Syracuse Basketball: Jim Boeheim is sticking with Frank Howard

Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim says he’s sticking with guard Frank Howard through thick and thin this season.

Let’s cut right to the chase, Syracuse basketball senior guard Frank Howard has not been playing well.

Over the last two games Howard has scored three points on a combined 1-of-11 scoring from the field. He’s been benched several times this season and hasn’t seemed to consistently find the stroke he had in his junior campaign when he averaged over 15 points per contest.

Some of that can be attributed to Howard missing four games earlier this season due to an offseason injury that delayed his senior season debut. Although recently Boeheim said that Frank’s struggles aren’t injury related or at the very least shouldn’t be at this point.

After having a coming out party of sorts on the road vs Pittsburgh where Frank dropped 15 points in 31 minutes of action, he has only seen the floor 35 total minutes over the last two games. Which has caused some speculation in the media that perhaps Jim Boeheim would be better suited going to some of his other guard options on the team:

"“We won’t be able to only play Tyus Battle at the point. Against the teams we have to beat we’re going to need more than just one guy. You aren’t going to go away from a senior guard (Frank Howard). Is that what you’re indicating? Howard was shooting 36 percent from the field heading into this game, but he didn’t make anything tonight. That’s just tonight. You know Buddy (Boeheim) missed six straight last game from the three didn’t he? Try to be accurate with what you’re doing. Frank Howard is going to play, okay? Unless he has two more games where he doesn’t make any shots. Then we’ll evaluate it.”"

I can’t remember the last time that Boeheim defended Frank Howard that vehemently before. Usually it seems Jim uses these press conferences to speak to his players and send messages through the media.

If that was the case again here, message received: Jim Boeheim is sticking with Frank Howard through thick and thin.

While some fans may be frustrated by the up and down play, and for good reason, Howard is a senior he shouldn’t be experiencing this kind of emotional roller coaster, Boeheim is going to stick with him.

What jumps to my head is an anecdote from a couple years ago when Boeheim said if he had anyone else he would play him over Tyler Roberson. It’s funny that now that he actually has legitimate options to put into the game (Tyus Battle running the point, Jalen Carey, Buddy Boeheim, and even Elijah Hughes) he won’t give up on Frank.

It’s a good message to send. From what people were saying in the offseason, Frank was looking like the best version of himself before being hampered by an injury. Howard just has to find his rhythm, but he has to do it sooner rather then later because we’re running out of time on this season. Although if the Orange can get back Howard scoring the basketball and facilitating to his teammates like 2017-18, the only team that can stop SU is SU.