we only had 6 or 7 people," reflected Scoop Jardine, "last year we played 7 or 8, but this year we could probably play 9."
In the meantime, the players were just excited to have some fun at Midnight Madness, and soak in what it means to be a member of the Syracuse Orange. Carmelo Anthony got the loudest reaction from the sold out Dome crowd, and while he didn't play the fans managed to chant Melo throughout the Alumni game. Andy Rautins, Eric Devendorf, Donte Green along with Johnson, Flynn were up to their old tricks, but it was retired NBA player John Wallace who put on a clinic with more than his share of dunks and three poiters. "This Midnight Madness was epic," said an excited Wallace.
The SU Women were introduced at Midnight Madness without the recently graduated Erica Morrow and Tasha Harris, but the young talent left behind is as motivated as ever to make their first NCAA tournament since 2008.
"Last year I really stepped back," says Head Coach Quentin Hillsman, "and I looked at the last couple of years and where we've been and our success and things I felt we fell a little short on. Winning 25 games the past two years it was very good for us, but we understand what the goal is. The goal is to be in the NCAA Tournament and to move forward."
"I think it motivates all of us," says Kayla Alexander, "you look up at practice and you're reminded with those NIT banners and you don't want that anymore. We want an NCAA banner."
Click on the video link for more from Midnight Madness.
