NCAA East Regional Tournament Guide

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 ac u s e , n e w yor k

EAST REGIONAL TOURNAMENT GUIDE

GAME

ON

Carrier Dome to host Louisville, Michigan State, N.C. State, Oklahoma in East Regional Tournament SAFE AND SOUND

TOUGH HAND

MUNCHY MADNESS

Campus security and the NCAA worked to ensure this weekend's games have appropriate security.

See page 3

Terry Rozier overcame a troubled childhood, and now has become Louisville's leading scorer.

See page 9

The DO staff pitted Cuse’s best restaurants against each other. See which one takes the top spot.

See page 17

harrison st

Avoid getting lost by using this D.O. campus guide. Check out where to find food, drink, shopping, parking, bus stops and iconic SU landmarks.

sweet basil yogurtland manny’s dj’s student choice market bleu monkey cafe acropolis j michael shoes starbucks

e adams st

whitman school of management

walnut ave

TOWN?

10 11 12 13 14

15

16 17 18

walnut place

1 jimmy john’s 2 pita pit 3 sliders 4 calios 5 shirt world 6 king david’s restaurant 7 chipotle 8 panda west 9 insomnia cookies

university ave

NEW IN

marshall street hot spots:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

faegan’s cafe and pub varsity pizza

huntington hall

su landmarks

i rv i n g

ave

shopping

drinks

s crouse ave

mon

food

waverly ave crousehinds hall

s.i. newhouse school of public communications

maxwell hall crouse hall

van buren st

college of law

sheraton hotel rachel’s restaurant

schine bookstore schine student center

bird library

university pl

parking

This map continues on the last page of the issue. To see it in full, just remove the front cover.

marshall st

health center

tolley hall

eggers hall

crouse dr

ro e

st

bus stop

hall of languages smith hall hunt. beard crouse hall

lyman hall

hinds hall

link slocum hall hall

hendrick’s chapel heroy geology

dineen hall

archbold gym

carnegie library

bowne hall

shaffer s hall h

si ms d r

carrier dome

flanagan gym

e raynor ave

mt

sadler hall

lawrinson hall

flint hall

o

forestry dr illick hall

standart st

saltine warrior

physics building

campus west

henry st

interstate 81

chuck’s cafe

walters hall

moon library

graham din center

east campus dr

N

@Belairrrr Went to @CarrierDome for the #Sweet16 practices today. Saw @NCState @MSU_Athletics @GoCards @OU_Athletics put on a show. #NCAATournament

NEWS

Tipping off Stay informed on all things NCAA Tournament East Regional by checking The Daily Orange’s website for updates.

See dailyorange.com

@TomEschenJr Calm before the storm here in CarrierDome44 About 24 hours until the East Regional Sweet 16 tips off

dailyorange.com @dailyorange march 27-29, 2015 • PAG E 3

Vendors prep for crowds East Regional to bring added business to area

By Danny Mantooth asst. copy editor

DAVID LEVITCH, a guard for the University of Louisville, warms up on the Carrier Dome floor during open practice on Thursday. In preparation for the Sweet 16 games being played Friday, the Carrier Dome court and stands underwent a series of changes.

chase gaewski staff photographer

GEARING UP

Carrier Dome court transforms ahead of NCAA regional games

By Matt Schneidman asst. sports editor

A sign reading “Shuttles to Manley and Skytop Parking” covers up a Jim Brown “Greatest Player Ever” poster.

Black bridges protrude horizontally from the court on either side of the Carrier Dome.

We just have to make sure everyone understands that people are here for the first time.

Mark Barbuto event staff supervisor

“The biggest thing is primarily the set-up of the building,” event staff supervisor Mark Barbuto said. “The building is entirely different.”

But the NCAA has its stipulations, and the Dome has four different fan bases to cater to in one day. The venue

has been transformed from the inside, both procedurally and structurally, for this weekend’s NCAA Tournament East Regional.

It won’t be a regular SU game for ushers, media or fans either, as the Carrier Dome experience will cater to a more national audience rather than a Syracuse-centric one for this weekend’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

“Things get to be ingrained in what we do and very easy for us to do that with our staff,” Barbuto said. “But we have these types of events, you know, it’s a totally different situation.”

The biggest visual differences in the Dome this weekend will be enforced by the entity that has already been involved with Syracuse as of late, the NCAA. The permanent static signs along the electronic video board circling the Dome – normally filled with SU sponsors – show, “Welcome to the 2015 NCAA Tournament East Regional.”

“Every bit of corporate signage inside the Dome had to be covered up see carrier

dome page 6

Security staff prepares for tournament setting

By Justin Mattingly asst. news editor

Twice a year, Carrier Dome and local law enforcement officials undergo training to prepare for the unexpected.

The training exercises, which are called tabletop exercises, create different scenarios and provide officials the chance to get experience dealing with terrorist threats and other intense security situations.

That type of training is also what makes the NCAA comfortable with Syracuse University hosting a regional.

“We trust the people at the Carrier Dome,” said NCAA Director of Media Coordination and Statistics David Worlock.

SU will host the NCAA Tournament East Regional on Friday and Sunday, right in the thick of March Madness — one of the country’s most watched events. With such a large event comes extensive train-

ing and security preparation, and also the possibility of a threat.

The average SU men’s basketball attendance from 2010-2014 was 23,355. SU most recently hosted the East Regional in 2010, when the average attendance of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight sessions was 22,384.

The Carrier Dome staff is used to dealing with the large crowds it will see this weekend, Worlock said. The experience, both in security preparation and in the fact that SU has hosted the East Regional before, is a strong benefit to having SU host the event, Worlock said.

The NCAA does regulate a few things, Worlock said.

The organization asks venues to limit deliveries on the day of a game, something most buildings do anyway, he said. The NCAA has guidelines about no large signage, banners or artificial noisemakers

see security page 5

As the NCAA Tournament East Regional comes to Syracuse University this weekend, businesses both on and off campus are preparing for the influx of visitors from across the country.

With Louisville set to take on North Carolina State and Oklahoma tipping off against Michigan State Friday night, fans of each team will descend from the East Coast to the Midwest to pack the Carrier Dome and the businesses near campus.

On Marshall Street, stores and restaurants are preparing for largerthan-usual crowds. Manny’s and Shirt World are selling NCAA-spe-

They want to take something home from the city to remember Syracuse by.

Bill Nester manager at manny’s

cific apparel, and Varsity Pizza is expecting huge crowds for its various traditional dining options.

Manny’s and Shirt World, located on Marshall Street, are both carrying individual team “Sweet 16” T-shirts as well as shirts with all four teams on them. The T-shirts are selling for $20 at both stores, with long-sleeved shirts selling for slightly more.

Bill Nester, manager at Manny’s, said while visitors are here to support their teams, he expects to sell plenty of SU apparel.

“They’re visiting Syracuse, they don’t have anything that says ‘Syracuse,’” he said. “They want to take something home from the city to remember Syracuse by.”

Dave Jacobs, the owner of Shirt World, said it’s tough to predict what types of merchandise he’ll end up selling. He does worry, though, about the weather’s effect on business.

“Weather dictates a lot,” he said.

It is forecasted to snow Friday and see businesses page 8

4 march 27-29, 2015

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MANAGING EDITOR

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march 27-29, 2015 5

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Last time they played here: WVU moves on over Kentucky For the first time in five years, the NCAA Tournament is returning to the Carrier Dome.

