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Syracuse Vs. Eastern Michigan: Orange Host Eagles Before Anticipated Jim Boeheim Press Conference

The Syracuse University men's basketball program host Eastern Michigan Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome. However, the main story will not be about the final score, instead, it will be about Jim Boeheim's post-game press conference, and SB Nation New York's Jared Smith will be there.

By Jared Smith
Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange reacts against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the 2011 Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden on November 23, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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For the second time in just under two weeks, the Syracuse University men's basketball post-game press conference will be the main feature of an Orange non-conference showdown at the Carrier Dome (7 p.m. on SNY). Syracuse (6-0), ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll and No. 4 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, hosts Eastern Michigan (4-2) Tuesday night, but the main story will not be about the game's final score. Instead, it will be about head coach Jim Boeheim, who after the contest is expected to answer questions about the firing and sexual abuse allegations of former assistant coach Bernie Fine.

Earlier this month, Fine was placed on administrative leave after Syracuse police began investigating allegations that claimed he sexual abused two former ball boys -- Bobby Davis and Mike Lang -- from the 1970s-90s. After the allegations became public, Boehiem strongly defended Fine, who was in the middle of his 35th season as an assistant coach at SU, and questioned the accuser's motives.

On Sunday, a third accuser surfaced, while the ESPN investigative show Outside The Lines released an audio tape from 2002 that featured a phone conversation between Davis and Fine's wife, Laurie, who admitted Fine had issues and there could be more than just two victims. Later that day, Fine was terminated of his duties and Boeheim released a statement that said he deeply regretted his initial comments. Since then, there have not been any other comments from Boeheim.

As for the match up on the hardwood, the contest will feature Boeheim against Eastern Michigan's first-year head coach Rob Murphy, a former assistant coach of Boeheim's. In April, Murphy left his job at SU to be the headman of the Eagles. During his time as an Orange assistant (2004-11), Murphy helped Syracuse compile an overall record of 180-67.

Statistically, senior guard Darrell Lampley leads the Eagles in scoring (13.0 points per game) and is a solid 3-point shooting threat (41-percent). Junior forward Jamell Harris is Eastern Michigan's leading rebounder (7.3 rebounds per game).

FG 3PT FT Rebounds Misc
G M M A Pct M A Pct M A Pct Off Def Tot Ast TO Stl Blk PF PPG
Darrell Lampley 6 30.3 4.5 11.0 40.9 2.0 4.8 41.4 2.0 2.8 70.6 0.5 1.2 1.7 3.3 2.7 1.2 0.2 1.8 13.0
J.R. Sims 6 25.5 3.2 7.5 42.2 0.7 3.3 20.0 2.2 2.8 76.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 1.3 2.3 1.2 0.0 2.5 9.2
Antonio Green 6 32.3 2.3 6.8 34.1 0.8 3.3 25.0 3.2 3.8 82.6 1.7 3.0 4.7 1.3 1.7 2.0 0.7 1.3 8.7
Matt Balkema 6 20.5 2.8 6.5 43.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 4.0 54.2 1.2 2.2 3.3 0.5 1.3 0.7 0.3 2.5 7.8
Derek Thompson 4 19.3 2.8 7.8 35.5 0.8 3.8 20.0 0.8 1.0 75.0 1.0 1.3 2.3 1.3 1.5 0.3 0.0 0.5 7.0
Jamell Harris 6 28.2 1.3 5.0 26.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.8 3.3 55.0 2.7 4.7 7.3 0.8 1.3 0.7 1.5 2.8 4.5
Kamil Janton 6 19.2 1.3 1.8 72.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 33.3 1.3 2.7 4.0 0.0 0.8 0.7 0.0 1.7 3.2
Austin Harper 6 11.0 1.2 3.3 35.0 0.3 1.3 25.0 0.5 0.5 100.0 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 3.2
Anthony Strickland 6 11.5 0.8 2.5 33.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.7 75.0 1.3 0.8 2.2 0.3 0.7 0.2 0.2 1.8 2.2
Quintin Dailey 6 7.0 0.5 2.0 25.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.2 0.3 50.0 0.7 0.8 1.5 0.3 0.5 0.8 0.2 0.5 1.2
Chandler Antoine 2 5.0 0.5 1.0 50.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.0 1.0

Meanwhile, the Orange enter the game as 28 1/2-point favorites. Last week, Syracuse defeated Virginia Tech, 69-58, and Stanford, 69-63, respectively, to collect its second ever NIT Tipoff Tournament title.

Senior foward Kris Joseph netted a game-high 18 points in the championship game to help the Orange remain unbeaten. Joseph, who averaged 19.0 ppg and 9.5 rpg during the two-game span, was rewarded for his effort Monday with the Big East Player Of The Week honor.

Along with Joseph, sophomores, forward C.J. Fair and guard Dion Waiters, were named to the All-Tournament team.

Next Game

Eastern Michigan Eagles
@ Syracuse Orange

Tuesday, Nov 29, 2011, 7:00 PM EST
Carrier Dome

Complete Coverage >

SB Nation New York will be reporting from press row as Syracuse takes on Eastern Michigan at the Carrier Dome. Check back for video and written reaction of Jim Boeheim's post-game press conference. Please, makes sure to follow along on Twitter at SBNatioNY and JaredSmithCNY.

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