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When asked about Virginia Tech’s Justyn Mutts, who posted a triple-double against Syracuse on Saturday, head coach Jim Boeheim said SU wanted him to have the ball. “We were fine with that,” Boeheim said. 

Boeheim continued, elaborating on the fact that the game plan was to shut down Virginia Tech from 3-point range and it was OK that Mutts’ had success inside the arc. The Hokies entered the game as the second-best 3-point shooting team in the nation, but they shot 8-of-27 against SU, tied for their fourth-worst outing of the season. 

Mutts had 12 points (five two-pointers and two free throws) and added 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Boeheim said after the game that SU conceded the high-post, allowing Mutts and Keve Aluma to operate inside instead of from beyond the arc.

“We didn’t want them to make 3s and beat us from the 3-point line,” Boeheim said on Monday. “We knew Mutts was going to get some opportunities in there. We wanted them to get 2s.”

The problem was SU’s offense, Boeheim said postgame and then doubled-down on Monday’s Zoom call. He said center Frank Anselem played alright defensively and that SU wanted the ball inside the arc. Syracuse’s offense, which averaged over 85 points in its recent four-game win streak, just didn’t capitalize enough, Boeheim said. 

“The problem was we didn’t score,” Boeheim said. “We would’ve liked to have a better offensive game — that was the issue for us.”

Now, Syracuse has the week off before it’ll play three games in five days. Boeheim said one focus of this week’s practices will be adjusting defensively without Jesse Edwards. The packed schedule — which features Boston College on Feb. 19, Georgia Tech on Feb. 21 and Notre Dame on Feb. 23 — will allow SU to get more practice reps for freshman Benny Williams, backup point guard Symir Torrence and backup forward John Bol Ajak, Boeheim said. 

Boeheim added that SU will take two days off this week because they won’t have days off next week with three games. 

“It’s not that many days really, when you think about it,” he said. 

Here are some other notes from Boeheim’s weekly ACC coaches call:

Boeheim on Joe Girard III’s shooting year

When asked about Joe Girard III’s play this year, Boeheim called Girard a good shooter and said he’s been more consistent this season than last. Girard’s made a 3-pointer in 24 of 25 games this season and is averaging 13.7 points per game. His 43.5% 3-point shooting clip is good for second-best in the ACC, and his 92% shooting from the free-throw line is the best in the conference.

Last year, Girard had seven games without a made 3-pointer and averaged 9.8 points per game. 

“It’s a normal progression,” Boeheim said. “He’s been probably a little more consistent this year. Last year he had some mixed games in there as far as shooting, but he’s been really pretty consistent this year. … I think he’s having a really solid year.”

Boeheim on Jimmy Boeheim’s Ivy League eligibility request

Boeheim was asked about complications and why he thought his son, Jimmy Boeheim, had yet to receive an extra year of eligibility after petitioning the NCAA. He said he didn’t know why the waiver wasn’t approved yet or why it appeared like the Ivy League wasn’t supporting the decision.

“It’s not clear to me (if) Jimmy wants to play another year, but I want him to have that option if he would like to play another year,” Boeheim said on Feb. 14. “Every player from the Ivy League should have that option — they were not allowed to play last year and it just makes no sense that everybody else got an extra year and they’re not. So I don’t understand it.”

Previously, Boeheim said on a radio show that the school planned to petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility for Jimmy. Jimmy, who transferred to SU from Cornell before the 2021-22 season, didn’t play last year because the Ivy League canceled the season. 

“This is his choice,” Boeheim said on Gomez & Company in January. “At the beginning of the year, I don’t think there was any interest for any of these guys (Buddy Boeheim, Jimmy or Cole Swider) to come back. Could that change by the end of the year? You know, things always can change but you have to wait and see and let them make their decision for what’s best for them.”

Published on February 14, 2022 at 6:35 pm

Contact Roshan: rferna04@syr.edu | @Roshan_f16