The venue last hosted Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in 2010, when one of the most talented teams in recent years saw its championship hopes disappear on the Carrier Dome floor.

In the regional semifinal, played March 25, 2010, the No. 1 seed Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Cornell Big Red, seeded at No. 12 in that year’s tournament. The Wildcats were led by superstar freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, as

Kentucky easily dispatched the Cinderella Big Red 62-45 on its way to an Elite Eight berth.

In the other semifinal in the Dome that night, No. 2 West Virginia knocked off No. 11 Washington 69-56. The Mountaineers were led by Da’Sean Butler and head coach Bob Huggins.

Those two regional semifinals set the stage for the most recent Elite Eight game played in the Dome, which took place March 27, 2010. It was No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the East region that year, and Kentucky had been ranked No. 1 in the country for

much of the regular season.

However, it was West Virginia that came out on top that night, advancing to its first Final Four since 1959 with a 73-66 victory, led by Butler and point guard Joe Mazzulla.

West Virginia went on to lose to eventual national champion Duke in the Final Four in 2010.

Now five years later, the Carrier Dome will host three more NCAA Tournament regional games on March 27 and March 29, in what has become a bracket filled with lower-seeded teams advancing

deep into the tournament.

Sweet 16 games will be played Friday, starting at 7:37 p.m. with No. 4 Louisville vs. No. 8 N.C. State.

That game will be followed by No. 3 Oklahoma taking on No. 7 Michigan State, which is scheduled to tip off at 10:07 p.m.

The winners of each game will play in the Elite Eight on March 29 with a trip to Indianapolis on the line.

from page 3

that discussed terrorist attacks aimed at college basketball arenas and other sports stadiums.

That’s what makes current events and current threat levels important to security officials. For example, the NCAA did more adjusting to security following 9/11 than it did following the 2006 threat, Worlock said.

Regardless of the size of the city, when a large event like the East Regional comes to town, threat levels increase. A smaller city like Syracuse is just as susceptible, if not more, said Stacey Hall, the associate director for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security.

“Anything can happen at any time and I think terrorism is a threat anywhere where there’s a mass gathering of people,” she said.

“The chances of terrorism are low, extremely low, but the consequences are catastrophic and extremely high so you have to consider it,” Hall said. “You have to be vigilant and make sure that venues are safe before a single member of the public steps in.”

The NCA A feels SU is ready to fulfill the

call of duty.

Said Worlock: “We rely on (host sites) to have a plan in place and a place like Syracuse that has a

large attendance for each game, we are comfortable with that.”

security that Carrier Dome officials are in charge of keeping out of the venue. He added that the NCAA tries to keep signs that are allowed in “clean of corporate mark.”

Department of Public Safety Events Commander Vern Thompson said one of the challenges officials face is the fact that attendees of the East Regional come from all over the country. He added that security is increased and that while the Syracuse Police Department is involved in nearly every Carrier Dome event, state and federal agencies will be involved this weekend.

One of the most extensive areas of security for the East Regional is counterterrorism, as the NCAA has had previous run-ins with terrorist threats.

In 2006, a bomb-sniffing dog discovered a suspicious package two hours before tipoff of a first round game in San Diego. The FBI had said the week before that there was a recent Internet post

— Compiled by Brett Samuels, news editor, blsamuel@syr.edu

jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306

The Carrier Dome will host East Regional Sweet 16 games Friday night and Elite Eight games on Sunday. Syracuse last hosted a regional in 2010. chase gaewski staff photographer

6 march 27-29, 2015

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University, city arrange transportation to, from SU campus

By Lydia Wilson asst. news editor

Syracuse University is collaborating with the city of Syracuse to provide a park-andride transit system, with the hopes of giving NCAA Tournament East Regional attendees an experience of not only the campus, but also the local area.

The Department of Public Safety is working with Parking and Transit Services, the Syracuse Police Department and the city of Syracuse in arranging a park-and-ride transit system which will run from Armory Square and Destiny USA to SU, said DPS Day Patrol Operations and Events Commander Vern Thompson.

“We’ve collaborated with everyone here at SU and the city of Syracuse to approach this as a team,” Thompson said. “We’re looking forward to the tournament bringing in viewers

from across the country and this system will hopefully give them a feel for the city.”

There will also be additional busses running from Skytop, said Scot Vanderpool, an SU Parking Services manager, in an email.

However, he said the transit service from Destiny USA and Armory Square will help reduce the number of attendees that may need to park at Skytop.

Vanderpool said there is a contingency parking and traffic plan in place, but they do not anticipate any serious problems.

“There’s always some congestion, but we believe that there will be fans coming in at various times for this event, not all at once, which will help,” Vanderpool said.

Parking Services has set up a command center and will be in touch with SPD, who will be able to redirect traffic to relieve congestion, he added.

Syracuse Police Department Sgt. Gary

Bulinski said SPD isn’t expecting any traffic problems.

“I expect it to be a flawless event and hopefully everyone will have a safe, enjoyable time,” he said.

When the Carrier Dome hosted a Billy Joel concert last weekend, traffic was an issue, but Bulinski said SPD isn’t changing its procedures.

Bulinski said the Billy Joel concert was “the one time in the past 20 years that I’m aware of that (the Manley and Skytop lots) have filled up and we’ve actually ran into a traffic back-up as a result of that.” He added that every other event, including Monster Jam, which hosts more than 40,000 people, hasn’t had any traffic or parking problems.

DPS Associate Chief John Sardino said it’s normal to deal with crowds of this magnitude, but the tournament will bring bigger pockets of traffic coming from hotels and across the

Sanctions did not cause concerns over hosting

By Justin Mattingly asst. news editor

The NCAA did not discuss changing venues for the NCAA Tournament East Regional following the organization’s report released in early March regarding Syracuse University’s athletic program, an NCAA official said.

David Worlock, the NCAA director of media coordination and statistics, said Thursday there

were no discussions about the possibility of changing the venue location, adding that the report and hosting the regional are “unrelated things.”

The NCAA released a 94-page report on March 6 outlining violations including student-athletes receiving impermissible assistance from tutors and mentors, the university failing to comply with its own written drug policy and a lack of institutional control. Sanctions handed down on the university included

a vacation of men’s basketball and football wins, and a nine-game suspension for men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim.

It was announced in November 2012 that SU would host the East Regional and Worlock said it would have been too close to the date of the event to even have a conversation about changing the location. He added that the sanctions won’t play a role in the decision of awarding a regional to SU, if the university were to want to host one in the future.

Worlock said four of the main criteria for selecting a regional site include finding a venue that has enough seating, appropriate air service, good attendance and full-service hotels.

He added that the NCAA tries “to spread it around” but also gives more consideration to a venue that has successfully hosted a regional before, such as SU. The Carrier Dome holds more than enough people, Worlock said, and Syracuse meets all the other criteria.

The university has hosted a regional six times, with the most recent coming in 2010.

In 2002 and 2005 the winners of the Syracuse regional won the National Championship.

The winners of the Syracuse regional are a combined 5-4 in the Final Four and National Championship Game. jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306

city taking the same routes to SU. He said the additional buses from Armory and Destiny will drop riders off at University Place, near Watson Hall, rather than College Place to reduce on-campus traffic.

There will be heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic around campus, especially Friday night, when the two scheduled games will bring a long period of heavy traffic, he said.

