Syracuse Basketball: Sadly, Frank Howard may have played his last game

The Syracuse basketball squad got punched in the gut when the university announced that Frank Howard would not compete versus Baylor.

Frank Howard’s career with the Syracuse basketball program is possibly over, and that upsets me to no end. Orange Nation received shocking news on Wednesday evening, only about 24 hours before SU’s initial NCAA Tournament affair against Baylor, that the senior point guard will not suit up in the Big Dance “for an indefinite period of time due to a violation of athletic department policy,” according to reports from Syracuse.com and other media outlets.

First and foremost, until more information is released, it’s important not to rush to judgment about what infraction Howard may have committed. Social media has obviously blown up over this unfortunate development, but I sincerely hope that ‘Cuse fans don’t slam this young man. Remember, this is only basketball, my friends.

Should Howard ultimately not compete in the 2019 version of March Madness, his up-and-down tenure on the Hill will come to a halt much too soon. Howard participated in the 2016 Final Four, and he also had a terrific junior year, when Syracuse advanced to the Sweet 16.

On the flip side, Howard’s sophomore stint proved disappointing, and his final stanza in Central New York has gotten diminished due to his injury that occurred before the 2018-19 campaign commenced. I had high hopes for Howard entering this term, and I anticipated that he would produce a stellar senior season. It didn’t happen, although Howard did possess flashes of brilliance, particularly in the recent ACC Tournament, where he notched a career-best 28 points in the Orange’s quarterfinal setback to Duke.

With Howard sidelined, at least in SU’s tilt with the Bears, it’s probable that head coach Jim Boeheim will insert his son, freshman guard Buddy Boeheim, into the starting line-up. Junior wing Tyus Battle is back after missing the ACC tourney due to an injury, so while losing Howard is rough, I think that Syracuse has a decent chance to defeat Baylor.

Still, the loss of Howard stings. He’s a veteran on this crew with multiple trips to the Big Dance, and that experience is extremely valuable. His length, along with Battle, at the top of the 2-3 zone is a large challenge for opponents. Howard generates a lot of steals, which is critical for a ‘Cuse offense that often struggles to score in its half-court schemes.

The Orange roster also will have one fewer 3-point threat, which means guys such as Battle, Boeheim and redshirt sophomore forward Elijah Hughes will have to step up their efforts from downtown. Furthermore, let’s see if freshman point guard Jalen Carey gets more run as a result of Howard’s absence.

Because Howard didn’t play in the first few games of this current season, his teammates are familiar with how to get by with Howard, not on the floor. Besting the Bears now becomes more complex, and virtually any shot of SU stunning No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the West Region’s round of 32 is likely gone. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.

In 2012, a similar situation with the late Fab Melo hampered the ‘Cuse in its quest to reach the Final Four, although that unit performed on another level as compared to the present one. It’s a total bummer if Howard is done at Syracuse, and I feel for him, and the entire group. While seven years ago the Orange had realistic aspirations to win the whole darn thing, perhaps this isn’t the case in 2018-19. Then again, in the craziness that is March, you never, ever know.