Every few years Jim Boeheim likes to go out of his way to either say good things about his team or bash something he’s clearly been holding in for the entire offseason. The last few years centered on Kadary Richmond, the former Orange guard who shined as a freshman but transferred after that season because of playing time. Before his year with SU, Boeheim routinely complimented him for his size, skill, and athleticism as a point guard. Then, last year after he was gone Boeheim criticized him for his work ethic and reasons for transferring.
So, now back in an even year, Boeheim is feeling complimentary again, and the burden of expectations is high. As outlined on Wednesday by yours truly, college basketball insider Jon Rothstein took in Syracuse’s practice and got a lot of good stuff from Boeheim, but the two most notable things were him comparing Judah Mintz to Johnny Flynn, and emphatically saying in only a way he can that this team will make the NCAA Tournament. Maybe that’s still just Jim’s fire burning from going under .500 last season, but when he speaks we all listen.
The 47th-year head coach did a 15-minute interview on ACC Network at Conference Media Day earlier in the week when he spoke about playing more man-to-man defense because of the athleticism of his team, and the newfound depth he has. Additionally, Boeheim talked about having seven new players, including six freshmen, so he knows there will be growing pains in the early going. But, SU’s nonconference schedule is much easier than last season, so that helps.
Despite hedging himself with these excuses about youth and inexperience, Boeheim emphatically told Rothstein this team will be in the NCAA Tournament. A team that will start a guy playing a new position (Joe Girard III), another coming off a broken wrist (Jesse Edwards), a third who was disappointing as a freshman but is now the FOURTH most experienced player on the team (Benny Williams), and two freshmen.
That is a lot of burdens to put on your players, but that’s what these guys sign up for when playing for Boeheim. Media Day at the Carmelo K. Anthony Center is today, where we’ll have plenty of coverage of what Boeheim and the players say about this year’s team and if the head coach is backing up his comments from earlier in the week or if he backtracks. Then, it’s another intrasquad scrimmage, this time in the Dome tonight for Orange Madness.
The season is rapidly approaching, and we’ll all know soon enough who the Orange’s fifth starter is, whether it’s Justin Taylor or Chris Bunch, but we do know that Boeheim will likely play more guys on a nightly basis than he has in a long time. It’s just a matter of how many are distributed to who, and we’ll find out in just a matter of time.
