Back Again
Carmelo Anthony could see it on Billy Edelin’s face: the frustration, the anguish that comes with waiting and watching.
“He tried not to show it to anybody,” Anthony said.
If all had gone as planned, Edelin would’ve made his Syracuse men’s basketball debut Nov. 12, 2001, starting at point guard against Manhattan in the Preseason NIT.
Now 431 days later, Edelin plays his first regular-season game, delayed by two suspensions, when No. 25 SU (11-1, 2-0 Big East) plays No. 3 Pittsburgh (13-1, 3-0) tomorrow at noon in the sold-out Petersen Events Center.
“My day has finally come,” said Edelin, who will come off the bench at point guard against the Panthers.
Pittsburgh possesses extraordinary depth, with five players averaging double-digit points. Brandin Knight — Pitt’s second-leading scorer with 11.3 points per game — will defend Edelin.
Knight, last year’s co-Big East Player of the Year, poses a daunting challenge, especially in Edelin’s first organized game in a year and a half.
But, as Edelin said, “I guess I’ve been at the bottom, so all I can expect is things to be better.”
Edelin endured his worst days in October 2001, when SU suspended him after two female students accused him of sexual misconduct. He sat out 2001-02, which would’ve been his freshman season.
While banned from stepping on campus, Edelin lived in an apartment in Syracuse and performed community service. When the apartment burned down, he moved to a Days Inn.
Last winter, in an effort to stay in shape, Edelin played in a local 4-on-4 men’s league. He was finally ready to play for the Orangemen in the fall, but the NCAA suspended him 12 games for participating in the recreational league.
Though Edelin played 17 minutes and scored six points in in the Orangemen’s first exhibition game, on Nov. 5 against Nike Elite, he’s spent the rest of this season sitting on the SU bench in sweat suits.
“It’s been tough for him,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “We’ve tried to keep him involved, working on his game in practice. But it’s not the same.”
Said Gerry McNamara, who averages 15.1 points and 5.3 assists substituting for Edelin at point guard: “He’s going to come out and surprise a lot of people.”
When Edelin enters the lineup, McNamara will move to his natural shooting guard position.
Despite the backcourt shake-up, the Orangemen’s biggest problems against the Panthers will likely come in the post. With thick forwards Ontario Lett (6-6, 265 pounds), Chevon Troutman (6-7, 236) and Donatas Zavackas (6-8, 238), Pittsburgh allows a Big East-low 28.9 rebounds per game.
Pitt head coach Ben Howland has been hesitant about starting Lett, because the senior tends to get into foul trouble. But last week, Howland said he’ll start Lett for the rest of the season.
The Panthers started 9-0, feasting on lowly opponents like George Mason and Southeast Louisiana. After a 79-67 loss at unranked Georgia on New Year’s Eve, Pitt dismantled then-No. 5 Notre Dame, 72-55, in the Panthers’ Big East home opener Jan. 6.
Last year, the Panthers laid waste to SU. Pitt beat the Orangemen twice, 72-57 and 75-63, and outrebounded them, 80-45.
“They really bring a swagger,” SU forward Hakim Warrick said. “Even last year, they were so confident coming in. They came out with this attitude like they were going to push you all over the court.”
