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| | Tuesday, November 9 | |||||||||||||||
COACH AND PROGRAM
RYAN BLACKWELL (6-8, 227 lbs., SR, PF, #32, 11.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.6 apg, 3.3 tpg, 1.2 spg, 33.2 minutes, .443 FG, .340 3PT, .723 FT, Pittsford Sutherland HS/Pittsford, N.Y.) Blackwell was to make a big jump last season, but it never happened. Perhaps it was Brown's emergence that took away some of his opportunities, although he did launch the second-most shots (305) on the team. More than likely, Blackwell slid back some or at least stayed the same. He didn't shoot the ball all that well, perhaps because he spent more time on the perimeter trying to round out his game for the next level. Whatever the case, Blackwell must improve from last year's numbers for the Orangemen to have a chance at a huge season. After transferring from Illinois, Blackwell enjoyed a strong sophomore season, averaging 12.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg in a supporting role. Blackwell didn't want to get in the way of former Orange leader Todd Burgan, so he laid back. Last year, he tried to do more but couldn't, and perhaps we have to expect that Blackwell isn't suited to be "the man." If he can score 12-15 points and get eight or nine rebounds per game, that's good enough. About the only solution the Orange could see for Blackwell would be to play Villanova 15 or 20 times a year. Then, we'd see all-star production. Blackwell had 25 points and 16 rebounds in 'Cuse's win in Philadelphia, and 20 and 12 when Villanova prevailed at the Carrier Dome. Although Blackwell did have 20 points against Connecticut later in the year, he rarely approached his outbursts against the Wildcats (Blackwell also killed VU two years ago, scoring 23 points in a win in Philly.). Blackwell is a good defender, a reliable rebounder and a pretty good passer. If he puts it together every night, he could make a run at All-League honors. If not, he'll conclude his career at Syracuse on a rollercoaster. JASON HART (6-3, 180 lbs., SR, PG, #5, 13.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.1 tpg, 3.0 spg, 32.4 minutes, .410 FG, .366 3PT, .740 FT, Inglewood HS/Los Angeles, Calif.) There is more than a sneaking suspicion that Hart could have a huge season this year. His improvement curve has been steady since his arrival at Syracuse, and should the senior shoot better and improve his assist total, we may be talking about him as a first-round NBA draft prospect next June. Last year, Hart made significant strides with his shot, improving his three-point accuracy considerably and moving past the 40 percent mark overall. Don't laugh. Given some of his previous performances, this was a great thing. Hart led the Orangemen in scoring, assists, steals and was second in free-throw shooting. "Jason wasn't the problem last year," Boeheim said. "He had a good year and got overlooked a little. He played good defense and made 36 percent of his 'threes.' He's the hardest-working player I've ever been around. "He needs to get a couple more assists this year. But a lot of times last year, he passed to somebody for an open jumper and they didn't make it." Hart started last season well, scoring 20 points in Syracuse's win over Michigan and posting 17 points and five assists in the triumph over Indiana in the Maui Invitational final. Hart had 18 points and eight assists against Notre Dame, and 14 and eight in a win over Villanova. Hart hit for 24 points twice, against St. John's and Seton Hall, and backed up his scoring outburst against the Red Storm with eight dimes. Few players in the country have the defensive ability Hart does. He just piles up the steals and can harass the best ballhandler. Hart is reliable with the ball himself, although he could cut his turnover total down, and he knows how to create opportunities for himself and teammates as the shot clock bleeds away. Hart didn't receive much recognition last year when the laundry list of top point men was mentioned, but he could be near the top of this season's group if he continues his improvement. ETAN THOMAS (6-9, 247 lbs., SR, C, #33, 12.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.6 tpg, 0.8 spg, 4.0 bpg, 27.7 minutes, .617 FG, .574 FT, Booker T. Washington HS/Tulsa, Okla.) This is the year we see the complete Etan Thomas, the raging defender who can also hit jump hooks, drop-step moves, short jumpers and free throws. The year Thomas dominates the boards with his 6-9, 250-pound frame. The year he shows that he's more than just an undersized pivot. He's a real, live NBA 'four' man. Hear him roar. It ought to happen. Thomas has been slowly building toward a big senior year. Yes, he has always had the defense. Watching him scare away enemy shooters and embarrass those dumb enough to challenge him is awe-inspiring at times. If he isn't the best shot-blocker in the nation, he's in the top two or three. But that's something Thomas has had since he started playing organized ball back in the third grade. Somebody shot it. He blocked it. Next. It's the rest of the game that hasn't come so easily. He arrived at Syracuse as a fourth-team Parade All-America, but that sure wasn't on the strength of his offensive game. For the first couple years he played, Thomas