By Brian Delaney
Ithaca Journal
November 25, 2009 (online)/November 26, 2009 (print)
After four games against opponents from power conferences, the Cornell men's basketball team will get a brief, and welcome, reprieve from the spotlight.
The environments ahead couldn't be any more different than the ones left behind. Over 18,000 filled the Carrier Dome on Tuesday, and 4,600 packed Newman Arena for Seton Hall last week. Cornell's game Friday at Drexel may have a scrimmage feel.
Senior Ryan Wittman said the Big Red's bench should, and must, be an asset.
"Obviously, we've got a lot of guys who are going to play minutes, and they're going to have to with three games in three days," he said. "That's the benefit of having a talented team like us."
Wittman scored 19 points against Syracuse, and sophomore Chris Wroblewski finished with 20. Cornell coach Steve Donahue hopes the weekend trip will help Louis Dale break out of a two-game funk. The senior point guard combined for seven points on 3-for-12 shooting with seven turnovers in 45 minutes of floor time.
His dribble-drive ability was hampered significantly Tuesday night by Syracuse's menacing 2-3 zone.
"Very confident you'll see the real Lou, what we're used to," Donahue said. "He had a great preseason, that's what's funny. He's just had a bad week for whatever reason."
The first four games still came with a few good surprises for Cornell. Consider:
* Wroblewski scored 42 points total against Big East teams, and for the second straight year had only one turnover against Syracuse in 33-plus minutes. Donahue said in Tuesday's post-game Wroblewski is arguably Cornell's best player.
* After a two-minute stint in the first half where everything that could have gone wrong did, freshman Errick Peck redeemed himself with an eye-opening 11 minutes in the second half. He entered the game with Cornell trailing by 18 points, but made immediate contributions. He finished with eight points, six rebounds and two assists.
It may not shake up his rotation just yet, but Donahue was happy with the development of the recruit he believes is "as talented a basketball player as we've brought into this program."
"He's going to make us a better basketball team, and that was a positive tonight for sure," Donahue said.
* For the second straight year, Cornell outrebounded Syracuse. The Big Red finished with 15 offensive rebounds and generally acquitted itself well against one of the country's best frontcourts.
Five games remain for Cornell in its first semester schedule, and they are all winnable. After the Drexel trip, the team visits Bucknell on Dec. 2 before a Sunday matinee against St. Joseph's on Dec. 6 in Ithaca.
It's a welcome time to evaluate, tweak and get better.
"That'll start in practice (Wednesday)," Wittman said.
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