The Day After Dion

So yesterday turned into an interesting day for Syracuse basketball.

After spending most of the season being the guy to say SU was overrated when everyone else was saying they're really good, Jim Boeheim took to the airwaves to say SU is really good when everyone else is saying they're overrated.

And of course, he address the Dion Waiters rumor that had been floating out there. Kinda. Now, I'm not trying to be a Nosey Nelly (okay, maybe a little) but technically there were two rumors out there.

1. Dion Waiters has been kicked off the team.

2. Dion Waiters has been suspended/will sit for 1-2 games.

The first rumor was squashed for all intents and purposes. Boeheim kinda/sorta dashed it on the show but later confirmed no one is suspended, Mike Waters confirmed Dion is still on the team, Donna Ditota reported that he was still on the team and Dion Waiters even tweeted that he's still "a Orangemen." So we can put that to bed.

As for the second one, well, call it a matter of semantics but technically has anyone actually said Dion will PLAY against Marquette?

Boeheim danced around the topic. Mike Waters said Dion will be in uniform on Saturday but did not say that he will play, specifically. And neither did anyone else. Then there's this Danny Parkins tweets, wherein he implies there's more to the story than what's being said.

So here we are. If tomorrow comes and Dion plays, that's great. We will all move on (after hopefully winning). But in the meantime, I'm sorry, but the door is not closed on this issue until someone slams it shut. And it would be so simple to do so. Just say "no member of the SU basketball team is currently suspended and all are eligible to play on Saturday." Something like that. The fact that no one will commit to actually uttering those words (and clearly everyone is choosing their words carefully here) leaves room for doubt.

Anyway, let's hope the issue is over.