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Syracuse Basketball Transfer Speaks on Injury, Recovery
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- Syracuse Basketball Transfer Speaks on Injury, Recovery
(Tom Goslowski Roundtable Sports)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- On Friday, the Syracuse men's basketball team held its annual media day session at the Carmelo Anthony Center.
The Orange are coming off a 15-17 season that saw them miss the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive season. However, new head coach Gerry McNamara certainly has the program trending upwards.
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One of several interesting additions to the Orange roster via the transfer portal was Australian big man Tasman "Tassie" Goodrick. The former Siena Saints big man is one of just three players who has playing experience under McNamara, including Gavin Doty and Francis Folefac.
Goodrick spoke to SyracuseRoundtable this weekend about his health and his expectations for the upcoming season.
The Tasman Goodrick file
A senior, Goodrick has played just 18 career games between Cal Baptist and Siena the past two seasons. During his brief time on the court last season for the MAAC champion Saints, Goodrick started nine games before a season-ending knee injury. At 6-foot-10, Goodrick averaged 9.7 ppg and 7.3 rebounds. The native of Australia joins Mark Morano and Abdramane Siby as the three international products on the roster.
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Goodrick on his health heading towards the season:
"Body is feeling really good. The procedure I went through helped a lot. Probably the best my knees have felt since I was probably 16 (years old) so it's been really good."
The procedure on Goodrick's knee was focused on the patella tendon. The recovery process took nearly three months and Goodrick now is ready to go for action this season.
Why Goodrick could play a pivotal role for the Orange
Siena basketball fans are likely far more familiar with the impact Goodrick was slated to have for McNamara's squad last season.
Goodrick was one of the leading scorers and rebounders early in the season for the Saints before the injury ended his season. Had he stayed healthy, perhaps the Saints could have accumulated more regular season wins. That could have led them to having better than a No. 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. You never know.
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After the loss of Donnie Freeman via the transfer portal and William Kyle III to the pros, Goodrick will be of the big men that is needed to help the Orange with the physical play of the ACC.
The Australian product could be one of the best kept secrets on the Orange roster. Goodrick was pacing to be the potential MAAC Player of the Year before his injury. Goodrick's minutes played in the upcoming exhibition schedule will likely be one of the interesting storylines in preseason action.
Goodrick and his teammates tip off the regular season on Nov. 2 at home against New Haven. They'll take on the UConn Huskies in the exhibition opener on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET).