Sardino said DPS will have a few additional officers available around the Dome to answer questions and assist with directions for campus, and parking and busing locations. He added that it will be important for regional attendees to leave plenty of time to get to the Dome and get settled in as they will have to navigate “a coming and going crowd of 26,000-27,000 people.” lawilson@syr.edu — Asst. News Editor Justin Mattingly contributed reporting to this article.

from page 3

carrier dome with pipe and drape,” said Michael Veley, the Carrier Dome PA announcer and East Regional director in 2005 and 2010.

The Dome sells only Pepsi, but will have to pour it in Coca-Cola cups since Coke is an official corporate sponsor of the NCAA. Instead of the standard Gatorade for SU games, Powerade — a Coca-Cola product — was behind the benches during Thursday’s open practices.

SU Athletics personnel also wore all-blue NCAA shirts at Thursday’s open practices instead of ones with SU’s orange and navy blue. On the court, a royal blue circle with “NCAA” in white lettering is in the middle.

“Syracuse” and “Carrier Dome” are on either baseline in blue lettering.

From a structural standpoint, the Dome will look different, too.

There’s no floor access to fans because of NCAA rules, said interim director of athletics Pete Sala. Instead, patrons seated in sections 122-125 — the portable bleachers across from the teams’ benches — will have to walk along a black bridge coming out of either section 101 or 116 to get to their seats.

What’s normally the Toyota Fun Zone — where fans can mingle and play games behind the bleachers — is now strictly a media area. A handful of sections are curtained off, making room for media trucks and even state-of-theart portable restrooms.

The most significant difference from a procedural standpoint, Barbuto said, is for the ushers.

The flow of fans entering certain gates will be different than a normal Syracuse game, Barbuto said. Since not all stadiums have revolving doors, the Dome staff will open the crash doors that spit out powerful gusts of wind when opened. And once inside, fans may not be familiar with the quickest way to find their seats.

“We’ve got to basically start from scratch with a lot of patrons that are visiting this weekend,” Barbuto said. “We just have to make sure everyone understands that people are here for the first time.” mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman — Asst. News Editor Sara Swann contributed reporting to this article.

march 27-29, 2015 7

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Sweet 16 crowd expected to beat average SU attendance

smswann@syr.edu | @saramswann

CROWD CONTROL Roughly 26,000 people are expected in the Carrier Dome Friday for Sweet 16 matchups.

50,000 Here’s a look at how that number compares to crowds at other Carrier Dome events.

40,000

10,000 0

SU FOOTBALL HOME OPENER IN 2014

20,000

2014 AND 2015 GAMES BETWEEN SU AND DUKE

30,000 2010 NCAA TOURNAMENT EAST REGIONAL

More than 26,000 people are expected at the Carrier Dome for the NCAA Tournament East Regional on Friday and Sunday.

“We’ve been getting quite a big of interest in the last week or so,” said Pete Sala, Syracuse University’s interim athletics director and managing director of the Dome.

Sala said the NCAA prohibits SU from talking about tickets sales and money and that the exact numbers always have to come from the NCAA office. The NCAA could not be reached for comment on the exact number of tickets sold or the revenue acquired through the sales.

“I can just tell you that the ticket sales are great,” Sala said.

According to the Ticket City website, currently 20 out of the 47 total seating sections are already sold out for both the North Carolina State-Louisville game and the Michigan State-Oklahoma game.

Approximately 540 tickets — including 28 handicapped seating tickets — are still available for purchase for both games on Friday. One ticket purchase will allow access to both games, according to the website.

The remaining ticket prices for the two NCAA Men’s East Regional games on Friday range from $50 to $710, with the average ticket price at approximately $125, according to the website.

The winners of the N.C. State-Louisville and

the Michigan State-Oklahoma games will go on to play in the Elite Eight on Sunday and only 15 sections are currently sold out for the game, leaving more than 1,000 tickets left for purchase, according to the Ticket City website.

The remaining ticket prices for the Elite Eight game on Sunday range from $16 to $4,486, with the average ticket price at approximately $177, according to Ticket City.

The usual courtside seating has mostly been replaced with media seating, Sala said.

However, some VIP and higher-level courtside seating has been made available for the regional games, he said.

“It’s just an honor — as a venue, this is an honor to host this event,” Sala said. “And I think what it does for the community, what it does for the university and what it does for the people that are our loyal basketball fans — I think it’s fantastic.”

2015 NCAA TOURNAMENT EAST REGIONAL

asst. news editor

ATTENDANCE

By Sara Swann

8 march 27-29, 2015

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from page 3

businesses not reach the 40s until Monday.

As for Varsity, which is at the corner of South Crouse Avenue and Marshall Street, manager Diana Hester said she does not plan on changing much.

“Most people come here because it’s a tradition and it’s been here forever,” she said.

Not only are Marshall Street businesses expecting large crowds, but hotels will also experience a rush of visitors staying for the tournament.

The Sheraton University Hotel and Conference Center and the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 701 E. Genesee St. are both ready for one of their busiest weekends. Beyond Orange Central, which is Syracuse University’s homecoming week, and graduation and family weekends, the East Regional will bring

some of the largest crowds of the year, said David Heymann, general manager of the Sheraton.

Heymann said the Sheraton is sold out Friday and Saturday night and nearly so on Sunday.

One of the special events the Sheraton plans to host is a tailgate on Friday with live music, food and alcohol, Heymann said.

Deidre Wetelainen, director of sales and marketing for the Crowne Plaza Hotel, said the hotel was sold out Thursday night and is sold out for Friday and Saturday.

The Crowne Plaza will be showing the games in its Redfield’s Restaurant and Library Lounge for those who don’t have tickets, as well as offering game day specials such as Spartan Spinach Dip and “Elite 8” Nachos for $8 each.

Said Nester, the Manny’s manager: “It’s a special privilege for us as a city and as a college, as a university, to have them here for the tournament.” dmantoot@syr.edu

Manny’s on the Hill is one of several Marshall Street stores expecting an increase in business with the East Regional in Syracuse this weekend. frankie prijatel photo editor

S

S PORTS

dailyorang

@dailyora

ch 27-29, 2015 • PA

photos by chase gaewski staff photographer Michigan State

Oklahoma

N.C. State

Louisville

ROAD TO INDY MSU’s Nairn draws inspiration N.C. State’s Abu uses promise from family roots in Bahamas to shooting victims as drive Michigan State

By Paul Schwedelson asst. copy editor

Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. wasn’t supposed to make it to Division I basketball — he’s 5 feet, 10 inches.

He wasn’t supposed to make it to the United States — he’s from Nassau, Bahamas.

He wasn’t supposed to have been born — his mother had sickle cell disease and doctors said she would never have kids.

But he made it. And every time his mother,

Monalisa McKinney, watches him play, she cries.

“It taught me a lot about myself,” Nairn said.

“I don’t think I would be the person I am today without going through the trials and tribulations that I went through as a child.”

On Friday at 10:07 p.m., when seventh-seeded Michigan State (25-11, 12-6 Big Ten) takes on No. 3 seed Oklahoma (24-10, 12-6 Big 12) in the Carrier Dome in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, the point guard’s unexpected path to prominence on college basketball’s biggest stage will continue.

The freshman entered MSU’s starting lineup for see nairn page 13

OU’s Fraschilla raises money for charity with trick shots Oklahoma

By Jack Rose staff writer

Search the name “Fraschilla” on Google and unsurprisingly, the top results show former coach and current ESPN college basketball commentator Fran Fraschilla. Next is his youngest son, Matt, a sophomore on the Harvard basketball team.

