***Read the UConn-Seton Hall Advance here.
“Seton Hall has played basketball 105 years and they’ve never beaten a team that’s No. 1 in the country ever, not when P.J. [Carlesimo] was there, not the Final Four team, never,” Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez said on Thursday’s Big East conference call. “To me that’s pretty significant.”
UCONN’S DYSON OUT INDEFINITELY
UConn junior guard Jerome Dyson will be out indefinitely with a torn lateral meniscus of his right knee, it was announced Thursday.
Dyson was injured at the 15:44 mark of the first half of Wednesday’s contest against Syracuse and did not return to action.
He underwent an MRI Thursday afternoon at Windham Hospital in Willimantic and results showed the tear. He will undergo surgery within the next week.
“We are obviously all very disappointed for Jerome, who has been such a big part of why we are 23-1 and in first place in the BIG EAST,” said head coach Jim Calhoun. “I know that he will work hard in the offseason and be back next year as a major contributor to our future success. As for our team going forward this season, it is another challenge we will have to face. We have very good players who I know will rise to the occasion and fill the void left by Jerome’s absence.”
Dyson started all 24 games to date in 2008-09 and averaged 13.2 points per contest. He has reached double figures in 18 games and led the Huskies in scoring five times.
Without Dyson, UConn will need its other guards, including New York native Kemba Walker, to step up.
“When Jerome leaves the game, I felt like I have to step my game up because Jerome is a big part of what we do on offense and defense,” Walker said after the Syracuse game.
IRISH HAMMER CARDS
Desperate for a win, Notre Dame got one by hammering No. 5 Louisville 90-57 last night in South Bend behind 32 and 17 from Luke Harangody.
“This victory, while humiliating to us, can propel them into something good,” Cards coach Rick Pitino said. “I’m happy for them. I’m really upset at our players. The way we practiced going into this game and the way we played tonight, our five men were just totally dominated.”
Notre Dame is now 4-7 in the Big East and must win a bunch of games to get to .500 and have a shot at making the Big Dance.
RECRUITING NOTES
***Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez and assistant Dermon Player joined Pittsburgh associate head coach Tommy Herrion to watch Jarrid Famous of Westchester Community College last night. WCC lost to TCI.
The 6-11 Famous is considering Seton Hall, Villanova, Missouri, St. John’s, Xavier, Houston and UConn.
Famous will sign in the spring and have two years of eligibility remaining.
“That’s my goal,” Famous said previously. “Wait to the spring, see how it goes.”
***Paterson Catholic sophomore point guard Myles Mack will take an unofficial visit to Fordham today. Mack’s teammate, senior wing Lance Brown, has already signed to play at Fordham next season.
Paterson Catholic meets Miami-bound guard Durand Scott and Rice in the Nike Super 6 at Fordham at 5 p.m., with the St. Patrick-Lincoln game to be televised at 7 on ESPN2.
Here’s the slate:
5 p.m. – Rice vs. Paterson Catholic (N.J.)
7 p.m. – Lincoln vs. No. 4 St. Patrick’s (N.J.)
8:30 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson vs. No. 16 Hopkins (Minn.)
