Syracuse's offense was unable to overcome LSU's high-powered running game on Saturday in a 36-26 loss at Tiger Stadium  >> Box score

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) LSU coach Ed Orgeron has been apologizing for seemingly an entire week.

On the heels of 37-7 loss to Mississippi State, Orgeron has been taking the blame and emphasizing to fellow Louisiana natives that he feels their disappointment. He's also pledged to turn things around against Syracuse in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.

"I definitely get it. I understand the expectations at LSU. That was a bad performance. I totally take the blame. I'm going to get this team right," said Orgeron, who is in his first full season on the job. "This is not LSU football. That's not what we came here for, but we're going to get it fixed."

Syracuse rebounded from last week's upset loss on Saturday behind an impressive all-around performance by QB Eric Dungey, who had a rushing and two passing touchdowns in a 41-17 win against Central Michigan.

Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey is about to confront a big challenge - ignoring a frightening moment in his college career.

It's been two years since he took a violent helmet-to-helmet hit in the Carrier Dome that knocked him out of a game against Central Michigan in only his second start for the Orange. The Chippewas (2-0), who lost that game in overtime, return on Saturday with the player that delivered the blow - defensive end Mitch Stanitzek - a prominent part of their defense.

Dungey said he remains focused on the task at hand.

A quick take on Syracuse's 30-23 loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon:

WHAT HAPPENED: With the score knotted at 23 midway through the fourth quarter, Brent Stockstill found Shane Tucker in the flat and he leaped over Juwan Dowels for the go-ahead score with 6:46 left. With SU moving the ball well on its ensuing drive, Eric Dungey threw a costly interception looking for Erv Phillips as the officials appeared to miss an offside call on the play. Syracuse had one last chance with 33 seconds left, but Steve Ishmael was dropped on a 4th and 15 one yard short of a first down, and the Orange dropped its first game of the season...

Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey is certain of one thing - the second game of the season will be a reunion in his football journey.

The Orange's record-setting junior quarterback is thriving in the uptempo offensive scheme of second-year coach Dino Babers. On Saturday, he'll face the coach that saw something special in him in high school in Oregon when few others did and lured him across the country to Syracuse. Scott Shafer will be on the opposing sideline in the Carrier Dome when Middle Tennessee visits on Saturday.

Shafer is in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Blue Raiders, who lost their opener at home to Vanderbilt 28-6.

"He's a genius, so he's going to come up with something," Dungey said of Shafer...

A quick take on Syracuse's 50-7 win over Central Connecticut State on Friday night at the Carrier Dome to open the 2017 season:

WHAT HAPPENED: Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey completed his first 13 passes, the offense scored touchdowns on its first three drives, and the defense pitched a shutout in the first half in a dominant performance. The Orange outgained Central Connecticut State 586-154, while amassing 37 first downs.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) Dino Babers is no longer the rookie coach at Syracuse, and that's a good thing as the Orange prepare to start the second year of his tenure.

"The team has a much better feel for the coaches, a much better feel for the scheme," Babers said. "They shouldn't be as anxious. I think that should bring them a little bit of calmness, some peace, and hopefully settle them down."

The Orange finished 4-8 in Babers' first season and open 2017 at home on Friday night against FCS foe Central Connecticut State. It's the first meeting between the teams, adding an element of the unknown. The Blue Devils were 2-9 last season and are picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference...

Wes Cheng of The Juice Online is joined by Boeheim's Army General Manager Kevin Belbey to talk all things Syracuse basketball.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said he will be guiding the Orange for "five or six more years" on Friday at the program's annual 'Cuse Awards earlier this week. 

"I hope everybody's having a great year," Boeheim said, according to SB Nation's Nunes Magician. "I didn't. Normally when you lose your last game, you're really upset. Not so much when you're in the NIT. Not only did we lose the last game, but then I find out I've gotta coach for five or six more years."

Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has agreed to a new contract that will extend past next season.

