The Daily Orange

Media Credit: Court Hathaway

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim was asked a simple question. But his answer was anything but simple.

When asked to evaluate Eric Devendorf's performance following Syracuse's 100-76 win over Seton Hall Tuesday, the head coach spent six minutes weaving through an intricate response about his shooting guard, who played his first game after being suspended for hitting a female student last semester.

"I'd like to approach this logically. I think that's kind of hard but I'll try," Boehiem said. "I'm not sure that I'm that good at presenting logical arguments or whether some people are good hearing them."

Boeheim then questioned the criticism that he has received for not disciplining Devenforf further than the university's sanction, which amounted to two games. Boeheim went on to say that further penalty would mean he was defying the university discipline.

"So now I hear people that want me to go against what just happened," Boeheim said. "The university has come out, made a determination whether I agree with it or not is not even an issue.

"They have determined what should happen. So now people are saying well what's Boeheim going to do? What's he going to do? Well in other words I shouldn't accept what they decided?"

As for what Devendorf feels, he said starting doesn't matter a whole lot to him. But his trip with the Syracuse Rescue Mission, in which he completed the 40 hours of community service that was rendered to him by the Syracuse University Appeals Board, has had a lasting effect on him.

"It definitely makes me appreciate everything," Devendorf said. "And especially going down and seeing people less fortunate than me and everybody else in this locker room. It's definitely an eye-opening experience and something that I'll never forget."

Harris Injury not Serious

With about three minutes left in the first half Paul Harris went up for a block. He missed the ball, and instead caught the rim. The forward sliced his right ring finger open, requiring stitches. He returned the bench later in the second half with his fingers taped up and covered with a latex glove.

"I've never seen anything like that on me," Harris said. "It was really nasty. I just ran to the back and they started stitching it up and stuff. I'll be alright. I know (the trainer) and them will take care of me."

Boeheim said after the game that it was laceration was nothing serious and there was no nerve damage to the finger. He expected Harris to be able to practice tomorrow.

Blowout

The domination by the Orange over the Pirates was the first time in 14 years that SU has scored 100 points against a conference foe. It was also the Orange's largest win over a Big East opponent since 2003, when SU topped West Virginia by 37 points…The Orange travels to South Florida on Friday, and will look to avenge a 89-78 upset at the hands of USF last season.

mibonner@syr.edu

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