Syracuse Basketball: Joe Girard III should take over for Jalen Carey at PG

Syracuse basketball should consider a change at point guard this week. Here’s why Joe Girard III should be the lead point guard over Jalen Carey.

It’s easy to make an overreaction to one game.

On Wednesday night in the season opener, Syracuse basketball looked hapless offensively vs the Virginia Cavaliers.

Part of that was caused by the pack line defense, the other part of that was due to a lineup decision by head coach Jim Boeheim.

Since the offseason, Jalen Carey has been labeled as ‘the’ guy for the Orange.

A scintillating sophomore with talent oozing out of his pores that was expected to make a leap in 2019-20. He got a ton of reps this offseason with foreign trips to Greece and Italy to work on his game. Additionally, he got two exhibition games and a ton of practice time.

Despite all that run, Carey is slipping back into his freshman mistakes.

In 2018-19, Carey started just two games because Frank Howard was injured early in the season. In those games, both played in Madison Square Garden, Jalen showed promise.

He scored a combined 40 points, shot 13-of-22 from the field, secured 10 boards, six steals, but the most troubling statistic was the eight turnovers.

Jalen has solid handles, but the problem is he often does too much with the ball and it typically results in a senseless turnover.

The best part of his game is when he can successfully slash-and-dash and get to the cup. For whatever reason, he couldn’t do that consistently enough last season so he often rode the bench.

Now making a switch at the point guard spot after just one game may seem a little drastic, but Joe Girard III showed in his limited role that he’s more than capable of handling a bigger role.

While the box score won’t impress you after one game: 22 minutes played, 1-of-6 from the field, and just three points. It’s the stuff that’s beyond the stat sheet that intrigued members of the press during the game.

Every time JG3 took off his warmup shirt and waited to enter the game, the dome erupted with applause and energy. That energy entered Girard and was infectious to the rest of his teammates.

The moment didn’t appear too big for JG3 despite playing the defending National Champions in his first regular-season game ever. He displayed solid handles and showed that he can run this team if given the chance.

Girard isn’t known as a point guard, but he has familiarity playing the position. When Carey struggled, Jim Boeheim threw Joe out there to see what he could provide the team.

After the game coach was asked what he thought of JG3’s debut at the point and if that’s something he’s capable of moving forward.

Boeheim hesitated to celebrate Joe’s performance but simply stated he looked good and that he’s definitely capable of running the point in the future. Maybe that future isn’t as far away as some people think.