SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim wasnt happy about much Friday night even though his Orange thoroughly dominated Colgate 83-55 in the season opener for both teams.The press was so bad I wanted to keep trying it to see if it got any better, said Boeheim, now in his 41st year. If thats the extent we can do with the press you wont see it much.And there was more disappointment.We didnt do a very good job on the boards. With our size advantage we have to do a better job, he added, noting his teams slim 46-40 advantage.But something did bring a smile to the face of the hard-to-please Boeheim -- the play of guards Frank Howard and John Gillon.Tyler Roberson scored 18 points, fifth-year transfers Andrew White and Gillon had 17 and 13 points apiece as No. 19 Syracuse overpowered Colgate.Howard, a sophomore, added 11 points and a career-high nine assists for Syracuse, which shot 55 percent from the field. The Orange scored 44 points inside the paint, and had 23 fast break points, thoroughly dominating the Red Raiders at both ends of the court.Our guards played really well, exceptionally well, Boeheim said. Frank and Johnny played well.The two combined for 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 15 assists.Howard shot 2-of-19 from beyond the arc in his freshman season and drew the ire of his coach whenever he hoisted a long-range shot. Friday, Howard was 3-of-3 on 3-pointers. Now, Boeheim is totally fine with Howard launching treys.Hes worked hard. His shots a lot better. Hes stronger, more physical, Boeheim said. Im good (with Howard shooting).Howard was pleased with Boeheims new-found confidence.It feels real good. I made a few changes to my shot, Howard said. I was shooting with my palm last year but now Im getting a higher release and my forms a lot better.Howard, though, still gets the most satisfaction from making creative passes, which are appreciated by his teammates.The guards did a great job of getting me the ball, Roberson said. It gives me a lot of energy. Frank really gets the ball to me in great position and finding me in open spots.Malcolm Regisford led Colgate with 10 points. Sean OBrien had nine.BIG PICTUREColgate: Coach Matt Langels squad was overmatched by the bigger, more athletic Orange so he really couldnt get a good handle on how his team will fare against Patriot League rivals. Needless to say he was extremely impressed by the Orange. They need to grow throughout the season but they have a lot of talent one through nine.Syracuse: Boeheim has tons of versatility and impressive talent inside and out. Boeheim, whos often criticized for not playing a deep rotation, has a luxury hes sure to employ throughout the season.POLL IMPLICATIONS: Syracuse certainly didnt hurt itself with its dominating win. At this point of the season, the Orange will have to depend on the teams in front of them to lose in an upset or two.STAT OF THE NIGHT: Roberson was 9-for-13 from the field -- all layups or dunks.TIP-INS:Colgate: The Red Raiders schedule features contests against 10 teams that made postseason tournaments a year ago.Syracuse: Colgate is Syracuses most familiar opponent. Fridays game marked the 169th time the two upstate New York schools have squared off. The series dates back to 1901-1902. Syracuse has now won 51 straight going back to 1962.ROLE PLAYER: Gillon gives the Orange a dimension the team lacked last year -- blazing speed.LETDOWN: Orange freshman Tyus Battle led the team with a 16.5 points-per-game average in the teams two tune-up games but against Colgate the standout from New Jersey could only manage six points on 1-of-7 shooting.SOPHOMORE SLUMP: Tyler Lydon, arguably Syracuses best player, was 0-8 from 3-point range in the teams two exhibition games. His slump continued Friday as he was just 1-6 from the field, including 0-3 from beyond the arc.UP NEXT:Colgate takes on in-state rival Cornell next Wednesday in Ithaca.Syracuse kicks off the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational against Holy Cross Tuesday at the Carrier Dome. The tournament concludes at Barclays Center in Brooklyn Thanksgiving weekend. Cheap Capitals Jerseys Online . 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Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. Brooks Orpik Jersey .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Lars Eller Jersey . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. BLACKSBURG, Va. -- A year ago, Alabama State beat Virginia Tech in the season opener and maybe cost the Hokies an NCAA Tournament bid.But Virginia Tech took care of business this time.Zach LeDay scored 20 points off the bench to lead the Hokies to an 80-67 win over Maine on Friday.LeDay led a balanced attack for the Hokies (1-0), who had four players in double figures. He hit 8 of 13 from the floor and grabbed 12 rebounds for his 13th career double-double.Ahmed Hill, who missed last season with a knee injury, scored 14 points in his return, while Justin Robinson had 13 and Chris Clarke finished with 12.I think, like any other coach would say after game 1, we did good things, and I think there are distinct ways we can improve, Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said. Theres a lot of room for growth, for sure.Wes Myers led Maine (0-1) with 18 points.Despite size and experience advantages, Virginia Tech didnt put away the Black Bears until midway through the second half. The Hokies led by eight with around 17 minutes remaining before going on a 15-2 run that was powered by LeDays six points. Maine got no closer than the final margin.It was a good effort, but we just couldnt sustain it for the full 40 minutes, Maine coach Bob Walsh said. To stand up against them the way we did, I think we can take some good things out of that.The Hokies, taller and stronger at virtually every position, finished with a 44-36 rebounding advantage.BIG PICTUREMainee: The Black Bears, picked to finish last in the America East, could be in for a long season after losing seven players off last seasons team -- five with eligibility remaining.dddddddddddd Seven newcomers joined the program for this season.Virginia Tech: The Hokies expect to be a deeper team with 85 percent of their scoring and rebounding returning. Their depth showed, as head coach Buzz Williams played 10 players -- and eight of them scored.RETURN TO ACTIONHill wasnt the only Hokie to miss last season. Ty Outlaw sat out the entire year with hypertensive cardiomyopathy, or a thickening of the heart muscle that makes it harder to pump blood. Cleared in mid-June, the junior-college transfer saw his first action as a Virginia Tech player and scored one point in 15 minutes.BUILDING BLOCKMyers transferred from Niagara to Maine and sat out last season and will be a key component for a young Black Bears squad. He hit 6 of 13 and grabbed eight rebounds and didnt look intimidated against the Hokies.He is a guy we can count, Walsh said.UP NEXTThe Black Bears will remain in Virginia, traveling to Farmville to face Longwood on Sunday in what will be the second of five straight road games to start the season.The Hokies play the second of three straight home games to open the season next Tuesday when they take on High Point. Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Authentic Jerseys China NFL Hoodies Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '