Day 2 of Blog Week...
So, another chapter of Syracuse basketball is in the books. 28 wins, a #13 ranking in the most recent AP Top 25, a 13-point loss to Oklahoma in the Sweet 16, and one creatively-scripted "Marathon Men" t-shirt that continues to sell like WonderBread. Oh, I almost forgot. In conjunction with Genius Products L.L.C., ESPN Home Entertainment just released the "Syracuse Over UConn March 12th 2009" DVD. It features the entire 171-minute, Big East quarterfinal upset for only $19.95. Coach Jim Boeheim may have fallen one win shy of 800 but at least he has that DVD going for him...which is nice. For now, let's turn the page and move on to the preface of what will be the110th installment of Orange hoops...
The biggest subplot surrounding the 2009-'10 season is whether or not sophomore PG Jonny Flynn will remain in off-campus housing or upgrade to a lush penthouse in some NBA city. I've been wrong before about possible 'Cuse early draft entrees. I apologize for my seemingly non-existent Donte Greene updates. I've been meaning to follow his progress - actually, I could care less. Even with Mono I have better things to do. Anyway, for those of you who are curious: in 46 games with Sacremento, Greene's averaging 12.5 mpg, 3.9 ppg, and 1.5 rpg. He's the 10th man on the worst team in the league. The biggest ripples Green's made have come off the court...
Regardless, Flynn has a better head on his shoulders than Greene. Right now, A+-pro talent evaluation website NBADraft.net has Flynn pegged as the 19th selection in their 2009 Mock Draft. Draftexpress.com has the sophomore going as high as pick # 15. If Flynn is hearing comparable projections from the SU coaching staff, pro GM's and upper-management executives, I can't fault him for making the jump.
Having said that, Flynn will be just one of many big fish swimming in shark-infested waters at the pre-draft workout camps this May. If a handful of highly-touted, underclassmen point guards decide to declare...he'll have a tough time standing out. Check out these '09 positional rankings. Flynn's name barely makes the honorable mention column. It could be the most stacked group since '96: Allen Iverson (No. 1 overall), Stephon Marbury (No. 4), Ray Allen (No. 5), Kobe Bryant (No. 13), and Steve Nash (No. 15). But, if Flynn were to stick around for one more go-round - the competition might be more diluted and his draft stock could take a bigger boost than the "Colbert Bump".
And what awaits Flynn if he stays in the Salt City? A fully-stacked cabinet, some Big East Player of the Year hardware, and a potential spot in the Final Four. Not too shabby. Assuming Flynn returns, next year's roster is identical to this past year's with the exception of graduating senior Kristof Ongenaet. With redshirt sophomore Scoop Jardine and in-coming freshman Brandon Triche, Boeheim finally has multiple back-ups at the point guard position. The Orange's interior defense should only get better with 6'11'', 220 lbs. Detroit Country Day-product DaShonte Riley.
What was once Syracuse's weakest position - small forward - could now be its strongest. Contrary to popular belief, I don't think junior Paul Harris is seriously considering testing the NBA. He rebounds like a center but is only 6'4'', he's ranked as the 30th best junior prospect in the class of 2010, and he had a down year. Frankly, he has a better chance of making a seven-figure salary with Olympiacos Piraeus in the Euroleague than he does of getting a guaranteed contract with Oklahoma City. Waiting in the wings of Harris are Kris Joseph, Mookie Jones and Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson. Many insiders are saying Johnson (6'7'', 200 lbs.) could have the most raw, athletic talent of anyone on the team, including Flynn.
Flynn or no Flynn, next year promises to produce just as many t-shirts, DVDs, and exciting memories as the '08-'09 season. Maybe I'm being selfish, but I'd rather watch Flynn hoist a NCAA title than hoist luggage and Hello Kitty backpacks for veterans as a third-string NBA rookie. The same goes for Harris. The same goes for Eric Devendorf. The only reason there are rumblings the latter two will skip their senior seasons is they both have children to feed. Once they do the necessary research, 'Devo and Harris will find their names are nowhere near mock draft boards. Case closed.
In the meantime, Devendorf, Harris and maybe even Flynn will have to settle for another season with a Hall-of-Fame coach, another run deep into March, and another year on a college campus. Not a terrible fall-back plan if you ask me.
