Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - The SU men's basketball schedule continues to take shape. Thursday, the Big East released everyone's conference opponents for next season.

The Orange will face three teams twice; they'll play a home-and-home series against Louisville, Georgetown, and Providence. The Cards, of course, made it all the way to the Elite 8 last season.
    
The six other teams that will be visiting the Dome include UConn, Villanova, Marquette and Pittsburgh.

As for the away games, Syracuse will visit the likes of Notre Dame and Cincinnati.

Dates and times will be released as the season gets closer.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Thursday night, Paul Harris watched as his best friend and former teammate Jonny Flynn got picked up early in the first round of the NBA draft by Minnesota.

Harris, though, never heard his name called, and the former SU players’ future was in doubt.
    
Monday night, though, NewsChannel 9 has learned that Harris and Flynn will be reunited next month in Las Vegas.

Harris was in Cleveland working out for the Cavaliers over the past couple days, but he apparently already had an offer from Minnesota to play for their summer team.

Harris will have to fight for a spot on the roster, but what better way to warm up to the pros than with your best friend.

At least for a little while, Flynn and Harris will be reunited in Las Vegas; the Timberwolves’ first summer league game is July 12th against the Houston Rockets.

Meanwhile Flynn was honored in his hometown of Niagara Falls Monday night; the major gave Flynn the key to the city at a City Hall ceremony.

Flynn graduated from Niagara Falls High School, and most of his family still lives there. He's the first ever player from the area to be drafted by the NBA.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - In the next 24 hours, Jonny Flynn's life will forever be changed. By Thursday evening, he'll have a new home, a new team and a new job -- as a professional basketball player.

Flynn spent Wednesday down in New York City along with the other projected lottery picks.

He admits that he does have some nerves heading into Thursday’s draft, but he's also quite confident that he's done enough to earn a high draft pick.

Flynn says he'll be wearing a conservative grey suit Thursday night. He expects to be picked anywhere from 4th overall to 14th.

Watch NewsChannel 9 starting at 5:00 p.m. Thursday for NBA draft coverage; we’ll speak with Flynn as soon as he’s drafted.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - There's a few perks with being number one.

Wednesday, the back-to-back national championship Orange will head to Washington DC, where they'll attend a private reception with Vice President Joe Biden – who is an SU alum -- then get a private tour of the White House.

On Tuesday, two key members of that squad, Kenny Nims and Sid Smith, found out they're Major League Lacrosse All-Stars; they'll both play in the All-Star game next month in Denver.

Through four games this year, Nims has three goals and six assists for the Chicago Machine.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Brandon Jennings and Jonny Flynn will know where they'll start their NBA careers on Thursday. They just may be too tired to celebrate.

Jennings took less than 15 seconds Monday to say he is exhausted. Flynn talked about getting a massage after a cross-country flight and two-hour drive that didn't put him in Milwaukee until after midnight.

The comments came after a workout for the Bucks, along with Wake Forest's Jeff Teague and North Carolina's Ty Lawson. Lawson learned afterward he's off to Portland (Tuesday) and Atlanta (Wednesday) for more sessions.

With Thursday's draft looming, the four point guards are trying to make as many good impressions as they can to improve their status. Lately, it's shaping up as a battle for survival.

"It's been tough, being young, you're not really used to traveling and then playing the same day or waking up early in the morning and playing the same day, consecutive days," Flynn said. "This is the NBA life, that's something you've got to get used to really quick. It's good to get used to it now."

Jennings and Flynn will be in New Jersey on Tuesday to work out together for the fifth time.

"I see Jonny again," Jennings said. "We've been workout partners lately. It's been good though, because he's real competitive. He likes to get after it."

Jennings, who skipped college and signed with an Italian League team before coming back to the U.S. for the draft, had an ice pack on his left thumb after jamming it in Teague's jersey on defense. Teague said it looked like Jennings nearly broke the thumb, but that he didn't show any signs of pain.

"If I would have seen his thumb was hurting, I know I would've probably smacked it one or two times just to get that advantage," he joked. "I'm glad he's OK."

Teams are jockeying for position as much as players in the days before the draft, not wanting to tip who they might choose.

Flynn, who played at Syracuse, has twice worked out for Sacramento, which picks at No. 4, and Jennings could also be moving up. Teague and Lawson will likely be selected later in the first round.

"All the best guys in college last year were mainly point guards," Teague said. "The guards are where it's at now, everybody needs a point guard, everybody's looking for point guards."

Both Lawson and Flynn are listed at 6-foot, but Lawson said he didn't think it'd be a hindrance. "I didn't know there was a height requirement to be in the NBA," he quipped.