But search the same name on YouTube and the results differ. The top results show a different son, James, and his trick shot videos

benefitting charity.

“I wanted to make sure I made a name for myself over the last four years and I’m pretty happy I was able to do that,” said James Fraschilla, a walk-on senior at Oklahoma.

Fraschilla’s series of four videos helped raised thousands of dollars for Hayden’s Hope, an organization benefitting pediatric organ donation, founded by ESPN anchor Dari Nowkhah. Fraschilla released the fourth video, which he said will be his last, last week.

His videos now total almost 190,000 views and see fraschilla page 16

N.C. State

By Chris Libonati staff writer

Abdul-Malik Abu didn’t have a wedding gift for his friends Deah Barakat and Yusor Mohammad. So instead, he made them a promise.

When a friend jokingly chided him about not having something to give, the bride and groom told Abu to make sure he beat Duke and North Carolina.

Abu fulfilled that promise. But Barakat and Mohammad never got to see it.

They were two of the three Chapel Hill (North Carolina) shooting victims on Feb. 10.

Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, shot Barakat, Mohammad and Mohammad’s sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, in Barakat’s apartment.

The promise Abu made still drives him as eighth-seeded North Carolina State (22-13, 10-8 Atlantic Coast) looks to continue its run against No. 4 seed Louisville (26-8, 12-6) in the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 7:37 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

Barakat and Abu met on Abu’s recruiting see abu page 15

Rozier matures after troubled childhood, excels at Louisville Louisville

By Jon Mettus staff writer

Every night, a 6-year-old Terry Rozier slept in a tote bag filled with his clothes, refusing to unpack because he wanted to go home.

He hated his grandmother. He hated living with her and he wanted to be back with his mother.

“It was like somebody took my heart, it was so hard for both of us,” Gina Tucker, his mother, said.

Rozier was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but his mother had to give his custody to her mother when he was 6 because his criminal father’s enemies made threats on Rozier’s life.

Rozier grew up in a dangerous area, misbehaved as child and lacked a male influence in his life, but persevered through it all. Now, he’s the leading scorer for a fourth-seeded Louisville (26-8, 12-6 Atlantic Coast) that’s facing No. 8 seed North Carolina State (22-13, 10-8) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at 7:37 p.m. in the Carrier Dome on Friday. see rozier page 14

PREGAME BR

10 march 27-29, 2015

3

OKLAHOMA 24-10

Oklahoma, which has started the same five players all year long, faced a steady stream of ranked competition throughout the season. After edging then-No. 9 Kansas by two points in the regular-season finale, the Sooners fell to Iowa State in the Big 12 championship semifinals. Buddy Hield has been a consistent force for Oklahoma throughout the NCAA Tournament, dropping 15 points in each of OU’s two contests on 10-of-29 shooting overall.

7

Analyzing the four to be the last team standin trip to the

JORDAN WOODARD

ISAIAH COUSINS

BUDDY HIELD

TASHAWN THOMAS

RYAN SPANGLER

HT: 6’0” WGHT: 189 SOPHOMORE

HT: 6’4” WGHT: 192 JUNIOR

HT: 6’4” WGHT: 212 JUNIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 242 SENIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 235 JUNIOR

MSU’s 5-foot-10 Lourawls Nairn Jr. is likely to be the starting point guard once more on Friday.

MSU head coach Tom Izzo has said he could see Nairn Jr. becoming one of the best defenders in college basketball. He’ll be up against a 6-foot guard in Jordan Woodard, a sophomore who has averaged 9.3 points per game and collected 16 points in his team’s second-round win over Dayton.

Michigan State’s Travis Trice has blossomed into the Spartans’ most prolific player, with his 15 points per game the best mark on the team. The playmaker has averaged 19 points in two NCAA Tournament contests while shooting 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Junior Isaiah Cousins has been a steady presence for the Sooners throughout the season, starting every game this season while averaging nearly 12 points per game.

Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield has undoubtedly been the best offensive player for the Sooners this season, leading OU with 17.3 points per game at a 41.1 shooting percentage from the field. The junior from the Bahamas has scored at least 15 points in the Sooners’ last seven games. Denzel Valentine, Michigan State’s 6-foot-5 second-leading scorer, has collected 14.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 82.5 percent from the free-throw line.

TaShawn Thomas is a senior transfer from Houston who experienced a steady decline in production relative to his previous two seasons. He still manages to collect over six rebounds per game and average more than 11 points. Branden Dawson has earned more playing time for the Spartans in his fourth year with the program, and for good reason. He’s proven himself as the best defensive weapon for Michigan State and grabs an average of nine rebounds per contest.

Gavin Schilling is the tallest starter the Spartans bring out onto the court, but the 6-foot-9 forward only plays sparingly. He managed a 57.5 percent clip from the field this season. Ryan Spangler has emerged as a rebounding machine on the glass for the Sooners, securing over eight boards per game while posting nearly 10 points per contest. The junior has 23 rebounds in 57 minutes of action in the Tournament.

LOURAWLS NAIRN JR

TRAVIS TRICE

DENZEL VALENTINE

BRANDEN DAWSON

GAVIN SCHILLING

HT: 5’10” WGHT: 170 FRESHMAN

HT: 6’0” WGHT: 170 SENIOR

HT: 6’5” WGHT: 220 JUNIOR

HT: 6’6” WGHT: 225 SENIOR

HT: 6’9” WGHT: 240 SOPHOMORE

MICHIGAN STATE 25-11

Michigan State has picked up momentum after its upset over No. 2 seed Virginia on Sunday. It’s the trademark moment of the season for the Spartans, coming off a Big Ten championship loss against Wisconsin in which MSU was shut out in overtime. Guard Travis Trice has shot 6-of-13 from behind the arc in two Tournament games to pace Michigan State’s offense.

PLAYING AT 10:07 P.M.

EA REGIO CHAM

REAKDOWN

march 27-29, 2015 11

teams that will vie East Regional ng and earn a Final Four

AST ONAL MPION

4

LOUISVILLE 26-8

Louisville struggled toward the end of the regular season — a stretch that included a loss to N.C. State — after losing its starting guard Chris Jones when he was kicked off the team. But it escaped an upset bid from U.C. Irvine in the Round of 64 before handling Northern Iowa to reach the Sweet 16.

QUENTIN SNIDER

TERRY ROZIER

WAYNE BLACKSHEAR

MONTREZL HARRELL

CHINANU ONUAKU

HT: 6’2” WGHT: 180 FRESHMAN

HT: 6’1” WGHT: 190 SOPHOMORE

HT: 6’5” WGHT: 215 SENIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 240 JUNIOR

HT: 6’10” WGHT: 230 FRESHMAN

Louisville’s Quentin Snider has taken over as a starter late in the season, following the dismissal of previous starter Chris Jones. Snider’s 3.8 points per game haven’t made him an offensive threat, but the freshman has adequately filled in for a thinned out starting rotation. Anthony “Cat” Barber has become one of N.C. State’s stars after coming off the bench for much of the season last year. Now he scores 12.3 points per game, averages 3.7 assists and runs with a level of speed that not many point guards keep up with.

Louisville’s Terry Rozier has developed into one of the top guards in the conference and leads the Cardinals in scoring and assists, and has more than doubled his scoring from his freshman season. Trevor Lacey is N.C. State’s leading scorer and is shooting 39 percent from long range. He’s also third on the team in rebounding and second in assists. If this Sweet 16 showdown in the Carrier Dome becomes a battle of the guards, this will be the matchup to watch.

