Give Brian Nee four feet and he’ll take a defender to the cage and score. Give him four games and he’ll take a once-stellar attackman’s starting spot.

Nee has started at attack in all four of the No. 4 Syracuse men’s lacrosse team’s games this season and is third on the Orangemen with 11 points (eight goals, three assists).

Even with the injured Liam Banks pegged to return for Saturday’s game against Princeton, SU head coach John Desko said, “It’s tough not to go with Brian.”

And it’d be tough to blame Desko. After all, Nee tallied three goals and four points — both career highs — in the Orangemen’s 15-14 comeback win last Saturday over No. 2 Johns Hopkins.

“He’s a seasoned player,” Desko said.

No Syracuse players were made available for comment yesterday.

Nee, a junior, showed his experience Saturday, as his three goals highlighted an eight-goal SU rally. The Orangemen were down, 8-2, with 1:56 left in the second quarter before scoring eight straight over the next 14:02.

Nee’s first goal drew the Orangemen within 8-7, his second gave SU its first lead, 9-8, and his third put Syracuse up, 10-8, capping the rally.

Last year, Nee started one game — as he did as a freshman — but scored 21 goals. His .420 shooting percentage was highest among any Orangeman who took more than 35 shots.

Playing in man-up situations, Nee found a knack for slicing to the cage.

“He shoots the ball pretty well from the outside, too,” Desko said.

As a freshman, Nee also played on the man-up unit and led the Orangemen with a .500 shooting percentage.

Desko likens the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Nee to 6-foot-4, 215-pound attackman Mike Springer. With Springer taking on more of a feeder’s role this season — Banks’ job in the past — it helps that Nee can slide into Springer’s old spot, Desko said.

Nee assimilating to the starting attack unit clouds Banks’ return. Banks, a senior, sat out both of the Orangemen’s games during Spring Break — a 19-6 win over Fairfield on March 10 and the Johns Hopkins win. Banks, the 2000 Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, hasn’t seen game action since bruising his right shoulder in SU’s Feb. 8 scrimmage against Navy.

“He should be good to go this weekend,” Desko said before practice yesterday.

Banks practiced Monday, but Desko said his playing time depends on “what the defense gives us. Liam’s more of a feeder, while Brian’s more of a slasher.

“We’re just trying to get everybody in.”

Though Nee’s shooting percentage will likely dip this season — he’s on pace to take about 81 shots, 31 more than his career high — his play of late may make it tough for Desko to remove him. And the fact that Banks, who sat out last year, could be rusty will also likely play into Desko’s decision.

Still, Nee is showing that whatever he gets — a defender in his face, limited minutes or a starting role — he takes.

Published on March 18, 2003 at 12:00 pm