Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMBB | Freshman Joseph continues to adjust to college game
By Michael Bonner
Posted: 11/20/08, 9:30 PM EST Section: Sports
In the preseason opener, Jones looked more comfortable than Joseph, finishing with eight points, on 3-of-6 shooting, including two 3-pointers. The next two outings, Jones got lost in the shuffle. In the Orange's first two regular season games and final exhibition, the 6-foot-6 forward played a total of 27 minutes and scored three points by going 1-for-8 from the field.
"He struggled," head coach Jim Boeheim said of Jones. "He struggled in the matchup defense. It's hard to play against. He's been struggling and you know I just feel he needs to get a little bit more ready to be able to get out there. He's just not ready right now."
But Boeheim isn't worried or surprised, for that matter, that either of his big name freshmen have yet to produce major contributions. This early season production out of the freshman is helpful, but his veterans will win and lose games.
"You're playing a veteran team - we're going to go with the veteran guys as much as we can," Boeheim said Tuesday night after the Orange beat Richmond. "You know I think Kris made a nice contribution, but we need to keep the veterans going in this kind of a game. You know early in the year veterans are going to have to be there for us."
Joseph has only played 34 minutes this season. But that's been enough time for him to shed his initial trepidation of playing in the Dome.
"I learned to just be calm. It's not different from high school," Joseph said. "I mean obviously it is because of the competition, but if you can play game-wise, if you can play (here), you can play anywhere. So I was just more confident when I played, more poised."
mibonner@syr.edu
"He struggled," head coach Jim Boeheim said of Jones. "He struggled in the matchup defense. It's hard to play against. He's been struggling and you know I just feel he needs to get a little bit more ready to be able to get out there. He's just not ready right now."
But Boeheim isn't worried or surprised, for that matter, that either of his big name freshmen have yet to produce major contributions. This early season production out of the freshman is helpful, but his veterans will win and lose games.
"You're playing a veteran team - we're going to go with the veteran guys as much as we can," Boeheim said Tuesday night after the Orange beat Richmond. "You know I think Kris made a nice contribution, but we need to keep the veterans going in this kind of a game. You know early in the year veterans are going to have to be there for us."
Joseph has only played 34 minutes this season. But that's been enough time for him to shed his initial trepidation of playing in the Dome.
"I learned to just be calm. It's not different from high school," Joseph said. "I mean obviously it is because of the competition, but if you can play game-wise, if you can play (here), you can play anywhere. So I was just more confident when I played, more poised."
mibonner@syr.edu
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