Just two games into his Syracuse Orange basketball career, Joe Girard was assigned the starting point guard role by his head coach, Jim Boeheim. As detailed by The Athletic’s Matthew Gutierrez, the freshman Girard finished his inaugural season at Syracuse with strong numbers: 12.4 points per game, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.89.
Since the season’s end, the ultra competitive Girard has been working out with his father in a small local gym near in his hometown Glens Falls. Guti recaps Girard’s freshman season and what lies ahead for him with commentary from the Syracuse coaching staff, Jimmer Fredette and Girard himself.
That story, plus the rest of your Syracuse related links are below.
How does Syracuse get the best out of Joseph Girard? (The Athletic)
“That’s when I’m at my best,” Girard says. “Coach (Jim) Boeheim doesn’t like it sometimes, but it’s what I’ve got to do. I’m not trying to get a technical foul. It’s my attitude. You can’t really take that away. It’s something I’ve always had growing up playing pickup, when sometimes we’d break out in a brawl. I never want to lose.”
Oshae Brissett living out a dream with hometown team (localsyr.com)
After going undrafted, Brissett signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Raptors. “Man I think about all the hard work and all the time me and my friends would talk about how crazy it would be if we got to play for the Raptors. Now that it is here, it is amazing,” said Oshae Brissett.
Ranking the contenders: George Rooks (Rivals)
1. Syracuse: Syracuse making this list isn’t a big surprise. The Orange have a long history with Rooks and his family. His father played for Syracuse in the late 1980s and early 1990s and won Big east Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. Dino Babers and his staff made Rooks a priority very early in the recruiting process and they have a program that fits all of his interests on and off the field.
Former Syracuse basketball walk-on is one of three new members of school’s Board of Trustees (Syracuse.com)
Vincent Cohen Jr., a former walk-on with the Syracuse basketball team, was one of three new members to the school’s Board of Trustees that were named this week. Cohen played for the basketball team as an undergraduate and earned a letter from the school in 1992. He played in games during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. For his career, he saw action in nine games.
Syracuse recruiting nuggets (Cuse Nation)
One basketball recruiting note. Frank Anselem may be getting closer to a decision. He has done virtual tours with Syracuse, Seton Hall, San Diego State and Western Kentucky. Kentucky has been eliminated while Seton Hall landed a big recently. This seems to be a Syracuse, WKU, SDSU battle. There has been different buzz behind the scenes as to which two schools stand out, but Syracuse has been one of them consistently.
Riley Leonard updates recruitment (Cuse Nation)
Landon Morris sold on vision of being ‘different type of tight end’ in Syracuse football offense (Syracuse.com)
Syracuse defender Nick Mellen snubbed in PLL draft (Syracuse.com)
Coach: Rochester DL Jaelin Moss was preparing for Pitt offer, then Syracuse put on ‘full-court press’ (Syracuse.com)
College basketball’s 40 Under 40: Debating Will Wade and the rest of our list (ESPN)