As you’re probably aware, five-star Syracuse Orange signee Darius Bazley played in the McDonald’s All-American Game on Wednesday, putting up 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting (including 2-of-3 from outside).
The power forward chatted with Adam Zagoria during the event, particularly about Syracuse. He mentioned how Jim Boeheim told him he’ll be utilized with Oshae Brissett on the floor, how “scary” the Orange could be in 2018-19, and he wishes Tyus Battle the best, whatever he decides on the NBA Draft. Bazley also mentioned the draft himself, saying he’d consider the NBA if the one-and-done rule were not in effect.
More on Bazley and the other Syracuse-related links:
Darius Bazley Shows Big Heart, Diverse Skill Set At McDonald’s Games (FloHoops)
“I honestly if I put weight on myself, I can see myself in like a Ben Simmons-type position, more as a point-forward-type thing,” he said. “I can break down defenses without scoring because I’m so tall I can see the floor. I can handle the ball well and come off pick-and-rolls.”
Why are so many Syracuse athletes enrolled in one obscure graduate program? (Syracuse.com)
At Syracuse, graduate transfers aren’t alone in their reliance on the IDD&E program. The program has also housed 83 percent of scholarship athletes in revenue sports that have taken graduate-level classes. That includes all seven men’s basketball players over the past four years and 17 of 21 football players.
2018 NBA Mock Draft: Why Trae Young may go ahead of Collin Sexton (The Athletic)
38. New York Knicks (via Chicago) — Tyus Battle, Syracuse: Battle helped carry the Orange to a surprise Sweet 16 appearance and will have a chance to be selected in the first round as a result. He’d be a fascinating wing prospect for the Knicks to take a chance on.
Syracuse QB Eric Dungey: ‘If anyone’s gonna kick cancer’s (butt), it’s gonna be Rex’ (Syracuse.com)
One of his closest friends on the team, senior quarterback Eric Dungey, said Culpepper’s bravery has been inspirational. ”When I found out, I didn’t really believe him, honestly,” Dungey said. “He jokes around a lot. But once it got real, it hit me hard. That’s my little brother. It hurt me hard. But he’s one of the toughest guys and he’s been in high spirits about it. “... If anyone’s gonna kick cancer’s ass, it’s gonna be Rex.”
Competing Interests: Corporate strategies at SU often conflict with academic traditions, following higher ed trends (Daily Orange)
As universities, led by boards of trustees from the corporate world, continue to more closely resemble entrepreneurial models, the people charged with running the institutions arrive at conflicts with traditional faculty who see the role of universities as being concerned primarily with the production of knowledge and the exchange of ideas.
Like Mike Hopkins at UW, Jeff Capel is charting his own course at Pitt instead of trying to live up to a legend (The Comeback)
For guys like Hopkins and Capel, standing pat for years makes sense on paper. Both spent four years playing for their respective schools. Their coaching paths diverged but both ended up spending significant amounts of time with their alma mater (22 years for Hopkins, seven for Capel).
Chris Mack’s move to Louisville shows Big East is still a little brother (SB Nation)
It’s time for Thunder to bring Carmelo Anthony off the bench (Washington Post)
Syracuse’s ‘X-factor’ is Maxwell professor and volunteer assistant Len Lopoo (Daily Orange)
Paul Pasqualoni will call Lions’ defensive plays, but Matt Patricia will weigh in (MLive)