Jesse Edwards had a chance to impact the game and earn the coaching staff’s trust. After Bourama Sidibe committed his second foul against Boston College on Jan. 15, Edwards did little to help his case. He committed two fouls and allowed a floating layup in front of him. After six minutes, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim had seen enough. Edwards wouldn’t return until the outcome was already decided.

After the game, Boeheim denied answering a question about how Edwards could see more minutes in the future.

“I can’t even talk about that,” Boeheim said.

Edwards hasn’t played since that Boston College game. In Syracuse’s win over Notre Dame, he still didn’t play after both Marek Dolezaj and Sidibe reached four fouls. Edwards played a season-high 14 minutes in a Nov. 23 game against Bucknell and has played more than 10 minutes three other times this year. He’s only played double-digit minutes in conference play once, against BC, a 26-point Syracuse win. As Atlantic Coast Conference play has picked up, the (12-7, 5-3 ACC) rotation has been trimmed to seven-man rotation that isn’t including Edwards.

“Sometimes it’s kind of hard to get in the game…I’m just going to keep going,” Edwards said after the BC game. “As long as we win that’s what it’s all about for me too. Practice is where, for me, it’s going to be happening the most this year because I just got to develop. I got to develop so when I get out there I take full advantage of it.”

Roshan Fernandez | Asst. Digital Editor

As recent Syracuse seasons have gone on, the Orange’s rotation have thinned out. Early this year, the roster appeared to have at least eight or nine rotational players and depth at the point guard and center positions. Injuries to Jalen Carey and Brycen Goodine cut into the perimeter contributors and now its happening down low as well.

For much of the year, the Boston College scenario played out. In some way or another, Sidibe wouldn’t execute Boeheim’s orders. Sometimes it’s not putting his hands straight up to avoid blocking fouls. In other instances, he’s not in proper defensive position. Regardless, his replacement, often Edwards, is directed on how to do it better and sent into the game. Never for long.

Edwards hasn’t figured out how to execute better. With a 7-foot-1 wingspan, he has the length to play in the middle of the zone. Still, at times, teams have scored around him. During his six-minute spurt against Boston College — after allowing a floater in the lane — Edwards missed a defensive rebound. After losing possession, Edwards fouled the same Eagles player as he went up for a basket. Soon after, Edwards was taken off the court.

“You play as much as you should play,” said Edwards in November in regards to what coaches have told him about playing time. “If I play the lights out, I’m not coming off the court.”

Roshan Fernandez | Asst. Digital Editor

Edwards grabbed four rebounds in the second half against Boston College, when Syracuse held a hefty lead. None resulted in points. Rather than keeping the ball up high, using his long arms, Edwards often brought the ball down to the floor and exposed it to Eagle defenders.

“You can’t do that,” Boeheim said. “You can’t do those things. It’s not about how good you are, you can’t do those things and play. Those are things you can’t do. You got to rebound. You got to be able to keep the rebound and get it to a guard. If you can’t do that, just, you can’t play.”

Early in the first half against Virginia Tech on Jan. 18, Edwards’ current status in the team’s rotation may have been solidified. After Sidibe failed to rotate from below the hoop to a corner 3-point attempt, Boeheim called a timeout and wagged his finger at the starting center. He motioned to the bench, but didn’t signal for Edwards.

Quincy Guerrier entered the game instead and finished with nine rebounds and three-point play that helped SU down the stretch. Edwards never entered the game.

“Brycen has been a little bit (better) in practice,” said Boeheim, referencing the rotation after the Virginia Tech win. “Maybe we’ll get him in there a little but sevens good (in the rotation) maybe we’ll get an eighth guy in there. We’ll see what happens.”

Published on January 22, 2020 at 10:31 pm

Contact Josh: jlschafe@syr.edu | @Schafer_44