Billy Edelin assumed a familiar position Saturday during Syracuse’s win over Virginia Tech, and it wasn’t on the basketball court. The sophomore point guard sat out for personal reasons, SU head coach Jim Boeheim said in a press release.

Last year, Edelin sat the first 12 games because of playing in unsanctioned summer league games.

‘Billy Edelin will not play in tonight’s game because of personal issues not related to basketball or academics,’ Boeheim said in the release. ‘There are no school or NCAA violations, but he will not play for an indefinite period of time.’

Edelin participated in pregame stretching and warm-ups. He joked casually with center Jeremy McNeil before the game. His father, William Edelin, attended the game and spoke to assistant coach Mike Hopkins in the locker room after SU’s win.

Though he wouldn’t elaborate on the suspension, William said he spoke to his son yesterday, and that Billy did practice with the team on Sunday. He said he gave Edelin some advice, but the conversation wasn’t about basketball.

‘Of course I’m concerned,’ William Edelin said. ‘This goes well beyond basketball, I’m a parent first. I try not to dwell on the negative stuff. I try to just give him advice as a father, I’m not privy to any of the team-related stuff.’

He said that Edelin will make the trip to Connecticut, but it’s not known at this time whether he’ll play.

The 6-foot-4 Edelin didn’t practice for Syracuse all last week, and teammates knew at the start of the week that they would be without their starting point guard.

Boeheim, when asked if he could elaborate on the press release, said: ‘Everything is in there. It’s perfectly self-explanatory. Everything is in there that I’m going to say about anything.’

While Edelin took to the bench Saturday, it provided freshman Demetris Nichols a chance to get off it. He learned after Friday’s practice that he would make his first start as an Orangeman.

Nichols made the most of it with 12 points and eight rebounds. He scored SU’s first two baskets, a layup and a jump shot from the corner. Nichols also played the entire first half, one of only two Orangemen to do so.

‘Demetris is a bigger guy,’ Boeheim said. ‘We wanted to see how we go with the bigger lineup. I told Louie (McCroskey) and Demetris they’d both play a lot of minutes. We were a little bigger with Demetris. He’s really our second best 3-point shooter.’

Boeheim also said he wanted to give Nichols the start, knowing that McCroskey had been eating up minutes as SU’s sixth-man. The move allowed McCroskey to keep his familiar role Saturday.

After the game, Nichols celebrated his first start by doing crunches while the rest of his teammates celebrated in the locker room.

‘I do that after every game, win or loss,’ Nichols said. ‘You always got to get better. I’m grateful. I can’t stop working.’

Sophomore Gerry McNamara, who played point guard part of last year, replaced Edelin at point. Nichols assumed McNamara’s spot at shooting guard, and forward Josh Pace took possessions at both guard spots.

‘Hopefully we can get Billy back as soon as possible,’ Pace said. ‘Now I think me and Gerry are going to handle the ball more.’

Said Warrick: ‘(Edelin’s) going to be missed, especially in these next couple games on the road. It’s something we have to get through; we’ve been through something like this before. It’s a tough loss. He’s a great player and a great leader, but we’ve got to come together more as a team.’

SU loses 14.4 points and five assists per game with Edelin out. One positive for the Orangemen is that McNamara is almost – if not completely – back to full strength. He showed no ill effects Saturday of the injured left groin he hurt against Seton Hall on Jan. 20.

The Orangemen will need similar production from Nichols if Edelin is held out for an extended period of time. The sweet-shooting freshman said he’s up for the challenge.

‘It’s a good feeling,’ Nichols said. ‘All the hard work paid off. Hopefully I continue what I’m doing. I don’t think (teams) know about me yet. They just leave me open. Tonight was the night that I was on.

‘I’m just going to try to play my game, hit shots that are open. That’s why I just need to learn how to improve my game more. That way nobody can stop me.’

Published on February 1, 2004 at 12:00 pm