PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Syracuse made another change to its starting lineup in Saturday’s 71-67 win over Providence, inserting sophomore Andy Rautins for junior Josh Wright.

The official reason was Wright has been battling the flu. It held him out of two practices earlier this week. But even if Wright was healthy, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim indicated he still might have made the switch. The Friars’ base defense is a zone, and Rautins’ shooting provided a considerable advantage.

‘We were great against their zone,’ Boeheim said. ‘We took them out of their zone and into man-to-man.’

Rautins led the Orange with a career-high 19 points. He played 38 minutes and was one of the best players on the floor, scoring in all types of ways. He had a critical tip-in in the second half and was hitting from all over the floor.

Ironically, Rautins’ success came against the other Big East team that recruiting him hard. Providence head coach Tim Welsh eagerly pursued the Jamesville-Dewitt product, but he ultimately elected to come to the school where his father, Leo, starred.

‘He’s old-school,’ Welsh said. ‘He understands how to move without the ball. He’s not just a shooter who stands there and waits for the opportunity. He really moves and cuts without the ball.’

It was Rautins’ 13th start of the season. He’s been in and out of the lineup, but was recently taken out for Eric Devendorf against DePaul on Feb. 3.

‘I said time and again it didn’t really matter what happens as long as we get the victory,’ Rautins said.

For Wright, it was the first time he was benched this season. He played only three minutes, all in the first half. It followed up a prior season-low 10 minutes against Connecticut on Feb. 17.

Top of the HillGood thing for Syracuse that Saturday was Providence center Herbert Hill’s Senior Day. It means barring a rematch in the Big East Championships, Saturday was likely the last time SU has to face Hill.

Hill had 29 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks. He had his way on both offense and defense, tearing up the middle of SU’s zone.

‘He’s one of the best players I’ve seen in a long time,’ Boeheim said. ‘We had no answer for him.’

Syracuse center Darryl Watkins did his best on him, although without help from the injured Terrence Roberts, Watkins had to do it on his own. Boeheim said Hill would have ’40 or 50′ points if Watkins didn’t play as well as he did.

Welsh angryWelsh was outraged at the officiating in Saturday’s game.

The Providence head coach argued that Hill reached the foul line only four times and Watkins reached the foul line 10 times.

‘(Watkins) was allowed to be a lot more physical than Herb was,’ Welsh said. ‘It’s amazing. The man plays 40 minutes and only gets four free throws.’

Welsh also thought that Providence guard Weyinmi Efejuku was fouled when attempted a game-tying lay-up with 15 seconds left.

‘He’s got blood all over his face,’ Welsh said.

Boeheim wouldn’t comment on the officiating. Welsh said he and Boeheim are the two Big East coaches who are the biggest advocates in cleaning up the game and not allowing the ‘slugging.’ He said Saturday ‘was not the way the game is supposed to be played.’

‘I’m pissed off,’ Welsh said. ‘When you have one guy refereeing, it’s hard. That’s what we had out there today.’

The officials for Saturday’s game were Tim Higgins, John Gaffney and Jeff Clark. Thirty-one fouls were called.

Published on February 25, 2007 at 12:00 pm