Ralston Turner is one of the trio of N.C. State scorers that averages in double digits. After transferring from LSU two seasons ago, he’s become one of N.C. State’s most reliable scorers. This season he’s improved his free-throw percentage by 13 percent to 83.8.

Wayne Blackshear has made himself a presence on the glass, grabbing 4.4 rebounds per game, and from behind the arc, where he’s canned 56 3-pointers this year for Louisville.

NCSU’s Abdul-Malik Abu will have a tough time going up against Louisville forward Montrezl Harrell, who is one of the premier big men in the nation. The Wolfpack freshman, though, has done an admirable job splitting time with the Wolfpack’s BeeJay Anya, and averages 6.4 points per game. Harrell averages nearly a double-double a game this season for UofL and poses one of the toughest post presences remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

The Wolfpack’s Lennard Freeman is part of a frontcourt that N.C. State head coach Mark Gottfried has mixed and matched with all season. His 22 turnovers are fewest among players that have seen significant minutes this season. Chinanu Onuaku, the younger brother of former Syracuse big man Arinze Onuaku, has been an efficient scorer for the Cardinals, scoring at a 61.1 percent clip, but verages the least minutes per game of all of the Cardinals’ starters.

ANTHONY BARBER

TREVOR LACEY

RALSTON TURNER

ABDULMALIK ABU

LENNARD FREEMAN

HT: 6’2” WGHT: 180 SOPHOMORE

HT: 6’3” WGHT: 208 JUNIOR

HT: 6’5” WGHT: 205 SENIOR

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 240 FRESHMAN

HT: 6’8” WGHT: 250 SOPHOMORE

8

PLAYING AT 7:37 P.M.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE 22-13

North Carolina State reached the Sweet 16 in dramatic fashion. It overcame a 14-point halftime deficit against Louisiana State in its first game and won on a BeeJay Anya jumper with 0.1 seconds left. Then, it held on late to defeat top-seeded Villanova in the Round of 32. After winning five of its last six regular-season games to solidify a Tournament spot, the Wolfpack is taking advantage of its momentum.

12 march 27-29, 2015

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

Pitino backs Boeheim; players discuss adjusting to Dome

By Phil D’Abbraccio sports editor

Speaking in the Carrier Dome on Thursday afternoon, Louisville head coach Rick Pitino discussed the circumstances surrounding Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim.

A week earlier, Boeheim responded to the NCAA report with an hour-long press conference in which he announced his decision to appeal the sanctions dropped on him by the NCAA and explained his decision to retire in three years.

“I certainly don’t need to defend him because he did it quite well himself,” Pitino said at Lou-

isville’s press conference Thursday afternoon.

The Louisville head coach, who was the first assistant coach Boeheim hired at SU in 1976, said college coaches are part of the NCAA and should refer to the NCAA as such. He also offered suggestions for the governing body’s investigation process.“We’ve got a lot of money from March Madness,” Pitino said. “Hire more people and get the job done in a shorter period of time.

“Outside of that, Syracuse knows how to handle it. They don’t need me to defend them.”

One question earlier, the Cardinals’ 14-year head coach discussed SU’s announcement that

Boeheim’s storied coaching tenure now has an end date.

“I don’t believe the three years one bit,” Pitino said. “He’s too cheap to retire in three years. No, I’m only kidding.

“I think Jim is going through a tough time right now and I think — one thing I can tell you about tough times is tough people get through them very well and he will get through it.”

Pitino compared Boeheim’s continuity with one school to that of Mike Krzyzewski at Duke and Lou Carnesecca, who coached St. John’s for 24 years through the Big East’s birth.

“You can’t imagine those programs without

I think Jim is going through a tough time right now and I think — one thing I can tell you about tough times is tough people get through them very well and he will get through it.

Rick Pitino louisville head coach

that one person at the helm,” Pitino said. “But every great thing does come to an end.”

The UofL head coach also reflected briefly on his two years as Boeheim’s assistant head coach from 1976-78. Despite jokes about the weather, Pitino spoke about the “great memories” he has from Syracuse, where Pitino met many friends he still has today and where his first son was born. He added that he’ll be eating dinner Thursday night with Boeheim and his wife, Juli.

And before ending his response to a question about Boeheim’s retirement, Pitino voiced his support for the 39-year SU head coach regarding the violations the NCAA report condemned him for.

“I do know this, that he’s a man of great integrity,” Pitino said. “I worked with him.

There’s not an ounce in him that would ever break the rules knowingly. So I know him very well, no different than (North Carolina head coach) Roy Williams. These are guys with great integrity. And sometimes you just — in today’s culture, anything can happen.”

Players discuss shooting in, adjusting to Carrier Dome Not only will the East regional teams be playing on a bigger stage, they’ll be playing in a bigger arena than some players have ever stepped foot in before.

No. 8 seed North Carolina State and fourthseeded Louisville, the teams squaring off in the 7:37 p.m. Sweet 16 showdown in the Carrier Dome on Friday, hold the slight advantage of having played on Syracuse’s floor within the last two years.

Third-seeded Oklahoma and No. 7 seed Michigan State don’t.

But while some players say the depth perception in the spacious Carrier Dome isn’t anything to worry about, others acknowledge there are adjustments to be made.

Oklahoma sophomore guard Frank Booker: “The basket, there’s nothing behind it. It takes a little more focus on the rim to be able to make more shots.”

N.C. State sophomore forward Kyle Washington: “You’ve just got to focus on the rim.

You can’t focus on all the people around and the depth perception of the Dome and stuff like that. You can’t be worried about that. It is there, but you’ve just got to have confidence.”

MSU freshman guard Lourawls Nairn Jr.: “Shooting on a full-court rim for the first time is kind of hard, but I think once we focus in, you just have to make shots.”

Washington added that the Wolfpack’s visit to the Carrier Dome in February 2014 — a 56-55 loss to the Orange — will give NCSU a little bit of an edge shooting the ball, but the extra pressure that comes with a Sweet 16 appearance will create a different environment.

Spartans junior guard Bryn Forbes, who praised the arena as “one of the premier places in college basketball,” also said that MSU held a few practices at 10 p.m. this week to adjust to the 10:07 p.m. estimated tip time for its matchup with Oklahoma.

Louisville guard Terry Rozier, when asked about the depth perception in the Carrier Dome, broke it down simply.

“I grew up in a park where the wind was always blowing, so you adjust — go to the hole.

Don’t shoot the ball. Raining outside, snowing outside, you play basketball,” Rozier said.

“People always make excuses. Just play ball.” pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb

march 27-29, 2015 13

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

from page 9

nairn good in early February, which might be one of the lesser surprising things that’ve happened to him.

He was born Oct. 8, 1994, but because of McKinney’s disease, she had to stay in the hospital for an extra three and a half months. When she saw her son for the first time outside the hospital, she cried.

“I knew from the time I was carrying him that he would be someone that would make my life worth living,” McKinney said.

In Nassau, poverty was rampant and no one was expected to become successful. There was no air conditioning. Basketball was played exclusively on outdoor concrete. Crates were nailed to wooden backboards, which hung from trees.

McKinney was a bartender and Nairn’s father, Lourawls Nairn Sr., was a construction worker.

“We made the necessary sacrifices to make sure our (two) boys had clothes on their back and shoes on their feet,” McKinney said. “And they had a hot meal every night before they went to bed, even if meant me sacrificing my dinner.”

