Trevor Cooney stole the show tonight scoring 28 points in SU’s 70-57 conference home opening win over Florida State. The junior was 7/11 from deep and hit a momentum changing long ball with 4:45 to go in the game to ice the win for Syracuse. FSU had just one three-point bucket on the night. SU closed out this game exceptionally well; something the team has struggled with all year. The win puts SU at 12-4 on the year and 3-0 in the ACC.
The bad news for the Orange is that Chris McCullough may have suffered a serious knee injury midway through the first half of the game. Michael Gbinije passed the ball to the freshman on a fast break and he fumbled it. McCullough got his legs tangled with a Florida State player as he was trying to grab the loose ball and then his right knee buckled. Postgame Jim Boeheim said that he would know more about McCullough’s injury tomorrow morning when he is reevaluated.
The Orange coped without McCullough tonight, but down the stretch this season against better opposition Syracuse will need the big man. It would be a major blow to lose him for a long period of time because of SU’s lack of depth inside.
Tyler Roberson took McCullough’s spot after the injury and had a good game on the glass. The sophomore finished with nine rebounds, but had only five points. Chinoso Obokoh entered the game when Rakeem Christmas got into in foul trouble tonight and his inexperience showed. The Nigerian big man grabbed one board and had four fouls; he is still not quite ready for ACC basketball.
Cooney’s 28 points is a season high and after the game Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said his team ran into the “[Trevor Cooney] bus” and that he was “on fire.” The sharpshooter had a game for the ages; but it will be overshadowed by McCullough’s knee injury if it ends up being serious.
Posted:  Connor Morrissette 
