Las Vegas – Syracuse players understood the mission.

They would be without their leading scorer , their second-leading rebounder here at the Players Era Festival. They would be facing the nation’s No. 3 team, a physical squad that has earned its reputation as tough, unyielding defenders under Kelvin Sampson.

Donnie Freeman, SU’s 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, a player Orange coaches were thrilled to retain in this era of NCAA postseason free agency, sustained a lower-body injury in SU’s game last week against Monmouth.

Officially, Syracuse ruled him out on Monday, a little more than two hours before the Orange met Houston at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But the signs were there for his teammates to witness. They all pointed to a week without a crucial player in Las Vegas, at what has bec

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