It didn't take long for Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf to return to the team.

Devendorf, who was suspended after allegedly hitting a female student, practiced with the team on Friday and will likely be on the court for the Dec. 30 game against Seton Hall.

Devendorf performed 40 hours of community service in the past week and completed other necessary requirements in order to be reinstated by the Syracuse University Appeals Board.

With Devendorf back in the lineup, there's no reason to think that the Orange can't be a legitimate Sweet 16 club. Syracuse won at Memphis last weekend without Devendorf.

Despite a last-second loss to Cleveland State at home, Jim Boeheim's club has enough depth, experience and balance to battle for one of the top spots in the Big East.

SETON HALL LANDS KANE

After junior college big man Cliff Dixon recently de-committed from Seton Hall, the Pirates were without any commitments from the senior class - until DeAndre Kane pulled the trigger to Bobby Gonzalez and his staff.

Kane, a 6-foot-3 guard who is spending the season at Patterson School (N.C.), decided to pledge to Seton Hall, according to Patterson coach Chris Chaney and assistant Josh Daeche.

``He is a physically tough player," Chaney said. "He knows how to play and does everything on the court - scores, passes, defends and rebounds."