IN BRIEF : Coleman May Miss NCAA Opener

Derrick Coleman, who ranks among the nation’s leaders in rebounding and blocked shots, may miss Syracuse’s game Friday against Bucknell in the opening round of the NCAA basketball tournament, said coach Jim Boeheim.

The seventh-ranked Orangemen, 27-7, will face East Coast Conference champion Bucknell, 23-7, Friday afternoon at Reunion Arena in Dallas. The 6-foot-9 Coleman sat out practice Monday and Tuesday. The junior forward struggled during last weekend’s Big East tournament, fouling out of each of the three games Syracuse played. Coleman injured his back in Syracuse’s regular-season finale against Georgetown. “It’s worse than last week,” said Syracuse forward Stephen Thompson, Coleman’s roommate. “He seems to have less mobility. He’s getting treatment now, and hopefully he’ll be ready.” Coleman is averaging 17.8 points and 11.7 rebounds a game.