3 things to know from this week in Syracuse athletics
Logan Reidsma | Staff Photographer
Jim Boeheim has the Orange riding six wins in its last seven games. Syracuse has won three straight Atlantic Coast Conference games.
1. Syracuse men’s basketball continues hot streak through conference play
A year after Michael Gbinije beat Virginia Tech at the buzzer, he rescued Syracuse again in a 68-60 overtime win on Tuesday. The veteran point guard hit an NBA-range 3-pointer to tie the game with 26 seconds remaining, and hit the first shot of overtime to give SU its first lead of the game. Freshman Tyler Lydon pitched into the winning effort despite foul trouble, and tallied 13 points off the bench.
A three-game Atlantic Coach Conference winning streak has thrusted the Orange into the thick of the conference standings. It plays Florida State at home on Thursday at 7 p.m., then hits the road Sunday to play Boston College 1 p.m.
MORE: What we learned from Syracuse basketball’s comeback win against Virginia Tech
Emma Comtois | Asst. Design Editor
2. Dino Babers solidifies first recruiting class on National Signing Day
Seventeen players pledged to Syracuse’s football team on Wednesday, when new head coach Dino Babers took the podium. Babers largely reshaped SU’s 20-person class, holding onto only four players that committed to the program under former head coach Scott Shafer. The new head coach’s recruiting efforts came to a head on the weekend of Jan. 22-24, when 12 players came on official visits to Syracuse’s campus. By the end of the 72-hour window, all 12 committed to the Orange.
“It’s never happened to me in 31 years of coaching,” Babers said of the recruiting weekend bonanza.
MORE: What to know about Syracuse’s class of 2016
3. Syracuse men’s lacrosse wins final preseason tuneup against No. 10 Brown
After beating the Bears, 12-10, in a closed scrimmage on Saturday, the Orange is now on the doorstep of its season-opener against Siena on Saturday at 1 p.m. Head coach John Desko has refined his three starting lines that are featuring plenty of new faces compared to last year.
Junior attack Jordan Evans flashed some acrobatic plays en route to his four points in the practice game, and even played some minutes at midfield as SU showcased a variety of offensive packages. Senior Dylan Donahue is expected to be the quarterback of the attack line that will also feature transfer Nick Piroli.
MORE: Syracuse women’s lacrosse voted as ACC’s top team
Quick hits
1. Briana Day and a trio of other starters led SU past the Yellow Jackets.
2. Two members of Syracuse’s football team won’t be returning next year.
2. Syracuse ice hockey is on a season-best winning streak.
Published on February 7, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman
