The Week Ahead : 1/29-2/4

Another new segment to Downtown Sports! In this part I will be giving everyone a look ahead at the games on tap for all area teams.

Make sure you check back for updates, reviews, recaps, and interviews.

Hockey:

Buffalo Sabres
Tuesday Jan 31st: @ Montreal Canadiens 7:30pm (MSG)
Wednesday Feb 1st: New York Rangers 7:30pm (NBCSN)
Saturday Feb 4th: @ New York Islanders 7:00pm (MSG)

Men's Basketball:

Saint Bonaventure Bonnies
Wednesday Feb 1st: @ St. Louis 8:00pm

Syracuse Orange
Saturday Feb 4th: @ St. John's 12:00pm

Buffalo Bulls
Wednesday Feb 1st: Ball State 7:00pm
Saturday Feb 4th" @ Toledo 7:00pm

Niagara Purple Eagles
Friday Feb 3rd: @ Fairfield 7:30pm

Canisius Golden Griffins
Thursday Feb 2nd: @ Iona 7:00pm
Saturday Feb 4th: @ Marist 7:00pm

Cuse' Without Melo, Jones

The Orange of Syracuse University currently sit at 20-0, a school record, and number one in the polls but will be without star center Fab Melo and forward Mookie Jones.

ESPN is reporting that Melo did not travel with the team on their two game road trip due to an unresolved academic issue from the fall semester. The team, along with the school hopes the issue can be resolved by Tuesday when they return to campus but the Orange will be without their starting center for at least the next two games.

Melo is averaging 7.2 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 3 blocks per game which ranks him third in the nation. Melo is coming off a 10 point preformace Monday against Pittsburgh where he posted a career high in rebounds (10).

Junior forward Mookie Jones has left the school due to "personal reasons." The reasons for the leave are unclear as the school is citing school policy and federal student privacy laws.

(3) Syracuse uses Depth to Take Down (9) Florida

The third ranked Syracuse Orange used 16 points from Scoop Jardine and a strong performance from sophomore Fab Melo to knock off the Florida Gators at home 72-68.

It didn't take long after the game for Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim to face questions regarding the Bernie Fine allegations. Before taking questions, he did issue an apology for his comments directed towards the accusers last week saying that "It was insensitive for the individuals involved and especially to the overall issue of child abuse."

During the game, The Orange were in a battle with the ninth ranked Gators where large runs by both teams, swung the momentum numerous times.

Early in the second half, Syracuse was up 39-30 but saw that vanish quickly as multiple three point shots in a row by Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker. It wasn't long after, that seniors Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine took over.

Joseph had 14 points but more importantly four big offensive rebounds. Jardine had many big layups and assists during the final ten minutes but none bigger than his three point dagger with 3:56 left which all about sealed the game.

Syracuse now improves to 8-0 while Florida suffers their second loss of the season dropping to 5-2.

Jim Boeheim and the rest of the basketball program will continue to be questioned during this ongoing investigation but the players can limit the distractions by just simply keep winning.

STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Kris Joseph, F	36	5-14	1-5	3-4	4	5	1	2	0	2	0	14
Rakeem Christmas, F	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fab Melo, C	26	4-5	0-0	1-2	3	5	0	1	1	1	2	9
Scoop Jardine, G	31	6-10	1-3	3-5	1	4	7	4	1	4	1	16
Brandon Triche, G	35	5-13	1-4	9-9	0	0	3	1	1	2	4	20
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
James Southerland, F	11	0-3	0-3	0-0	1	3	0	1	1	1	1	0
Dion Waiters, G	14	1-8	0-1	0-0	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	2
C.J. Fair, F	31	4-10	0-1	1-1	4	11	1	1	0	2	1	9
Baye Moussa Keita, C	14	1-1	0-0	0-0	1	4	0	0	0	1	3	2
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		26-64	3-17	17-21	14	34	13	10	4	14	12	72