Syracuse Orange vs. Ned Ryerson Exhibition GameThread

The Ryerson Rams are coming to the Carrier Dome tonight for an exhibition showdown with the Syracuse Orange. After dispatching with Holy Family last week, this will be the final tune-up for the Orange before the season kicks off on Friday against Cornell.

Let's get to know the Rams the only way that makes sense…through the magic of Ned Ryerson quotes.

"Hey, hey! Now, don't you tell me you don't remember me because I sure as heck if I remember you."

Never heard of Ryerson before? There's good reason for that. They're yet another Canadian school, this one from Toronto.

"Phil? Hey, Phil? Phil! Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!"

"Ned... Ryerson. "Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy. Case Western High. Ned Ryerson: I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing! Ned Ryerson: got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson: I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple times until you told me not to anymore? Well?"

Tyler Ennis will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline. Ryerson head coach Roy Rana coached Ennis several times as part of the Canadian national program. He has high praise for the young point guard:

"He's definitely a very, very talented point guard. He's got a great basketball IQ. He's a deceptive athlete."

"So what are you doing for dinner?" "Umm… something else."

The game will once again be televised on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (Channel 323). Verizon FIOS, DirectTV and Dish Network folks are SOL. You could also purchase a 24-hour pass on Orange All Access for $6.95.

"Do you have life insurance, Phil? Because if you do, you could always use a little more, right? I mean, who couldn't? But you wanna know something? I got the feeling...you ain't got any. Am I right or am I right? Or am I right? Am I right?"

Ryerson might want to take out some insurance before this one. Their previous U.S. exhibition game against Dayton ended with an 89-62 loss. The Flyers scored 50 points by halftime.

"You know, whenever I see an opportunity now, I charge it like a bull. Ned the Bull, that's me now."

If anyone is going to cause havoc tonight, it's going to either of the two guards, Aaron Best and Jahmal Jones. Best scored 19 points in a 84-67 win over St. Catherine's on Friday. Both averaged 15 PPG last year.

"Wa-hew-hew-hew…watch out for that first step…it's a doozy."

Not for Ryerson but for the SU bench players. For the time being, don't expect the starters to change too much. But you and I both know that just because you're the 6th or 7th guy on the floor, that doesn't mean you can't be the 2nd or 3rd most important guy on the team. Keep an eye on Jerami Grant, Baye Keita, Michael Gbinije and the freshmen as they continue to establish themselves in the lineup.

Leave your pre-, in- and post-game comments below. G'ORANGE!