A change, it seemed, was necessary. Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim saw a problem with SU’s rebounding. So he tried to fix it.

SU forward Terrence Roberts started the first game of his career Wednesday in an 83-69 win over St. John’s at the Carrier Dome. Roberts replaced guard Billy Edelin in the lineup to ensure a rebounding advantage. Three of SU’s starters were 6 feet, 8 inches or taller.

‘I’d guess in 25 of 29 years, I didn’t make one starting lineup change the entire year,’ Boeheim said, ‘I would almost bet the other years, at most one change.’

This season, Boeheim has switched and swapped and changed his lineup three times. From Demetris Nichols to Louie McCroskey to Edelin and now to Roberts, he has showcased four different starting lineups.

Three of those four starters had a chance against the Red Storm to make a pitch at starting SU’s next game against Providence on Saturday. In the Orange’s 14-point victory, everyone, including the walk-ons, recorded minutes, except for freshman Dayshawn Wright and Edelin.

In Wright’s case, Boeheim said there was simply too much depth at the power forward spot behind Warrick. As for Edelin, he may be showing lapses of whatever kept him out of 14 games last year.

‘He’s taken a step backwards from doing some of the things he needs to do,’ Boeheim said. ‘It’s got nothing to do with the court. He needs to take care of some things off the court. I think he’s made some strides there, but I’d like to see some more strides there.

‘Until I feel he’s taken care of those things, his status will be he’ll be at practice then we’ll see.’

As for Roberts, he showed some promise in 24 minutes. The sophomore scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds and two steals.

‘We knew we had to get more physical,’ Roberts said. ‘We knew we had to come in and have everybody rebound the ball.’

Against St. John’s, Syracuse had 39 rebounds to the Red Storm’s 31.

Roberts was visibly excited to start the game as he made a long 2-pointer from just inside 20 feet less than two minutes in. The mid-range game would add a nice complement to SU’s inside presence of Craig Forth and Warrick, but Boeheim is hoping for one of the other three candidates (Nichols, McCroskey or Edelin) to fill the role.

‘I’m not comfortable with the big lineup,’ he said. ‘It’s not the best lineup. No team in basketball history has been successful playing three big guys – even two.’

Nichols played 18 minutes, the most he’s played since the Memphis game on Nov. 19. He looked comfortable, scoring six points and snatching five rebounds.

McCroskey played 12 minutes off the bench, but missed all four of his field goal opportunities.

‘It looked like (McCroskey) had never played a game of basketball,’ Boeheim said. ‘They’re young guys. We’re very inconsistent.’

So who will start against Providence on Saturday during Senior Day? It’s still up in the air.

‘We’re better than we’ve been able to play so far,’ Boeheim said. ‘We’ll mix it up, but we’re not by any means set (on the lineup).’

Published on February 23, 2005 at 12:00 pm