Syracuse hands UF 1st hoops loss

It's December - and that's light years from March - but University of Florida men's basketball coach Billy Donovan has an early impression of the No. 7-ranked Syracuse Orange.

"I think they're capable of winning a national championship," Donovan said.

There's a long way to go, obviously, but the Orange had enough muscle and dazzle to deflate the No. 10 Gators 85-73 on Thursday night in the SEC/Big East Invitational before an announced crowd of 9,353 at the St. Pete Times Forum.

In the doubleheader's first game, Mississippi State subdued DePaul 76-45, limiting the Blue Demons to 28.1 percent shooting from the floor.

The Orange (9-0) have beaten three ranked teams in the initial nine games for the first time in school history.

Syracuse got a career-high 19 points from Rick Jackson and 17 from Wes Johnson. The Orange imposed their will on the Gators (8-1) inside the lane. The Gators rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, surging ahead 59-57 with four 3-pointers in five possessions.

The Orange took over from there, taking the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Andy Rautins. The Gators couldn't solve Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense, although they hung tough by making 12 of 30 shots from 3-point range.

Gators freshman guard Kenny Boynton had a game-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers. Chandler Parsons contributed 19 points, and guard Erving Walker had 14.

Syracuse won the rebounding battle 43-31 and shot 52.5 percent.

"I think we've done pretty well so far," said Donovan, pointing out November victories against Michigan State (then ranked No. 2) and Florida State.

"But we can play better. Clearly, we can play better. We've got some weaknesses that we need to clean up and camouflage. But I do like the spirit of the team and the feeling I get from the way they are working."

Donovan compared this Syracuse team to the 2005-06 Gators, who lost Matt Walsh, David Lee and Anthony Roberson, while entering the season as an unranked team, but stormed to a 17-0 start and won a national title.

"It did us some good to face Syracuse," Donovan said. "They're really good. It's going to help us down the line because they're going to be a factor. We hung in there, but just didn't have enough."