The extension of the Hall of Fame coach's contract comes after head-coach-in-waiting Mike Hopkins was hired Sunday by Washington. Boeheim had planned to step down following the conclusion of next season. Details of the extension were not released.

Boeheim just completed his 41st season as head coach at his alma mater. He ranks second all-time among Division I coaches in victories with 903, trailing only Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

In a move that caught many in Central New York off guard, associate head coach Mike Hopkins will be taking the head coaching position at the University of Washington. He replaces Lorenzo Romar, who was fired after a dismal 9-22 season and an 11th place finish in the Pac-12. >> Read more

A quick take on Syracuse's 85-80 loss to Ole Miss in the NIT second round at the Dome, ending the Orange season:

WHAT HAPPENED: In a first-ever meeting between the schools, Ole Miss (22-13) became the ninth SEC team (of 14) to play in the Dome, and using a mix of defenses and torrid three point shooting, knocked the Orange (19-15) out of the NIT.

A quick take on Syracuse's 90-77 win over UNC Greensboro in the opening round of the NIT at the Carrier Dome on Wednesday evening:

WHAT HAPPENED: With Syracuse comfortably ahead by double digits most of the second half, and as much as 81-63 with 5:40 left to go, UNC Greensboro made things interesting late.

A quick take on Syracuse being left out of the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday:

WHAT HAPPENED: Syracuse's NCAA Tournament bubble finally burst on Sunday, with the selection committee leaving the most hotly debated team out of the field of 68. Instead of SU, the last four teams that were invited included USC, Wake Forest, Kansas State and Providence. The Deacons are a relatively curious choice because the Orange owned more top-50 wins, finished ahead of them in the ACC, and also won the teams' only head-to-head matchup this season. Regardless, Syracuse is headed to the NIT for the first time since 2008. >> Read more at The Juice

NEW YORK - A quick take on Syracuse's 62-57 loss against Miami in the second round of the ACC Tournament at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn:

WHAT HAPPENED: After a Tyus Battle 3-pointer with 12:23 left gave the Orange a brief 41-40 lead, Dejan Vasiljevic drained consecutive 3-pointers to give Miami the lead that it had held through most of the game. The Orange would pull to within one with just over four minutes left and within two with 12.1 seconds left, but could never retake the lead, and SU remained winless in the ACC Tournament.

A quick take on Syracuse's 90-61 blowout win against Georgia Tech on Senior Day at the Carrier Dome:

WHAT HAPPENED: After Syracuse's 12-point halftime lead was cut to 38-35 with 18:06 left in the second half, Andrew White led a furious Syracuse run that left it with a 70-46 lead with 7:56 to go. With the game in rout territory with 3:02 left, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim allowed SU fans to pay homage to senior Dajuan Coleman, who had only appeared in three other ACC games in his final season.  

Read more at The Juice

A quick take on Syracuse's 88-68 blowout loss to Louisville on Sunday afternoon:

WHAT HAPPENED: After Syracuse took a 17-13 lead with 10:11 left in the first half after a Tyus Battle 3-pointer, Louisville tightened its defense and took a commanding 41-25 lead into intermission. An Andrew White layup with 9:08 left in the second half cut the lead to 61-50, but that is the closest Syracuse would get.

Read more at The Juice

Syracuse's second-half rally fell short as the Orange cut a 13-point deficit to two with under a minute left, but the Orange couldn't complete the comeback in a 71-65 loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday at McCamish Pavilion. >> Read more at The Juice

After John Gillon's game-tying 3-pointer with 37 seconds left in regulation forced overtime, the Syracuse Orange lost to No. 8 Louisville, 76-72, on Monday at Carrier Dome. >> Read more at The Juice

Former Syracuse center and first-round draft pick Fab Melo died on Saturday at the age of 26 in his home country of Brazil. 

