Leo and Andy Rautins stood next to each other during the performance of ‘O Canada.’ Wearing the nation’s flag on their chests and anticipating an exhibition game against Italy in Bomio, Italy, Leo turned to his son.

‘I looked at Andy and said, ‘It’s pretty cool being here, huh?” Leo said. ‘He nodded at me.’

Not exactly a father-son moment shared by many.

Leo-a three-year starter at Syracuse and the first Canadian player drafted in the first round of the NBA draft-coached Andy, an SU sophomore guard, on the Canadian national team. The Canadian senior squad toured Europe this past summer in preparation for Olympic qualifying.

Andy, one of three 19-year-olds on the squad, is part of a youth movement by Canada basketball. Half of the national team was under the age of 22.

‘This is a national Olympic team,’ Leo said. ‘This is no different than Basketball USA. In a normal setting, somebody Andy’s age isn’t going to get a chance, but we’re very young and we’re building with a three-year plan.’

Indeed, it was far from a normal setting of any kind for the Rautins.

Leo, who doubles as a Toronto Raptors color commentator, said he’s coached Andy plenty of times before, from AAU teams to the backyard, but nothing remotely close to a national team.

‘In some ways it’s easy,’ Leo said. ‘You know him as well as you know any player. But in some ways it was a challenge. You’re always worried about perception.’

Andy, like his father, has dual citizenship. The younger Rautins grew up locally and starred on the undefeated 2004 Class A state champion team at Jamesville-Dewitt.

He played a key role on the under-21 Canadian team that brought home a bronze medal and was noticed by those involved in the selection process for the senior team-and not just because his dad was the coach.

‘I was very careful,’ Leo said. ‘During the selection process, I told everybody I have no say (on Andy). I told them, ‘It’s your decision.”

Leo said it was difficult because, eventually, he has to have the final say because it was his team. At the same time, there were eight guest coaches brought in to evaluate talent and aid Leo in making personnel decisions.

Andy was a unanimous decision among the talent scouts-not including Leo’s vote.

‘Going into the process we said if there wasn’t an older veteran significantly better than the younger player, the younger player would be selected,’ Leo said.

Rautins didn’t see much action in Canada’s eight games overseas, but Leo said it was an invaluable experience.

‘It’s got to help immensely,’ Leo said. ‘The international game is a great game. There’s a lot of ball movement, a real good game.’

Leo said SU head coach Jim Boeheim asked him about Andy’s prospects of being selected early in the summer. When Leo told Boeheim it looked good, Boeheim said it would be a great experience.

Perhaps the most important thing Andy gained out of his summer experience was 20 pounds. Leo said it was the biggest weight gain of any SU player this offseason-an increase Leo thought Andy desperately needed.

‘He’s very confident and a lot stronger,’ Leo said. ‘One of his biggest issues last year was strength.’

Playing-and winning-a game against Dirk Nowitzki and Germany was the highlight of the exhibition season for Canada. While success is hard to come by for a young program, Leo likened the process of picking the roster to an NBA draft: Canada is looking for production not now, but in two summers.

The country will turn its full attention toward qualifying for the 2008 Olympics next summer. Both of the Rautins’ figure to be a big part of it.

‘It’s a chance to learn and understand the game,’ Leo said. ‘Right now, I’m proud of Andy as a person more than a player.’

SU North

Former SU guard and coach Allen Griffin accepted a position on Tim Welsh’s staff at Providence, continuing SU ties to the Friars.

Griffin graduated from SU in 2001 with the 10th most assists in school history. He was an assistant coach on Boeheim’s staff for two seasons, beginning in 2003-04 before taking an assistant position at St. Francis (N.Y.) last year.

‘As a former Big East player, he brings a unique perspective to the job,’ Welsh said of Griffin in a news release. ‘He understands our league and knows how to win.’

Welsh was also a Boeheim assistant for three seasons (1988-91).

Last year, the Friars finished 14th in the Big East and failed to make the conference tournament. The Orange did not play Providence in 2005-06. They will meet this season on Feb. 24 at Providence.

This and that

Donte Greene was the only ’07 SU basketball recruit to make his official visit Saturday. Greene strolled the Syracuse sideline before the Iowa football game and stopped in front of the SU student section to talk with Director of Athletics Daryl Gross. …The other recruits will make official visits sometime in the next month, but in addition, the big four will come back to Syracuse to play in a tournament at Manley Field House on Dec. 16. The HoopHall Classic is a high school tripleheader featuring 1) Towson (Md.) Catholic with Greene vs. Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) with Antonio Jardine and Rick Jackson, 2) Niagara Falls with Johnny Flynn vs. Jamesville-Dewitt and 3) Christian Brothers Academy vs. Rice. The first game will tip-off at noon.

Published on September 12, 2006 at 12:00 pm