was a layup-putback man, barely capable of any kind of creative offensive concepts. Even if he came up with them, he didn't always know how to implement them. That's the way it is with the big guys. It takes a while for those good ideas to make it to the feet. By then, somebody else has figured out the secret and the ball is heading back upcourt. But Thomas has worked. Has he ever. Boeheim praised his work ethic from the moment Thomas showed up on campus as Otis Hill's backup. This past summer, Thomas hit the weights hard and broke down his offensive game during practice sessions with other members of the NIT All-Stars Arizona's Loren Woods, Clemson's Adam Allenspach and Utah's Nate Althoff that toured the Czech Republic. The presence of all those tall guys allowed Thomas to play the "four" spot and, even though Boeheim isn't likely to let Thomas play forward that often, the senior expects to have ample opportunity to show how his game has grown. "I'll be primarily a 'five' man this year, but I know I have to improve my offensive skills," Thomas said. "I'll try to play the same way Derrick Coleman did when he was a 'five' here. Coach Boeheim lets you play your game. I won't just be a post man." Thomas should deliver. A thoughtful sort who studies African-American history, ponders important political issues and writes poetry, Thomas understands that his senior season is critical. So, expect to see some immediate improvements in two areas rebounding and free-throw shooting. Although Syracuse held a plus-4.3 rpg margin last year, thanks to Thomas, Blackwell and Brown, Thomas hopes to be more of a force underneath in 1999-2000. Centers are supposed to grab the majority of the rebounds, so get out of the way. "I definitely think I can average a double-double this year," he said. Which brings us to the second part of the equation. Thomas made just 57.4 percent of his foul shots last year, a figure that needs to increase considerably and could be worth two or three more points per game. Call it the next stage of Thomas' development. And get ready to enjoy the finished product. DAMONE BROWN (6-8, 195 lbs., JR, SF, #25, 9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.3 tpg, 24.7 minutes, .500 FG, .228 3PT, .750 FT, Seneca Vocational HS/Buffalo, N.Y.) Yo, Damone. Ready for a little pressure? "I think Damone's going to be our best player," Boeheim said. Okay, now go out and deliver. Ever since Brown showed up on campus, a 6-8 bundle of angles and elbows that only a high school geometry teacher could love, he has been compared to former Syracuse great (and current Orange assistant) Louis Orr, who barely put a dent in the mattress when he lay his skinny self down to sleep every night but could sure break opposing hearts come game time. Highly-skilled and filled with grace in the open court, Brown was one of those can't-wait-til-he's-older types. Well, he's older. Now a junior and firmly ensconced in the Syracuse starting lineup after a brief backup stint behind Eric Williams, it's time for Brown to make a big impact. Granted, that won't be easy on a team with three senior starters, but there is no doubt the potential exists for a big season. Brown is smooth off the dribble and remarkably able to handle himself along the baseline, despite the most wiry frame imaginable. Brown has a good outside shot, can work the boards well particularly at the offensive end and likes to run. If he wants to become a star, he must first improve his defense. With those long arms and quick feet, he should be a much more accomplished thief. And Thomas doesn't have to be the only one on the team who knocks away shots. Everybody should be involved. After a slow start last year, Brown spent much of the second half of the season receiving mail in Double-figure-ville. He had 19 in a win over Georgetown and 14 points and seven rebounds in the triumph over Connecticut. Brown has the talent. Now, he has the experience. It's time. Right, coach? DESHAUN WILLIAMS (6-3, 190 lbs., FR, SG, #21, 28.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 5.0 apg, Paterson Catholic HS/Paterson, N.J.) In some ways, Williams comes to Syracuse with a lot of pressure on him. In others, he's in a great position. With five returning starters, three of whom are seniors, Williams need only fill his role as the designated perimeter gunner for the first year, and he might just be getting fitted for some conference championship hardware next spring. Really fill it up, and Williams might win a trip to the Final Four. There's no doubt Williams has the resume to suggest he'll handle his new job just fine. He scored more than 1,800 points at Paterson Catholic, finishing second on the school's career list behind Tim Thomas. A first-team All-State pick and two-time team captain, Williams poured in 40 points to earn MVP honors at the Bridgeport (Conn.) Schoolboy Classic. He showed his outside skills by nailing 3-for-3 from three-point range en route to 13 points in the Magic Roundball Classic. Williams wasn't fully qualified until mid-June, something that must have given Boeheim and his staff plenty of reason to reach for the Maalox. Now that his grades are in order, Williams can get on with proving himself as a strong wing scorer. He'll hit from the outside, go to the basket and get up high enough to finish in the paint. Although there is plenty of backcourt competition at 'Cuse, Williams has the skills necessary to jump into the starting lineup right away. "He needs to score for us," Boeheim said. "We depended too much on Hart to score last year. He should be getting the ball to other people." Williams is primarily a "two," but he can play either backcourt position. "He walks in and gives you help at both guards spots," Clark Francis, editor of Hoop Scoop, told the Syracuse Post-Standard. "He's a prolific scorer. He's a streaky outside shooter, but he gives you scoring punch. His forte is [to] give him the ball and go. He thrives in open-court situations."KEY RESERVES ALLEN GRIFFIN (6-0, 182 lbs., JR, G, #12, 8.