They masquerade as kickballs, but they’re far from it. The yellow balls are much heavier and are used by the big men on the Syracuse men’s basketball team in practice, particularly forward Terrence Roberts.

Associate head coach Bernie Fine said the heavier ball helps Roberts and others improve their concentration shooting near the basket. Roberts said his inconsistency on offense this season, particularly down low, is a problem he prefers to rectify as the season crescendos.

Another opportunity presents itself to Roberts when No. 25 Syracuse looks to snap a three-game losing streak against Seton Hall on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

‘I think at times I’m not finishing strong enough, or I pass the ball when Coach might want me to shoot it,’ Roberts said. ‘I just got to be more aggressive and wanting it more. You start thinking too much about what you have to do and try to do too much even when it’s not happening. Then your frustration gets the best of you. The last couple of games – the UConn game and the Pittsburgh game – that’s what really got the best of me.’

Roberts’ worst two games of the season came in the losses to the Huskies on Jan. 16 and the Panthers on Monday. He scored eight points total and fouled out of each game – a technical foul counting as his fifth foul near the end of the Pitt game.

Befitting his unpredictability, Roberts had one of his best games in between those two – at Villanova on Saturday. He finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, though most of his damage came with SU (15-5, 3-3 Big East) trailing in the second half.

But when Syracuse hit its Big East schedule, Roberts became the fourth option on offense behind outside shooters Gerry McNamara, Demetris Nichols and Eric Devendorf. Guard Louie McCroskey said one reason is because Roberts’ celebrated intensity at times works against him.

‘Terrence is an unusual guy in that he’s always really hyped to play,’ McCroskey said. ‘Everyone knows Terrence in that he means well and he goes out and plays hard, but sometimes when you are a high intense you can be so high intense to a fault. I think that the last couple of games, especially the UConn game, he was just too hyped, that’s all.’

Fine mentioned one specific hurdle for Roberts, who is averaging 11.4 points, was his small hands, an issue for center Darryl Watkins as well. Another reason Fine uses the yellow heavy ball is to force them to use both hands when shooting. That way, they have the most control when putting up baby hooks down low.

As for his jump shooting, Fine said that was his area of greatest improvement since last season. But Boeheim’s longtime sidekick kept returning to an inconsistency not with Roberts’ intensity but focus play-in and play-out, on both ends of the court.

‘He has to understand how good he could be and strive to reach his potential,’ Fine said. ‘He’s got to come out every day with intensity and go after every rebound. Some games he has 14 or 15 rebounds (his season-high is 14); other games he has five rebounds. As athletic as he is, he needs to go after every rebound.’

Still, Roberts does lead the team with 8.3 rebounds per game. But on a team on pace to shoot the most 3-pointers in school history, McCroskey said Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has talked to the team much of the season about receiving more offensive support from the big men. With Watkins primarily a defender and shot-blocker, that burden with fall primarily to Roberts.

‘I think the main thing is I gotta be patient,’ Roberts said. ‘I have to finish plays whenever I get a chance just be more assertive on offense. My offense comes from my guards getting me shots. You just got to put (struggles) behind you and you got to rely on your teammates to carry you.’

Despite initial perception, Seton Hall (11-6, 2-3) figures to pose a challenge to Roberts and SU. The Pirates’ second-leading scorer and top rebounder is forward Kelly Whitney, Roberts’ likely counterpart. Seton Hall upset No. 15 North Carolina State on Wednesday. Boeheim said it was proof the conference is even tougher than most expected.

As he has said before, Roberts hopes the next game marks the start of continued offensive contribution, though Boeheim said inconsistency is an issue plaguing much of the team during its three-game losing streak.

‘I think our whole team needs to be more consistent; I don’t think it’s just Terrence,’ Boeheim said. ‘I don’t think its one guy. I don’t think anybody has been consistently very good the last three games.’

Published on January 26, 2006 at 12:00 pm