Syracuse was without its talented frosh against Georgia Tech due to injury.
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team was without talented freshman forward Donnie Freeman against Georgia Tech on Tuesday night. Freeman was out with a lower right leg injury which was sustained during the previous game against Florida State. It was the first game Freeman has missed with Syracuse.
“Right now it’s just a lower leg injury and I think it’s day-to-day,” Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry said post-game.
Freeman was with the team for its win over Georgia Tech. Despite being listed as “day-to-day,” Freeman was seen wearing a walking boot from the Syracuse sideline. The 6-foot-9 forward was active from the Syracuse bench, standing and clapping throughout the game encouraging teammates.
Freeman had started every game for Syracuse this season at the power forward position. A top prospect in the 2024 class, he represents Syracuse’s highest rated recruit in over 20 years. Delaware transfer Jyare Davis replaced him in the starting lineup against the Yellow Jackets.
“With Jyare and Donnie we get different looks,” JJ Starling said. “What helps is they’re aggressive, strong forwards. So we still looked inside (against Georgia Tech). Jyare looked to be aggressive making moves and that’s what we got out of him tonight.”
Davis finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists against Georgia Tech. Without Freeman, Syracuse is down its second-leading scorer and top rebounder.
“We need him for rebounding and defense,” Junior forward Chris Bell said. “Just hopefully he gets back soon. We missed him for sure but Jyare did a great job subbing in for him today, starting, rebounding and playing well. I give him his props.”
Freeman averages 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He shoots 50.4 percent from the floor.
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Note: Syracuse was also without Chance Westry on Tuesday, due to an illness. When asked whether Westry would be able to help the team this season in the post-game press conference, Autry declined to expand, stating that it was a medical decision.