When Nairn was 13 — two years after his mom said he began playing basketball — he left his family and home to play at South Florida Christian Prep Academy. Twenty-one people — mostly other students — were living in one house in Florida with three bedrooms and one bathroom, and Nairn said he wasn’t treated well.

When he came home for Winter Break in the middle of his freshman year, Nairn didn’t want to go back. He stayed in the Bahamas and eventually was offered a spot by Sunrise Christian (Bel Air, Kansas) Academy’s Kyle Lindsted in March 2010 after the coach saw him play in a showcase.

“Going to Sunrise changed my life,” Nairn said.

“It was a place where people loved me as a person

outside of basketball. It was all about making me a better man and making me a better person.”

In the championship game of a national prep showcase, Buddy Hield, SCA’s best player and now Oklahoma’s top threat, sprained his ankle. Nairn took it upon himself to take the game over as the team’s second-best guard.

But then came what he called the turning point of his career. Nairn missed every shot the rest of the game and he said Sunrise lost by

I knew from the time I was carrying him that he would be someone that would make my life worth living.

Monalisa McKinney lourawls nairn jr.’s mother

about four or five points. After the game, Nairn cried as he got onto the team bus. “‘Tum, don’t worry about it,’” Nairn recalled Lindsted telling him. “‘One thing I learned about you is that you’re a fighter and you’re a winner.’ …

“What meant to him more was the way I wanted to win for my team and that he loved me.”

Now, Nairn will have another chance to match what Hield can do when they face off Friday night.

And the desire to make a better life for himself and his family — just like it pushed McKinney to let her son come to the United States — continues to push Nairn.

Said MSU forward Marvin Clark Jr.: “If there’s somebody that you want to go to war with … he’s somebody that you want to go to war with.” pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds

14 march 27-29, 2015

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

from page 9

rozier “I’m a tough kid,” Rozier said. “I’ve seen a lot. I’ve been through a lot.”

Tucker was 19 when she had Rozier, the second of her three children. But a month after his birth, his father was sent to prison, leaving her to raise him alone.

Rozier was a hyper child, always running around the house. Soup cans and rolled up socks were substituted for basketballs and milk crates stood in as nets.

“He would light my day up,” Tucker said.

“But at the same time I would cry because it was just overwhelming for me.”

She would often call her brother or a friend to help handle a young Rozier and bring a male influence in his life. One day, Tucker was so upset with her son that she gathered all of his toys and game systems into a trash bag and made him watch as she threw them out.

17.2

Rozier’s points per game average, which ranks second-best of all players remaining in the East regional

When Rozier was about 5, his father was released from prison and he got to spend time with him for the first time in his life. But after nine months, Terry Rozier Sr. was sent to prison again for his role in a robbery and kidnapping in 2003.

“I blamed him for Terry having a behavioral

problem and being difficult,” Tucker said. “For not being there to help me with this child that I can’t really control at times.”

Rozier had not only lost his father again, but was threatened because of his father’s actions.

Tucker packed her son’s bags and gave custody of him to her mother, Amanda Tucker, who lived in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Rozier cried, screamed and lashed out at his grandmother. He thought she was the reason he was taken from his home. Amanda Tucker would often have to pin him to the ground until he calmed down.

Friends told her to send Rozier to a juvenile detention center or a foster home, but she refused. “‘I don’t care how much you dislike me, I love you and you cannot do nothing to make me send you back to Youngstown,’” Amanda Tucker recalls telling Rozier. “‘You’re going realize, one day, how much I love you.’”

Four years later, when Rozier was 10, that day came.

He was back in Youngstown for Thanksgiving.

His mother was at a bar when someone told her that someone was going to shoot up and throw Molotov cocktails into her house where Amanda Tucker and eight of her grandchildren were.

Amanda Tucker took them into a room in the back of the house and cried with them, preparing to throw them out of the window to escape if anything happened.

Nothing did, but for the first time since Rozier was forced to move in with his grandmother, he told her loved her.

“I never thought I could hear those words from him,” Amanda Tucker said.

At 14, Rozier got his mother and grandmother’s names tattooed on his forearms, and later followed that up with a tattoo of his father’s face with the word “motivation” above it.

Louisville was his dream school, but he had to attend Hargrave Military Academy for a

I blamed him for Terry having a behavioral problem and being difficult. For not being there to help me with this child that I can’t really control at times.

Gina Tucker terry rozier’s mother, about terry rozier sr.

post-graduate year because of academics. The discipline and structure were a shock.

“I wrote him a letter and I told him if you stop playing basketball right now, I’m going to always love you,” Gina Tucker said.

He didn’t and when Rozier finally made it to Louisville, he donned the No. 0, symbolizing a fresh start from everything in his past.

A boy that once resented his own grandmother and was too much for his family to handle has grown into the leader of a Division I basketball team making an NCAA tournament run.

“Sometimes I’m at the games and I feel teary eyed, not because I’m sad, but just happy and excited for him,” Gina Tucker said. “All of his dreams are just coming true.” jrmettus@syr.edu

march 27-29, 2015 15

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

from page 9

abu

visit at North Carolina State at a mosque in Raleigh, North Carolina. When Abu arrived on campus, Barakat made Abu feel at home. He said he still thinks about the three every day.

“I just remember we were both like, ‘Damn, that really just happened,’” said Omar Khanani, a mutual friend, of his and Abu’s reaction to Barakat’s death. “We were both just shocked.

What could cause that to happen?”

Barakat was a diehard fan that Abu said followed his recruitment and made Raleigh feel like home, making his decision easier because he knew he had people who cared about him at N.C. State.

Fandom turned into friendship, as Barakat befriended Abu. In October, Barakat celebrated Eid al-Adha, an Islamic celebration, with his friends and invited Abu. While at N.C. State, Barakat arranged a basketball tournament run by the Muslim Student Association.

“We had made it to the finals and (Abu) was our coach,” said Imad Ahmad, Barakat’s former roommate. “He was telling us what to do because we were down. He was telling us plays.”

The team lost in overtime, but after the game Barakat thanked Abu and hugged him.

Meanwhile, Abu worked on fulfilling his promise. After NCSU beat Duke, 87-75, on Jan. 11, Barakat and Mohammad nearly saw Abu complete the promise three days later. Abu stood at the charity stripe with two shots, 0.2 seconds left, and a threepoint deficit. Drilling the first made the score 81-79. The next shot peaked above the backboard and crashed off the front rim. The ball was tipped away, and hopes for a putback or tip-in evaporated.

Just less than a month passed, and on Feb. 10, Barakat, his wife and sister-in-law were killed.

Khanani, a former professional basketball player overseas, was playing in a gym at N.C. State and his phone blew up. The texts left the situation unclear. He didn’t know whether Barakat was dead or not, because no one would say for sure.

When it was confirmed that night, he called Abu. “A lot of people looked up to him,” Abu said.

“His life was on the upward path to something big. It’s sad to see him go so soon.”

Abu described himself as “in denial,” but forced himself to refocus for a game against Virginia the next day. Five minutes into the game, Abu slammed a block off the backboard, ran the floor and dunked home an alley-oop.

After the play, Khanani said he pointed to the sky for Barakat, Mohammad and Abu-Salha.

The day after the game, the funeral was held.

People packed the Islamic Association of Raleigh and the NCSU soccer field. Khanani and Abu attended the burial together. Because of the number of people that showed up, the two had to walk to the soccer field and burial.

