Syracuse Just Kidding, AO Totally Not A-OK

by Sean Keeley on Mar 14, 2010 10:37 PM EDT

We all kinda saw this coming, didn't we? From the moment we heard that, for the first in memory, practice would be closed to the media until after the NCAA selection, we knew the news that Arinze Onuaku was going to be fine was bulls**t. No one wanted to admit it out of fear that the NCAA committee was reading their Twitterfeed (a likely scenario). So I can't imagine its a huge shock to anyone who saw AO go down screaming in the Georgetown game that the big man almost certainly play against Vermont on Friday and might not even play in the 2nd round game on Sunday.

"Arinze has not practiced. He has good mobility, but I don’t think that he’ll be practicing tomorrow or Tuesday," SU coach Jim Boeheim said Sunday night. "I would say he is ... unlikely to play this weekend. That could change at the end of the week, but that’s my thinking right now. He’s made some progress. He’s moving around a little bit, but at this point in time, I would be very skeptical of him playing this weekend, although I wouldn’t say it was impossible."

Boeheim went on record saying that DaShonte Riley can expect to see some serious playing time if Onuaku can't go. Rick Jackson would take over center duties while Kris Joseph would start as a forward. The Orange might also shift Andy Rautins down to small forward if needed.

Lots to discuss and fret over on this one. The first thing that comes to mind...what if RickJack gets into foul trouble early? I can't think of a worse time to have the DaShonte Riley coming-out party. Then again, maybe the big man will surprise us all and step it up. That's what we can hope for I suppose.

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Looks like he might have strained something trying to smile in that picture, too. That’ll add another 1-2 weeks to the recovery time.

Go, fight, and win.

by Alex O on Mar 14, 2010 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Geez

I read the article and I come out thinking the opposite. AO is saying its muscular. He is moving around pretty well. It seems to me like they are being very conservative with it—no running or jumping.

If they can get by without him against Vermont, I think he plays Sunday.

by ezcuse on Mar 14, 2010 10:49 PM EDT reply actions

Better get this DaShonte guy some extra practice.

Who knows? We could have an 8th man.

by adselver15 on Mar 14, 2010 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

No surprise

Anyone thinking otherwise was just fooling themselves.

We’ll be lucky to have him for the second week, if we get that far. I really think this injury is being downplayed. I hope I’m wrong, but I really can’t see him playing this week.

That second round matchup against Gonzaga (Robert Sacre and Elias Harris) or Florida State (Solomon Alabi and Chris Singleton) could be a pain in the ass. If Jackson were to get in foul trouble, we could be a big time trouble. I shudder to think of Riley playing meaningful minutes. The kid is nowhere near ready to contribute anything more than a rebound or blocked shot here and there.

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Mar 14, 2010 11:23 PM EDT reply actions

If we can stay with a small lineup,

and Mookie really is healthy, we could still have a reasonably strong seven-man rotation for the first two rounds of the tournament. I don’t really want Andy playing the wings of the zone; I think he’s significantly more effective up top. I hope Riley’s problem against Georgetown was more mentally not being ready to play than not being physically capable of it. I guess we’ll see. And heck. Maybe AO will be good enough to put in 5 or 10 game minutes during one of those games and give some guys hell down low.

This should be a pretty interesting road to Final Four, boys and girls. I have a feeling our most difficult weekend is going to be our first one.

Other people look, Andy Rautins can SEE.

by FatK44 on Mar 14, 2010 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

I just want to know

what it cost you to get a picture of AO smiling.

by MG23 on Mar 14, 2010 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

Many Bothans died

so that I could bring this to you

Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.

by Sean Keeley on Mar 15, 2010 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Okay, where is he...

where’s tanman to give us all a “I told you so” over the Riley issue.

Go Orange(men)!

by SUmonkey on Mar 15, 2010 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

even if coach did what he tanman said he should do it wouldn't really have made that much of a difference..

riley can either handle this or he can’t.. i hope he can..

#21 - Get Well, AO
I fight like a girl
"Being mad ruins my day way more than it ruins the day of the person I’m mad at." -Dave Blazer's Edge

by galacticlove on Mar 15, 2010 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree, it wouldn't of mattered

and, no, he can’t

Go Orange(men)!

by SUmonkey on Mar 15, 2010 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

i know he can't :(

but i’m hoping to be shocked and amazed..

if we just need like 7-10mpg for the first weekend.. maybe.. and then ao will really be back..

i don’t want this to be over..

#21 - Get Well, AO
I fight like a girl
"Being mad ruins my day way more than it ruins the day of the person I’m mad at." -Dave Blazer's Edge

by galacticlove on Mar 15, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry man

In the words of Alfred (from the Dark Knight), “On that day, even I won’t want to say I told you so.”

I don’t have the heart to do it. I’m just praying we can get out of this weekend

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Mar 15, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

No apologies, you were never a dick about it

I (and others) have just had this ongoing debate with you over riley since the Pitt loss, read this, and knew what was headed my way.

Go Orange(men)!

by SUmonkey on Mar 15, 2010 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

So What does Boeheim say to motivate them?

I worry about the LeMoyne crap repeating…

by Cuse9344 on Mar 15, 2010 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

He shows the 2005 game and says remember all the work you put in this season you can still be a joke after 40 minutes.

hindsight is 20-13 just like Ted William actual vision- ken tremendous

by heapofoatmeal on Mar 15, 2010 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions

We're screwed

by upstateNYYFan1984 on Mar 15, 2010 9:46 AM EDT reply actions

why the f did he smile?

seriously?

by goober112 on Mar 15, 2010 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

It's like he's forcibly trying to stop it

Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.

by Sean Keeley on Mar 15, 2010 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

sometimes when the ish hits the fan.. smiling is all you can do..

damnit.. he deserves this run!! we all do.. fn injuries..

#21 - Get Well, AO
I fight like a girl
"Being mad ruins my day way more than it ruins the day of the person I’m mad at." -Dave Blazer's Edge

by galacticlove on Mar 15, 2010 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

What will the starting 5 look like?

Triche, Rautins, Johnson, Joseph, Jackson?

Also any word on James Southerland?

GO CUSE, BLUE, AND EAGLES!

by tanman5 on Mar 15, 2010 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

If Syracuse can't beat lowly Vermont without Onuaku....

….then they don’t deserve to make it any further than Round 1. Vermont played Maine twice this season and only beat them by 7-8 points both times. Syracuse beat Maine 101-55. Vermont also lost to Providence by ~40 points and Syracuse beat them fairly easily.

by Tigeyboy2 on Mar 15, 2010 5:01 PM EDT reply actions