Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB| Ongenaet settling in as SU's power forward
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 10/29/08, 3:02 AM EST Section: Sports
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The attention flocked elsewhere. To the sharpshooting guards back from ACL injuries (Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins). To the player one Sporting News writer declared the best point guard in the nation (Jonny Flynn). To Scoop Jardine, who had the news peg (stress fracture forcing him to redshirt). To a hulking Paul Harris and his pro-appeal.
The herds did not graze toward Ongenaet. Instead, the senior forward sat back and soaked it in.
"Players got stronger and more experienced," Ongenaet said, praising his teammates one by one. "I'm just full of excitement, and I can't wait for the season to start."
Ongenaet is an anomaly on the Orange. He isn't a guard, he's a forward. He doesn't have the offensive leeway of most of his frontcourt mates. He has a specific job, a defined role. On a team stacked with guards, wings and perimeter big men churning the offense, Ongenaet is an unquestioned four-man.
He's the steady influence SU head coach Jim Boeheim expects.
"I thought he got comfortable," Boeheim said. "He figured out what he can do well. He's a hustle guy. He gets things down, gets rebounds and gives us some toughness. I think he's a valuable part to what we'll try and do this year."
Last season, Ongenaet's role grew as the season progressed. Early on, the transfer from Belgium was a spot fill-in, averaging 9.4 minutes per game in non-conference play. But after Devendorf was lost for the season with a torn ACL and Boeheim was forced to shuffle his lineup several times, Ongenaet's value extrapolated. The 6-foot-8 forward played 28 minutes per game over Syracuse's final 15 games, recording at least eight rebounds in four of the games. In his final six games, Ongenaet was 18-of-26 (.692) from the field.
As far as this season's lineup, nothing is set yet. Scrimmages at practice have mostly been jumbled conglomerations of players. At Midnight Madness, the forward was with what appeared to be the starting squad.
Whether he's starting on opening night, Nov. 16, might depend on Devendorf's health, which is still uncertain. The shuffling and toying of lineups is inevitable with a nine-deep team. But the routine probably won't change for Ongenaet this season. At practice, he remains fundamentally sound, if not flashy - sliding quickly in SU's 2-3 zone to put a hand in Mookie Jones' face, only hoisting a shot if he's wide open, crashing the boards for rebounds.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Manlius Maven
posted 10/29/08 @ 10:13 AM EST
Ge is just what Coach needs...tht steady hand..that non-trouble maker,,,and he is liked by all his team mates
fan
posted 10/29/08 @ 2:24 PM EST
forgot to mention easily the friendliest and most endeared member of the team.
Copy Queen
posted 10/30/08 @ 10:14 PM EST
Who copy edited this? It's awful.
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