In the beginning of the year, Syracuse men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim said the Orange would go only as far as SU’s younger players took it.

After a 65-60 loss to Boston College on Feb. 19, Boeheim sidetracked slightly, saying, ‘We go as two guys go,’ referring to Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara after his younger players didn’t aide the Orange’s two stars.

But heading into tonight’s Big East quarterfinal game against Rutgers at 9 at Madison Square Garden, Boeheim’s original words will carry the most weight. Rutgers – the Big East’s 11th seed – upset sixth-seeded Notre Dame, 72-65, Wednesday night to advance to tonight’s quarterfinal. No. 16 Syracuse – the Big East’s No. 3 seed – defeated Rutgers 86-84 on Jan. 24 at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

‘We’ve had some guys who’ve gotten a lot of playing time and really they’ve still got a ways to go,’ Boeheim said after Saturday’s loss to Connecticut. ‘That’s really the key for us.’

The players Boeheim most often refers to, though, are his sophomores. Highly recruited in 2003, the sophomore quartet of Darryl Watkins, Terrence Roberts, Louie McCroskey and Demetris Nichols has failed to play consistently and give Boeheim a reliable scoring threat to accompany Warrick and McNamara.

With SU’s two Big East first team selections absorbing most opponents’ defensive attention, Syracuse needs another player to consistently perform outside of Warrick, McNamara and Josh Pace.

Enter the sophomores, who average 20.9 points per game and just 16.8 in Big East play.

‘It’s easy to be down and frustrated,’ McCroskey said. ‘Fortunately we’re in a position where we can play at least one more game before the tournament.’

Roberts has been the latest sophomore to crack the starting lineup that started with Nichols in the beginning of the year and McCroskey at midseason.

Roberts, with three consecutive starts, has struggled to stay on the floor because he quickly picks up fouls. His 89 fouls lead SU and he’s averaged a foul every 4.5 minutes in Big East play.

‘Terrence has been better in the starting lineup,’ Boeheim said. ‘He gives us more size.’

With a little more than five rebounds in his three starts, Roberts has aided SU’s rebounding troubles. He’s also been active offensively, averaging 9.6 points during those games. If he stays on the floor, Roberts could be a continual threat.

But potential has been stressed all year. It’s March and Syracuse needs more than that.

Boeheim said he wished SU’s most recent starting lineup – a bigger one with Craig Forth and Roberts down low – had started for a longer period so they could have developed more.

If Syracuse stays around long enough in the Big East tournament, this week could be that time for SU to develop a consistent offense heading into the NCAA Tournament.

‘I hope this week, the tournament, will help us,’ Boeheim said.

Syracuse has lost five of its past nine games and an early exit from the Big East tournament would create further doubts about the Orange’s ability to make a deep run into the NCAA tournament.

After starting the season ranked No. 6 and reaching as high as fourth, Syracuse was considered a legitimate Final Four contender. Syracuse dropped to No. 16 in the AP poll this week and talk about the Orange reaching St. Louis has faded.

A strong showing in the Big East tournament could silence a lot of those doubters.

But for that to happen, Syracuse will need increased production, and if there’s a likely place for that to come, it’s from the sophomores.

‘I’m not happy with not playing as well as we can,’ Boeheim said. ‘But I’ve seen that turn around in a matter of days. We’re in a lot better position than a whole lot of people in the country. We’ve earned that. This week is important to go to New York and play as well as we can in New York.’

Published on March 11, 2005 at 12:00 pm