ALBANY – Until Saturday afternoon, every time freshman point guard Josh Wright got into a game, he was remarkably poised for a freshman.

He’d make crisp passes, finding open teammates for easy scores. But until Saturday, Wright hadn’t gotten a chance to play more than a minute or two at a time.

Finally getting a chance to stay on the court, that controlled play suddenly disappeared and Wright looked every bit like the 18-year-old kid he really is. The Utica native committed three turnovers in 11 minutes of play in the Syracuse men’s basketball team’s 78-56 victory over Siena on Saturday.

‘Siena really got up on Josh Wright,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘They made it a difficult learning experience for him.’

A difficult learning experience that allowed Siena to creep back into the game and forced Boeheim to reinsert Gerry McNamara. Wright entered the game with about eight minutes remaining. Saints defenders relentlessly pressured the ball, and Wright showed little ability to find open teammates.

Instead of trying to pass out of traps, Wright attempted to dribble out of them. While the baby-faced freshman’s quick moves may have gotten him out of trouble in high school, they were no match for smarter college defenders.

‘He’s just getting experience,’ senior guard Josh Pace said. ‘He hasn’t gotten the chance to show what he can do yet.’

But Wright’s chances may be running out. Junior point guard Billy Edelin dressed for the first time Saturday, meaning his return is near. With Big East play looming, it’s unlikely Boeheim would take a chance on Wright over his more experienced players.

Unless, of course, Wright shows the moves that made him a top point guard recruit.

‘He’s going to be one of the best,’ McNamara said. ‘He’s so much faster than people that one move can get him where he has to go.’

Syracuse’s trip to Pepsi Arena on Saturday marked the Orange’s first time back in the building where SU clinched its spot in the 2003 NCAA Final Four.

SU beat Auburn, 79-78, in the Sweet 16 before defeating Oklahoma, 63-47, to advance to the Final Four in New Orleans. The Orange, of course, later defeated Texas and Kansas to win its first basketball championship.

With Saturday’s win, SU improved to 4-0 overall in Pepsi Arena.

‘I can still see the celebration,’ senior forward Hakim Warrick said.

Said McNamara: ‘It’s more in the locker room. It’s just the same feeling being back here.’

Though Warrick finished with a season-low 13 points, he still pulled off two highlight-reel dunks.

With 7:11 left in the first half, Warrick spun in the lane and pulled down a dynamic one-handed slam.

But the play of the game came with 15:35 remaining in the contest. After a Syracuse timeout, Pace lofted the ball for Warrick in the post. The ball seemed way beyond Warrick’s reach, but somehow he reached back, palmed the ball with one hand and converted the alley-oop.

The dunk drew repeated ovations from the crowd, especially when it appeared again on Pepsi Arena’s replay board.

‘It’s something we’ve been working on,’ Pace said. ‘He’s athletic enough to go and get it. It’s not a set play. I just saw (Saints forward Michael) Haddix was up and threw it. With Hakim, we’re used to it.’

While Warrick had two big dunks, he also had a rare dunk blocked. … McNamara’s fast-break dunk in the first half was the first of his career. He also nailed the 200th 3-pointer of his career and now has 205. … While Edelin dressed for the first time this season, Boeheim again refused to discuss his playing status. In fact, a reporter couldn’t even get a full question out, as Boeheim again restated Edelin will play when Boeheim thinks he’s ready.

Published on November 29, 2004 at 12:00 pm