Syracuse basketball is undefeated through its first five games of the season. To the casual eye, SU looks pretty good.
But with a more critical look—and as Jim Boeheim knows well (he keeps saying it during post game press conferences)—the Orange still have to get getter.
The perfect player to lead that charge right now is Geno Thorpe.
With South Florida last year, Thorpe was second on the Bulls in scoring, averaging 15.1 points per game. He played in 28 of USF’s 30 games and averaged 33.0 minutes in each.
The beginning to this season has been a different story. Thorpe started off the year with an ankle injury that kept him on the bench during an exhibition game. After the first game of the regular season, Boeheim said that Thorpe’s timing while shooting was a bit off.
Now, five games into the season, he is averaging 7.2 points per game and only averaging 16.4 minutes per game. He has not started once.
This is a guy who has the potential to be a starter. He has proven in the past that he can succeed in the role, and if given the time, he can start to put up bigger numbers. With his current numbers, if he were averaging 33.0 minutes per game like last year, he could be averaging 14.5 points per game. Given that Tyus Battle, Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett were to continue their success, that would give the Orange four double digit scorers per game.
If Thorpe can turn his game up a notch, he has the ability to become a highly effective contributor to the Orange offense. That is something SU will need as the Orange head into tougher games as the season progresses.
It is still very early in the season. A lot can and will change. Geno Thorpe can help make a difference for the better.
Published: David Edelstein