“I just remember when me and him were walking,” Khanani said. “As we got closer to where the graveyard was, you felt it more. You got chills.”

Two weeks later, N.C. State beat North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the first time in 13 years. Barakat’s family attended the game. The game gave Abu closure, Khanani said.

But the promise he made and Barakat’s death still motivate him.

“I hope to win a national title for him,” Abu said, “and all the people that support N.C. State and all the people in Raleigh.”

Abu never promised a run in the NCAA Tournament. But after two improbable wins, every game and its increasing importance reminds him of his friends that always supported him. cjlibona@syr.edu

ABDUL-MALIK ABU made a promise to his late friends to beat UNC and Duke. He fulfilled it and the Wolfpack has its sights on a Final Four berth. courtesy of nc state athletics

16 march 27-29, 2015

from page 9

fraschilla feature cameos from a variety of ESPN and other sports personalities.

The Sooner guard — who has only played 13 minutes this year — will take his trick shot talents to the Carrier Dome on Friday night when No. 3 seed Oklahoma (24-10, 12-6 Big 12) faces seventh-seeded Michigan State (25-11, 12-6 Big Ten) at 10:07 in a Sweet 16 matchup.

“If you want to be good at something, at basketball, you have to live in the gym and he’s always had that mentality,” Fran Fraschilla said.

“He’s just taken it a little step further and turned it into some entertainment value that ultimately ends up being for an incredible cause.”

The consensus top shot from Fraschilla is his “ricochet shot” from Volume III. Fraschilla

dailyorange.com sports@dailyorange.com

is seen standing near half court of the Oklahoma practice facility with two balls in his hands and his back to the basket.

He tosses one high into the air over his head with one hand before launching the second with both hands, hitting the first ball and knocking it into the hoop.

“I can’t conceive of very many people on the entire planet that A, have the creativity to think of

190,000 Fraschilla has a combined 190,000 views on his YouTube trick-shot videos

the shot and B, to pull it off,” Fran Fraschilla said.

Los Angeles Clippers star point guard Chris Paul is also a fan. Fraschilla worked at Paul’s

camp last summer and every time he tried to talk to his favorite player about basketball, Paul would ask about the trick shots. He even shared Fraschilla’s videos in a Clippers group chat.

Fraschilla and his teammates tracked donations to Hayden’s Hope after the third video came out and found that it produced a $4,000 spike in donations in the first three weeks.

“That was probably what was most special to me, was that it was not like I’m trying to make a difference but that this video was actually making a difference,” Fraschilla said.

“That was really cool to see.”

The shot immediately preceding the ricochet shot tells viewers it was made in Titanyen, Haiti, where Fraschilla goes on a yearly mission trip with other Oklahoma athletes, called Sooners4Haiti.

He set out to film that shot, in which he banks the ball off a low-hanging bar into a hoop, with the hope people would ask him why he was in Haiti. When they do, he can spread awareness about a different cause.

“James is a young guy that’s got a good idea there and has a passion for raising funds for charity, which is great,” OU head coach Lon Kruger said. “And no, it doesn’t distract from James’ practice time at all.”

Fraschilla’s first trick shot video came in high school when his brother filmed him summersaulting off a diving board into a pool and simultaneously firing a ball into the basket at the other end of the pool. It made SportsCenter a few days later.

While his famous dad may have helped him then, Fraschilla built his own network of basketball connections, leading to cameos from ESPN personalities Jay Bilas, Brent Musburger and Nowkhah in the videos.

“Everywhere we go together, they always

want to talk about his dad or fans are calling his dad’s name,” said OU forward Ryan Spangler, Fraschilla’s former roommate. “I think it’s big for him to create his own name and he’s done that by doing the videos.”

Fraschilla said he likely won’t be able to show-

That was probably what was most special to me, was that it was not like I’m trying to make a difference but that this video was actually making a difference.

James Fraschilla oklahoma guard

case his special talent in Syracuse this weekend. The Carrier Dome doesn’t have the same walls and beams that he often relies on that have helped make him a YouTube sensation.

But even if he won’t get the chance to show off on one of college basketball’s most iconic venues, what he’s already done speaks for itself.

Fraschilla makes sure to point out that the videos aren’t made in one take, though Spangler said most of the shots take less than a half hour to complete.

Still, it seems odd that Fraschilla rarely reacts after draining a seated, full-court, overthe-head shot.

“I ain’t going to let him lie to you,” Spangler said, “he goes crazy. He just hides it for the first five seconds on camera and then when the camera switches off, he goes crazy.” jlrose@syr.edu

P

@evelynweston11

10

40

Whenever someone says ‘possibilities’, all I can think of is ‘pastabilities’.

The number of beers offered at Faegan’s Pub. Located near campus, it offers domestic and international brews.

The number of locations that Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has in the United States. Six are located in New York.

source: faeganspub.com

source: dinosaurbarbque.com

PULP

dailyorange.com @dailyorange march 27–29, 2015

•

PAG E 17

THE EATS REGIONAL These local restaurants will satisfy any post-game appetite After a long day in the Carrier Dome, you’ve probably had your fill of wine slushies and hot dogs.

Wash off your face paint, put away your foam finger and head down the Hill to the Syracuse restaurant scene. There’s a lot to choose from, so The Daily Orange staff has duked it out between our personal favorites. All of these restaurants will leave you satisfied, but every tournament must have a champion. Here’s how our eateries of choice fared.

PASTABILITIES Location: 311 S. Franklin St. Type: Italian Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 4 – 10 p.m.; Sun.: 4 – 10 p.m.

We recommend: The fettuccine alfredo or the wicky-wicky chicken riggies

THE MISSION

TULLY’S GOOD TIMES Location: 2943 Erie Blvd East Type: American food, sports bar Hours: Fri.–Sat: 11 – 12:30 a.m., Bar closes 1:30 a.m.; Sun.: Noon – 11:30 p.m., Bar closes midnight We recommend: Tully’s famous chicken fingers

— Compiled by The Daily Orange Pulp Staff, pulp@dailyorange.com

PASTABILITIES

STELLA’S DINER

Pastabilities has been serving authentic Italian fare for more than 30 years, and in 2001, opened Pasta’s Daily Bread, a fresh Italian bakery, across the street. You don’t have to take our word for it: Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” visited in 2012, and Guy Fieri called the pizza “baller.”

A go-to hangover cure, Stella’s serves the best diner food in the area. The wait is long, but the service is quick (and worth it). No matter the meal, Stella’s has a greasy option for you. The pancakes are as big as your head and the milkshakes are thick and creamy. What more could you want?

STELLA’S DINER

PASTABILITIES

Location: 304 E. Onondaga St. Type: Mexican and Southwestern Hours: Fri.: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Sat. 5 – 10 p.m., Sun.: 5 – 9 p.m.

We recommend: Fish tacos or the carne burrito

Location: 10 Wolf St. Type: American diner Hours: Fri.–Sun.: 5 a.m. – 9p.m.

We recommend: One of the many omelets or the Brooklyn burger with fries

PASTABILITIES

Pastabilities is known regionally for its pasta sauce, which adds a slight kick to traditional marinara. It comes with all dinners as an appetizer, served with bread that is baked fresh daily, making just the first course worth the trip. Pasta dishes are made from scratch and served in hearty portions.

ALTO CINCO Location: 526 Westcott St. Type: Traditional Mexican Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 8 – 2 a.m.; Sun.: 10 – 2 a.m.

