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Fair productive despite injury; Collins exploits Orange zone By Zach Brown and Michael Cohen THE DAILY ORANGE
The Carrier Dome went silent as C.J. Fair clutched his left knee. The sophomore forward had just crumbled to the court without any contact and rolled around grimacing in pain. But as quickly as it happened, the pain subsided, and Fair walked off under his own power to the pleasure of Syracuse fans. “The court was wet because someone fell,” he said. “It wasn’t a dead ball, so they couldn’t mop it up. I jumped up, and I fell weird. But I’m good.” The scare came at the 8:27 mark of the first half, but even though Orange trainer Brad Pike came out to tend to Fair, the sophomore was back on the court less than a minute later. He came out of halftime with a white sleeve on his knee but said the injury didn’t affect him during the game. He finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists as No. 2 SU (28-1, 15-1 Big East) knocked off South Florida (17-11, 10-5 Big East) 56-48 Wednesday. It was Fair’s fourth straight game scoring in double figures as the sophomore’s offensive game continues to develop. “At this point in the year with any of the guards, I know how to feed off of them and try to get to open spots where I can be available to them to pass to me,” he said. Fair scored seven of SU’s first nine points against the Bulls before suffering the minor injury. He didn’t score after the injury in the first half, but in the second, he created more for himself. He got to the line early on after hauling in an offensive
rebound. The forward’s next bucket came on a hard baseline drive, and he later sealed the Orange win with two free throws late in the game.
“At this point in the year with any of the guards, I know how to feed off of them and try to get to open spots where I can be available to them to pass to me.” C.J. Fair
SU FORWARD
After the game, Fair said the knee wasn’t an issue and would be fine. He also added that the key to his offensive success was simple. “Just being aggressive at all times,” he said. “And that’s not just trying to score but just attack mode. Keep the defense honest and make myself available.”
USF guard Collins succeeds scoring inside Time and again, Anthony Collins drove in among the trees. Unwavering, the 6-foot-1, 180pound South Florida point guard attacked the middle of the Syracuse defense. Time and again, he scored. Collins went 5-for-5 in the paint Wednesday night against the Orange, lofting teardrop after teardrop up and over SU center Fab Melo
and watching them fall softly through the basket. Though the Bulls fell 56-48 to Syracuse on Wednesday night, Collins finished with 12 points and 10 assists to lead USF. “He’s good. He’s a really good player. I was very impressed with him,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “He made every shot. They were all tough shots over people. The only shot he missed was a 3 he had to force a little bit at the end of the game.” Collins never looked for his shot as the first option offensively for South Florida, but when lanes opened up he took them. By slicing into the middle of the 2-3 zone, he left Melo with a choice. The 7-foot center could step up and try to impede Collins’ path, or he could stay back. “If I come up, he’s going to pass to the other guy down low. It’s tough,” Melo said. “I don’t know what to do sometimes. I just go up and he passes down. Then it would be my fault. It’s hard.” Melo stayed back Wednesday, as he said he’s supposed to, and Collins made Syracuse pay.
His ability to make contested shots late in the shot clock bailed out South Florida five times. “He has a knack of getting in there and freezing you,” USF head coach Stan Heath said. “And if you want to jump at it, he’ll find a way to pass it, too. So it’s pick your poison once you get in there. “
No comment from Boeheim Before the reporter could even finish the question, Boeheim made it clear he wouldn’t discuss the defamation case he currently faces. Bobby Davis and Mike Lang filed a lawsuit against Boeheim claiming he defamed them by calling them liars after they claimed they were molested by former SU assistant coach Bernie Fine. Judge Brian DeJoseph ruled Wednesday that the case would be heard in Onondaga County rather than in New York City. When a reporter asked if he could comment on the change of venue, Boeheim cut him off with one word: “No.” zjbrown@syr.edu mjcohe02@syr.edu
ON A ROLL
In the Orange’s 56-48 win over South Florida on Wednesday, C.J. Fair finished with 13 points for the forward’s fourth consecutive game scoring in double figures. The sophomore has been a key contributor off the bench all season for Syracuse. Here’s a look at Fair’s performances in the last four games: OPPONENT
MINUTES
Connecticut 38 Louisville 35 Rutgers 38 South Florida 37
POINTS
REBOUNDS
14 12 13 5 21 8 13 6
STEALS
1 1 2 5
WINTER CARNIVAL 2012 WEEKEND EVENTS:
Totally Fabulous Drag Show Finals, 8pm, Goldstein Auditorium
sponsored by Pride Union, tickets $5 with SU/ESF ID, $7 without. Available at Schine Box Office
Glow in the Dark Late Night Skate Night, 9pm-12am, Tennity Ice Pavillion Free skate rental and entry, free hot chocolate and goodies, free glow stuff!
Winter Olympics Competition, 2pm, Quad
Compete to win TONS of free stuff...sign up yourteam to win at syr.orgsync.com/wintercarnival
Lasertag and Game Viewing Party, 8pm-12am, Goldstein Aud/304s
yes, lasertag in Goldstein. Come watch SU beat UCONN on our big screens at the free game viewing party in the 304s while you wait to play lasertag. Free food and door prizes at the game viewing party while they last!
UU Cinemas free movie “The Muppets”, 8pm, 201 Goldstein Student Center free movie. free food while it lasts.
http://syr.orgsync.com/wintercarnival