Abrupt Departure of Geno Thorpe puts Syracuse in Tough Spot

Geno Thorpe’s tenure in orange has come to an end, as the team announced Friday that Thorpe would be leaving the program for personal reasons. The next day, Syracuse traveled to Miami to face the Kansas Jayhawks in the HoopHall Miami Invitational. Syracuse was blown out in that game, losing by a final score of 76-60. Thorpe’s absence was evident in that game, but can leave an even bigger hole as the season heats up.

Thopre, a graduate transfer from USF, was the only scholarship senior on the Syracuse roster, and relied upon to provide key minutes off the bench as the third guard in the rotation. Thorpe was reportedly upset about his lack of playing time, as he had averaged just 14 minutes per game through the team’s first six games. His playing time was inconsistent, ranging from a season-low four against Maryland, his final game with the team, to a season-high 21, which he accomplished twice. Syracuse’s struggles from behind the three-point line are due in part to the cold shooting from Thorpe, who shot just 28.6%, significantly lower than his 34.6% career mark.

In losing Thorpe, head coach Jim Boeheim is left with just eight scholarship players on the roster, and only three guards. Junior Frank Howard and sophomore Tyus Battle have been the starting combo at the top of Syracuse’s 2-3 zone all season, with Thorpe and freshman Howard Washington coming off the bench. Washington has averaged just seven minutes in the four games

Howard Washington

he has played this season, and has scored just one point all year. Howard has averaged 34 minutes per game, and has played all 40 minutes in three games. Battle is averaging 33 minutes, despite missing most of the second half with an injury against Toledo.

According to Syraucse.com, the coaching staff has pointed to an ankle injury that sidelined Thorpe for two weeks during the preseason as the reason for his slow start. Against Texas Southern, with his team struggling shooting the ball, Thorpe came off the bench to score 13 points on 56% shooting, including 43% from beyond the three-point line. Thorpe’s performance in that game and the season opener against Cornell where he scored 12 points in 19 minutes gave Syracuse fans a glimpse as to the impact that Thorpe could have. Now, fans will never get to know the true impact that a graduate transfer can have on a young program.

As for solutions to the lack of depth at the guard position, Boeheim is left without any viable option. True freshman wing Oshae Brissett lacks both the shooting and passing ability to play either guard position, and redshirt freshman forward Matt Moyer has been inconsistent in limited playing time. Next season, Boeheim can turn to Elijah Hughes, a sophomore transfer from East Carolina who is sitting out the season per NCAA rule. Hughes averaged 8 points per game as a freshman for the Pirates, receiving 21 minutes per game.

Without Thorpe to count on off the bench, Syracuse’s lack of depth will be exploited as the games become closer together. ACC play will be tough to navigate playing just three scholarship guards, one of them being a true freshman. What started as a promising year for the Orange has quickly turned to concern.