Feb. 9, 2015

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MONDAY

feb. 9, 2015 high 32°, low 19°

t h e i n de p e n de n t s t u de n t n e w s pa p e r of s y r a c u s e , n e w yor k |

N • Search squad

dailyorange.com

P • Snow brush

The search committee for a new dean of libraries hosted a forum over the weekend to gather input from SU community members for the search process. Page 3

Heidi Faulkner, a sophomore attending SUNY-ESF who likes to draw and paint, creates art in the snow using only her footprints. Page 9

S • Looking back

Several members of the 1992–93 Syracuse men’s basketball team, the last to be banned from the postseason, reflect on the difficult experience. Page 16

Syracuse still has something to play for despite ban

Group postpones campout Otto’s Army scheduled to begin camping Monday By Sarah Richheimer contributing writer

Otto’s Army is postponing its campout for the Duke vs. Syracuse men’s basketball game until Monday at 5 p.m. due to the impending snowstorm. The group was scheduled to begin its campout Sunday at 5 p.m., but because of the current weather and the forecasted snowstorm, Otto’s Army decided to push the start of the campout back a day, said Otto’s Army president Sean Fernandez. SU (15-8, 6-4 Atlantic Coast) will play No. 4 Duke (20-3, 7-3 ACC) on Saturday at 6 p.m. SU recently announced a self-imposed one-year postseason ban for this year’s men’s

see campout page 6

MICHAEL GBINIJE and the rest of Syracuse still have a schedule to finish out. And with those games, the Orange has a chance to define the way the season is perceived. The remaining slate is tough, with five games against ranked teams still awaiting SU. logan reidsma asst. photo editor By Jesse Dougherty staff writer

P

ITTSBURGH — When Syracuse limped off the floor of the Petersen Events Center on Saturday evening, another loss had hardened the following prevailing logic: It’s a good year to self-impose a postseason ban because the Orange isn’t going to make the NCAA Tournament either way. And after falling to Pittsburgh (16-8, 5-5 Atlantic Coast), 83-77, with the toughest part of its schedule still ahead, SU (15-8, 6-4) has eight games left to win for itself and prove that theory wrong. With the dust settled on the self-imposed postseason ban — don’t get too comfortable, dust — the Orange now has eight more games to prove itself a victim of the circumstances

JESSE DOUGHERTY

THE DOCTOR’S IN instead of a handy administrative chess piece. If SU continues to lose, slapping a postseason ban on this season will be harmless compared to doing so in almost any other year. But if it plays for pride and stockpiles wins, the record will show that the season wasn’t always bound to be a wash. There are some things that are hard to looks past. SU inappropriately announced the ban on national signing day — which SU football head coach Scott Shafer said “is about the kids.” This year’s team isn’t to blame for past discretions. And Rakeem Christmas, the team’s leading scorer and only

scholarship senior, has officially played his last postseason game. It all doesn’t seem right because frankly, it isn’t. But there’s still a season to finish and a reputation

We just got everything out and talked about things, and basically to wrap things up we just came to the conclusion that we want to win games and show people we’re a good team. Michael Gbinije su forward

that this year’s Orange can salvage. “As soon as we heard the news,

we had a team meeting,” SU forward Michael Gbinije said. “We just got everything out and talked about things, and basically to wrap things up we just came to the conclusion that we want to win games and show people we’re a good team.” Media members were given strict instructions to not ask about the postseason ban in the locker room after the loss to Pitt, but the conversation teetered onto the topic when SU players put the loss to Pittsburgh in perspective. Responses to what the ban means to the last of the month of the Orange’s season included a grab bag of cliches — competitiveness and fight among them. SU head coach Jim Boeheim said he wasn’t worried about his team coming into the game and, when asked about

see dougherty page 6

Otto’s Army to maintain attendance Group says it will still support team despite ban By Justin Mattingly asst. news editor

The president of Otto’s Army says the group is remaining committed to the men’s basketball team following the announcement of a self-imposed postseason ban for this season. Sean Fernandez, president of Otto’s Army, said the group is still looking forward to the rest of the season, despite there being no opportunity for a tournament appearance. Otto’s Army took a group of students to the Syracuse (15-8, 6-4 Atlantic Coast) vs. Pittsburgh (16-8, 5-5 ACC) see otto’s

army page 6


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