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 tpg, 1.2 spg, 27.2 minutes, .387 FG, .373 3PT, .671 FT, Paul Robeson HS/Brooklyn, N.Y.) This marks the second season the Orangemen have imported a guard with the express purpose of taking one of the starting backcourt spots from Griffin. Last year, Preston Shumpert and Tony Bland came to Syracuse in search of work and couldn't supplant him. This season, it's Williams who will try. It would seem that the job isn't that tough. Griffin came to 'Cuse ticketed for reserve duty. He's not that big. He doesn't shoot the ball that well. He isn't even a defensive stalwart. But he works well in tandem with Hart. Early last Big East season, he had a run of double-figure nights that included a three-game stretch in which he scored 20 points against West Virginia, 16 at Villanova and 18 against Providence. Not bad. Just don't expect that every night. Griffin can handle the ball reliably, something which allows Hart to sit down or slide to the "two" spot. He shoots the three-pointer pretty well and can pass. He doesn't, however, finish well inside the arc and doesn't make a high percentage of his free throws. In a perfect world, he's the first guard off the bench, a versatile reserve capable of spelling starters at both positions. That may well happen this year. Then again, this isn't a perfect world. TONY BLAND (6-4, 180 lbs., SO, G, #4, 4.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.5 tpg, 0.8 spg, 15.7 minutes, .427 FG, .300 3PT, .600 FT, Westchester HS/Los Angeles, Calif.) Like Shumpert, Bland showed some moments of promise last year, beginning with his 15-point debut in the Orange's rout of Quinnipiac. He also had 11 against Providence and 16 in the blowout loss at UCLA. Bland doesn't have the same outside stroke as Shumpert, but he does get to the hoop well and finish. A solid passer and ballhandler, he is primarily a scorer and should get a chance to provide a burst off the bench this year, especially if he continues to play solid defense. PRESTON SHUMPERT (6-6, 192 lbs., SO, G, #3, 5.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.8 tpg, 0.5 spg, 14.3 minutes, .399 FG, .290 3PT, .730 FT, Fort Walton Beach HS/Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) For a while there last year, it looked like the Orangemen had solved their wing guard predicament with Shumpert, who hit for double figures in four of his first six games, including a 19-point outburst against Indiana. Once Big East play began, Shumpert's production dropped. He became a solid reserve, though hardly the answer to Syracuse's prayers. Still, let's not dismiss the sophomore as a failed experiment. He can shoot the ball, even if last year's 29 percent accuracy rate from long range didn't indicate that, and he has a good feel for the game. If Shumpert continues to add some strength to his 6-6 frame, he might become a more regular contributor. JEREMY MCNEIL (6-9, 230 lbs., FR, F, #34, 8.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 4.5 bpg, Sam Houston HS/San Antonio, Tex.) With the loss of Ovcina, McNeil will get every opportunity to log some serious reserve time up front, particularly if Thomas encounters foul trouble. Boeheim isn't glowing in his assessment of McNeil, but he does understand the newcomer will be useful. "He's a shot-blocker, a strong rebounder and another big body inside," Boeheim said. A second-team All-City selection in San Antonio, McNeil can play defense and provide some physical work on the boards. As for offense, well, don't expect much. Even in high school, his game was limited.OTHER RETURNEES BILLY CELUCK (7-0, 197 lbs., JR, C, #35, 2.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 0.3 apg, 0.6 tpg, 4.9 minutes, nine appearances, .588 FG, .750 FT, Valley View HS/Jessup, Pa.) Celuck continues to fight the battle of the bulge, only in his case, he's winning. And that's too bad. Celuck needs to beef up his spindly seven-foot frame in order to get on the court more. This year, it doesn't look like it will happen. When Celuck did play last year, he was effective, making 58.8 percent of his shots. But he has only two years remaining and needs to add strength quickly to make the most of them. ROBERT MCCLANAGHAN (6-1, 178 lbs., JR, G, #24, 0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 0.3 apg, six appearances, Bishop Hendrickson HS/Cranston, R.I.) McClanaghan made seven appearances last year, but missed six of seven of his field goal attempts. The walk-on guard played only 11 minutes, so most of his contributions come in practice. McClanaghan may convert this year, but don't expect a blizzard of opportunities. CHRISTOPHER SCHAU (6-8, 197 lbs., JR, F, #23, 0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg, four appearances, Bronx Science HS/Floral Park, N.Y.) Another of the 'Cuse's walk-on brigade, Schau played only four times, missed the only shot he took and grabbed a rebound. Even with the Orange's thin frontcourt bench, he shouldn't expect too many opportunities.OTHER NEWCOMERS KUETH DUANY (6-5, 174 lbs., SO, G-F, #13, 19.