Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Freshmen Jones, Joseph infuse Syracuse with versatility
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 10/22/08, 5:24 AM EST Section: Sports
Junior forward Paul Harris raced onto the court, roared "Good help Kris! Good help!" and gave the freshman a slap on the back. For two 'tweeners expected to be a melting pot of basketball skills, improving doesn't necessarily mean scoring.
"I think the coaches and some of the players are really impressed with my play so far," Joseph said at Thursday's media day.
Jones and Joseph have had a central source for bucking the freshman learning curve: Harris. The junior has challenged the freshmen since day one.
"It was a big help playing against Paul all summer," said Jones, who won three state titles at Peekskill. "I'd always ask, 'What did I do wrong? What should I be working on?' There was a lot of helping."
Joseph stripped the ball cleanly from Harris Tuesday in a full-court, 4-on-4 drill. Harris raced back, caught Joseph and forced him to miss. But the freshman wrestled the rebound away and converted the putback. It was the type of grinding play Harris prepared Joseph for months in advance.
"Right now, I really try to take advantage of guarding Paul Harris in practice, so I can better prepare myself for the season," said Joseph, who averaged 18.8 points per game and five assists per game as a senior.
The roles of Jones and Joseph aren't defined yet. Unlike Kristof Ongenaet, who Boeheim said he simply needed to rebound last year, Boeheim knows he has inherited two versatile players. At practice, Joseph splits time between the bigs and guards.
"This year we expect to be able to play nine guys minimum," Boeheim said. "You know, get Jonny (Flynn) out and get him some rest. Eric can play point, Andy can play the two or three, Mookie Jones can play the two or the three, and Kris Joseph can play the three or four."
Barring another onslaught of injuries, Syracuse will not need to rely heavily on its freshmen. Still, Jones and Joseph will be regulars, a challenge in itself. Thursday, Jones said he had never experienced anything like the media swarm around him.
But as two more reporters converged on him, Jones promised he's not overwhelmed. Just like pulling the trigger on those summer clinchers.
"No, no," Jones said, shaking his head. "Just glad to be here."
thdunne@syr.edu
"I think the coaches and some of the players are really impressed with my play so far," Joseph said at Thursday's media day.
Jones and Joseph have had a central source for bucking the freshman learning curve: Harris. The junior has challenged the freshmen since day one.
"It was a big help playing against Paul all summer," said Jones, who won three state titles at Peekskill. "I'd always ask, 'What did I do wrong? What should I be working on?' There was a lot of helping."
Joseph stripped the ball cleanly from Harris Tuesday in a full-court, 4-on-4 drill. Harris raced back, caught Joseph and forced him to miss. But the freshman wrestled the rebound away and converted the putback. It was the type of grinding play Harris prepared Joseph for months in advance.
"Right now, I really try to take advantage of guarding Paul Harris in practice, so I can better prepare myself for the season," said Joseph, who averaged 18.8 points per game and five assists per game as a senior.
The roles of Jones and Joseph aren't defined yet. Unlike Kristof Ongenaet, who Boeheim said he simply needed to rebound last year, Boeheim knows he has inherited two versatile players. At practice, Joseph splits time between the bigs and guards.
"This year we expect to be able to play nine guys minimum," Boeheim said. "You know, get Jonny (Flynn) out and get him some rest. Eric can play point, Andy can play the two or three, Mookie Jones can play the two or the three, and Kris Joseph can play the three or four."
Barring another onslaught of injuries, Syracuse will not need to rely heavily on its freshmen. Still, Jones and Joseph will be regulars, a challenge in itself. Thursday, Jones said he had never experienced anything like the media swarm around him.
But as two more reporters converged on him, Jones promised he's not overwhelmed. Just like pulling the trigger on those summer clinchers.
"No, no," Jones said, shaking his head. "Just glad to be here."
thdunne@syr.edu
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