Carmelo Anthony will have his No. 15 jersey retired today during the Georgetown-Syracuse game at the Carrier Dome, and he hopes the two teams can continue playing even after the Orange join the ACC next season.
“I’m looking forward to that,” Anthony, who led Syracuse to the NCAA championship as a freshman in 2003 and later donated millions for the building of the Melo Center, said last month.
“Could be the last Georgetown-Syracuse game, I hope it’s not. We need to keep that rivalry up, but I’m super excited about having that jersey retired.”
Today will mark the last regular-season game between the longtime Big East rivals at the Carrier Dome; they will face off March 9 at the Verizon Center, and could potentially meet again in the Big East and/or NCAA Tournaments.
A whole new generation of recruits — like Georgetown-bound Reggie Cameron of Hudson Catholic and Syracuse pledge Tyler Ennis of St. Benedict’s Prep — told SNY.tv it was “sad” that the rivalry is coming to an end.
Anthony will attend Knicks’ practice and then fly to Syracuse for the game.
“It was great planning, I can tell you that,’’ Anthony told the New York Post following the Knicks’ 100-98 loss at Toronto Friday night, their fourth straight defeat. “Very thought-out. The last Syracuse-Georgetown game.
“The Carrier Dome will be rocking. I’m excited. I’ll have goose bumps. It will be a great time.’’
Anthony’s jersey will join those of Dave Bing, Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, Billy Gabor, Vic Hanson, Billy Owens, Wilmeth Sadat-Singh, Rony Seikaly, and Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, which have been previously honored.
