NEW YORK- The questions about Demetris Nichols’ ability to bounce back can end.

Coming off a 2-for-14 shooting effort and blowing the potential game-winning lay-up, Nichols could do no worse than Saturday night’s loss to Wichita State.

The quiet Nichols immediately atoned for his mistakes with a 26-point game vs. Oklahoma State Tuesday night.

‘My confidence is there,’ Nichols said. ‘I’m going to do what coach tells me to do, play hard and make plays at both ends of the floor.

‘I just wasn’t worried. I’m a basketball player; I just go out there and play.’

Nichols was 5-for-8 from the field in the first half and led the Orange with 13 points. His final output of nine field goals tied a career high and his 26 points were two short of his best game, which came vs. Connecticut Jan. 16, 2006. But that was on 9-of-27 shooting from the field.

His biggest shot came with two minutes left when he drained a 3-pointer from to bring Syracuse within four points of the Cowboys.

‘He came back, he bounced back,’ Boeheim said. ‘He played great. He kept us in the game. They’re a very good defensive team. They made him work for everything.’

Still, Boeheim pointed out Nichols only had two rebounds. The senior averages 5.9 per game.

‘We can’t have 40 minutes of him not get some rebounds,’ Boeheim said. ‘That’s a major concern we have.’

Sickness

Boeheim did not address Eric Devendorf’s lack of playing time, only saying the sophomore guard has been battling an illness. Devendorf played nine minutes Tuesday night and none in the second half.

He attempted only two shots in the first half and at times looked lost on offense. When he was in the game, Devendorf held the ball for long periods of time, moving side-to-side looking for an open shot instead of going towards the basket and penetrating.

Devendorf played just 18 minutes against Wichita State and attempted the final potential game-tying 3-pointer that was partially blocked in the waning seconds of the game. He was 2-of-6 from the field Saturday. Combined with his 3-for-13 performance vs. Holy Cross last Monday, Devendorf is shooting 23.8 percent from the field in his last three games.

Boeheim said Devendorf is not alone in his pain. He said backup point guard Andy Rautins was also sick and freshman forward Mike Jones suffered an undisclosed injury during the game.

Last week, Matt Gorman was fighting what he called ‘food poisoning.’

The Oklahoma State bench outscored SU’s 22-13.

Never give up

The V Foundation and Madison Square Garden announced the renewal of the Jimmy V Basketball Classic for three years at the Garden, beginning tonight.

The Jimmy V Classic was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano. Valvano was head coach of North Carolina State and an ESPN commentator.

‘Jim and I were no different than any other kid growing up in New York City,’ said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano, Jim’s brother, in a statement. ‘We dreamed of playing at Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden. When my dad was coaching high school basketball, once a year his team would play before a (New York) Knicks’ game at Madison Square Garden. That was always a highlight.’

To date, the Jimmy V Basketball Classic has raised more than $1 million to the V Foundation for cancer research.

Published on December 5, 2006 at 12:00 pm