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 4.0 apg, Bloomington North HS/Bloomington, Ind.) Duany sat out last year while rehabbing his knee, which was operated on during the spring of his final high school season. Duany is an athletic player who was able to practice during the second half of last season, showing the ability get to the basket and displaying some excellent jumping ability. Duany has long arms but is extremely skinny. He comes from a hoop-playing family. Brother Duany Duany played for Wisconsin, while sister Nyagon was on the roster at Bradley and younger sister Nok signed a letter-of-intent to attend Georgetown this fall. The Duanys hail from Sudan. MICHAEL ROSENBLUM (5-10, 173 lbs., JR, G, #41, Colgate & Lawrence Woodmere Academy/Great Neck, N.Y.) A walk-on from Colgate who sat out last season, Rosenblum will help at practice but shouldn't expect to see too many minutes.STARTERS NOT RETURNING None.OTHERS NOT RETURNING ELVIR OVCINA (6-11, F-C, 2.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.7 bpg, 13.7 minutes, .316 FG, .192 3PT, .529 FT) Although Ovcina was clearly skilled, he never quite became the valuable frontcourt reserve Boeheim thought he would be last year. Ovcina shot the ball poorly as he had during the previous season and showed very little consistency. Though he played in all 33 games, he averaged just 13.7 minutes. Ovcina preferred to play the high post and liked to shoot the three-pointer, although it's hard to understand why he was allowed, since he made a scant 10-for-52 from behind the arc. He was a good passer and a fair rebounder, but his loss is not that important in the grand scheme. ERIC WILLIAMS (6-9, F, 5.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 12.5 minutes, .574 FG, .333 3PT, .625 FT) Once Damone Brown entered the starting lineup, that was it for Williams, who came to Syracuse in 1997 as a heralded recruit but never materialized into the force he was expected to be. Boeheim was even fooled by Williams, telling all who would listen before last season that the sophomore was ready for a big breakout. While Williams started seven games early on, Brown took his place before mid-season. Williams was relegated to the "Blowout Patrol," gaining time only when games got out of hand. Disappointed in his playing time and clearly recognizing that he would not supplant Brown, Williams transferred to Massachusetts and will sit out this year. It's too bad things didn't work out for him, because one look at his 6-9, 240-pound body told you that there was potential there. Perhaps the Minutemen and coach Bruiser Flint can unlock it. MALIK CAMPBELL (6-3, G, 2.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.9 apg, 10.1 minutes, .345 FG, .316 3PT, .375 FT) Campbell played in 16 games last year after joining the team following the end of Syracuse's football season, but he left the squad with one year of eligibility remaining to concentrate on football. An athletic player with good quickness, Campbell struggled with his shot and never developed any rhythm, a completely understandable condition given the time he devoted to football. Although he did average 10.1 minutes last year, Campbell's time will be gobbled up by Williams or any of the backcourt sophomores. JOSH WATSON (6-8, F, 0.0 ppg, one appearance) A walk-on who put his husky, 238-pound frame to good use in practices, Watson finally saw time in a game last year, playing one minute against Connecticut on Senior Night but not taking a shot.QUESTIONS Shooting? Boeheim said it best. When the Orangemen shot it well last year, they won. When they didn't, they lost. Any questions? Consistency? Syracuse had some big wins last year, as well as some ugly losses. A better balance would lead to a more favorable NCAA seed. Free throw accuracy? This is an old problem at Syracuse, but good teams need to make more than 66.3 percent of their foul shots. Hear that, Etan Thomas?ANSWERS Hart! An experienced point guard who shouldn't have to shoulder the scoring load this year, Hart plays excellent defense, creates well and is improving his shot. He'll be one of the Big East's best this year. Thomas! The senior is already an accomplished defender. Should he hit the boards harder and show some offensive diversity, Syracuse could be in for big things. Brown! He's skinny. He's still somewhat unproven. But Brown has great skills and a big future that begins now. Blackwell! Even if he does defer to his teammates too much, Blackwell is a strong, consistent producer who has some big outbursts at opportune times. Defense! Few teams in the nation play it better than the Orangemen, who should mix in more pressing and traps this year, thanks to better backcourt depth.
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