Down by eight with roughly eight minutes left to go, the Orange closed the gap over the next four minutes, pulling to within 75-74 after a Tyler Lydon dunk with 4:00 to go. From there, the teams traded the lead three times in the final minute, but Donte Grantham's free throw line jumper with 6.7 seconds left gave Clemson a 81-79 lead. But Tyus Battle's 3-pointer as time expired gave Syracuse an improbable win, its fifth in a row, and the Orange won for just the second time on the road this season.

A quick take on Syracuse's 66-62 win against Virginia on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome:

WHAT HAPPENED: Down 34-22 coming out of intermission, Syracuse started on an 11-0 run and eventually led by as many as six points midway through the second half. 

A quick take on Syracuse's thrilling, back and forth 100-93 overtime victory against North Carolina State on Wednesday evening at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C.:

A quick take on Syracuse's 82-72 win against Florida State on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome:

WHAT HAPPENED: After Dwayne Bacon's 3-pointer with 1:47 left pulled FSU to within 72-70, John Gillon responded with 10 straight points to keep the Seminoles at bay.

A quick take on Syracuse's 81-76 win against Wake Forest on Tuesday evening at the Carrier Dome:

WHAT HAPPENED: With the score tied at 68 with 1:15 left, John Gillon drove the lane, and the ball eventually made its way to Andrew White, who drilled a 3-pointer to give SU a 71-68 lead. Syracuse never reliquished the lead after that, and clutch free throw shooting from White, Tyler Lydon and Taurean Thompson evened the Orange's ACC record at .500. >> Read more from The Juice...

A quick take on Syracuse's 84-66 loss against Notre Dame on the road on Saturday afternoon:

WHAT HAPPENED: After Syracuse had cut Notre Dame's lead to four with 9:48 left, the Irish went on an 10-0 run to take a 26-14 lead. 

A quick take on Syracuse's 76-53 win over Boston College Saturday: 

Up just two points with 8:36 left in the first half, the Orange went on a 14-2 run to take control of the game. During that run, the Orange forced nine turnovers and BC went 0-7 from the field. The win put Syracuse back over the .500 mark in conference play.

A quick take on Syracuse's 83-73 loss against Virginia Tech on Tuesday evening:

After Syracuse pulled to within 51-48 with 10:39 left, Virginia Tech responded with an 8-0 run capped by a Justin Bibbs 3-pointer with 6:48 to go. The Orange would have one last gasp, pulling to within six points with around a minute left. But John Gillon and Tyus Battle missed 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, and Virginia Tech was able to extend its home-court winning streak to 15 games.

A quick take on Syracuse's 77-66 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon:

WHAT HAPPENED: Chris Jones' layup with 13:50 left in the first half cut Syracuse's lead to 14-8. From there, the Orange held Pitt scoreless until 5:12 left before intermission, and by then, SU had taken a 36-8 lead.

Syracuse's rough men's basketball season continued into the New Year with a 96-81 ACC road loss to Boston College Sunday

After Cornell took a 16-14 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the first half, the Orange held the Big Red to just six points for the next eight minutes. During that time, SU took a 31-20 lead after a pair of Tyler Lydon free throws. Syracuse would then open up a 42-25 going into halftime, and the Orange would never be seriously threatened in the second half.

The Syracuse Orange were outscored 54-31 in the second half as they lost to the St. John's Red Storm, 93-60, Wednesday at the Carrier Dome. >> Read more at The Juice

A quick take on Syracuse's dominant 105-57 win against Eastern Michigan Monday night at the Dome:

WHAT HAPPENED: In welcoming old friend Rob Murphy back to campus, the one time Jim Boeheim assistant (2004-11), who is amazingly now in his sixth year guiding the EMU program, saw the Orange offense blitz from the opening tip in the bounce back victory. 

UConn's Christian Vital made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds remaining as the Syracuse Orange blew a double-digit second-half lead to lose to the Huskies, 52-50, Monday at Madison Square Garden. >> Read more at The Juice