SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Louie McCroskey learned to play basketball on playgrounds in the Bronx, where touch fouls go to die. He learned how to drive to the basket, maneuvering his spindly body past bigger and stronger players.

Now, as a freshman guard for the Syracuse men’s basketball team, McCroskey is learning to forget all that. He’s becoming the Orangemen’s second outside shooting threat, along with fellow guard Gerry McNamara. On Saturday, in SU’s 81-70 win over Notre Dame at the Joyce Center, McCroskey scored a career-high eight points, all in the first half, and shot 2-of-2 on 3-pointers.

‘I am more of a slasher,’ the baby-faced McCroskey said. ‘(SU coaches) still tell me to penetrate first.’

But with opponents focusing on stopping McNamara, McCroskey is often open for outside shots. His two 3-pointers marked the first time all season that an Orangeman other than McNamara has knocked down two shots from behind the arc.

‘We need another guy that can step behind the 3-point line and be a threat,’ McNamara said. ‘When he gets in the game, he wants to prove something. He’s finding open shots. Right now, teams haven’t scouted him, so he’s gonna find those open shots.’

McCroskey has contributed the most among SU’s four freshmen this season. He averages 12 minutes and 3.9 points. He has converted 5 of 21 3-pointers, by no means McNamaraian numbers but a positive step nonetheless.

McCroskey admitted he’s surprised by his relative success. And he knows he still must work on playing more efficiently in SU’s 2-3 zone defense. He played man-to-man defense during his days at St. Raymond High.

‘(SU coach Jim) Boeheim always gets on me on defense,’ McCroskey said.

For Saturday at least, Boeheim seemed pleased with McCroskey’s effort.

‘Louie McCroskey was tremendous,’ Boeheim said. ‘He really gave us a lift when the game was back-and-forth. He hit a couple big shots and played really well.’

Technical difficulties

Three players drew technical fouls Saturday – one the pretty way, two the ugly way.

With 15:29 remaining in the first half, SU forward Hakim Warrick was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk. Warrick pulled himself so high above the net that his shoulders were above the rim.

He said afterward that he pulled himself up because he wanted to avoid landing on a player whom he thought stood beneath him.

Later, with 6:14 remaining in the first half, Warrick tangled with Notre Dame center Tom Timmermans while grabbing a rebound. SU center Jeremy McNeil stepped in and shoved Timmermans. McNeil and Timmermans were whistled for technical fouls.

‘Timmermans got up in Jeremy’s face and tried to push him,’ Warrick said.

Tom Terrific

Before Saturday’s game, Timmermans had more letter Ms in his full name (four) than he had points per game (2.4) during his career.

But against the Orangemen, the 6-foot-11, 270-pound senior from Driehuis, Netherlands, scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds. He even attempted a 3-pointer, though he looked more like he was throwing a dart than shooting a basketball.

The Flying Dutchman’s previous career high for points was nine, and he tied his career high for rebounds. He battled a sore back earlier this season but appeared 100 percent Saturday, as he started and played a career-high 32 minutes.

‘You can’t shut everyone down,’ Warrick said with a grin.

Afterward, Timmermans, a favorite of Notre Dame’s Leprechaun Legion student section, eagerly signed autographs for a crowd of fans.

‘He had a good game,’ Boeheim said. ‘He surprised us a little bit. He definitely hurt us in the zone.’

This and that

Warrick’s 19-point game give him 1,006 for his career. He is the 46th Orangeman to score 1,000 career points. … SU’s victory extended its regular-season Big East winning streak to nine consecutive games, dating back to Feb. 10, 2003. The Orangemen last won nine consecutive league games during the 1999-2000 season. … Before the game, Notre Dame distributed green T-shirts with the words ‘Sea of Green’ emblazoned on them to fans sitting in the Joyce Center’s lower levels. During halftime, Notre Dame gave away free laser eye surgery.

Published on January 19, 2004 at 12:00 pm