Had the Syracuse men’s basketball team been sent to Denver for last year’s NCAA Tournament, Carmelo Anthony likely would have thought of mountains and thin air.

This season, when the remaining Orangemen were sent to Denver, they likely thought of, well, Carmelo Anthony.

When Syracuse arrived in Denver yesterday, they touched down in a city to which few of them have ever been. But they’re aware of two things about the Mile High City – it’s Anthony’s current home, now a Denver Nugget, and its high altitude could be a factor.

After Syracuse learned its fate in the NCAA Tournament, SU forward Hakim Warrick and Anthony, who became tight-knit friends last season, chatted on cell phones.

‘We told him to send some of his Nuggets fans over there,’ Warrick said. ‘Unfortunately, he won’t be able to make the game. But I’m sure we’ll be able to sneak a couple of those Denver Nugget fans over there to wear orange.’

While Syracuse may receive a slight boost in fan support, it’ll be at somewhat of a disadvantage playing in the high altitude of Denver. SU’s first round opponent, Brigham Young, plays in Provo, Utah, which is at a similar altitude to Denver.

Guard Gerry McNamara could feel the thin air more than any other Orangeman. McNamara, who suffers from asthma, has had to use an inhaler during breaks at times this season.

Despite that, the Orangemen don’t foresee any atmosphere issues.

‘We’ve played in Denver before and we didn’t really have a problem,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘It turned out pretty well the last time we were there.’

‘I heard it’s high altitude,’ Warrick said. ‘That’s something we’ve got to get used to, I guess. If ‘Melo can get used to it, I think anybody on our team can get used to it.’

Other than setting a good example, Anthony sent Warrick and his teammates a message Sunday night.

‘He just said, ‘Don’t get upset,” Warrick said. ‘He was mad that he wasn’t going to be able to see the game.’

Thursday, Anthony will be traveling to Detroit with his Nugget teammates for a game against the Pistons.

But, should Anthony be left behind, will Boeheim bring Anthony’s old No. 15 Syracuse jersey, just in case?

‘I don’t think so,’ Boeheim said. ‘We’ll try to get him to get his fan club over there for us, hopefully.’

Published on March 16, 2004 at 12:00 pm