The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Syracuse Shift
Dolezaj to go pro, Swider transferring to Syracuse, more SU news.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. » Senior forward Marek Dolezaj has decided to pursue a career in professional basketball and will not be returning to Syracuse for another collegiate season. Dolezaj made the announcement on April 7 on his social media accounts.
“Four years ago, I could have never imagined where I would be right now. These were some of the best years of my life and I want to thank Coach Boeheim, Coach Red, the entire staff, my teammates, and the best fans in basketball for believing in me from the start. I look forward to pursuing the next chapter of my life by playing professional basketball and will be forever Orange.”
Dolezaj had one year of college eligibility remaining, an additional season granted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He played in 131 games and started 83 of those contests in four years at Syracuse. He was a mainstay in the starting lineup as a junior and senior. Dolezaj averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior. Those numbers dropped slightly in 202021 and Dolezaj finished with averages of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. He was slowed this past winter by a broken finger which limited his effectiveness at the end of the season.
Dolezaj fell just shy of 1,000 career points, ending up with 960. He accumulated 649 rebounds in his Syracuse tenure.
He is completing work on a bachelor’s degree in selective studies in education from the School of Education.
A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Dolezaj came to United States to enroll in Syracuse University for the fall semester of 2017.
Villanova forward Cole Swider has signed a financial aid agreement with Syracuse and will join the men’s basketball program after three seasons with the Wildcats, the Orange announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Swider appeared in 77 games with 17 starts for the Wildcats and has two years of eligibility remaining. He averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and converted 35 of 87 (40.2%) from the arc this past season.
Villanova finished 18-7 and was ranked No. 18 in the final AP poll in midmarch. The Wildcats won NCAA Tournament games against Winthrop and North Texas before losing to eventual champion Baylor in the round of 16.
Orange Come From Behind to Defeat Cavaliers
After trailing by three with under nine minutes remaining, No. 3/3 Syracuse (8-1, 5-1) orchestrated a 6-0 run to sink No. 7/6 Virginia (8-4, 3-4) by a score of 15-12 in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. The victory improves the Orange to 5-0 at home this season.
Meaghan Tyrrell tied her career high with a teamleading five goals and led the Orange with six points. Megan Carney followed closely behind with four goals and an assist. Sam Swart notched a hat trick for her third three-plus goal game of the season while Emma Ward dished out two of the Orange’s four assists.
Syracuse Scoring
Goals: Meaghan Tyrrell 5; Megan Carney 4; Sam Swart 3; Emma Ward 1; Bianca Chevarie 1; Emma Tyrrell 1. Assists: Emma Ward 2; Megan Carney 1; Sierra Cockerille 1; Jenny Markey 1; Meaghan Tyrrell 1.
Virginia Scoring
Goals: Annie Dyson 3; Ashlyn Mcgovern 3; Mackenzie Hoeg 2; Chloe Jones 1; Lillie Kloak 1; Morgan Schwab 1; Maggie Bostain 1.
Assists: Taylor Regan 2; Annie Dyson 1; Chloe Jones 1; Kiki Shaw 1.
Shots: Syracuse 41, Virginia 20 Ground Balls: Syracuse 22, Virginia 16 Draw Controls: Syracuse 19, Virginia 10 Saves: Syracuse 4 (Asa Goldstock), Virginia 18 (Charlie Campbell)