Syracuse has used its full-court press in recent games to overcome deficits and propel it to come-from-behind victories. On Monday night, the Orange used the press not only to overcome a mid-game deficit, but also when it led.

Syracuse forced 19 Connecticut turnovers, including 11 in the first half, while losing, 74-66, at the Carrier Dome.

‘We got a good edge off of our press,’ said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim. ‘We got some good steals in the first half.’

The press continued to force turnovers in the second half, except the Orange couldn’t cash in. The Huskies also began effectively break it, using crisp cross-court passes or longer inbounds plays to stretch Syracuse’s defense further.

‘We didn’t convert three or four times off good defensive steals,’ Boeheim said. ‘We got it inside and didn’t convert.’

At one point late in the game, the Orange had three players on the court with four fouls apiece.

Senior Hakim Warrick and sophomores Terrence Roberts and Daryl Watkins were called upon to anchor the base of the 2-3 defensive zone despite each being one foul away from leaving the game.

Syracuse committed 24 fouls compared to Connecticut’s 15. Officials whistled the Orange for 15 of those fouls in the second half, allowing the Huskies to reach the bonus with more than 12 minutes left in the game.

‘It’s always tough when you’re in that situation,’ Boeheim said.

Connecticut shot just 69 percent from the free-throw line, negating some of the advantage the Huskies had due to the excess in foul calls.

Syracuse junior guard Billy Edelin played 28 minutes and contributed seven points while adding six assists.

‘Billy was active,’ Boeheim said. ‘It was his kind of game.’

On one possession in the first half, Edelin took his defender one-on-one, backing him down for a basket that tied the game at 32.

‘They’re a pressure defensive team, that’s a good game for him,’ Boeheim said.

Toward the end of Syracuse’s game with Connecticut last night, sophomore forward Charlie Villanueva stood near the Huskies’ free-throw line and couldn’t help but smile.

Almost single-handedly, Villanueva had slashed through Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, taking advantage of any little nook or cranny. His 21 points led all scorers, and he added 10 rebounds, good for his seventh double-double of the season.

After a streak of five straight double-doubles, Villanueva had been without one for three games. He ended that streak with apparent ease on Monday.

‘It was a huge win and a good game for me,’ Villanueva said. ‘I was in a slump and needed this one really bad.’

Even when SU turned to a bigger lineup, Villanueva seemed to have an answer. He particularly victimized the Orange at the game’s end. With 6:42 remaining, his lay-up in traffic cut SU’s lead to 61-59. When Syracuse rallied to tie the game with 3:06 remaining, Villanueva answered with another lay-up.

‘He did a good job finishing on the block,’ Warrick said. ‘They did a good job feeding him the ball.’

This and that…

Syracuse senior Craig Forth left for a few minutes in the first half after getting hit in the face. He returned to play nine minutes for the entire game. … Over the last three Carrier Dome home games, 89,927 fans have been in attendance. … The win at the Dome was the first for UConn since 1999, when it beat Syracuse, 70-58.

Published on February 7, 2005 at 12:00 pm