Buzzmaster

  (1:56 PM)

Coach Boeheim will be here soon!

Buzzmaster

  (2:11 PM)

Sorry for the delay folks. Shouldn't be much longer.

Brian Syracuse

Coach you have been playing alot more man to man Is this something that we will continue to see throughout the season?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:24 PM)

I certainly hope we will. We have been playing about 80-90% man and I hope we can keep doing it and that it will prove to be a good defense for us.

Cory (Athens, PA)

Coach, Congrats on the win last night. What do you think of the loaded Big East this season? Where do you think the Orange can finish and should finish? I believe if healthy we are definitely a Top 3 team.

Jim Boeheim

  (2:25 PM)

Well right now this is the toughest I have ever seen the Big East. We have never had this many quality teams from top to bottom. Teams picked 13-14 in the league are very good and playing very well. I do not know where we will end up and it will be very difficult to win the the conference this year with so much balance.

gerry (Scranton, PA)

coach, how does this years orange team differ from the previous 3 years ?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:26 PM)

I will just compare them to last year's team and say that we were very young last year. This year we have more veterans and we have been able to play well down the stretch of games and win late. I think that experience is why we've been able to do this.

Jonathan

If you could bring one player back from a past team who would it be and why?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:27 PM)

Well there are a lot of guys I would like to bring back, but a big forward who could score like Carmelo Anthony would be a nice fit, especially with this year's team. But he would be a good fit on any team.

Matt B., Brighton, MA

Hey Coach Boeheim, As a lifelong diehard Cuse fan, and unfortunately someone who lost his father to cancer way too young, let me thank you for your efforts in both of those worlds...My question for you is about Derrick Coleman. Larry Brown once said that DC would be a great coach in the future. Regardless of whether he would or would not coach, could you comment on what you feel DC's potential is as a coach from what you know of him? Thanks again for your lifelong devotion to the orange. You define loyalty.

Jim Boeheim

  (2:29 PM)

Derrick Coleman is one of the smartest players I have ever coached. But I do not think he would want to coach. I think he is happy in the business world. I think he would have a great feel for the game, because he understands the game so well. He is very smart and I think he will stay in the business world.

Joe: Ithaca, NY

Jim - Can you spot anything specific to work on with the team that will help cut down on the turnovers?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:30 PM)

Great question. It is the one area we need to improve. I think we force plays at times, when they are not there. There is a fine line between that opening going to the basket, which we are good at, but sometimes that area is too congested and that is when turnovers happen. So we need to pick our spots better. And at times we need better focus.

Terry (Syracuse, New York)

Do you agree this years team seems to be the most polished this early in the season in recent memory (including the 2003 National Championship year)? and Why is this team playing at such a high level early in the season?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:32 PM)

I think it's the experience we have gained, with the veteran leadership at the guards. I do not think we are as polished as we need to be, though. As was just pointed out, we need to improve our turnover margin.

Justin (Auburn, NY)

I've noticed Harris has dramatically improved on free throw shooting in the last week. How much work has gone into that?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:33 PM)

He is a pretty good FT shooter; he got off to a slow start, but he has his form back and I think he will shoot well from the line the rest of the year.

Quentin (Albany, New York)

Coach- How do you decide when to play man to man and when to play zone? Do you think you guys play better when you play m 2 m?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:33 PM)

We need to be able to play both, but we usually start with man to man because we feel that's how we need to start the game. Then we mix in some zone, see what works best, and stick with that.

Robert (Thomasville, NC)

What team do you see as the sleeper for this year? (other than your own of course!)

Jim Boeheim

  (2:35 PM)

In our league there are a couple teams, certainly a team like South Florida or Seton Hall. Those are very good teams that could surprise some people.

Chris (Albany, NY)

Are there any plans to work beyond an 8-man rotation? Are there any other big men to fill in when Arinze gets in foul trouble?

Jim Boeheim

  (2:36 PM)

We are going to try to stay at 8-9 for now and Ricky Jackson will be the guy to come in for Arinze. But we are going to try to stay at 8 or 9 guys.

Jim Boeheim

  (2:36 PM)

Thank you for all the questions. Take care.