We recommend: Steak quesadilla or bean and cheese enchiladas

FUNK ‘N WAFFLES

DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE FUNK ‘N WAFFLES

DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE Location: 246 W. Willow St. Type: Southern barbeque Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sun.: Noon – 10 p.m.

We recommend: The buffalo chicken pizza and the BBQ wings

DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE

This quirky eatery features sweet and savory waffles for the traditionalist and adventurous eater.

Food Network’s Guy Fieri called the waffles “far out,” and we agree. The Jive Turkey consists of a waffle made out of bread stuffing, topped with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce.

This barbeque joint serves the best ribs you’llever eat. Known for its biker bar atmosphere and spicy southern food, it’s a local landmark. We’ve yet to find a bad dish — from its macaroni and cheese to its pulled pork sandwiches, every menu item is great. Just go with a dinosaur of an appetite.

VARSITY

Location: 727 S. Crouse Ave. Type: Coffee lounge Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Sun.: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

We recommend: The James Brownie (a brownie waffle with ice cream) for a sweet choice.

Location: 802 S. Crouse Ave. Type: Pizza and American Hours: Fri.–Sun.: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

We recommend: The St. Louis pork ribs or jumbo chicken wings

HONORABLE MENTIONS 1

SMALL PLATES

Location: 16 Walton St. Type: American tapas Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 11:30 a.m. – Midnight; Sun.: 11 a.m.

– 7 p.m.

2

EMPIRE BREWING COMPANY

Location: 120 Walton St. Type: Bar Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sun.: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

3

LEMON GRASS

Location: 238 W. Jefferson St. Type: Thai Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30, p.m. 5 – 10:30 p.m.; Sun.: 4:30 – 7 p.m.

4

MOTHER’S CUPBOARD FISH & FRY

Location: 3709 James St. Type: American diner Hours: Fri.–Sat.: 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

5

MODERN MALT

Location: 325 S. Clinton St. Type: American Hours: Fri.: 7 a.m.

– 4 a.m.; Sat.: 8 a.m. – 4 a.m.; Sun.: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

18 march 27–29, 2015

dailyorange.com pulp@dailyorange.com

Quench post-game thirst at these local bars, restaurants Syracuse’s bar scene offers a wide variety of options for students, residents and visitors.

From Armory Square to Marshall Street, tournament attendees can experience a wide range of drink options.

Sunday for visitors. The pub also takes pride in hosting local bands that play Irish music.

Heagerty said Kitty Hoynes is at its best when live Irish music is playing.

“We’re just looking to provide them with the experience everyone gets, whether they’re a local or a traveler,” Heagerty said. “Just give a taste of Ireland in the heart of Syracuse.”

Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant

Benjamin’s on Franklin

Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant offers its customers an authentic Irish experience.

The bar, which earlier this month received an honorable mention for being one of the best pubs outside of Ireland, serves an array of Irish dishes and drinks.

“Not many Irish pubs are known for their food in Ireland, but we’re lucky to be the exact opposite,” said Michael John Heagerty, who has worked at Kitty Hoynes since it opened.

Even though Kitty Hoynes is normally closed on Sundays, the pub will be open this

Dancing is the center of activity at Benjamin’s on Franklin, located in Armory Square. Inside Benjamin’s is Perdition, a dance club with state-of-the-art lighting and sound.

“We are the only nightclub in downtown Syracuse,” said Joe Gridley, the bar manager at Benjamin’s. He added that Benjamin’s also specializes in bottle services.

Gridley said not a lot of people know that if they come before 11 p.m., there is no cover charge. Benjamin’s also features a courtyard within the walls of the bar where visitors can enjoy an outdoor fire pit and bar service.

By Clare Ramirez feature editor

Faegan’s Pub Located just off the SU campus, Faegan’s Pub, is a family-owned bar that caters to the university population. Though it brands itself as a college bar, Faegan’s also sees a good amount of non-college customers walk through its doors on South Crouse Avenue.

“A lot of people come here for dinner or lunch, and on game days, people come here to drink. It’s just a very — I guess you would say — a very spirited place,” said Nichole Byron, a hostess at Faegan’s. “There’s a lot of spirit here.”

In addition to classic meals, Faegan’s serves more than 50 types of beers and wines.

“The other bars are not as oriented with different sporting events, and Faegan’s is one of the only places on Marshall Street where you can sit down, get a meal and then watch the game and drink after,” Byron said.

Hungry Chuck’s Cafe

on campus, is known for its cheap beer and its student-oriented atmosphere. Upon walking in, the walls are spray-painted with names of graduated students.

The quintessential college bar is known for projecting SU sports games on a big screen and having beer specials throughout the week.

“We have extra-large big TVs. fans that don’t go to the games can come and watch it here,” bartender Cindi Sniffen said.

She said alumni, students and people looking forward to watching sporting events and love to congregate at the bar.

“It’s loud, it’s a party when there are games like these. A lot of folks are focused on the games, people yell for the games,” Sniffen said.

“After the games, it’s a little crowded for dancing, but student do. It’s not a sit-down atmosphere, it’s a party atmosphere.”

“See you at Chuck’s” has become a catch phrase of sorts for students talking about the college landmark.

Hungry Chuck’s Cafe, the most popular bar

clramire@syr.edu

Test your March Madness knowledge with this trivia quiz

2

3

4

5

WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE TWO WELSH PONY MASCOTS OF OKLAHOMA?

6

WHICH CITY HAS HOSTED THE MOST FINAL FOURS TO DATE?

A. Boomer and Sooner

A. Kansas City, Missouri

B. Benny and Bernie

B. San Antonio, Texas

C. Kate and Willy

C. Indianapolis, Indiana

IN 1975, WHICH TEAM PLAYED THE MOST OVERTIME GAMES IN ONE TOURNAMENT RUN?

7

WHICH IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL HAS NEVER WON AN NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME?

A. Notre Dame

A. Harvard

B. Wisconsin

B. Yale

C. Syracuse

C. Penn

WHICH OF THESE UNIVERSITIES HAS A HUMAN MASCOT WITH NO NAME?

8

WHICH SCHOOL HAS THE MOST TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS?

A. Michigan State

A. UCLA

B. N.C. State

B. Kentucky

C. Notre Dame

C. UNC

WHAT IS THE ONLY TEAM TO HAVE WON BOTH A MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NATIONAL DIVISION I BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SAME YEAR?

9

WHICH CITY WILL HOST THE FINAL FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT YEAR?

A. Duke

A. Seattle, Washington

B. UConn

B. Sacramento, California

C. Louisville

C. Phoenix, Arizona

HOW MANY TEAMS COMPETED IN THE FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT IN 1939?

10

WHICH SCHOOL WAS THE LOWEST-SEEDED TEAM TO EVER WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE?

A. 8

A. UConn

B. 16

B. Villanova

C. 32

C. Georgetown ANSWERS 1. A 2. C 3. C 4. B 5. A 6. A 7. B 8. A 9. C 10. B

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to find destiny usa mall: Take Interstate 81 North until exit 23-24A-B onto Park Street, toward Hiawatha Boulevard. Turn left onto Harborside Drive, then take another left onto Destiny USA Drive. The mall contains dining, shopping and entertainment options.

lyons hall

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sumner ave

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livingston ave

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ostrom ave

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stratford st

l ancaster ave

euclid ave

falk college

ackerman ave

shaw hall

sims hall

ning

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kimmel hall

watson hall

basset t st

comstock ave

haven hall

thornden park