PHILADELPHIA – Eric Devendorf, fresh off a new career-high 33 points, wasn’t exactly in the mood to talk about it following the game. It wasn’t an innocent act of humility or a frustrated response to SU’s 78-75 loss to Villanova to end the regular season.

Instead, it was a practical response. Devendorf was ill. When battling a stomach bug, there are scores of scenarios one would rather be in than surrounded by microphones and notepads. But Devendorf obliged, because when you score a career high and come close to willing your team to victory, talking after the game is part of the deal.

Devendorf’s 33 points made him the lone SU scorer who was actually hitting shots Saturday. He finished 12-of-22 shooting, including 4-of-10 from 3-point range and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. He battled foul trouble in the first half but played 34 minutes. Devendorf also dished out three assists but committed five turnovers.

His performance came one game after he scored 11 points and dished 11 assists out in his new role as starting point guard. SU beat Georgetown in that game, the most important win of the Orange’s season.

‘I’d take one (point) and one (assist) if it meant we’d win,’ Devendorf said, shooting down a question about whether he prefers the Monday Devendorf or Saturday Devendorf.

But what isn’t a debate is that SU needs more than just Devendorf, just like it needs more than just Demetris Nichols when Nichols is doing the scoring or Andy Rautins when Rautins is the only player hitting shots.

‘Everyone’s going to have an off game and not hit some shots,’ Devendorf said. ‘Sometimes that’s how it happens.’

When SU went on its five-game winning streak in February, it had four players score in double figures in three of those games. On Saturday, only Devendorf and Nichols (12 points) reached double figures.

SU is 8-0 this season when four players score in double-digits. It’s 4-1 when five players scored in double digits and 1-0 when six players score double figures. Coincidentally, SU is 2-1 when two players reach double figures.

‘To beat them, we would have to shot a little bit better,’ SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. ‘We got the same shots or better shots than we did the Georgetown game, the Providence game.’

Both those games were wins. On Saturday, despite SU’s poor shooting (36.2 percent from the field, 25.7 percent from 3-point line, 64 percent from the free-throw line), the Orange still had a chance to send the game into overtime. Down by three points with 3.9 seconds remaining, the Orange had an inbound on the baseline.

But the play didn’t go to Devendorf, the hot hand. Instead, it went to Nichols, who was cold throughout the day but has been SU’s go-to player throughout the season.

Boeheim said the ball went to Nichols instead of Devendorf simply because Nichols was open. Devendorf wasn’t open, although he had no objections to not getting the ball.

‘I’m confident in D-Nic (Nichols) as much as myself,’ Devendorf said. ‘He could’ve knocked that down.’

Instead, SU lost. And Devendorf’s career game will be remembered as merely a loss.

‘We lost today,’ Devendorf said. ‘It really doesn’t matter who scores.’

Published on March 3, 2007 at 12:00 pm