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Nothing changed with Jim Boeheim’s return to Syracuse, except winning Nothing changed with Jim Boeheim’s return to Syracuse, except winning
(about 1 hour later)
On Jan. 9, when Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim returned from a nine-game NCAA suspension to coach his team against North Carolina for the first time in more than a month, both he and his players said nothing had changed. They didn’t adjust postseason expectations; the mood in the locker room didn’t shift. But after opening ACC play with four consecutive losses, the last at home against the Tar Heels, Syracuse did start winning again. On Jan. 9, when Syracuse Coach Jim Boeheim returned from a nine-game NCAA suspension to coach his team against North Carolina for the first time in more than a month, he and his players said nothing had changed. They didn’t adjust postseason expectations; the mood in the locker room didn’t shift. But after opening ACC play with four consecutive losses, the last at home against the Tar Heels, Syracuse did start winning again.
The Orange are 3-1 since Boeheim returned to the sideline six games earlier than originally expected. The 71-year-old coach, in his 40th year heading Syracuse, was supposed to miss nine conference games as a part of the NCAA sanctions handed down to Syracuse in March. Then in early December, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee decided Boeheim’s suspension would be effective immediately, and the coach only missed three ACC games. Before Boeheim won his appeal, the NCAA had also lessened the number of scholarships Syracuse had to give up over a four-year period from 12 to eight. The program still had to vacate 100-some wins. The Orange is 3-1 since Boeheim returned to the sideline six games earlier than originally expected. The 71-year-old coach, in his 40th year heading Syracuse, was supposed to miss nine conference games as a part of the NCAA sanctions handed down to Syracuse in March. Then in early December, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee decided that Boeheim’s suspension would be effective immediately, and the coach only missed three ACC games. The NCAA hadalso lessened the number of scholarships Syracuse had to give up over a four-year period from 12 to eight. The program still had to vacate 100-some wins.
[Boeheim’s absence robs Syracuse-Georgetown of key protagonist][Boeheim’s absence robs Syracuse-Georgetown of key protagonist]
In January, Boeheim returned to a 10-6 team that had lost five games in his absence.In January, Boeheim returned to a 10-6 team that had lost five games in his absence.
“When you’re not there, it’s very difficult,” Boeheim said. “So when you do get a chance to have an effect — it’s good to get a chance to have that opportunity. When you miss three games in forty years, it’s tough to miss nine games.”“When you’re not there, it’s very difficult,” Boeheim said. “So when you do get a chance to have an effect — it’s good to get a chance to have that opportunity. When you miss three games in forty years, it’s tough to miss nine games.”
Syracuse’s three consecutive wins since the North Carolina loss includes a road upset over No. 20 Duke on Monday, in which junior Tyler Roberson grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, the most by a visiting player at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Syracuse held Duke to 62 points, the Blue Devils’ lowest point total this season. Syracuse’s three consecutive wins since the North Carolina loss include a road upset over No. 20 Duke on Monday, in which junior Tyler Roberson grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, the most by a visiting player at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Syracuse held Duke to 62 points, the Blue Devils’ lowest point total this season.
The win was good preparation for Syracuse’s next game on the road against No. 13 Virginia (14-4, 3-3 ACC), which has only lost one home conference game in the past four seasons and has played its best at John Paul Jones Arena this year. The Cavaliers averaged 54.3 percent shooting from the floor in their three home ACC games. The win was good preparation for Syracuse’s next game on the road against No. 13 Virginia (14-4, 3-3 ACC), which has only lost one home conference game in the past four seasons and has played its best at John Paul Jones Arena this year. The Cavaliers have averaged 54.3 percent shooting from the field in their three home ACC games.
Both teams had an extra day of preparation thanks to the winter storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic on Friday; the game was moved from Saturday afternoon to Sunday night. Both teams had an extra day of preparation because of the winter storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic on Friday; the game was moved from Saturday afternoon to Sunday night.
Virginia, coming off a Tuesday home win that halted Clemson’s five-game ACC win streak, will play three games this week as a result. After Syracuse the Cavaliers travel to Wake Forest on Tuesday and Louisville on Saturday. Virginia, coming off a Tuesday home win that halted Clemson’s five-game ACC win streak, will play three games this week as a result. After facing Syracuse, the Cavaliers travel to Wake Forest on Tuesday and Louisville on Saturday.
“Virginia’s a very tough place to play, they’ve only lost one home game in three years,” Boeheim said. “Obviously that’s a pretty good home court, but their record is that way because they also have a very good team. Courts don’t win games, players do. Virginia’s had great players and great success, they’ve got by far the best record in the league, they just don’t lose at home.” “Virginia’s a very tough place to play. They’ve only lost one [conference] home game in [four] years,” Boeheim said. “Obviously that’s a pretty good home court, but their record is that way because they also have a very good team. Courts don’t win games, players do. Virginia’s had great players and great success. They’ve got by far the best record in the league. They just don’t lose at home.”
[Boeheim returns for loss to North Carolina][Boeheim returns for loss to North Carolina]
Boeheim said his team’s biggest improvement since the North Carolina game has been its defense. The Tar Heels shot 52.5 percent from the floor but since then Syracuse (13-7, 3-4) has held its opponents to an 33.8 percent field-goal shooting. The team has the second-best field goal-percent defense in the ACC after Louisville, and the best three-point percent defense. Boeheim said his team’s biggest improvement since the North Carolina game has been its defense. The Tar Heels shot 52.5 percent from the field, but since then Syracuse (13-7, 3-4) has held its opponents to an 33.8 percent field goal shooting. The team has the second-best field goal defense in the ACC after Louisville, and the best three-point defense.
Syracuse’s leading scorer Michael Gibinije (17.1 points per game) said the team felt a momentum shift during their win over Wake Forest, when guard Trevor Cooney scored 25 points to lead four players in double figures. Syracuse’s leading scorer, Michael Gbinije (17.1 points per game), said the team felt a momentum shift during its win over Wake Forest, when guard Trevor Cooney scored 25 points to lead four players in double figures.
The Orange are also more balanced on offense — before Cooney’s 25 points freshman guard Malachi Richardson led the team with 15 points against Boston College, and four players scored 14 points against Duke. Roberson has been the dominant leader on the glass, he’s averaging 15 rebounds in the past three games and has eight games this season with 10 or more. The Orange is also more balanced on offense — before Cooney’s 25 points, freshman guard Malachi Richardson led the team with 15 points against Boston College, and four players scored 14 points against Duke. Roberson has been the dominant leader on the glass. He’s averaging 15 rebounds in the past three games and has eight games this season with 10 or more.
“It’s nice to have Boeheim back because we have another fierce competitor on the sideline with us,” Gbinije said. “But overall, we’re doing the same things. Boeheim came back, he told us what he saw when we were playing without him, we basically just tightened up on defense. “It’s nice to have Boeheim back because we have another fierce competitor on the sideline with us,” Gbinije said. “But overall, we’re doing the same things. Boeheim came back, he told us what he saw when we were playing without him, [and] we basically just tightened up on defense.
“It’s a huge momentum shift for us; hopefully we can continue moving forward.”“It’s a huge momentum shift for us; hopefully we can continue moving forward.”