Onuaku to return to practice

SYRACUSE — Syracuse University basketball fans can breathe little easier today.

Twenty-four hours after senior center Arinze Onuaku injured his right knee against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals in New York City, an MRI taken Friday showed that Onuaku should be able to return to action for the Orange this season.

It was at first feared that Onuaku would be out for the season with a serious knee injury. X-rays taken immediately after the injury at Madison Square Garden indicated that Onuaku had reinjured the quad tendon in the knee.

Upon the team's return home, an MRI showed that Onuaku was suffering from a right quadraceps injury. An e-mail from SU director of sports communications Pete Moore said, "Arinze has already begun receiving treatment. His status is day-to-day and his return to practice is anticipated on Monday."

Onuaku, averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds this season, was hurt trying to block a shot by Georgetown's Greg Monroe with 5:07 left in the game. The fifth-year senior was in obvious pain and was helped to the locker room.

Afterward, coach Jim Boeheim said he was told it was a strain, and that hopefully Onuaku will be back for the NCAA Tournament.

Despite Thursday's loss, SU (28-4) is a likely No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament and will probably open tourney play Friday in Buffalo.

Whether Onuaku plays in that game, which would be against a No. 16 seed, is still to be determined. Should SU win that first-round game, it would play the No. 8/9 winner in the second round a week from Sunday.