Return of James Southerland transforms No. 6 Syracuse into a legitimate threat again

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim wants a jump-ball call from the officials during the second half against St. John's in an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Syracuse won 77-58. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli) (The Associated Press)

Syracuse's James Southerland shoots over St. John's Phil Greene during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Syracuse won 77-58. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli) (The Associated Press)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – With senior forward James Southerland back in the Syracuse lineup, the Orange are back to being a bona fide player as the postseason nears.

Coach Jim Boeheim was down to seven scholarship players with the loss of Southerland due to an academic issue and freshman Dajuan Coleman to a knee injury.

Southerland returned Sunday in a win over St. John's after missing six games and scored 13 points in 26 minutes.

The victory moved the Orange (20-3, 8-2 Big East) up three spots this week to No. 6, where they were ranked before consecutive road losses to unranked Villanova in overtime and Pittsburgh when the Panthers were not ranked.