The Bucks previously worked out former UCLA standout Jrue Holiday and they will likely have several choices when they pick 10th on Thursday. It's a good bet Milwaukee will choose a point guard because it's uncertain if restricted free agent Ramon Sessions will return.

Scouting director Billy McKinney said it would be a tough choice between Flynn and Jennings if both were available for the Bucks on Thursday night.

"We feel like we're going to get a really good player," McKinney said. "Each of them had their moments when we look at it. That's why we're so excited about this group of guys."

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Gerry McNamara scored more than 2,000 career points while in an Orange uniform -- and now, G-Mac says it's time to give back.

McNamara held his first of two youth basketball camps over the weekend at Onondaga Community College, and he got some help from Matt Gorman and David Fine, among others.

McNamara says he's pleased with how this past weekend went, and hopes for it to get bigger and better down the road.

His second camp begins on Friday and runs through the weekend.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - The NBA draft is set for two weeks from Thursday, and if there was any question about whether or not Jonny Flynn made the right decision to turn pro, those questions have certainly been answered.

Flynn was projected as a borderline lottery pick back when he initially declared; now, he's considered a solid top 10 selection, with the Knicks giving him a good long look at No. 8.

Flynn worked out in New York Tuesday; he says he's happy that his stock continues to rise, and says he's also receiving lots of interest from the Raptors, Warriors, Kings and Bucks, among others.

Meanwhile, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf have both worked out for the Timberwolves this week in Minnesota.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - Doug Marrone's first year as head coach at Syracuse already has turned a lot of heads.

The latest depth chart released by the university has 14 new starters listed, and two have yet to arrive on campus - outside linebacker Derek Hines and kicker Shane Raupers. They were signed after spring practice.

Marrone will not talk about the 14 scholarship players and two walk-ons who have left the team since he replaced Greg Robinson in December.

"Players leave the program for a lot of different reasons," Marrone said in a video interview posted on the Syracuse web site. "We want people that want to be here at Syracuse University. We want people that enjoy playing the sport of football. The players that are here now have that in them. They're ready to represent our university, our community, our state and go out there and compete. That's the biggest thing."

College coaches can choose not to renew a scholarship. Scholarships are renewed annually on or before July 1 heading into the academic year in which they are to be effective.

Marrone said initially he was caught off-guard by the departure of so many players but in retrospect was thankful for the timing.

"I'd rather it happen now than when we start playing during the season or in the preseason when we have players slotted in to play and then they decide that they don't want to play football anymore," Marrone said. "That would hurt us as far as a football program. I'd rather know up front who wants to be in it and who doesn't. It's only going to help our program."

Duke transfer quarterback Greg Paulus, another late signee, will begin preseason camp third on the depth chart behind starter Ryan Nassib and backup Cameron Dantley. Paulus, who played four seasons for the Duke basketball team and is a former high school All-American quarterback, is taking part in voluntary workouts and figures to be a contender for the starting job once preseason camp gets under way.

"He (Paulus) doesn't have as much time to make up," Marrone said. "We'll get him involved quickly. Everyone will be guaranteed the opportunity to play. The best players will play."

Whoever starts at quarterback will have a strong cast of tailbacks behind him in Antwon Bailey, who beat out Delone Carter for the starting spot. Both will play, as will Averin Collier.

Also listed on the first string are standout defensive tackle Arthur Jones and defensive end Jared Kimmel. Both are rehabbing from injuries, Jones a torn pectoral muscle and Kimmel arthroscopic knee surgery.

Hines, a junior college transfer, is listed as a starter at weakside outside linebacker in place of Parker Cantey, one of the players who left the team. Raupers is the only place-kicker on the depth chart.

"I want to get the foundation back, put people in the stands," Marrone said. "My goal is to go back (to former season ticket-holders) and say, 'Listen. This is what we're going to do. We need you to buy those tickets now. Don't wait for us to start winning because then your seats won't be as good as if you get them right now.' "

Robinson was fired in November after going 10-37 in four seasons. He was hired by Michigan as defensive coordinator under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – Former SU basketball star Jonny Flynn is reportedly working out Tuesday and Wednesday with the New York Knicks.

The New York Post says the Knicks are concerned that Steph Curry may go sixth overall to Minnesota, but they like Flynn a lot as well.

If Curry is off the board, The Knicks will likely seriously consider drafting Flynn with the eighth pick.

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – NCAA rules prohibit Greg Paulus from conducting any interviews on the SU campus until later this summer -- but those rules can't stop him from talking in other locations.

So, on Thursday, we caught up with Paulus during a brief visit to his former high school.

Paulus stopped in and said hello to some of the CBA coaches and teachers; he says he continues to make progress, and is doing his best to make up for lost time.

Paulus says he expects to be granted the necessary NCAA waiver, although no timetable has been given to him on when the process will be complete.