Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim looking for ‘anything’ out of Quincy Guerrier

In the last two Syracuse Orange basketball games, freshman Quincy Guerrier has played below his season average in minutes. After the Georgetown game on Saturday, Jim Boeheim said he was looking for ‘anything’ out of Guerrier.

“I’m looking for anything,” Boeheim responded when a reporter asked what he needs to see from Guerrier.

“He’s had 7 fouls in 8 minutes in two games,” Boeheim continued. “He’s gotta be in the game to be able to do something. He’s a freshman. He’s lost. I don’t think he knows what’s doing on out there yet. He’s gotta learn. He’s got physical talent but that’s got nothing to do with how you play.”

Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

Guerrier fouled out against Georgia Tech in just 12 minutes. Against Georgetown, he had 2 fouls and 2 turnovers in just 5 minutes of playing time.

The freshman from Montreal said he knows that Syracuse needs more from him. He said he needs to learn what Syracuse is trying to do on both ends of the floor. After the Georgetown game, he was planning on going back to Syracuse to watch film on his own time as well as with his position coach, Adrian Autry.

Guerrier is still adjusting to the college game and trying to learn what Syracuse is doing both offensively and defensively. Still, he feels as though he’s making progress and working hard.

“I’m getting better every day, just mentally,” Guerrier said. “That’s my biggest problem right now. Sometimes Coach Boeheim puts me out on the court and I don’t know what I’m doing. So obviously I gotta work on that. But in general, overall I think I’m getting better every day because I’m working hard.”

Guerrier is aware of the areas he needs to improve upon. At 6-foot-7 and 220 lbs, he has the physical tools to play basketball at a high level, but he needs to learn the Syracuse system to be effective.

It’s difficult to speed up the learning process, and there’s no substitute for experience. In the interim, Guerrier needs to control what he can while he slowly gains experience at Syracuse. For him, that’s playing hard, crashing the boards and using his strength.

“I just gotta play with a motor,” Guerrier said. “Grab rebounds. Use my physicality. Block shots. Run the transition. Set screens. Make my shots and finish around the rim,” Guerrier finished.

Guerrier might still be learning, but with ACC play looming, he’s a player the Syracuse coaching staff will have to get up to speed fast. He’s still Syracuse’s best rebounder out of the zone and it isn’t really close — Guerrier is ranked ninth in the ACC in defensive rebounding at 21.9 percent (KenPom).

For Syracuse basketball stories and updates, follow us on twitter @NunesMagician and @JamesSzuba