Whenever Syracuse forward Terrence Roberts checked the Internet for his name on NBA Draft web sites last spring, he was always discouraged. Roberts rarely came up as a top NBA prospect, his name buried in a list of high school and college basketball players across the nation.

Roberts has a new outlook on those web sites now after an intense summer. The junior forward continued working on his short-range and post skills even after Syracuse’s 2004 season, improving enough for a roster spot on the United States Under-21 World Championship team.

‘It let me know that definitely I can play with the best guys out there,’ Roberts said. ‘Sometimes you doubt because you look at some of these news reports and NBADraft.net, you don’t see yourself up there.

‘Then you’re killing against these guys out there that…are in the (NBA). It boosts your confidence and it helps when you come back and you’re playing for (Syracuse).’

Roberts played with the likes of Duke’s J.J. Redick, Kentucky’s Rajon Rondo and Villanova’s Allan Ray. With such stiff competition, many doubted if Roberts would make the team.

But he excelled for the U.S., highlighted by a 14-point performance against Slovenia on Aug. 10. The U.S. went 7-1 in the tournament, finishing in fifth place.

‘It was definitely an important summer for me,’ Roberts said. ‘Working out, going to U.S.A. trials and showing everybody I can play with the best players in the country right now, that was a main thing for me.’

Roberts was one of three SU players to see international competition this summer, along with Andy Rautins and Gerry McNamara. Rautins, a dual citizen, played for Canada in the International Basketball Federation under-21 World Championship. McNamara won a gold medal with the U.S. at the World University Games.

The international experience may have been most important for the freshman Rautins.. A lean 6-foot-5, 175-pound Rautins needed to adjust to the physical nature of basketball at the international level.

The physicality affected Rautins early in the tournament – he sprained his ankle in the first game – but he knew the Syracuse coaching staff wouldn’t accept an ankle injury as a reason to miss a game. Instead, Rautins used the World Championship as a training ground, played through the injury and helped Canada to a 4-4 record, including a 93-90 overtime victory over Roberts and the U.S.

‘It was just a different style of play,’ Rautins said. ‘The guys are a lot stronger. You just have to learn to adapt and play at that level, and I think I can do that.’

Up close and personal

When Associate Director of Athletics Mark Jackson interviewed for his position in February 2005, he and Director of Athletics Daryl Gross attended the attendance-record-setting Syracuse-Notre Dame game at the Carrier Dome.

Gross and Jackson got to talking, and Gross pointed out the space along the sideline where the media usually sat. He detailed a plan to move the media and put fans closer to the action.

Six months later, Gross announced the addition of 150 courtside seats.

‘The hope was to give the fans an intimate setting,’ Jackson said. ‘Of course, another goal was to increase revenue.’

The seats cost at least $3,000, and certain locations could cost more. They are open to anyone, but Orange Pack members receive preference.

The media will move to the corner of the court nearest to the visitor’s bench. Media seating will still be on the floor, but set back farther from the court.

Jackson believes the seats will be a more effective use of the space along the court.

‘It was pretty obvious we need to use that space,’ Jackson said. ‘Hopefully, we’re going to get into a wait-list situation soon. The numbers are very encouraging.’

This and that

Syracuse will host a Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament regional for the second consecutive year. SU will play Bethune-Cookman in the first round. St. Francis (Pa.) and Cornell will also play at the Carrier Dome. … Darryl Watkins cut off his trademark cornrows in favor of a buzz cut. … Numerous former Orange attended head coach Jim Boeheim’s Hall of Fame induction Friday, including Derrick Coleman, Hakim Warrick and Roosevelt Bouie.

Published on September 13, 2005 at 12:00 pm