The Syracuse basketball team is dealing with a huge first world problem. Will head coach Jim Boeheim be able to manage this big issue this season?
For the first time in a long time the Syracuse basketball team and head coach Jim Boeheim have a major first world problem. The Orange have eight or nine legitimate players at their disposal, but can only use five at any one time on the basketball court.
I’m sure Boeheim would much rather have this problem, then the one he had last season when the team was struggling to find five players to be on the court.
Following Syracuse’s season opening win vs the Eastern Washington Eagles, I spoke with several players after the game to discuss this first world issue.
Elijah Hughes on not having to be ‘the guy’ on offense…
"“It feels great, I don’t have to do everything. Everyone on this team is unselfish whether it’s offense or defense. But the biggest thing is we want to see each other do good and we all genuinely like each other. If someone is hot, we’ll feed them. If someone isn’t hot, we can still feed them.”"
In all seriousness, this is a unique challenge for the 73 soon to be 74 year old head coach. How do you manage the egos and the minutes for all these players that can make a case to start on this team?
When Jim was asked this in his post game presser he seemed to shrug off the challenge and said it’s simply part of college basketball.
Although something that isn’t typically part of college basketball is being the son of a legendary head coach and playing for him. Yet that’s what Buddy Boeheim is encountering in his first season with Syracuse.
Buddy Boeheim on having so much depth on the team…
"“It’s been a great learning experience having all these guys on the team. Also knowing that these guys are going to be on their game almost every night and playing off of their energy is going to be fun this year. We have a ton of playmakers on this team.”"
Something Buddy didn’t mention is when certain players are having unusually off nights, it shouldn’t matter because simple math suggests someone is bound to be on with so many talented players on the team.
For example in the lid lifter, Oshae Brissett was the only Syracuse player who scored in double figures, yet the team still won by over 30 points.
I hate comparing teams to others, but I made the parallel to the Golden State Warriors to some members of the team after the game. Essentially suggesting the challenge is on the players that when someone is hot you normally would keep feeding them, but with so many guys on the team many of them still feel compelled to pass up good looks for great looks.
It’s a first world problem for the coaching staff and the players and I think it’s forcing the players to play even better and more importantly smarter.
Marek Dolezaj on the rotation with so many guys on team now…
"“It is certainly different this year but we can run more and we can press the other team more. I see us stealing the ball like we did vs Eastern Washington a lot this season. We get to sit down for couple minutes then go back out there, it is very nice. With depth everyone can score and share the love.”"
This first world problem could lead Syracuse to another National Championship and if I was to give an overreaction take to the first game and even prior to the season, that’s exactly where my head is at.