SYRACUSE — Carmelo Anthony spent yesterday practicing with the Knicks at the Carrier Dome, then hanging out and lifting weights with Syracuse players at the “Melo Center’’ he helped fund.
Anthony’s visit to his alma mater for tonight’s preseason game against the Sixers should be capped by a wonderful ovation.
Anthony donated $3 million to erect the new $19 million practice facility, which replaced antiquated Manley Field House and opened in 2009. At the time, it was the largest donation by a pro athlete to his college, and it came with a naming rights guarantee. The building is officially called “The Carmelo K. Anthony Center.’’
“We all refer to it affectionately as Melo Center,’’ Syracuse athletic director, Dr. Daryl Gross told The Post. “There is a love story with the community and Melo. When he steps on the court, it will be a long time before the ovation stops.’’
It will be an orange-and-blue two days as between 15,000 and 20,000 are expected at the big dome.
“It’ll be a great atmosphere,’’ said Anthony, who led the Orange to their lone NCAA men’s basketball championship in 2003. “I think it’s just a bond that grew between myself and that town. For me to go out there and for us to win it, how we did it, in the fashion that we did, that town just embraced me. I just felt it was only right to do some of the stuff that I ended up doing up there.’’
Anthony said he first got the phone call from coach Jim Boehim’s wife, Julie, looking for financial support for a new facility.
“I said I would do it if I could get my name on there,’’ Anthony recalled. “She said I’ll get back to you, then two days later she said, ‘Done.’ We went on and did it.’’
Anthony played two preseason games in Syracuse as a Nugget — as a rookie in 2003 and in 2008. He last visited for Midnight Madness during last year’s lockout.
When Anthony found out the Knicks were headed to Syracuse, he was thrilled.
“I had to prepare myself mentally for that one because it’s a lot of feelings, a lot of emotions that goes into going up there and playing again,’’ Anthony said.
“He’s a giving person anyway, setting up playgrounds all over with his foundation,’’ Dr. Gross said. “That was the pilot light that started the fire. It gained a lot of momentum after he was going to donate.’’
* Ronnie Brewer, coming off September knee surgery, will make his Knicks debut and start at shooting guard. Woodson liked how Brewer looked after his first scrimmage yesterday.
The Knicks have started Mychel Thompson and James White at shooting guard in the first four preseason games.
“We all know what Ronnie can do,’’ Anthony said. “He made his living playing defense, moving without the ball, cutting to the basket, offensive rebounds.’’
—Additional reporting by Brett Cyrgalis