Syracuse, N.Y. – When was the last time …?
When was the last time that Mike’s Mailbox started off with the phrase “When was the last time?’' Well, it was just last week.
But I’m doing it again because I’ve got another awesome question from a reader.
And this time, I had to go back more than 65 years ago to find the answer.
Q: Here is another “When was the last time ....” question. With the three consecutive postponements of SU games, when, if ever has SU had an in-season break without games this long?
Bill N.
Mike: Syracuse had to put the men’s basketball program on pause after at least one University of Buffalo player tested positive for the coronavirus just two days after the Orange outlasted the Bulls 107-96 in overtime on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Since then, Syracuse had to cancel (officially, it’s “postpone” for now) games against Notre Dame (Dec. 22), Wake Forest (Dec. 30) and North Carolina (Jan. 2).
That means Syracuse will go 18 days between its game against Buffalo and its next scheduled game on Jan. 6 against Florida State.
That’s the longest gap between games in Jim Boeheim’s 45-year head coaching tenure. The longest time between games in the Boeheim era prior to this year happened in his first year as head coach. In the 1976-77 season, Syracuse went 15 days between playing Penn State on Dec. 13 and its next game against Duquesne on Dec. 28.
The last time Syracuse went for a longer period of time between games than this year’s 18-day gap was in the 1954-55 season.
Syracuse played at Penn State on Jan. 12 and didn’t play again until going to Navy on Feb. 2, a span of 21 days.
The longest Syracuse has ever gone between games was a period of 47 days in the 1901-02 season.
That year Syracuse played its season-opener at RPI on Nov. 29 and didn’t play again until hosting Colgate on Jan. 15.
Q: How many freshmen besides Carmelo and Gerry McNamara have started for Syracuse since you started covering the team?
Ray
Syracuse's Donte Greene gives Jonny Flynn a pat on the head after Flynn made the game-winner with 6 seconds left in the game at the Carrier Dome vs. St. Joseph's. Nov. 11, 2007. Dennis Nett
Mike: This takes me back to my first season on the Syracuse basketball beat. The year was 1988-89 and Billy Owens was in the starting lineup as a freshman.
Since then, a lot of freshmen have started games for Syracuse, but in order to keep the list to a workable number, I’m setting a standard of having played in a majority of the team’s games.
So here goes:
- 1990 through 2005: Michael Edwards, Adrian Autry, Lawrence Moten, John Wallace, Otis Hill, Jason Hart, Hakim Warrick, Craig Forth, Demetris Nichols.
- 2006 to 2015: Eric Devendorf, Donte Greene, Jonny Flynn, Brandon Triche, Fab Melo, Rakeem Christmas, Dajuan Coleman, Tyler Ennis, Chris McCullough, Kaleb Joseph.
- 2016 to present: Malachi Richardson, Tyus Battle, Taurean Thompson, Oshae Brissett, Matthew Moyer, Joe Girard.
Q: I would like to know why Jim will not play the man everyone has said has amazing athletic skills – Frank Anselem? We know Marek (Dolezaj) does not have the physical attributes needed to handle large centers on most teams. I know he is just a freshman, but with freaky physical skills, Anselem should be given a chance and put Marek back at forward where he can best use his passing and driving to the rim skills.
George P.
Mike: From what I’ve seen, Syracuse freshman Frank Anselem does possess incredible athletic gifts. He’s long, rangy and is quick off his feet.
However, I haven’t seen anything in his short stints in games that would indicate that he deserves more playing time. And with that limited sample size, I think you have to trust that the coaching staff is making decisions based on what they’re seeing in practice.
It is interesting that in recent games, Jim Boeheim has turned to redshirt freshman John Bol Ajak as the top reserve at center.
Q: This year Syracuse has three players on its roster that were born in Africa. Frank Anselem, Bourama Sidibe and John Bol Ajak. Has Syracuse had that many before?
Steve H.
Mike: Syracuse does have three players on this year’s team who were born in Africa. Bourama Sidibe was born in Mali. Frank Anselem is from Nigeria. John Bol Ajak is a native of Sudan. However, all three played high school basketball in the United States.
Two years ago, Syracuse’s roster included Sidibe, Paschal Chukwu (Nigeria) and walk-on Antonio Balandi (Chad).
Syracuse has had quite a few players from Africa over years, including Chinonso Obokoh (Nigeria_, Baye Moussa Keita (Senegal) and Kueth Duany (Sudan), but as far as I can tell, this is the first time that Syracuse has ever had three scholarship players who were born in Africa on the team at the same time.
MORE ORANGE BASKETBALL
ACC power rankings: SU falls as program continues with Covid pause
Duke women end basketball season due to Covid safety concerns
SU’s Quincy Guerrier earns ACC Player of the Week honor
Contact Mike Waters anytime at mwaters@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @MikeWatersSYR.
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