Syracuse Vs. Georgetown: Dajuan Coleman Cleared To Play

For nearly a month the No. 8-ranked Syracuse Orange have been without their stating center, freshman Dajuan Coleman, but that will not be the case Saturday when long-time rival and No. 11-ranked Georgetown Hoyas visits the Carrier Dome, according to Syracuse.com's Mike Waters.

Coleman, a 6-foot-9, 275-pound center, participated fully in the Orange's practice on Thursday at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center.

"It felt real good just to get out and start running again,'' Coleman said after Thursday's practice. "I'm real happy.''

Coleman said Dr. Brad Raphael, who performed the surgery, examined him on Wednesday after Syracuse's game against Providence and cleared him to practice.

"I was sprinting Monday and Tuesday and just working out in the weight room,'' Coleman said. "Then after the game (on Wednesday), the doctor said I was cleared to play.''

In life, especially college basketball, timing is everything. First, James Southerland (knock on wood) was able to come back from his academic issues thanks to winning his appeal a few weeks ago.

Now, after coming off a dominating performance over the Providence Friars on Wednesday, the Orange (22-4, 10-3 Big East Conference) seem to be back to full strength roster-wise.

Coleman will not resume his starting role, which has been given to another freshman, forward Jerami Grant.

And, as we've mentioned before on TNIAAM, it is doubtful Coleman will see a lot of playing time in a HUGE game like Saturday's. However, it is nice to know he is on the bench if Rakeem Christmas and Baye Moussa Keita get into foul trouble: wouldn't you agree?