CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — DaJuan Coleman was unable to play in No. 2 Syracuse’s (17-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast) 69-59 win against Boston College (5-12, 1-3) on Monday due to swelling in his left knee.

Coleman, who has not started the Orange’s last five games due to a left leg contusion, did not practice Sunday and is continuing daily treatment for the injury he suffered two and a half weeks ago.

“Basically just waiting for the swelling to go down,” Coleman said. “It’s getting a lot stronger, though.”

Coleman has played just three minutes in those five games — garbage time at the end of Syracuse’s win over Virginia Tech last Tuesday — and appears to favor his right leg when warming up with a left knee brace before games. He was averaging nearly 15 minutes per game before the injury limited him to only six minutes against Villanova on Dec. 28.

Coleman’s status is still day-to-day with the Orange’s next game against No. 23 Pittsburgh on Saturday.

“I’m hoping that he, this week, gets better and that we can use him,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “That’s what I’m hoping for, but we’ll see what happens.”

Coleman said he suffered the injury setting a screen in practice when a teammate banged into the side of his left knee. Since beginning treatment shortly thereafter, Coleman said the leg has gotten gradually stronger.

His treatment consists of light weight lifting to warm up, then running on a treadmill in an in-ground pool to reduce strain on his leg.

“That’s basically what I’m doing and just resting,” Coleman said.

It’s just a matter of icing the contusion and waiting for the swelling to go down.

“When he’s ready, he’ll play,” Boeheim said.

Published on January 14, 2014 at 12:50 am

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