SU Basketball Team: Thanks for a Great Year! BY RODNEY BROWN In the 2010 preseason Coaches Poll the Syracuse Men Basketball team was predicted to finish sixth in the Big East and the Associated Press (AP) didn't bother to rank them. Center
Arinzo Onuaku was the only Syracuse player that made the preseason All-Big East
Team. Many
pundits of the sport went on the record early to write-off the Orangemen's 2010
season. Because of departures including, Jonny Flynn, shooting guard Eric Devendorf
and small forward Paul Harris to the NBA and the loss of senior forward Kristor
Ongeaet and transfer center Sean Williams- the Syracuse basketball team wasn't
viewed as a serious contender coming out the Big East. "We've
lost a lot of fire power," said head coach Joe Boeheim. "But we have
a lot of talent to put on the court to make a good run." The
collegiate polls overlooked the Orangemen in the preseason based on the departure
of Flynn and Harris two of the team's highest scorers without putting into the
equation the talented players waiting to replace them. The precarious predictions
represented in the collegiate polls prepped the stage for the Orangemen to rattle
expectations. Additions
of Iowa State transfer Wes Johnson who sat out the 2009 season because of NCAA
transfer rules and both Scoop Jardine and small forward Mookie Jones who were
redshirted because of injury along with three new players- power forward Dashonte
Riley, small forward James Sutherland and guard Braden Triche stepped in an played
a phenomenal season. "I've
been on staff for 3 years and this is the best year I've had so far," assistant
coach Lazarus Sims said. "This is a great group of kids that worked hard
and stayed out of trouble on and off the court." The
team finished the season with an overall record of 30-5. "The chemistry this
team showed all season long was the key to our success," Sims said. "The
kids really bought into Coach Boeheim's Philosophy and ran with it." After
the loss to no. 5 seeded Butler in the NCAA Tournament many basketball pundits,
fans of the team and residents of CNY have written comments and blogs that blasted
Syracuse players for the way they played in the Butler game and argued the Orangemen's
2010 season was unsuccessful. A
Syracuse fan living in Rochester, NY stated, "For a team who wasn't given
a scintilla of a chance at the beginning of the season to be in the mix at the
end was a success in itself." Sims
pointed out; the 2010 team finished with an overall record of 30-5 and captured
its eighth Big East title in 20 seasons. "During the season we were ranked
no.1 in the AP Coaches Poll plus the team was seeded no.1 in the West Regional
Bracket of the NCAA tournament," he said. "In my book what I've mentioned
is very indicative of having a successful season that we can continue to build
from." The
assistant coach chalked up the 63-59 loss to Butler as a learning experience.
"I am disappointed about the loss but the guys fought hard and never gave
up," he said. "It's a hard pill to swallow but in sports a loss helps
you prepare for the future." In
the post game Q&A session Boeheim described the loss as tough. "When
you get to this stage in the tournament you have a chance to win," he said.
"The emotions are always going to be tough." In
addition Boeheim stated, "I think when you lose by 20 in the tournament-like
it happens sometimes- there's not that much emotion involved because you just
weren't good enough but when you know you're good enough that makes it hurt even
more." In
response to Syracuse inability to hold on to the ball throughout the game Boehiem
implied that the 18 turnovers with 14 of them coming in the first half was out
of character for the team. "I am really at lost. We haven't done that,"
he said. A couple of games throughout the whole year maybe we've turned it over
but not like that." The
Head Coach also pointed out the loss of Onuaku. The 6-9 261 center/power forward
injured his knee in a loss to conference rival Georgetown in the Big East tournament.
"Arinze
Onuaku was a key going into the tournament," Boeheim said. "Arinze shoots
68 percent from the field. The big guy is a part of our productivity. A
lot of fans blamed players for turning over the ball but also alleges that Boeheim
was out coached by Butler's head coach. "Now
that the ball has stopped bouncing and the drive to be no.1 is over- Syracuse
University and businesses that named menus after players are running to the bank
to deposit the millions they acquired over the fiscal quarter during the team's
march into the Semi Finals." "In
life we sometimes fall short however that's why it's important to encourage kids
to finish their college education," Atkins said. "I work with many young
people within the inner city of Syracuse who looks at Syracuse basketball players
as role models and heroes. Many of the kids are proud of the team's accomplishments
but they will be prouder when they hear that players are making the decision to
stay in college until graduation before moving on to have a great career." Atkins encouraged
the players to keep their heads up because thousands of young people in the community
appreciated the team's personal sacrifice. He also recognized local hero Lazarus
Sims. "Sims has continued to stay involved with the neighborhood," he
said. "And the thousands of inner city kids and young adults that couldn't
attend the game would like to say to the players and coaches - thank you for a
great year!" |