Vice President Joe Biden shouts out Syracuse basketball guard Trevor Cooney

Chicago — Vice President Joe Biden, a Syracuse law school graduate and a Delaware native, called out Orange guard Trevor Cooney after SU advanced to the Elite Eight.

Cooney, who grew up in Wilmington, said he's not on Twitter. But some family and friends supplied him with Biden's message.

"It's definitely pretty cool," Cooney said. "My grandfather graduated from high school with him. So we have that connection, too. Joe Biden is a very nice guy. It was definitely special."

A reporter asked Cooney whether the Biden tweet represented the culmination of his Elite Eight experience.

"I don't know if you get much bigger than that," Cooney said with a smile.

He paused"Well, I guess you can."