Syracuse Orangemen News

The NBDL draft is tonight. Will Syracuse players Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf hear their names called?

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-Maybe it was his new digs or knowing he's going to have a pretty good team again. Coach Jim Boeheim seemed so content at Syracuse's basketball media day that he actually asked reporters to move closer to his lectern before he began.

Shut It Down: The T-shirt is now available.

Syracuse loses to LeMoyne College in exhibition play.

Back in the Saddle Again

Sporting News college basketball columnist Mike DeCourcy answers five questions of the week in his sport. 1. What's been the most impressive preseason showing so far? DeCourcy: As far as what I've seen with my eyes, it's been Cincinnati freshman Lance Stephenson. I watched him practice and scrimmage last week, and it's fairly obvious he is going to have a spectacular season. I sat next to a veteran NBA scout at the practice who was impressed with Stephenson's demeanor, body language and... selfless play. That's because those issues were of concern when Stephenson arrived at Cincinnati from Brooklyn's Lincoln High. The scout compared him to Portland's Brandon Roy because, like Roy, Stephenson "can do it all," the scout said. While Stephenson comported himself properly, he tore up the gym like few players I've seen in a Division I practice. Every offensive possession was another opportunity to do something extraordinary. Stephenson is the most physically powerful wing to enter college basketball since – since – I'm sorry, but I can't remember a young wing with this degree of strength. He also is a better passer than most of the top freshman point guards. Stephenson should concentrate harder when taking open shots. He's great at making tough, guarded shots but tends to lose focus when presented a wide-open jumper. Right now, there aren't many more negatives. Some of my competitors were debating Wednesday on Twitter who will be the top five college freshmen this season. Nobody mentioned Stephenson. They will be regretting that, soon. Rick Jackson and Syracuse were stunned by LeMoyne, but ultimately the Orange will be fine. 2. Syracuse lost an exhibition game to LeMoyne. What does it mean? DeCourcy: To LeMoyne's players, it represents a chance to get on ESPN's SportsCenter, which never would happen under ordinary circumstances, and to gain some sporting currency that will not be exhausted in their lifetimes. When they're watching the Orange play UConn in 2025, the LeMoyne guys will be able to elbow each other and chortle, "Remember the night we beat those guys?" For Syracuse, the repercussions are not as profound. Guard Andy Rautins told the Syracuse Post-Standard the defeat was "embarrassing," and it probably was, and it will be until the Orange win some games that count. Which will happen, certainly. No one could have believed this Syracuse team would be immediately successful. There've been too many changes. The Sporting News College Basketball yearbook picked the Orange to finish in the bottom half of the Big East. It's supposed to be a transition season. It's not like there was no good news from the game. Wing Wesley Johnson, a transfer from Iowa State, suggested he is capable of fulfilling the rosy projections coach Jim Boeheim spread during the summer. Johnson scored 34 points. If you can score 34 points in a competitive exhibition, you can score. Remember, Michigan State fell to Grand Valley State in November 2007. By March 2008, the Spartans were playing in the Sweet 16. 3. Is Minnesota crumbling just as the season is about to begin? DeCourcy: Minnesota was looking at Royce White and Trevor Mbakwe as potentially solving the team's deficiencies at power forward. Now, the administration says Mbakwe can't play until his legal case (charged with felony assault) from April is resolved and White has gotten himself suspended following a shoplifting arrest. This does not indicate an imminent collapse. Most of the players that got the team into the tournament last year are around, so improving execution of last year's hard-pressing formula ought to lift them a notch. It's not certain either player had the ability to make a huge difference against the Big Ten's best teams, but together they could have prevented the Gophers from being overwhelmed physically. Minnesota outrebounded opponents by only two per game last season, and no one averaged more than 4.5. 4. John Wall's punishment fair? DeCourcy: Pretty much. Wall essentially was punished because of the source of payment for some unofficial recruiting visits. If the NCAA had the time and wherewithal to follow the money trail for every basketball recruit's unofficial visits, we'd start the season with a lot of freshmen wearing street clothes. The NCAA seems to want to send a message it'll be watching this issue more closely in the future, and withholding Wall from one regular season game to make that point seems reasonable. It's a lot more reasonable than the continued practice of suspending international players for competing on club teams that include professionals. Related Links D-II LeMoyne stuns Orange TSB: 'Cuse coach drops the beat Wall suspended for two games DeCourcy: Analyzing the All-Americas Gophers suspend White, Bostick We ask again: Why is it OK, even blessed, for Florida State golfer Drew Kittleson to compete in the same group at the Masters as 1987 champion Larry Mize -- a pro for so long he is on the Champions Tour, with nearly $10 million in career earnings -- but West Virginia forward Deniz Kilici gets suspended 20 flipping games for playing alongside pros on a second-division club team in Turkey? And one more question: How could the people who allow such a patently bigoted rule to remain in place sleep peacefully at night? 5. What's the best game of Week 1 next week? DeCourcy: Not only is this the best opener of the week, it also rhymes: Saturday, Nov. 14: Creighton at Dayton. Huge for both sides. Mike DeCourcy is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at decourcy@sportingnews.com.more>>

SU basketball coach's single "Shut It Down" is released.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y.-Christopher Johnson and Laurence Ekperigin hooted and hollered as they skipped off Jim Boeheim Court, huge smiles creasing their faces and seemingly as stunned as the Syracuse Orange at what had just transpired.

2011 basketball prospect Michael Carter-Williams has verbally committed to Syracuse.

Scoop Jardine has to choose between watching his Phillies and watching Jonny Flynn. He chose...poorly.

Syracuse starts out on the outside of the AP's Top 25 Basketball Poll.