A bleak roster situation grew dimmer yesterday for Syracuse when starting guard Antonio “Scoop” Jardine did not dress because of a violation of university policy. Without Jardine, the Orange had only seven scholarship players available. With such a thin bench, Jim Boeheim used walk-on guard Justin Thomas for spot duty in the first half and starters Jonny Flynn and Donte Greene both played all 40 minutes.

Syracuse may be thin, but the players Boeheim still has are perfectly suited to play zone. The majority of the team features, long, active athletes that prevent very many open looks from the perimeter. Kristof Ongenaet replaced Jardine in the lineup, and he fits that long, active defender profile and also grabbed eight rebounds.

“Earlier in the year, Jim told me, ‘We don’t play any defense,’ when we were talking on the phone once,” said Welsh. “I was trying to be a nice friend and I said, ‘You’ll get better,’ but I wasn’t so sure because they have so many young players. But he’s done a terrific job. Their numbers in the league are outstanding defensively.”

-KEVIN McNAMARA