Sports

DON’T GET FOOLED BY FRESHMAN HYPE

COUNT me among the guilty.

The Jimmy V Classic was played in the Garden two weeks ago, and in advance of the doubleheader, we hyped the appearance of three of the nation’s best freshmen – Kansas State’s Michael Beasley, Southern Cal’s O.J. Mayo and Derrick Rose of Memphis.

Beasley was banged around by Notre Dame tight end/power forward Luke Harangody and got his 19 points and 8-of-20 shooting to complement 13 boards. Harangody had 19 and 14.

Mayo had 16 points on 8-of-20 shooting, and Rose had nine points, 10 rebounds and four assists but committed five turnovers and missed 6-of-9 shots.

Fans sitting behind press row who were expecting the arrival of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were disappointed.

“I think those kids are terrific, but they’re playing in their seventh, eighth or ninth game in college,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a recent telephone interview. “That’s not why we’ve had the success that we’ve had in college, by marketing individuals.

“The NBA has done that, and I think they’ve been successful. But they’re two totally different marketing schemes, and if we fall into the one the NBA uses, we fall a distant second in our product, a distant second. Because if you’re marketing someone for one year and then they go, it’s just the next new person.”

Krzyzewski brings his Blue Devils (10-0) to the Garden Thursday for a showdown against Pitt (10-0), and both teams have terrific freshmen in Kyle Singler and Taylor King for Duke and DeJuan Blair for Pitt. But I’ll heed Coach K’s words and keep on an Duke senior DeMarcus Nelson, who’s finally healthy and Pitt’s junior Sam Young.

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There are two reasons Eric Devendorf‘s season-ending left knee injury is devastating for Syracuse. The junior shooting guard could spell freshman Jonny Flynn at the point. Flynn will log a ton of minutes because senior Josh Wright, who did not come to practice, apparently has left the team.

The second reason lies in the numbers. If the Orange (7-3) are going to succeed this season they’ll have to outscore teams. Syracuse is second in the Big East in scoring (86.2 points) and second to last in scoring defense, allowing 78.6. Devendorf was averaging 17 points.

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Louisville is looking at one of its most disappointing seasons ever. The football team, which began the season ranked in the Top 10, went 6-6 and won’t play in a bowl. The Cards’ upperclassmen, who had grown disgruntled playing for Bobby Petrino, a very poor man’s Larry Brown, quit on first-year coach Steve Kragthorpe.

The hoops team has gone into the tank following the season-ending injury to center David Padgett. Former New Jersey prep star Derrick Caracter has been suspended again. The Cards (5-3) have lost two straight and 3-of-5.

Some are questioning AD Tom Jurich. But those in the business will tell you he’s one of the savviest AD’s in college. And don’t think Rick Pitino won’t find a way to get the Cards back.

lenn.robbins@nypost.com